Advice please?

Lord Fondlemaid · 01-Sep-2016, 12:56

Hi all,

Been playing a lot of Elite: Dangerous on my MacBook Pro with Bootcamp.

I have to play at pretty low settings to get a decent frame rate so I was looking into buying a gaming PC again, something I haven't had for almost 15 years now, so you can imagine I'm not really very well informed as to what's good in terms of hardware etc.

I had a look at this pre-built PC from Chillblast:

https://www.chillblast.com/chillblas...ategory_id=412

This seems to be within budget and would do what I want, but I don't like the case and I'm wondering if it's overpriced for what it is? It also doesn't come with a keyboard / mouse / monitor which I'd need to get separately.

I used to build my own PCs back in the day and am not adverse to buying all the components individually and putting it together myself.

I just feel a bit out of my depth in terms of knowing what's good these days, though I'd prefer to stick to Intel / Nvidia I think.

Would appreciate your advice.

Cheers,
Dan.

NWA · 01-Sep-2016, 14:12

https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/

This site now does all the legwork of working out whether your stuff fits together, what components are worth, and whether your PSU will power your components.

Belgarath · 01-Sep-2016, 14:48

Elite: Dangerous is awesome in VR if you can run to that.

EvilGrin · 01-Sep-2016, 15:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by NWA

https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/

This site now does all the legwork of working out whether your stuff fits together, what components are worth, and whether your PSU will power your components.

Logical Increments is also good if you have no idea where to start or want to work backwards from a price point.

http://www.logicalincrements.com

Lord Fondlemaid · 01-Sep-2016, 15:50

Thanks all, will have a fiddle with those sites.

Scrobbs · 01-Sep-2016, 16:26

There should totally be something like that for Home Cinema.

Lungboy · 01-Sep-2016, 18:57

The Chillblast PC is overpriced, for the same money you can get much higher spec if you build yourself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belgarath

Elite: Dangerous is awesome in VR if you can run to that.

A VR set plus a gpu that can actually run it without making you sick is the same price as the system he linked alone.

wooly-back-jack · 02-Sep-2016, 20:09

admit it Fondle, that hide and seek video brought it all back

Belgarath · 03-Sep-2016, 20:09

I'm using the Vive with an original Titan atm, which I think is just under the minimum recommended spec. Everything runs fine. I had to turn down the settings for Elite and Dirt Rally, but not so much that you can tell the difference. I think all the built-for-VR games are designed with the minimum spec in mind, they're all fine.

devs · 04-Sep-2016, 16:35

minimum spec is 970 for VR i believe. I PM'd you LF

Lord Fondlemaid · 05-Sep-2016, 11:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lungboy

The Chillblast PC is overpriced, for the same money you can get much higher spec if you build yourself.

Hey Lungers, I had a go at replicating the Chillblast PC using individual parts. Here's the finished build:

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/qpnVwV

I don't seem to be saving any money though... though I do get a nicer case.

Unless I've not understood something and the parts from PC Part Picker are better than those from Chillblast?

NWA · 05-Sep-2016, 12:21

The parts you have chosen on PC part picker are better in places, probably enough for about £100-£120 over the total build (without googling for specific prices). Along with the case, the obvious improvements are the motherboard, the thermal paste, the SSD, and EVGA are considered to be the best GTX card maker, for which you pay a slight premium. The RAM is also a better option, although with the RAM the 'betterness' is because it is 1 stick so you have better expansion options later.

I'm also pretty sure that you can beat the prices on PC part picker if you shop around a little - their links are reasonable but they are sponsored so don't show the whole market, and they don't tend to be live prices either.

Lord Fondlemaid · 05-Sep-2016, 14:51

Thanks Dale!

Eja Cool8 · 05-Sep-2016, 20:39

If you do decide on a fully built solution, you could do a lot worse than Scan 3XS, I'd reckon. According to Scan, even with the broad range of options on the configurator, you can still go further into their large component list and tweak pretty much whatever you fancy. Good service too.

https://www.scan.co.uk/3xs/custom/pc/form-factors#anc

EvilGrin · 06-Sep-2016, 11:58

My only problem with that idea is it's Scan.

PsYcHoKiLLa · 06-Sep-2016, 12:54

What's wrong with Scan? Never had a problem with them and I've been using them for years.

EvilGrin · 06-Sep-2016, 13:05

Try returning something. Their customer service department is dire.

wooly-back-jack · 06-Sep-2016, 22:26

not bad for me, I just walk into the place

CooK1E · 07-Sep-2016, 23:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvilGrin

Try returning something. Their customer service department is dire.

Agreed. Refused to honor a 3 year warranty with ASUS until I got the UK ASUS CS manager involved - he happens to be a member of OCUK and seemed to know quite a lot about Scan.

01-Sep-2016, 12:56	#1
Lord Fondlemaid Colossal Pervert Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 4,823	Advice please? Hi all, Been playing a lot of Elite: Dangerous on my MacBook Pro with Bootcamp. I have to play at pretty low settings to get a decent frame rate so I was looking into buying a gaming PC again, something I haven't had for almost 15 years now, so you can imagine I'm not really very well informed as to what's good in terms of hardware etc. I had a look at this pre-built PC from Chillblast: https://www.chillblast.com/chillblas...ategory_id=412 This seems to be within budget and would do what I want, but I don't like the case and I'm wondering if it's overpriced for what it is? It also doesn't come with a keyboard / mouse / monitor which I'd need to get separately. I used to build my own PCs back in the day and am not adverse to buying all the components individually and putting it together myself. I just feel a bit out of my depth in terms of knowing what's good these days, though I'd prefer to stick to Intel / Nvidia I think. Would appreciate your advice. Cheers, Dan. __________________ Trickery's leading Internet Groomer. "Who, or why, or which, or what... is the Akond of Swat?" Last edited by Lord Fondlemaid; 01-Sep-2016 at 13:09.

01-Sep-2016, 15:50	#5
Lord Fondlemaid Colossal Pervert Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 4,823	Thanks all, will have a fiddle with those sites. __________________ Trickery's leading Internet Groomer. "Who, or why, or which, or what... is the Akond of Swat?"

01-Sep-2016, 16:26	#6
Scrobbs Sunnyvale Supervisor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: In the pipe, five by five. Posts: 16,381	There should totally be something like that for Home Cinema. __________________ http://bit.ly/debatethebill

02-Sep-2016, 20:09	#8
wooly-back-jack Tactical Hider Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wigan Posts: 11,802	admit it Fondle, that hide and seek video brought it all back __________________ https://www.facebook.com/MustyGaming

04-Sep-2016, 16:35	#10
devs Devtard Strikes Again Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Purley Tournaments Won: 1 Posts: 9,774	minimum spec is 970 for VR i believe. I PM'd you LF __________________ New Trend HERE

01-Sep-2016, 14:48	#3
Belgarath off topic Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,539	Elite: Dangerous is awesome in VR if you can run to that.

03-Sep-2016, 20:09	#9
Belgarath off topic Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,539	I'm using the Vive with an original Titan atm, which I think is just under the minimum recommended spec. Everything runs fine. I had to turn down the settings for Elite and Dirt Rally, but not so much that you can tell the difference. I think all the built-for-VR games are designed with the minimum spec in mind, they're all fine.

05-Sep-2016, 14:51	#13
Lord Fondlemaid Colossal Pervert Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 4,823	Thanks Dale! __________________ Trickery's leading Internet Groomer. "Who, or why, or which, or what... is the Akond of Swat?"

05-Sep-2016, 20:39	#14
Eja Cool8 Enema of the people Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 12,714	If you do decide on a fully built solution, you could do a lot worse than Scan 3XS, I'd reckon. According to Scan, even with the broad range of options on the configurator, you can still go further into their large component list and tweak pretty much whatever you fancy. Good service too. https://www.scan.co.uk/3xs/custom/pc/form-factors#anc __________________ "A friend of mine described her disgust as two Blackwater mercs, shortly after introducing themselves, proposed a two-on-one sex act that involved one of the men ejaculating on the other." Steve Fainaru: "Big Boy Rules" "Every man and woman should play the noblest games and be of another mind from what they are at present." Plato

06-Sep-2016, 11:58	#15
EvilGrin my other forum is full Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lancs, UK. Posts: 8,061	My only problem with that idea is it's Scan. __________________ Edugeek - Techies in Education!

06-Sep-2016, 12:54	#16
PsYcHoKiLLa topicophiliac Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,190	What's wrong with Scan? Never had a problem with them and I've been using them for years.

06-Sep-2016, 13:05	#17
EvilGrin my other forum is full Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lancs, UK. Posts: 8,061	Try returning something. Their customer service department is dire. __________________ Edugeek - Techies in Education!

06-Sep-2016, 22:26	#18
wooly-back-jack Tactical Hider Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wigan Posts: 11,802	not bad for me, I just walk into the place __________________ https://www.facebook.com/MustyGaming