Computer help with a build

[Newcon12]

HI folks,

i'm looking to buy a computer in around a month, I would like to spend around 1000 pounds, which is about 1625 US dollars and about 1232 euros, I'd like to be able to fraps and stream on either good or high, and play on Ultra, I have a friend that has the 1000 pounds x51 Alienware pc.
I know Alienware is mega overpriced but I think it is a pretty good deal for what you get, I've had a look through Overclockers and Pcspecialist, but tbh I don't know what goes with what in terms of combatibility.

I am not at all comfortable with building my own computer but that doesn't mean I am set in my ways of buying a stock pc, so that's why overclockers and stuff is good as I can choose what I want but get them to build it for me. If not I'm just going to go for the Alienware x51 as it's easier and the 'compactness' is definitely a plus but not a requirement.

I live in the UK

thanks alot folks all help is welcomed and I'd be happy answer any questions you might have
http://www.dell.com/uk/p/alienware-x51/fs
that's the link for the alienware one

Newcon

[chazus]

I know Alienware is mega overpriced but I think it is a pretty good deal for what you get

It's not. Period.

Alienware offers absolutely nothing over anyone else, except the price.

[Newcon12]

Well that's really not advice nor it is helpful, I'm not quite sure why you would even say that when I basically said the same thing, I know about Alienware being over priced, but I can't seem to come up with PC for a similar price, and that's why I'm asking for people's help.

I just want something similar to that pc maybe even a better one if I can get it for the same price, or a better one for less. As I said in my original post, I don't know how compatible stuff is and what sort of thing I should be looking for. If it can't be done, I'll just go for the Alienware.

[n0cturnal]

This will destroy the Alienware you are looking at, however the GPU is massive overkill for just WoW.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor (£163.94 @ Amazon UK)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (£101.98 @ Dabs)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£33.98 @ Dabs)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£72.84 @ Aria PC)
Storage: Crucial M4 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk (£144.90 @ Amazon UK)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card (£235.99 @ Dabs)
Case: Fractal Design Arc Midi Tower ATX Mid Tower Case (£68.57 @ Aria PC)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply (£79.41 @ Amazon UK)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer (£12.98 @ Scan.co.uk)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) (£59.94 @ Aria PC)
Total: £974.53
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-04 18:03 GMT+0000)

[chazus]

I honestly don't know pre-built companies in the UK, and I'm sure people will post. I was just pointing out that Alienware is a poor choice no matter what. An old addage says,

"Tis better to have no computer and all, than an Alienware"

[Newcon12]

Nocturnal, does part picker build it or is just the parts that you get? Or are you just listing parts for me to use and then I go through Overclockers for example, as I don't have any experience with building pcs and don't really want to build one myself, as I would be afraid of messing it up.

[n0cturnal]

Nocturnal, does part picker build it or is just the parts that you get? Or are you just listing parts for me to use and then I go through Overclockers for example, as I don't have any experience with building pcs and don't really want to build one myself, as I would be afraid of messing it up.

It is just a site to make lists of parts, they don't sell or build anything. I think that if you don't want to build anything yourself you would have to turn to overclockers.co.uk or perhaps scan.co.uk.

But the list is a decent example of what kind of parts you could afford if you were able to build yourself or get help from a friend.

[theoffice]

I've got the system that was linked to you and it runs extraordinarily well with WoW. Highly suggest that setup. (Not the Alienware... the PCPartPicker build).

[Deleted]

If you don't want to build a computer yourself overclockers are good for pre built systems and don't cost as much as alienware. http://www.overclockers.co.uk/produc...385&subid=1270

[Newcon12]

Cheers theoffice, for the processor, how exactly would you overclock it, is there a setting in the bios or something that you change or is there a program it comes with? Also if I were to overclock 10-20% would the cooling that comes with this build be ok or would I need a different cooling unit?
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=FS-247-OE
I'd take the Gtx660Ti Graphics card as well in that build

[chazus]

I've got an i5-3570K, and I moved it from 3.4 to 4.0ghz on the stock cooler. It ran a bit warm, but nothing out of hand (probably about 60-65). However with a 3rd party cooler you could do more, or that with lower temps. 10% is no problem on stock cooler.

[demonskies]

I've got an i5-3570K, and I moved it from 3.4 to 4.0ghz on the stock cooler. It ran a bit warm, but nothing out of hand (probably about 60-65). However with a 3rd party cooler you could do more, or that with lower temps. 10% is no problem on stock cooler.

is that 60-65 at idle or under load? @OP z77 is like 2-3 settings changes in the bios and then just adding a multiplier. Even using the motherboard software you should be able to get 4-4.2 without any voltage changes and thats normally just a slider or changing multiplier as well.

[Newcon12]

Hmmm alrighty cheers guys for the info, been looking at graphics cards was gonna go for the GTX660Ti
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=FS-247-OE
on that PC, but now i'm not sure don't really wanna spend more than 200 pounds on a graphics card, and apparently the gtx 660ti is overpriced?

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/comput...ivy-bridge-pc/ thinking of going with PCspecialist as you can configure more ie i want two hardrive of 500 so I can fraps stuff. Putting wow and Fraps on different HDDs.

[n0cturnal]

Hmmm alrighty cheers guys for the info, been looking at graphics cards was gonna go for the GTX660Ti
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=FS-247-OE
on that PC, but now i'm not sure don't really wanna spend more than 200 pounds on a graphics card, and apparently the gtx 660ti is overpriced?

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/comput...ivy-bridge-pc/ thinking of going with PCspecialist as you can configure more ie i want two hardrive of 500 so I can fraps stuff. Putting wow and Fraps on different HDDs.

Just put WoW on a SSD and fraps to the HDD.

[Newcon12]

Alrighty will do cheers for the help, last bit of info, what do you think I should go for in terms of the graphics card then? I was going to go for the Gtx 660Ti but i'm not sure which one to go for out of the list on overclockers.

[n0cturnal]

Alrighty will do cheers for the help, last bit of info, what do you think I should go for in terms of the graphics card then? I was going to go for the Gtx 660Ti but i'm not sure which one to go for out of the list on overclockers.

Are you talking about the computer build list with just an EVGA and KFA or their whole sortiment of GTX660Ti?
If it is just EVGA vs KFA I would personally pick the KFA due to better cooling solution.

[Newcon12]

yeah literally just the two that were in that list I don't mind going for another graphics card if there are better ones, I read somewhere that it was overpriced so thought maybe there was a better one for a similar price? If not I assume it's a pretty decent card nonetheless?

[n0cturnal]

yeah literally just the two that were in that list I don't mind going for another graphics card if there are better ones, I read somewhere that it was overpriced so thought maybe there was a better one for a similar price? If not I assume it's a pretty decent card nonetheless?

You also have the Sapphire 7950 OC which is an excellent card, but it is pretty even in performance. It would have to be a choice of if you prefer Nvidia or AMD cards (drivers mostly).

[Newcon12]

Yeah i'm not Nvidia fan boy, I prefer them in general but if it came down to performance then I would swap to Radeon so the gtx660ti is a good card in general then?

[n0cturnal]

Yeah i'm not Nvidia fan boy, I prefer them in general but if it came down to performance then I would swap to Radeon so the gtx660ti is a good card in general then?

Yes, both cards are really good performance wise.