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When using this resource, please read FragKrag's opening post. The Tech Support forum regulars have helped create countless of desktop systems without any compensation. The least you can do is provide all of the information required for them to help you properly. |
Hey guys,
My sister asked me to build a pc for her too, after building one for myself.
Budget
Not entirely sure, but she wants mainly a cheap pc, for internet/movies/music/some not too taxing games.
I was thinking you could assemble a nice low-end pc for 300-350 euro.
What is your resolution?
1920x1080.
What are you using it for?
Office stuff, Internet, 720,1080p movies, not too taxing games (sims 3 etc)
What is your upgrade cycle?
As long as possible, like 4-5 years at least. She wants a reliable pc, that is reasonably cheap. But she also wants one that she can use for the coming years, without needing new purchases.
When do you plan on building it?
Next week or two.
Do you plan on overclocking?
No.
Do you need an Operating System?
no
Do you plan to add a second GPU for SLI or Crossfire?
No.
Where are you buying your parts from?
Afuture.nl, Azerty.nl, Komplett.nl ( i use a pricewatch to select from multiple stores to get the cheapest offers)
Since she wants a little gaming as well, i thought about getting a ivybridge processor with HD4000 gpu , since it will play most older games quite well, and you don't need a dedicated videocard with that.
The i3 3225 seems like a good processor for this, and it should've been released 24 june, but i can't really find any information regarding the price. Is it worth it, or should you just upgrade to i5?
About the case, i figured a small tower would be enough, but i have no idea what a good small tower is. And they seem to come almost only with stock PSU's which i don't really trust. Finally , being a girl, she doesn't want a typical ' gamer' tower (like that popular HAF case  )
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I have been debating back and forth for some time on all the parts that I should get for my budget build and for a first time buyer and computer builder, I have been worried that I will not be able to do what I wish to be done on the computer that I build. So basically my goal is to be able to play sc2 on medium quality with 60+ fps. Also, I REALLY wish to stream. So how much fps do you think I could get with medium quality with these parts if I were to stream?
ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
Western Digital Caviar Blue WD2500AAKX 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
ASUS M5A97 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
ASUS EAH6670/DIS/1GD5 Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
Antec EarthWatts EA-500D Green 500W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL
AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX
Please, if any recommendations are possible give them to me as I will gladly consider it. However items that are suggested should be about the same price as the original product (On a tight budget). Thank you!
Edit: I will also be using Windows XP for a little bit until windows 8 is out!
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That is a sub-optimal build. Why? It's an AMD processor, whereas SC2 does better with faster-per-core Intel processors. Fill out the questionnaire in the OP for more help.
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So no answer to the questions I proposed? I jut want my questions answered thanks.
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you can try reading the OP. i hear there's like a billion pages of resources hiding in those spoilers but hey what do i know
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On July 02 2012 12:02 MisterFred wrote:
That is a sub-optimal build. Why? It's an AMD processor, whereas SC2 does better with faster-per-core Intel processors. Fill out the questionnaire in the OP for more help.
On July 02 2012 11:47 Silky wrote:
Also, I REALLY wish to stream. So how much fps do you think I could get with medium quality with these parts if I were to stream?
Granted, at that kind of cost, I'd try to get a i5-3450 and low-end socket 1155 motherboard instead. Of course, it's hard to say how far you can skimp on the video card without knowing the resolution. You can definitely go lower on the power supply. I'd suggest grabbing a few parts on US NCIX to get above $50 on the order for the free shipping and take this Corsair CX400 (a Seasonic, a little better than the CX V2 series) for $30:
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=33357&promoid=1223
fps would depend a lot on what's happening in the game.
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Question 1: So how much fps do you think I could get with medium quality with these parts if I were to stream?
Answer: I don't know, I don't stream. No way in heck you're getting 60fps while streaming on that processor though, particularly during battles. Or any processor, really.
Question 2: Please, if any recommendations are possible give them to me as I will gladly consider it.
Answer: That is a sub-optimal build. Why? It's an AMD processor, whereas SC2 does better with faster-per-core Intel processors. Fill out the questionnaire in the OP for more help.
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On July 01 2012 12:59 iTzSnypah wrote:Show nested quote +On July 01 2012 12:33 JimmyRustles wrote:+ Show Spoiler +Hey guys, looking to build a computer for the first time. I've been doing a good amount of research, and I've put together an initial build based on one I found on Anandtech. Again, this is my first time building a computer, and I want to make sure I do it right. I would really appreciate any comments/opinions about my build, and especially any suggestions for better/cheaper parts. BudgetMy budget is $800, and the build I've currently put together sits at around $790. What is your resolution?1920x1080. What are you using it for?Gaming, possibly streaming in 720p if it fits the budget. My main goal is to be able to play Starcraft 2 and Team Fortress 2 at high if not max settings. What is your upgrade cycle?2-3 years. When do you plan on building it?Next week or two. Do you plan on overclocking?No. Do you need an Operating System?Yes. Do you plan to add a second GPU for SLI or Crossfire?No. Where are you buying your parts from?Microcenter, Newegg, and Fry's. So this is the build I've put together, and would really appreciate any help revising or appending it. Thanks! + Show Spoiler +So please let me know what you guys think of the build. My main concerns are whether or not the parts are actually all compatible with each other, but from what I've researched they should be... also wondering which graphics card to go for between the HD6850 and the GTX 460, and whether or not a 500 watt PSU would be enough to power it all. And I don't know if it matters, but I'm using an ASUS VH242 Monitor ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052). Again, any help is appreciated, and thanks for reading! Everything is good except: RAM is 1.65v, PSU has too much watts(aka u can get a cx430 and be fine), Don't need Z77 mobo, Case is old. Get these instead: ASRock H77M mATX $74.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157303G.skill 4GB DDR3-1333 $23.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396Cooler Master HAF 912 $59.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233Corsair CX430 $24.99AMIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026
Ok cool, thanks a lot for the tips. I'll do a little more reading up on the parts you suggested, and I think my build'll be done.
*EDIT*: I do have one question about the power supply you recommended. From what I've read on guru3d, the minimum voltage required for the GTX 460 is 450 to 500W. And also it looks like it requires two 6-pin connectors, and it seems that the CX 430 only has one. Would the CX 500 be a better upgrade? (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027&cm_sp=Cat_Power_Supplies-_-Spotlight-_-17-139-027)
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Is there a way to stream without it having to go in the basic mode or when the windows turn non transparent and blue?
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On July 02 2012 13:21 JimmyRustles wrote:+ Show Spoiler +On July 01 2012 12:59 iTzSnypah wrote:Show nested quote +On July 01 2012 12:33 JimmyRustles wrote:+ Show Spoiler +Hey guys, looking to build a computer for the first time. I've been doing a good amount of research, and I've put together an initial build based on one I found on Anandtech. Again, this is my first time building a computer, and I want to make sure I do it right. I would really appreciate any comments/opinions about my build, and especially any suggestions for better/cheaper parts. BudgetMy budget is $800, and the build I've currently put together sits at around $790. What is your resolution?1920x1080. What are you using it for?Gaming, possibly streaming in 720p if it fits the budget. My main goal is to be able to play Starcraft 2 and Team Fortress 2 at high if not max settings. What is your upgrade cycle?2-3 years. When do you plan on building it?Next week or two. Do you plan on overclocking?No. Do you need an Operating System?Yes. Do you plan to add a second GPU for SLI or Crossfire?No. Where are you buying your parts from?Microcenter, Newegg, and Fry's. So this is the build I've put together, and would really appreciate any help revising or appending it. Thanks! + Show Spoiler +So please let me know what you guys think of the build. My main concerns are whether or not the parts are actually all compatible with each other, but from what I've researched they should be... also wondering which graphics card to go for between the HD6850 and the GTX 460, and whether or not a 500 watt PSU would be enough to power it all. And I don't know if it matters, but I'm using an ASUS VH242 Monitor ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052). Again, any help is appreciated, and thanks for reading! Everything is good except: RAM is 1.65v, PSU has too much watts(aka u can get a cx430 and be fine), Don't need Z77 mobo, Case is old. Get these instead: ASRock H77M mATX $74.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157303G.skill 4GB DDR3-1333 $23.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396Cooler Master HAF 912 $59.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233Corsair CX430 $24.99AMIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026 Ok cool, thanks a lot for the tips. I'll do a little more reading up on the parts you suggested, and I think my build'll be done. *EDIT*: I do have one question about the power supply you recommended. From what I've read on guru3d, the minimum voltage required for the GTX 460 is 450 to 500W. And also it looks like it requires two 6-pin connectors, and it seems that the CX 430 only has one. Would the CX 500 be a better upgrade? ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027&cm_sp=Cat_Power_Supplies-_-Spotlight-_-17-139-027)
There are such things as molex (4flat thingys) to 6-pin adapters that will come with the GTX 460. That being said, I have a CX500 and I bought it almost exclusively for the 2x6-pin connectors (I was newb at the time and didn't know shit about computer parts) and it works good, except coil whine, which truely isn't a problem as my case fans generate more noise than the coil whine. When the computer is off I have to flip the switch on the PSU else I can't sleep (tower is literally about 1ft away from my pillow) so if your going to put your case in a not very accessable place I would recommend a different PSU.
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what does everyone mean by op?
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Original Post. In other words, the first post in this thread. I'm referring particularly to the material contained in the first spoiler.
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On July 02 2012 14:58 Silky wrote:
what does everyone mean by op?
OP = Opening post
Edit: Or maybe I was wrong my entire life... S;
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Orignal Poster.
AKA you want this questionaire:
Important questions you should ask yourself
If you request a build, please answer these questions. We will spend as much effort on your build as you spend on your answers to these questions! I urge people to abstain from providing builds unless all the questions are answered.
What is your budget?
This should be an obvious one, you should determine a price range that best describes how much you want to spend on your build. It makes it easier for people to make recommendations.
What is your resolution?
This is extremely important especially for a gaming machine. I see people all the time asking for a video card recommendation and 5 people reply "5850" and the person hasn't even given their gaming resolution; it turns out the person games at 1280x1024 and could have ended up wasting $200 on a card that is total and complete overkill for his resolution.
What are you using it for?
Mostly gaming? Some gaming with video encoding mixed in? Photoshop? Streaming? All this matters, you can end up spending a lot of money and not be able to do anything you wanted to or you can spend a lot of money on stuff you don't even want to do.
What is your upgrade cycle?
Knowing the answer to this question makes it easier for people to recommend CPU sockets and GPUs so you get the most for your money. A person with a longer upgrade (2+ years) cycle will probably end up spending more initially but end up saving more at the expense of some performance. On the other hand a person with a shorter upgrade cycle (1 - 2 years) wants to spend less initially so they can put more money toward their next build.
When do you plan on building it?
Computer parts shift in prices often. With the release of new products, exist prices may drop further. Even without the release of new prices, changes in supply can affect the price of a specific part. The HD 5850 was supposed to retail at the $260 mark, but in a mere 4-5 months after its release it climbed to top $300 for basic reference models.
Do you plan on overclocking?
If you plan on overclocking, the motherboard choice and heatsink choice will be affected. Enthusiast overclocking requires enthusiast heatsinks and at least a stable motherboard. A simple budget Foxconn motherboard will not be adequate for your overclocking needs!
Do you need an Operating System?
An OS is around $100. It affects how much of your budget we can spend on the actual hardware.
Do you plan to add a second GPU for SLI or Crossfire?
CrossFire and SLI are powerful solutions that allow higher performance, but in order to utilize them, we have to choose motherboards and PSUs that can support the increased demands that Crossfire and SLI place on your components.
Where are you buying your parts from?
If you have a nearby Fry's or Microcenter you can utilize their deals. If you're in Europe you obviously cannot use Newegg/Fry's/Microcenter so we need to know where you are from to put together a list of parts from a website or area you can actually buy from.
If you can't answer these questions, make sure you can answer them before you ask us to help you put together a list of parts for you. Every single question affects the build we will put together for you greatly so make sure you can answer them accurately!
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On July 02 2012 14:13 iTzSnypah wrote:Show nested quote +On July 02 2012 13:21 JimmyRustles wrote:+ Show Spoiler +On July 01 2012 12:59 iTzSnypah wrote:Show nested quote +On July 01 2012 12:33 JimmyRustles wrote:+ Show Spoiler +Hey guys, looking to build a computer for the first time. I've been doing a good amount of research, and I've put together an initial build based on one I found on Anandtech. Again, this is my first time building a computer, and I want to make sure I do it right. I would really appreciate any comments/opinions about my build, and especially any suggestions for better/cheaper parts. BudgetMy budget is $800, and the build I've currently put together sits at around $790. What is your resolution?1920x1080. What are you using it for?Gaming, possibly streaming in 720p if it fits the budget. My main goal is to be able to play Starcraft 2 and Team Fortress 2 at high if not max settings. What is your upgrade cycle?2-3 years. When do you plan on building it?Next week or two. Do you plan on overclocking?No. Do you need an Operating System?Yes. Do you plan to add a second GPU for SLI or Crossfire?No. Where are you buying your parts from?Microcenter, Newegg, and Fry's. So this is the build I've put together, and would really appreciate any help revising or appending it. Thanks! + Show Spoiler +So please let me know what you guys think of the build. My main concerns are whether or not the parts are actually all compatible with each other, but from what I've researched they should be... also wondering which graphics card to go for between the HD6850 and the GTX 460, and whether or not a 500 watt PSU would be enough to power it all. And I don't know if it matters, but I'm using an ASUS VH242 Monitor ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052). Again, any help is appreciated, and thanks for reading! Everything is good except: RAM is 1.65v, PSU has too much watts(aka u can get a cx430 and be fine), Don't need Z77 mobo, Case is old. Get these instead: ASRock H77M mATX $74.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157303G.skill 4GB DDR3-1333 $23.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396Cooler Master HAF 912 $59.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233Corsair CX430 $24.99AMIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026 Ok cool, thanks a lot for the tips. I'll do a little more reading up on the parts you suggested, and I think my build'll be done. *EDIT*: I do have one question about the power supply you recommended. From what I've read on guru3d, the minimum voltage required for the GTX 460 is 450 to 500W. And also it looks like it requires two 6-pin connectors, and it seems that the CX 430 only has one. Would the CX 500 be a better upgrade? ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027&cm_sp=Cat_Power_Supplies-_-Spotlight-_-17-139-027) There are such things as molex (4flat thingys) to 6-pin adapters that will come with the GTX 460. That being said, I have a CX500 and I bought it almost exclusively for the 2x6-pin connectors (I was newb at the time and didn't know shit about computer parts) and it works good, except coil whine, which truely isn't a problem as my case fans generate more noise than the coil whine. When the computer is off I have to flip the switch on the PSU else I can't sleep (tower is literally about 1ft away from my pillow) so if your going to put your case in a not very accessable place I would recommend a different PSU.
The Antec Neo Eco 450c is pretty cheap at us.ncix.com right now. For that matter, you can save on shipping + a little cost if you buy the HAF 912 from that website as well. A 450w PSU will power an ivy bridge processor and basically any modern GPU, including wiggle room + overclocking room, so don't worry about wattage. Most online calculators inflate to take into account crap power supples that lie about the wattage they can deliver. Coil whine is a known problem with the Corsair CX series, though it doesn't affect everyone.
Edit: If you go to the image gallery for the graphics card on newegg, you can see the power adapter(s) included in the picture. Some few GPUs don't come with adapters. BTW, for that price range I'd probably move up to a 6870 for $20 more:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161389
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On July 02 2012 15:00 FiWiFaKi wrote:OP = Opening post
You just blew my mind.
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What is your budget?
My budget is $550
What is your resolution?
My Resolution is 1920 X 1080
What are you using it for?
I'm using it to browse the web ahah, but the only main thing is to play SC2 and stream it in medium quality.
What is your upgrade cycle?
My upgrade cycle is about every 6-7 months.
When do you plan on building it?
I plan on building it within a week or so.
Do you plan on overclocking?
I do not plan on overclocking.
Do you need an Operating System?
No I don't need an OS.
Do you plan to add a second GPU for SLI or Crossfire?
No I don't plan to add another GPU.
Where are you buying your parts from?
I plan to buy all my parts from newegg.
Please help out!
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+ Show Spoiler +On July 02 2012 09:08 1ManArmy wrote:Hey guys, My sister asked me to build a pc for her too, after building one for myself. Budget Not entirely sure, but she wants mainly a cheap pc, for internet/movies/music/some not too taxing games. I was thinking you could assemble a nice low-end pc for 300-350 euro. What is your resolution? 1920x1080. What are you using it for? Office stuff, Internet, 720,1080p movies, not too taxing games (sims 3 etc) What is your upgrade cycle? As long as possible, like 4-5 years at least. She wants a reliable pc, that is reasonably cheap. But she also wants one that she can use for the coming years, without needing new purchases. When do you plan on building it? Next week or two. Do you plan on overclocking? No. Do you need an Operating System? no Do you plan to add a second GPU for SLI or Crossfire? No. Where are you buying your parts from? Afuture.nl, Azerty.nl, Komplett.nl ( i use a pricewatch to select from multiple stores to get the cheapest offers) Since she wants a little gaming as well, i thought about getting a ivybridge processor with HD4000 gpu , since it will play most older games quite well, and you don't need a dedicated videocard with that. The i3 3225 seems like a good processor for this, and it should've been released 24 june, but i can't really find any information regarding the price. Is it worth it, or should you just upgrade to i5? About the case, i figured a small tower would be enough, but i have no idea what a good small tower is. And they seem to come almost only with stock PSU's which i don't really trust. Finally , being a girl, she doesn't want a typical ' gamer' tower (like that popular HAF case )
Would be great if someone could recommend me something
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I was considering suggesting a Llano build, but I wasn't entirely happy with what I came up with. Frankly, I liked your ivy bridge i3-idea better, and you can probably get it about as cheap. But anyway, here's the llano build. I mostly just looked at komplett, so check around for better prices for individual components:
CPU: a8-3850 (93 euro)
http://komplett.nl/Komplett/product/amd_socket_fm1/20091023/amd_a_series_a8_3850_2_9ghz_4mb_fm1/details.aspx
Motherboard: Asrock cheap FM1 (49)
http://komplett.nl/Komplett/product/amd_socket_fm1/20100873/asrock_a75m_hvs_socket_fm1_micro_atx/details.aspx
This motherboard has ONLY vga and dvi connectors. If you want HDMI connectors, you'll need this one (55):
http://komplett.nl/Komplett/product/amd_socket_fm1/20093043/msi_a75ma_p35_socket_fm1_micro_atx/details.aspx
That will lose DVI-capablity though. If you want both you'll need to pay more for a motherboard with all three major video connectors.
CPU cooler: stock cooler
GPU: integrated graphics. That's pretty much the whole point of the build, the a8-3850 has integrated graphics which should be somewhat superior to HD4000. Unfortunately, the Llanos are due to be replaced by a new generation of AMD apus sometime this summer/fall, so the advantage doesn't feel as good as it should. Would do the job fine, however.
RAM: 2x4gb 1866mhz (54)
http://komplett.nl/Komplett/product/ddr3_modules/20093014/corsair_vengeance_8_gb_1866mhz_pc3_15000/details.aspx
Unlike Intel builds, AMD apus benefit quite a bit from faster RAM. Note that this is a bit cheaper than alternative models, but the tall heat-spreaders will prevent the use of aftermarket coolers.
Case: Some budget case that fits the required look. Maybe a bit fenix outlaw (~45 euros)
PSU: Be Quiet 430w (42)
DVD-burner (18)
http://komplett.nl/Komplett/product/dvd/20096282/sony_optiarc_ad_5280s_schijfstation_dvd_rw_(_r/details.aspx
HDD: Samsung 1TB (75)
http://komplett.nl/Komplett/product/intern_3_5_/10018452/samsung_1tb_3_5_sata300_7200rpm_32mb/details.aspx
Total: roughly 376 euro + shipping. Though as I said, I'm not terribly excited by the build, but it'll do the purposes you set forth.
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EPT
