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Selfish Computer Building Help Blog

Blogs > BroOd
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
BroOd
Profile Blog Joined April 2003
Austin10831 Posts
April 11 2010 01:33 GMT
#1
Note to readers: If you don't know or particularly care much about computers, this thread will undoubtedly be quite boring for you, and there's no point in reading any further. If you do, on the other-hand, then it's your help precisely that I'm looking for.

My dear old desktop, the faithfully departed, e's kicked the bucket, e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible! This is an ex-computer!

Yes, after 6 wonderful years, my poor machine has been forced into retirement. Not with subdued grace, like the last of the space shuttles, but with a violent explosion, like the Challenger. As such, I'm in the market to purchase and assemble a new one for the first time. I'm looking for advice on what components will give me the best bang for the buck as well as resources I can use during the actual building. I've swapped parts out of my old machine before, and I have a rudimentary understanding of the inner workings, but I'd certainly need some type of guide when I'm actually building it.

I've looked through some threads here, browsed newegg, and consulted various benchmarking and computer sites, but they all seem to have varying takes on products, and I don't keep enough of an eye on the tech scene to know what's trustworthy and what's not. I know a few of you guys (someone light the fragkrag signal) are very well versed in this stuff, so I'll tell you what I'm trying to accomplish and maybe you can dispense some advice.

I want a machine that can multi-task well, that won't struggle to run stuff like Photoshop/Illustrator/Flash simultaneously. I'd also like to be able to watch HD content (movies, tv shows etc). I may get a tv tuner but that's a later discussion. I probably won't do much gaming outside of SC2, but I would like it to be able to play games reasonably well.

Is it reasonable to build a machine that can do those things for ~$800? I would probably be willing to go a little over that if doing so meant a decent jump in performance. Thanks for any help.

ModeratorSIRL and JLIG.
infinity21 *
Profile Blog Joined October 2006
Canada6683 Posts
April 11 2010 01:38 GMT
#2
I'd suggest you go on newegg and try to build a system for $800. Then see where you need to go from there.

If your budget's somewhat flexible, I think that'll be the best learning experience for you.
Official Entusman #21
Hot_Bid
Profile Blog Joined October 2003
Braavos36374 Posts
April 11 2010 01:42 GMT
#3
you could use r1ch's build for me as a starting point, its here:
On February 19 2010 08:30 R1CH wrote:
Do the HotBid build:
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?Source=MSWD&WishListNumber=13036712

i think chill also bought a new computer with 0 time invested researching (just followed r1ch's recommendations), so you can ask him how it is.
@Hot_Bid on Twitter - ESPORTS life since 2010 - http://i.imgur.com/U2psw.png
CTStalker
Profile Blog Joined November 2004
Canada9720 Posts
April 11 2010 01:44 GMT
#4
$800 on a machine alone will net you a nice computer, with a good graphics card, that can certainly handle the the tasks you want to perform. if you're expecting that price to include a good monitor, then, maybe not so much.

when i buy a new comp, i usually browse a deals forum like red flag deals (http://www.redflagdeals.com/deals/main.php/electronics/), and wait until the stuff i want appears on the 'ol cheap. that's mainly for canadian sites though, but i'm sure some american TLers can link you to US equivalents.
By the way, my name is Funk. I am not of your world
KOFgokuon
Profile Blog Joined August 2004
United States14893 Posts
April 11 2010 02:02 GMT
#5
do you need a monitor? that's a huge factor
Also, what components do you already have
BroOd
Profile Blog Joined April 2003
Austin10831 Posts
April 11 2010 02:16 GMT
#6
On April 11 2010 11:02 KOFgokuon wrote:
do you need a monitor? that's a huge factor
Also, what components do you already have

Well, I have a monitor, so I don't need one immediately, although I will certainly be upgrading it in the near future. Most of the components in my old tower are pretty dated, I don't know if there's really anything in there worth saving.
ModeratorSIRL and JLIG.
semantics
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
10040 Posts
April 11 2010 02:33 GMT
#7
What about OS
infinity21 *
Profile Blog Joined October 2006
Canada6683 Posts
April 11 2010 02:34 GMT
#8
At least you'll be able to reuse the case and cd/dvd drive
Official Entusman #21
BroOd
Profile Blog Joined April 2003
Austin10831 Posts
April 11 2010 02:37 GMT
#9
On April 11 2010 11:34 infinity21 wrote:
At least you'll be able to reuse the case and cd/dvd drive

The case is an old gateway case, and I'll need a new cd/dvd drive. The one in my old comp reads but wouldn't write after a while.
ModeratorSIRL and JLIG.
BroOd
Profile Blog Joined April 2003
Austin10831 Posts
April 11 2010 02:38 GMT
#10
On April 11 2010 11:33 semantics wrote:
What about OS

I'll have to buy that as well. (windows 7 i guess)
ModeratorSIRL and JLIG.
Knickknack
Profile Joined February 2004
United States1187 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-04-11 02:44:37
April 11 2010 02:43 GMT
#11
I'm considering a build as well, so lucky for you. here you go.
[image loading]

forgot the drive, add whatever drive for ~20
| www.ArtofProtoss.vze.com |
Ursad0n
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States523 Posts
April 11 2010 03:01 GMT
#12
You can definately go without the Antec 900 of you want to save money. (I have one) It is a nice case but it really isn't necessary unless you REALLY want it. other than that looks good ^^
You make it sound like there's a correlation between what should happen and what actually happens. I mean, life is chaotic and it's often unfair. I know it is for me.
semantics
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
10040 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-04-11 03:15:34
April 11 2010 03:13 GMT
#13
[image loading]

my thought about it.
FragKrag
Profile Blog Joined September 2007
United States11550 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-04-11 03:27:38
April 11 2010 03:23 GMT
#14
I strongly recommend against the HotBid build ! Dead socket + PCIe 1.0 + expensive CPU = bad times.

Knickknack's build looks like a strong starting point, though I'm not sure I like the OCZ power supply :[ and the overpriced 5770.
Take this 5770 instead:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131330

and this combo with the Antec 300 + EarthWatts 500W 80+ Bronze
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.359965

slap this CD drive as well. No need for a burner because who honestly uses CDs these days anyways.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135202
*TL CJ Entusman #40* "like scissors does anything to paper except MAKE IT MORE NUMEROUS" -paper
semantics
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
10040 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-04-11 04:05:35
April 11 2010 03:37 GMT
#15
The 5770 listed is acutlly quite good i'm able to push it to core:1000 mem:1300 at stock and seems stable core:1325 and mem:1425 at 1.325

i could actually bring the core up to 1480 but i think that super out of the ordinary must got a lucky gpu

The fan keeps it at 75c after an hour long burn in test but that is probably due to my case being good and not building up ambient temp

Haven't had the card long enough so i keeping it at stock burning it in slowly but i'll probably push it up to what i listed in a month.

Fans are great silent till 70% and 70% is plenty but 85%+ is ffs loud lol but the normal fan profile never would get to that fanspeed.

A 15 buck diff for a high quality custom pbc and gpu cooler. isn't a bad deal
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3124/msi_radeon_hd_5770_hawk_1gb_video_card/index3.html

The card is great for the ocer, esp their 5870 lighting has had massive ocs MSI quality has grown over the years still wish they kept the motherboards cooler.

But i'd also suggest aganist hotbids build it's not longer a up to date build.
FragKrag
Profile Blog Joined September 2007
United States11550 Posts
April 11 2010 03:43 GMT
#16
I doubt he will overclock his GPU if he's making a thread asking about computers

and he isn't going to play much other than SC2 so overclocking the GPU would be a waste in the first place. I would actually suggest the cheaper 512MB GDDR5 5770, but I don't know what resolution he plans to play at.
*TL CJ Entusman #40* "like scissors does anything to paper except MAKE IT MORE NUMEROUS" -paper
BroOd
Profile Blog Joined April 2003
Austin10831 Posts
April 11 2010 03:46 GMT
#17
[image loading]
.

How does that look?
ModeratorSIRL and JLIG.
FragKrag
Profile Blog Joined September 2007
United States11550 Posts
April 11 2010 03:52 GMT
#18
Get rid of the barracuda imo. It's not terrible, but it isn't very fast at all. If you have that money, just get a 640GB Caviar Blue for better access times. Also, you chose the older Phenom II X4, the HDZ955FBGIBOX. You should get the newer Phenom II X4 which is the HDZ955FBGMBOX. The newer Phenom II X4 is better at overclocking and such.

You can also save some money with this combo which replaces your CPU and GPU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.365667
*TL CJ Entusman #40* "like scissors does anything to paper except MAKE IT MORE NUMEROUS" -paper
hoborg
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
United States430 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-04-11 04:07:32
April 11 2010 04:05 GMT
#19
That computer looks awesome and is much better than the computer I came up with on newegg just now, but I'm going to post mine anyway because it's cheap!

I took a different approach and tried to build the cheapest possible computer that should still be able to do what you say about multitasking photoshop and flash well, and should probably be able to play SC2 at max (although FragKrag can probably give a better opinion on that)

[image loading]


658.95 w/ shipping minus $70 in MIR minus $5 if you use promo code EMCYRYT26 before 4/12 (for the PSU) = $583.95.

Note that there's no case - I'm assuming you can use your old case. If it's really crappy and you want to get a new one, you could local stores for cases so you won't have to pay for shipping such a bulky item. I'm also assuming you mean it when you say you don't want to play many games aside from SC2... if you change your mind about that, you should be getting a better video card.

It has pretty decent upgradability, I think, in the future you could toss in a newer socket AM3 CPU, a new videocard, and add on 2 more sticks of DDR3 in the free slots, and you'll be up to date again.

But if you're happy with the price of the one in your cart already i'd say go for it. BTW, I agree with Frag about swapping out the barracuda for a Western Digital. Seagate sucks.
blbl | CJ and ACE fighting!
FragKrag
Profile Blog Joined September 2007
United States11550 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-04-11 04:10:44
April 11 2010 04:10 GMT
#20
I'm not a big fan of OCZ plats on AMD platforms because GSkill generally has better reliability. The green is great as a storage drive, but as a main drive it is absolutely terrible (worse than the seagate). I'm not a fan of Athlon II X3 series either. The X4 series just seems like a much better buy imo.
*TL CJ Entusman #40* "like scissors does anything to paper except MAKE IT MORE NUMEROUS" -paper
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