Hey guys, as of today my laptop has become completely useless for gaming. Had a problem and something happened with my videocard, frying it or something, My laptop warranty ran out and I tried to talk to the online helpers and they wont even talk to me unless I pay 60 dollars for 7 days of talking, which doesnt give a guarentee that they will find the issue. So I looked to my old compouter tower.
I have a nice monitor and a tower Im not using so I decided Im going to put together a gaming computer. Ive never put together a computer before, and I need some help. What are all the bare minimum parts I need? I want to be able to play SC2 on at least medium graphics. My brother can help me install all the parts but I just don't know whats necessary to buy..
help, no sc2 for months is terrible

Frolossus

United States4779 Posts

March 22 2011 21:59 GMT

ram
graphics card
motherboard
processor
power supply
heat sink/fan
case
moniter
harddrive
diskdrive

maybe im forgetting one or two things off the top of my head

howerpower

United States619 Posts

March 22 2011 22:04 GMT

If you just want to build a computer to play starcraft low settings you can do it pretty cheap. Certain things you can scavenge and get for free, like a case, fans, disk drives, and a power supply if you are lucky. Keep an eye on newegg for deals as well as fry's. I think it could be done under 500 bucks.
I would get an offbrand video card, like evga, because they generally run cheaper and are pretty much the same. Your most expensive pieces are going to be the motherboard, video card, and processor. You can normally get really good deals on ram and hard drives if you keep your eyes open.

Raeleigh

Canada902 Posts

March 22 2011 22:20 GMT

How much are you wanting to spend?
Cause you can get a decent gaming rig for 500$ and play SC2 on med. graphics.

I know I'll be spending like 3k when I do my computer, but I like the overkill. = ='' Don't become like me.

Serpico

4285 Posts

March 22 2011 22:40 GMT

On March 23 2011 07:20 Raeleigh wrote:
How much are you wanting to spend?
Cause you can get a decent gaming rig for 500$ and play SC2 on med. graphics.

I know I'll be spending like 3k when I do my computer, but I like the overkill. = ='' Don't become like me.

There's no way you can need 3k worth of anything for your PC. Whether it's editing/folding/SETI or gaming. 3k is like supreme overkill or something. But...it will be powerful

I need to get a new mobo/cpu/gpu/ram soon but at least I can keep my PSU/case/monitor. Should cost me around 500 for all that to be able to max out the latest games on high res. So 3k should make for a beastly system.

Kazragore

United States369 Posts

March 22 2011 22:55 GMT

I literally just built this computer like 3 weeks ago. It can play everything on ultra, no problem. I didn't buy everything off newegg- actually only got my GPU, PSU, and case there, everything else at microcenter. This is essentially it though, its $761 before MIR's, which there are like three of for considerable savings (I got fabulous deals at Microcenter, so my total cost was fairly significantly lower).

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=16728386

I absolutely love it

Serpico

4285 Posts

March 22 2011 23:01 GMT

On March 23 2011 07:55 Kazragore wrote:
I literally just built this computer like 3 weeks ago. It can play everything on ultra, no problem. I didn't buy everything off newegg- actually only got my GPU, PSU, and case there, everything else at microcenter. This is essentially it though, its $761 before MIR's, which there are like three of for considerable savings (I got fabulous deals at Microcenter, so my total cost was fairly significantly lower).

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=16728386

I absolutely love it

Is there anything different about installing an AMD cpu? Do you have to match up the little gold point with the correct corner of the cpu like intel ones? Also what cpu cooler did you buy?

skyR

Canada13817 Posts

March 22 2011 23:04 GMT

AMD CPU installation is the same as Intel's. There will be notches and a gold circle in one of the corner's.

pinenamu

United States770 Posts

March 23 2011 00:51 GMT

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007&cm_re=arctic_silver-_-35-100-007-_-Product

Get this too! Keeps CPU temperatures cool like a boss.

Raeleigh

Canada902 Posts

March 23 2011 08:44 GMT

#10

On March 23 2011 07:40 Serpico wrote:

Show nested quote +

There's no way you can need 3k worth of anything for your PC. Whether it's editing/folding/SETI or gaming. 3k is like supreme overkill or something. But...it will be powerful

Clearly you didn't see the "but I like the overkill" ...
I started working at a computer store, I became an enthusiast. Absolutely everyone where I work agrees with me when I say, I could spend 2k on a computer and it would be awesome.
I could spend 3k and it's even more exciting.
It's not so much about the practicality but about the idea of bragging.
So many people on TL have been like "Don't spend 3k!" It has to be the most annoying thing EVER.

PUPATREE

340 Posts

March 23 2011 10:12 GMT

#11

Don't spend 3k!

stiga

United States377 Posts

March 23 2011 14:04 GMT

#12

I have the tower and some fans, I havent opened it up yet (I used it before as a computer to play WC3, then got a new laptop and had it saved since) Im just not sure how much ram my tower can handle. Im pretty sure I have a motherboard, and drivers already in there. Im going to work now but will open it up tonight and update what I have inside it, thanks guyzz

Myrmidon

United States9452 Posts

March 23 2011 17:22 GMT

#13

On March 23 2011 23:04 stiga wrote:
I have the tower and some fans, I havent opened it up yet (I used it before as a computer to play WC3, then got a new laptop and had it saved since) Im just not sure how much ram my tower can handle. Im pretty sure I have a motherboard, and drivers already in there. Im going to work now but will open it up tonight and update what I have inside it, thanks guyzz

Here are things to check:

RAM: is it DDR2 or DDR3? New systems require DDR3, but it's unlikely you have it.
Hard drive and optical drive: do they connect through SATA or IDE (long flat ribbon)? SATA is the newer standard; modern motherboards typically have several SATA ports and sometimes one port to handle IDE drives.
Power supply: preferably figure out what the brand and exact model are. Failing that, post everything the label says about power, amps on +12V, +5V, +3.3V, etc.

Possibly the CPU and GPU are up to the task (probably not though), so post what those are of course, as well as what the motherboard is.

AyeH

United States534 Posts

March 23 2011 17:55 GMT

#14

On March 23 2011 09:51 pinenamu wrote:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007&cm_re=arctic_silver-_-35-100-007-_-Product

Get this too! Keeps CPU temperatures cool like a boss.

honestly, i've been trying out different types of thermal paste and i've only noticed 1-2 degree celsius differences. sure, it is a much more high quality product, but it's not worth the extra money in my opinion. if you really want something that cools like a boss, get a waterblock for the cpu and watercool that cpu. it'll drop temps by 60% guarantee.

xarthaz

1704 Posts

March 23 2011 18:04 GMT

#15

Pick up an old crt and desktop computer from a dumpster. install win98 or xp depending on hardware, load up Brood War. The best decision you will make in ur life my friend.

stiga

United States377 Posts

March 24 2011 01:15 GMT

#16

Im on the computer right now. I apparently have all the things needed to get it started, I just need to get better equipment to run sc2, Im looking for all my papers showing my stats so Illl have that posted soon, thanks guys

Myrmidon

United States9452 Posts

March 24 2011 01:39 GMT

#17

Speccy is a fairly lightweight program that can tell most of those things, in case you don't have those papers handy.

http://www.piriform.com/speccy

Other than that, you may want to look at the power supply label or documentation.

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