New Rig Recommendation Time

So, still browsing around for the perfect machine for the price... Also awaiting The Joker's recommendation. I can't believe I'm this excited about finally getting a new gaming PC. Been gaming on laptops for too long...

In the meantime I got Red Dead Redemption on PS3 to tide me over. :D
 
FarligOpptreden said:
So, still browsing around for the perfect machine for the price... Also awaiting The Joker's recommendation. I can't believe I'm this excited about finally getting a new gaming PC. Been gaming on laptops for too long...

In the meantime I got Red Dead Redemption on PS3 to tide me over. :D
Click to expand...

This is how I felt getting my new PC - do I can only imagine how you feel.
 
Update time!

So, based on the recommendations from our Resident Guru and with go-ahead from The Wife, I'll end up with the following machine:

- Intel Core i5- 4670K.
- MSI Z97M Gaming.
- Corsair Vengeance 2x4GB DDRIII 1600.
- AMD R9 280X 3GB 384bit (Gigabyte, Sapphire, Msi)
- ADATA SX900, 128GB SATA6G Read/Write: 555/530MB SSD.
- Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB SATA6G 7200rpm.
- BitFenix Colossus Micro-ATX Mini Tower Black with Blue/Green/Red Highlight Micro-ATX.
- Corsair VS650 650W Power Supply

Went a bit over budget here, but Mr Joker assures me it'll be one mean machine. By the looks of the specs, I have to agree. So I'm ending up taking an SSD which I didn't think of initially as well as playing for the Red team. Must say, I'm super hyped at the moment! I'll definitely post some pics of the setup as soon as I receive it and have everything up and running.

Thanks for everyone's input in my new machine! I'm glad to be going the SFF route - as much as I appreciate a big tower with all kinds of lights and sounds emanating from it, I think the case and specs that The Joker recommended suits my tastes perfectly.
 
wow - impressed that you managed a r9, i5 and ssd. Exactly how far over budget are we talking here? :D

Joker is right - its going to be a mean machine.

Check out this
http://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/linkshellextension.html
...allows for sneaky tricks with the SSD. e.g. I've got games where half the files are on the SSD (multiplayer maps & core executables) and half are on the HDD (singleplayer files etc)...but the game can't see the diff. Whether thats worth the effort is up to you.

>> I didn't think of initially as well as playing for the Red team.

They're doing just fine - esp on the driver front lately. ;)

Enjoy the new rig. :D
 
HavocXphere said:
wow - impressed that you managed a r9, i5 and ssd. Exactly how far over budget are we talking here? :D

Joker is right - its going to be a mean machine.

Check out this
http://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/linkshellextension.html
...allows for sneaky tricks with the SSD. e.g. I've got games where half the files are on the SSD (multiplayer maps & core executables) and half are on the HDD (singleplayer files etc)...but the game can't see the diff. Whether thats worth the effort is up to you.

>> I didn't think of initially as well as playing for the Red team.

They're doing just fine - esp on the driver front lately. ;)

Enjoy the new rig. :D
Click to expand...

I nudged him in the right direction budget wise, now he has a rig that will last him quite a long time.
One slight issue though...my poor hands lol fitting all that in that tiny rig was pretty hectic lol but awesome.
 
At last I've got a minute to jump in! Our housewarming was hellishly long (13 hours in total) and I only got a chance to turn the machine on this morning... I'm stunned by the difference the SSD makes - I was waiting for Windows to start starting up and then it was already done!

Big thanks to Joker - I'm incredibly impressed by this machine. I'll take some pics and post it a bit later, but that Colossus M is a BEAUT of a case. I can't believe that mammoth GPU fits in there...

Joker is an incredible guy though - I can honestly recommend his services to anyone. It was a pleasure working with (and meeting) him. He just sucks in a race to a designated location... ;)
 
Some feedback: this machine is a BEAST. I only got a chance to run 2 games tonight:

Guild Wars 2: Had to do my dailies, so was my first game to try on the new machine. Decided to put it on the SSD to see what the fuss is about. Mind BLOWN. Maps loaded instantly (as opposed to the usual 30-50 second wait) and not a single hickup anywhere in the game. I played on max settings, 1080p and with supersampling enabled and still cracked the 80fps mark. Considering supersampling effectively halves your framerate, i thought that was pretty impressive!

Far Cry 3: After redownloading it (as uPlay didn't allow me to scan for existing files) I started it up quickly. I felt bold and maxed out all the settings, including 8x MSAA in 1080p. I ran through a jungle, into a camp, swam in the ocean and jumped off a cliff. All buttery smooth. I didn't see the fps, but it must've been at least 50.

Colour me absolutely stunned. Thank you Joker for the recommendations and putting this MiniMonster together!

Oh, and pics will come soon.
 
FarligOpptreden said:
Some feedback: this machine is a BEAST. I only got a chance to run 2 games tonight:

Guild Wars 2: Had to do my dailies, so was my first game to try on the new machine. Decided to put it on the SSD to see what the fuss is about. Mind BLOWN. Maps loaded instantly (as opposed to the usual 30-50 second wait) and not a single hickup anywhere in the game. I played on max settings, 1080p and with supersampling enabled and still cracked the 80fps mark. Considering supersampling effectively halves your framerate, i thought that was pretty impressive!

Far Cry 3: After redownloading it (as uPlay didn't allow me to scan for existing files) I started it up quickly. I felt bold and maxed out all the settings, including 8x MSAA in 1080p. I ran through a jungle, into a camp, swam in the ocean and jumped off a cliff. All buttery smooth. I didn't see the fps, but it must've been at least 50.

Colour me absolutely stunned. Thank you Joker for the recommendations and putting this MiniMonster together!

Oh, and pics will come soon.
Click to expand...

Do you have FRAPS?

Maybe you can get specifics on your framerate. But, as it stands, your system seems pretty impressive.
 
Glad you are enjoying it mate, it is an absolute beast.
Was great meeting you as well :D Next time you should def come to my place so you can check out my toys lol.
 
SO! Picture time:

Here's a pic of the machine attached to all the necessary peripherals:

DSC_0026.JPG

...and one of my "desk" in relation to the rest of our informal lounge:

DSC_0027.JPG

I haven't had time to open the machine up to take pics yet, but I'll get around to that soon enough.

EDIT: Apologies for the low quality pics - only saw all the artifacting now! Will see if I can resample them to a better quality and re-upload.
 
Just a bit of a warning if you open it you'll notice all the USB and front audio is connected to the side panel bud.
Just be careful with that.

Looking good there :P
 
The Joker said:
Just a bit of a warning if you open it you'll notice all the USB and front audio is connected to the side panel bud.
Just be careful with that.

Looking good there :P
Click to expand...

Yeah I noticed that from the reviews of the case. I'll take care to not just yank it open. :D

Ike_009 said:
Worlds smallest desk space

Still I must add
View attachment 11869
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It's not the size, but what you do with it that counts... :p In my scenario, I love the feeling of my little "gaming cocoon". It's got enough space for the MiniMonster, 23" LED screen, compact keyboard and mouse. I even got myself a Steelseries mini mousepad this afternoon and it all still fits comfortably.

AND then there's also a coaster for when my wife brings me a mug of tea or a beer... I've even had dinner there before, believe it or not! The proximity to the fireplace makes it nice and cosy on cold evenings and I can catch up on any series my wife is watching by just tilting ever so slightly backwards to see the 48" LED next to me. Kitchen is directly to the left of me, big stacking doors on the right to open up the area in hot summer days and formal living- and dining rooms behind me with PS3, PS4 and laptop hooked up to 46" LCD with sound bar.
 
20140701_230534.jpgI see your tiny space and raise you with this.

I don't know how to resize it and I'm at work so I don't really have the time to do it.
Anyway, half a smallish desk to sit my case and monitor, small bedside chest of drawer for mouse, keyboard on my lap and me on the bed as a chair. Right next to my computer is my big tv for movies etc or when I can lie down and game :)
 
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simon said:
View attachment 11873I see your tiny space and raise you with this.

I don't know how to resize it and I'm at work so I don't really have the time to do it.
Anyway, half a smallish desk to sit my case and monitor, small bedside chest of drawer for mouse, keyboard on my lap and me on the bed as a chair. Right next to my computer is my big tv for movies etc or when I can lie down and game :)
Click to expand...

That is a Zalman Gaming KB you've got there. What's it - a K400G (under possible correction).
 
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