PC Gamer Presents - PC Hardware Handbook - May 2018

(nigelxxx) #1

AMD BUILD


AMD COOLING

ARCTIC FREEZER 33 £33


There is a growing number of options
for AM4 coolers, but most focus on
all-in-one solutions. Here we wanted to
use an air cooler that can keep the

Ryzen 7 1800X in check, and the Arctic
Freezer 33 steps up to the task
brilliantly. Easy to install and quiet
running, it’s a great option.

Keeping our storage fairly well
balanced between these systems was
key. Although memory is a big part of
what makes both X99 and X370 so
different, the storage situation is
relatively similar between the two. The

950 Pro 512GB was the perfect choice;
its exceptional file transfer speed and
performance are second to none,
making it perfect for pitting our
benchmark machines against each
other head to head.

STORAGE

SAMSUNG 960 PRO 512GB £276


AMD PSU

CORSAIR HX1200I £260


Two hundred and sixty quid. That’s a
lot of money for a power supply, but it’s
arguably worth it. For a system that’s
going to spend a huge proportion of its
life turned on, efficiency and
expandability are key. Not only will the

Corsair HX1200i provide you with
enough options for multiple add-in
cards, but it’ll also waste little energy
on heat, thanks to its 80 Plus Platinum
certification, meaning your rig runs
just that little bit cooler.

AMD INTEL

AMD CASE

CORSAIR CARBIDE


AIR 740 £125


Having plenty of space in your case
is great when it comes to airflow.
The Carbide Air 740 takes that to a
wonderful level with its
compartmented design, which has
the power supply and hard drives

hidden out of the way, leaving
plenty of room around the
motherboard for any further
upgrades we might have planned.
It’s a joy to build in, and looks great,
too, which keeps us happy.

THERE IS A GROWING NUMBER OF
OPTIONS FOR AM4 COOLERS, BUT MOST
FOCUS ON ALL-IN-ONE SOLUTIONS

FEATURE


AMD vs. INTEL

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