I'm planning a gaming PC build with a budget of around £1,600 and would appreciate some advice on the component choices. In particular, I'm wondering whether it's worth upgrading the motherboard, choosing a Thermalright Phantom Spirit instead of the current CPU cooler, or looking at different SSD options. I'm also considering a GIGABYTE G27Q20 monitor for £139. I don't currently have a monitor or keyboard, although I may be able to get a Corsair four-in-one gaming bundle for £32. One thing I'm unsure about is the MSI A850GLS power supply: it costs only about £80, has very few reviews and purchases, and appears better than the A850GL. Is it simply an unusually good deal, or should I be concerned that the listing is unreliable?
3 Answers
You may not need a more expensive motherboard. If the current board has the features you need, moving to a good micro-ATX model could reduce the cost without affecting gaming performance. If you specifically need a full-size ATX board, more premium options such as the MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk MAX WiFi are worth considering, but only if you need their additional connectivity, expansion or networking features. A Phantom Spirit is also a strong cooler choice if it fits your case and costs close to the current option; otherwise, the existing cooler may be perfectly adequate. Compare SSD prices and endurance, but avoid sacrificing capacity just to buy a higher-end model with no noticeable gaming benefit.
Before finalising the build, make sure the budget includes the monitor, keyboard and mouse. The £139 GIGABYTE G27Q20 seems like a reasonable monitor option, and a £32 Corsair bundle could cover the basic peripherals if you’re comfortable with the quality. That leaves less of the budget for the tower than the headline £1,600 figure suggests.
The A850GLS looks like a genuinely good deal rather than a scam. It is generally better than the A850GL, while the GL’s main advantage is its slightly shorter 140 × 150 mm size. The GL can also have an issue where its fan runs at full speed constantly, making it extremely loud. The GLS may simply be less popular because buyers are less familiar with it or because pricing and recommendations differ between countries.
That was what confused me—the GLS is cheaper despite being better. I’m guessing it’s mostly a lack of consumer awareness rather than anything suspicious.
I don’t currently have a monitor or keyboard, so I’m planning to use that Corsair bundle and buy the GIGABYTE monitor separately.