Member Avatar for Chinney

Hi everyone,

I appreciate this may not be the best forum for such a question however this is by far my favourite forum as everyone is so friendly and helpful thus i do not want to go anywhere else, but let's get to the point.

I am currently looking to build a brand spanking new computer with top of the line components for bragging rights and obviously performance in gaming and light media creation such as live streaming and HD video rendering. However i am also off to uni in september, hopefully, to study Computer Science and where as i am not entirely sure how intensive the course will be on my machine, I know i don't want to be studying such a course with a bad machine.

I am looking for advice on what components to use within the machine as well as what periphals to get as i would like to upgrade my entire system, this include the computer, monitor, mouse, keyboard and speakers. I would also like to challenge those willing to build an entire system on uk.pcpartpicker.com so i can get some real inspiration and ideas, this would be a serious help.

I currently have an upgrade in mind here but if you have any changes you think i should make, any improvements or any budget saving advice please feel free to share them, seriously any advice will be very appreciated.

To summarise the main points i am looking for are:

  • Performance
  • Looks (Case, LED's, RGB, etc)
  • Periphals for gaming
  • Okay productivity
  • Futureproof

  • Performance for money over out right performance

    Thank you in advanced!

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by rproffitt

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Short, practical roadmap for ’s gaming + Computer Science machine.

Decide the target monitor resolution and refresh rate first — that single choice drives the GPU and therefore most of the build budget. If you want high frame rates at 1080p, aim for a GPU that sustains that; if you want 1440p or 4K for content work or visual fidelity, budget up for more VRAM and raw GPU horsepower. Pick the monitor before you pick the card.

CPU and RAM: choose the CPU to match your workload. For mostly gaming, a mid-range chip with strong single‑core performance is the best value; if you’ll be doing frequent 3D renders, video encoding or streaming, step up to a higher-core-count, hyperthreaded CPU. For CS coursework (VMs, Docker, heavy compiles) more cores and 16–32GB RAM make life easier — 16GB is a sensible baseline, 32GB if you’ll run many VMs or large scenes. Also budget for a decent cooler and a motherboard with spare M.2 and DIMM slots for future expansion.

Storage, PSU and case: use an NVMe M.2 for OS and active projects (500GB–1TB recommended) and a larger HDD or SATA SSD for bulk media and backups. Buy a reputable, efficiently rated PSU (80+ Gold or better) with ~20–30% headroom and modular cables. Tempered glass and RGB look great, but prioritize airflow and cable routing — you can have both if you choose a case designed for cooling. For heavy rendering, invest in cooling (big air cooler or AIO).

Peripherals and practical tips: a compact mechanical keyboard (TKL for portability), an ergonomic mouse with a good sensor, and a closed-back headset for dorm life are smart choices. Image the system and keep regular backups of coursework. Quick checklist: 1) pick monitor (resolution/Hz), 2) pick GPU to hit that target, 3) pick CPU sized for multi‑thread needs, 4) choose NVMe + bulk storage, quality PSU, and breathable case. This balances gaming, productivity and upgradeability — heed ’s warning about “futureproof” hype, and note ’s high‑core wishes are great for specific workflows but unnecessary for most gaming.

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Member Avatar for rproffitt

Anyone looking for futureproof need only to look to the past. If you think you can build a futureproof PC then I have bridges for sale.

-> READ https://www.reddit.com/r/PCMasterRace/wiki/builds

Looks? After a while you learn that it's not an area to pay for. Save your bucks for SSD or larger SSDs and step up the GPU.

My favorites are in that link which I would modify to have SSD only and maybe steps up in the GPU.

Member Avatar for Chinney

Thank you for replying.

Don't worry, i have been building PCs for 3 years so i know the game haha. I only mentioned futureproofing so people would know im looking for the top line products and what will still be good in a year / 2 years, rather than what's good now.

I believe looks are a personal preference, some may deem it worth the price and others think it's rediculous. Looks aren't a major priority however some leds and a tempered glass side panel would be nice. But i see where you're coming from.

My main trouble currently is the i5 vs i7, as this will be mostly a gaming rig so im obviously thinking i5 however i have experience with 3D modelling and may want to continue this thus i am contemplating the i7. What is your opinion on this?

Member Avatar for rproffitt

The i5/i7 angle is almost moot for gaming. The link never has i7's but you can put the money there. That said, I moved to the i7 for many other reasons. Games are hit and miss as to whether it matters.

Try one of the builds there, change to i7, use nothing but SSD and move up the GPU as budget allows. That's my take on gaming PCs today.

Member Avatar for Chinney

That's an interesting view point, thank you for your advice

Member Avatar for Siberian

After years of not upgrading my goal is 10 or 18 - core system :)

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