~£400-500 Build Needed - Hardware & Software

[highlight][img]http://fi.somethingawful.com/images/smilies/emot-siren.gif[/img]PLEASE READ ALL THE TEXT BELOW - IT IS VERY IMPORTANT[img]http://fi.somethingawful.com/images/smilies/emot-siren.gif[/img][/highlight] I'm trying to squeeze the most out of my money and you guys have the best knowledge about this kind of thing. I've been frustrated with my PC from 2009 running games like Saints Row 3, ARMA 2, GTA IV and Sniper Elite 2 with terrible framerates (Saints Row 3 is at slideshow speed on lowest). This PC's had a great run, but after ~3 years, I think it's time to assemble a new one. My priority is performance, so I am [b]not looking for an expensive case[/b]. I have a monitor, mouse, keyboard and such, and don't seek to replace those either.[b] I want to get as much performance out of my money as I can[/b], and if possible, futureproofing too. Whilst I do not know how to build a PC, my friend built his and (if I recall correctly) is willing to build mine for a bit of money. At the moment, my computer is contained within an NZXT Apollo case. My friend tells me that this is a midi case, so I'm looking for the cheapest, most efficient full-size tower I can get (under £30) to house my parts. Also, if possible, [b]I would like to transfer my 500GB samsung (I'm sorry) HDD and my disc drive over to save on money[/b], however it [b]isn't 100% necessary[/b] if such a task is impossible. Also, I have no clue what my power supply is, so how do I find out the wattage? If it's enough for the parts assembled, then I can keep hold of it. Also, [b]I have an OS[/b]. It's in use on my PC at the moment, but if I can deactivate it and use it on my new PC, that'd be great. Otherwise I'll look for a cheap OS after I've bought the PC - if an OS is required, please do not add it to the build. [b]I don't want any peripherals, monitors or anything. Just the computer itself.[/b] Thanks in advance, FP. [editline]titties[/editline] If I've overcomplicated things or jumbled up anything, the tl;dr here is [b]best parts I can get for £400-500 (500 if it makes a massive difference) [highlight]without peripherals or a monitor[/highlight] and if possible excluding a hard drive/disc drive as I already have two in my current PC[/b] Even more tldr: High FPS, High graphics, no peripherals/monitor, no OS, £500. [b]Update: Just setting the bar at 550 now.[/b] Other details that may be relevant: Current monitor has a resolution of 1360x768 - this is a resolution that I am very happy with, so a new one is not needed. Current mouse/keyboard aren't great, but they do the job, so new mouse/keyboard are not needed. My hard drive has a lot of stuff on it, no idea if this has an effect on performance. My PC has been used for 3 years pretty much every day, but I believe my disc drive and hard drive are still good to use - no idea about my power supply.

There aren't any full towers that cheap. Are you sure you need a full tower?

[QUOTE=ManningQB18;36356033]There aren't any full towers that cheap. Are you sure you need a full tower?[/QUOTE] I'm not really too sure, do I need a full tower to house parts or is a full tower just for people who want advanced cooling and other stuff like that?

[QUOTE=geogzm;36356050]I'm not really too sure, do I need a full tower to house parts or is a full tower just for people who want advanced cooling and other stuff like that?[/QUOTE] Advanced cooling and buttloads of drives. You'd be fine with a mid-tower. [editline]16th June 2012[/editline] Do you want to keep your existing case or buy a new one?

[QUOTE=ManningQB18;36356102]Advanced cooling and buttloads of drives. You'd be fine with a mid-tower. [editline]16th June 2012[/editline] Do you want to keep your existing case or buy a new one?[/QUOTE] I'll keep mine if possible. Nothing's wrong with it. [editline]16th June 2012[/editline] If I can pawn off my current parts for a price around £80-100 then I'll sell it, but if people won't pay that then I'm going to give them to my dad who'll probably buy a case and such. [editline]16th June 2012[/editline] I'd also like to mention that I have no bias between ATI/Nvidia - whichever card gives me the most FPS in games for the money, I'll buy it. I don't want to run physx or anything.

This is what I have so far on Overclockers.co.uk [img]http://puu.sh/Bn06[/img] [editline]16th June 2012[/editline] My build may not be the best possible, because I'm unfamiliar with UK computer retailers, so I'm not sure if this is a good price/website to order from.

[QUOTE=ManningQB18;36356249]This is what I have so far on Overclockers.co.uk [img]http://puu.sh/Bn06[/img] [editline]16th June 2012[/editline] My build may not be the best possible, because I'm unfamiliar with UK computer retailers, so I'm not sure if this is a good price/website to order from.[/QUOTE] I've [b]heard[/b] that overclockers and ariaPC are overpriced. I've also heard that ebuyer is good.

[QUOTE=geogzm;36356288]I've [B]heard[/B] that overclockers and ariaPC are overpriced. I've also heard that ebuyer is good.[/QUOTE] I'm redoing the build on Ebuyer now, it looks much cheaper [editline]16th June 2012[/editline] [img]http://puu.sh/BnbE[/img] £10 cheaper with a better processor [editline]16th June 2012[/editline] I have to go to work now, if anybody wants to improve the build, go for it. [editline]16th June 2012[/editline] Woah just noticed how good that shipping price is. Can't get anything near that in 'Murika

Nice! I'd like to see if other people post their builds or improve on yours however, and then evaluate which build I should go for at the end. [editline]16th June 2012[/editline] Also, the shipping can wait a while - remember, all performance. [editline]16th June 2012[/editline] I'm gonna go ahead and say the budget just increased to £560

Slightly better: MB: [URL="http://www.scan.co.uk/products/asus-p8z77-v-lx-intel-z77-s-1155-ddr3-sata-iii-6gb-s-sata-raid-pcie-30-%28x16%29-dvi-d-hdmi-d-sub-%28vga%29-"]http://www.scan.co.uk/products/asus-p8z77-v-lx-intel-z77-s-1155-ddr3-sata-iii-6gb-s-sata-raid-pcie-30-(x16)-dvi-d-hdmi-d-sub-(vga)-[/URL] CPU: [URL]http://www.scan.co.uk/products/29-4intel-core-i5-3570k-s-1155-ivy-bridge-quad-core-34ghz-5-gt-s-dmi-650mhz-gpu-6mb-smart-cache-34x-[/URL] RAM: [URL="http://www.scan.co.uk/products/8gb-%282x4gb%29-corsair-ddr3-xms3-pc3-12800-%281600%29-non-ecc-unbuffered-cas-9-9-9-27-165v"]http://www.scan.co.uk/products/8gb-(2x4gb)-corsair-ddr3-xms3-pc3-12800-(1600)-non-ecc-unbuffered-cas-9-9-9-27-165v[/URL] PSU: [URL]http://www.scan.co.uk/products/650w-psu-xfx-pro-series-core-edition-p1-650s-ukb9-85-eff-80-plus-bronze-sli-crossfire-eps-12v-fan-at[/URL] GPU: either the gtx560 from the previous build or [URL]http://www.ebuyer.com/344115-sapphire-hd-7770-1gb-gddr5-dvi-hdmi-dual-mini-displayport-pci-e-graphics-11201-00-20g[/URL] (more efficient) or [URL]http://www.ebuyer.com/349747-sapphire-hd-7850-2gb-dvi-hdmi-dual-mini-displayport-pci-e-graphics-card-11200-00-20g[/URL] (much better, but would make it £570) The other two gpus would make it around £500

At absolute maximum, 630 but I can't gauge how much money I'll make. It all depends on if I can squeeze out the extra dosh from working over the next 6 months.

Can someone draft up a £650 maximum build? [editline]17th June 2012[/editline] Also, games like ARMA2 are cpu-intensive apparently, so I'd be looking for a high-performing CPU. Yet again, pushing the budget up a bit for CPU+GPU

[QUOTE=geogzm;36359959]Can someone draft up a £650 maximum build? [editline]17th June 2012[/editline] Also, games like ARMA2 are cpu-intensive apparently, so I'd be looking for a high-performing CPU. Yet again, pushing the budget up a bit for CPU+GPU[/QUOTE] You remind me of myself. Setting a budget, then always finding ways to increase it :v: It's the best way, you may as well spend the best. You could get a 7850 for £50 more, can overclock greatly. OR I am selling a 4 month old ASUS 560ti DirectCUII still in warranty, only ever placed in then taken out of the case, for £100 free postage. The RRP at the time was £203, if that interests you. It can play BF3 about 55-60fps at high on 1080. NEVER overclocked it, so you have some room there. It comes with EVERYTHING, I even added the blue protectors that go on the gold pin from my 670 onto the 560ti to protect it as the 670 is in my system anyway. You may wonder why i'm selling for so cheap, but it's just i'd rather take £100 than nothing at all and let a good card go to waste. Heck, that could even grant me my wish of owning an SSD.