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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. |
Hi guys, I'm a computer build virgin, so any and all help is much appreciated here. I'm looking for a decent performance PC to last me a long time, on a budget. I have done a bit of research into this, so hopefully I don't sound clueless with my requests, but if something I say here makes no sense, pleasee work with me and point out the problem, so that I don't live with ridiculous misconceptions of how PCs work for the rest of my life. Thanks <3
+ Show Spoiler +
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?
I would prefer to keep everything under $700.
What is your resolution?
I think my current monitor is 1280x1024, but it is pretty awful, so I will probably upgrade to a decent 1920x1200 soon. Dual monitor capabilities would be nice, but definitely not a must.
What are you using it for?
As far as gaming, mostly Starcraft 2 with a few other games mixed in, but probably nothing super-new or much more graphics-intensive than SC2. At the very least, it needs to run SC2 on high-ultra smoothly (single monitor 1920x1200, probably 60Hz), and any other game I would play should be fine (even if on low graphics). I have no interest in streaming. Other than that, it will mostly be used for school, watching movies/videos/streams. No need for video editing/extreme photoshop capabilities (maybe a bit of photoshop though).
What is your upgrade cycle?
Durability/reliability is what I would like to emphasize here. I would like for the majority of this build to last a long time, at least 5+ years. (That's realistic for the CPU/Mobo, PSU, and storage right?) I can upgrade SOME of other components (GPU, RAM, HSF, storage) as necessary, but preferably not within 2-3 years of buying.
When do you plan on building it?
As soon as I select some parts, hopefully within a couple weeks, but I can wait a bit if there will be any expected discounts within a month or two that anyone knows of.
Do you plan on overclocking?
If it adds viable options and would save money for the build (keeping in mind the priority of long-lasting performance), I'm all for it. Even if I wouldn't need to OC anytime soon after building, having the option to do so in the future would be nice.
Do you need an Operating System?
Nope, get OS for free from my school B-).
Do you plan to add a second GPU for SLI or Crossfire?
Not immediately. If the PSU you guys have chosen from previous criteria can handle it and if a compatible motherboard can fit within the budget, then yes again, I'd want to have the option.
Side note: How common is GPU overclocking and how much does it increase performance? Is it ok to OC both CPU and GPU simultaneously? Maybe if the heat management for that is less of an issue than getting a compatible mobo, I won't need SLI/CrossFire and could OC instead.
Where are you buying your parts from?
Microcenter, and anywhere online. I'm looking to take full advantage of Microcenter package deals/discounts and rebates.
Oh since this isn't asked in the questionnaire, I'm looking to get an SSD-HDD combo. I guess as long as a 5400 HDD doesn't slow down opening of files significantly (vs 7200), I wouldn't mind saving some money there.
I have a vague idea of the components I want and the price ranges they fall in, and I think (hope) $700 is a reasonable limit.
Again huge thanks to the people in this thread in advance, you da best!
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If you have a vague idea of components than please post the list... you have a lot of "would be nice to have but not necessary" in your Q&A.
If you're looking for a build to last five years performance wise than that's easy if you aren't going to do anything besides Starcraft II and similar demanding games.
Most components will easily last more than five years but as with any other electronics, there is the possibility of the motherboard, CPU, PSU, and HDD dying. This is where warranty comes into play and with a $700 budget, you simply won't be able to afford the high-end parts that carry a longer warranty (eg. Caviar Green which is a 5400 RPM drive only carries a two year warranty as opposed to the 7200 RPM Caviar Black which carries five years, Corsair AX carries a seven year warranty as opposed to most other units which are five years of warranty.)
GPU overclocking is done through software so it's a pretty easy performance boost for anyone willing to do it. You can overclock both GPU and CPU simultaneously without worry.
CPU overclocking requires a K suffix processor (2500k, 3570k, etc) so that's $200 minimum + the motherboard which is going to be around $100. $700 budget isn't large enough to do overclocking along with getting a SSD + HDD, you would have to skimp on another component in order to achieve this.
Don't even consider SLI / CrossfireX with a $700 budget. It's just going to end up being a waste of money.
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Looking at those monitors, I'd say you have two decisions to make: glossy vs matte and upgrade vs saving money.
Note that your current monitor is a "matte" monitor (has anti-glare coating that fuzzes things a tad so you don't get irritating reflections). The Samsung monitor you're looking at is a "glossy" monitor (mirror-like finish that makes things super clear but in the wrong lighting settings has all kind of reflections/glare problems). So make sure you were wanting glossy. Other than that there's not much difference between the monitor you have now and the monitor you're looking at - they're both 21.5" 1920x1080 ordinary TN screens.
You might consider buying an upgrade like an Asus VS229H-P or a Dell u2312hm. The Asus is 21.5", while the Dell is 23". The Asus is currently $155 according to shopping.google.com, while the Dell is more around $235, but apparently it goes on sale now and again for under $200 if you're willing to wait. They're both IPS monitors, which means the colors & some other features will be slightly higher quality. So they'd become your new "good" monitor, while your current one would be the second, back-up monitor. Both monitors are matte.
Credit to: Team Liquid Monitor Thread
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On August 17 2012 03:26 MisterFred wrote:Looking at those monitors, I'd say you have two decisions to make: glossy vs matte and upgrade vs saving money. Note that your current monitor is a "matte" monitor (has anti-glare coating that fuzzes things a tad so you don't get irritating reflections). The Samsung monitor you're looking at is a "glossy" monitor (mirror-like finish that makes things super clear but in the wrong lighting settings has all kind of reflections/glare problems). So make sure you were wanting glossy. Other than that there's not much difference between the monitor you have now and the monitor you're looking at - they're both 21.5" 1920x1080 ordinary TN screens. You might consider buying an upgrade like an Asus VS229H-P or a Dell u2312hm. The Asus is 21.5", while the Dell is 23". The Asus is currently $155 according to shopping.google.com, while the Dell is more around $235, but apparently it goes on sale now and again for under $200 if you're willing to wait. They're both IPS monitors, which means the colors & some other features will be slightly higher quality. So they'd become your new "good" monitor, while your current one would be the second, back-up monitor. Both monitors are matte. Credit to: Team Liquid Monitor Thread
Awesome thanks! I really like that asus and that's about what I was looking to spend anyway so it would be a good upgrade you say? Last question is that since my current monitor has speakers but idk if this new one does, if the new one doesn't will the sound play from my secondary speakers for what's happening on each?
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On August 17 2012 02:43 elsemyano wrote:Hi guys, I'm a computer build virgin, so any and all help is much appreciated here. I'm looking for a decent performance PC to last me a long time, on a budget. I have done a bit of research into this, so hopefully I don't sound clueless with my requests, but if something I say here makes no sense, pleasee work with me and point out the problem, so that I don't live with ridiculous misconceptions of how PCs work for the rest of my life. Thanks <3 + Show Spoiler +
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?
I would prefer to keep everything under $700.
What is your resolution?
I think my current monitor is 1280x1024, but it is pretty awful, so I will probably upgrade to a decent 1920x1200 soon. Dual monitor capabilities would be nice, but definitely not a must.
What are you using it for?
As far as gaming, mostly Starcraft 2 with a few other games mixed in, but probably nothing super-new or much more graphics-intensive than SC2. At the very least, it needs to run SC2 on high-ultra smoothly (single monitor 1920x1200, probably 60Hz), and any other game I would play should be fine (even if on low graphics). I have no interest in streaming. Other than that, it will mostly be used for school, watching movies/videos/streams. No need for video editing/extreme photoshop capabilities (maybe a bit of photoshop though).
What is your upgrade cycle?
Durability/reliability is what I would like to emphasize here. I would like for the majority of this build to last a long time, at least 5+ years. (That's realistic for the CPU/Mobo, PSU, and storage right?) I can upgrade SOME of other components (GPU, RAM, HSF, storage) as necessary, but preferably not within 2-3 years of buying.
When do you plan on building it?
As soon as I select some parts, hopefully within a couple weeks, but I can wait a bit if there will be any expected discounts within a month or two that anyone knows of.
Do you plan on overclocking?
If it adds viable options and would save money for the build (keeping in mind the priority of long-lasting performance), I'm all for it. Even if I wouldn't need to OC anytime soon after building, having the option to do so in the future would be nice.
Do you need an Operating System?
Nope, get OS for free from my school B-).
Do you plan to add a second GPU for SLI or Crossfire?
Not immediately. If the PSU you guys have chosen from previous criteria can handle it and if a compatible motherboard can fit within the budget, then yes again, I'd want to have the option.
Side note: How common is GPU overclocking and how much does it increase performance? Is it ok to OC both CPU and GPU simultaneously? Maybe if the heat management for that is less of an issue than getting a compatible mobo, I won't need SLI/CrossFire and could OC instead.
Where are you buying your parts from?
Microcenter, and anywhere online. I'm looking to take full advantage of Microcenter package deals/discounts and rebates.
Oh since this isn't asked in the questionnaire, I'm looking to get an SSD-HDD combo. I guess as long as a 5400 HDD doesn't slow down opening of files significantly (vs 7200), I wouldn't mind saving some money there. I have a vague idea of the components I want and the price ranges they fall in, and I think (hope) $700 is a reasonable limit. Again huge thanks to the people in this thread in advance, you da best!
I think you're getting a little ambitious here for your budget. Although one thing to note is that SC2 requires very little graphics power to run compared to other games, which a lot of people don't realize. For SC2, what you buy depends somewhat on what you play. For 1v1s, 2v2s, and most normal circumstances, an Intel dual-core will do well for you. If you like to play lots of 3v3s & 4v4s and want super-smooth guaranteed in those circumstances, then an overclockable quad-core might be considered as well, even though that's going to run quite a bit more.
Here's what I'd get given the priorities:
Kills SC2, will be a very strong gaming processor for quite some time
Plays other games decently, but not with super-high graphics settings @ 1920x1080 or 1920@1200
No other major resource-intensive tasks.
CPU: i5-3570k (~$204) (tax)
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0388577
Mobo: Gigabyte z77-DS3H (or Asrock z77 pro4 if on sale for same price as the Gigabyte) (~$68-$119) (the difference in price comes from whether this will be eligible for $50 off in combo with the i5-3570k. You'll have to call the specific store in question to check.)
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0388327
CPU Cooler: Coolermaster 212 Evo (~$33)
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0373900
GPU: EVGA 560 ($165, $135 AMIR, after registration get Adobe Elements 10 free)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130664
RAM: 2x4gb 1333mhz low profile kit ($30)
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=55544&vpn=996770&manufacture=Mushkin Enhanced&promoid=1043
Case: Antec One ($55) (good, modern budget case)
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=67322&vpn=ONE&manufacture=Antec
PSU: Antec Neo Eco 450c ($40) (If Myrmidon suggest something else, go with whatever he says, but this will do.)
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=60491&vpn=NEO-ECO450C&manufacture=Antec&promoid=1043
Seagate 2TB HDD ($100) (lots of space, could save a few $ here if you wanted)
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=66010&vpn=ST2000DM001&manufacture=Seagate&promoid=1043
DVD-burner ($17)
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=49597&vpn=DRW-24B1ST Bulk&manufacture=ASUS&promoid=1043
Total (assuming $50 discount on motherboard): $713, $683 after mail-in-rebate
Prices include shipping & a rough sales tax approximation for Microcenter items only (8%).
+ Show Spoiler +As an aside, does it amuse anyone else that most people who don't pay taxes on internet purchases are technically committing tax fraud?
Normally for a gamer I'd recommend getting an i3 & cheap h61 mobo, then spending more on video card (one way to fit in an SSD as well). But this will give you a powerful overclockable quad-core, and the video card is overkill to max SC2 and should play any current game well on medium graphics (@1920x1080, right off it will max any game, this will change when you upgrade your monitor), and should last for awhile too. The CPU I recommended is overkill, but with microcenter deals, not insanely so. Note also that a budget SC2-streamlined rig could afford a monitor upgrade right off the bat, but there you'd be downgrading CPU to a non-overclockable dual-core (a pentium g850 + h61 mobo).
Upgrades to look forward to:
1) A better monitor! Looks for a Dell u2312hm coming on sale (anywhere under $200) at the Dell website, then you can use your current monitor as a secondary non-gaming adjunct.
2) Quality 128gb SSD ($100-ish)
3) Better video card - this last one maybe some years down the road)
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On August 17 2012 03:52 Hierarch wrote:Show nested quote +On August 17 2012 03:26 MisterFred wrote:On August 17 2012 02:19 Hierarch wrote:On August 17 2012 02:08 MisterFred wrote:
DVI & HDMI will give you the same quality signal. You'll want to plug into your video card. As for what monitor to pick, I recommend perusing the Team Liquid Monitor Thread, maybe asking for advice there. Or maybe someone here will respond. Long story short, no response time won't matter much and manufacturers often lie about true response time anyway. Depending on what monitor you have now & your budget you might even use your current monitor as the secondary screen.
As for watching video & gaming, desktop graphics tasks take essentially no effort for your GPU. I'd expect no reduction in skyrim or other game performance or next to no reduction. This is my main monitor atm that I use for gaming and everything else http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236051this is the monitor I was gonna grab in terms of that 2nd monitor for internet/video. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung - 21.5" Widescreen Flat-Panel LED HD Monitor - Black High Glossy/Blue Deco/4835379.p?skuId=4835379&id=1218540192800 Looking at those monitors, I'd say you have two decisions to make: glossy vs matte and upgrade vs saving money. Note that your current monitor is a "matte" monitor (has anti-glare coating that fuzzes things a tad so you don't get irritating reflections). The Samsung monitor you're looking at is a "glossy" monitor (mirror-like finish that makes things super clear but in the wrong lighting settings has all kind of reflections/glare problems). So make sure you were wanting glossy. Other than that there's not much difference between the monitor you have now and the monitor you're looking at - they're both 21.5" 1920x1080 ordinary TN screens. You might consider buying an upgrade like an Asus VS229H-P or a Dell u2312hm. The Asus is 21.5", while the Dell is 23". The Asus is currently $155 according to shopping.google.com, while the Dell is more around $235, but apparently it goes on sale now and again for under $200 if you're willing to wait. They're both IPS monitors, which means the colors & some other features will be slightly higher quality. So they'd become your new "good" monitor, while your current one would be the second, back-up monitor. Both monitors are matte. Credit to: Team Liquid Monitor Thread Awesome thanks! I really like that asus and that's about what I was looking to spend anyway so it would be a good upgrade you say? Last question is that since my current monitor has speakers but idk if this new one does, if the new one doesn't will the sound play from my secondary speakers for what's happening on each?
Well it would be a minor upgrade. The IPS panel should be a little better than your current one in some ways, but it's not like it's a bigger resolution or screen size or something like that.
I assume the speakers will work fine. I've never run speakers through a monitor though. If for some bizarre reason they do not, I'm sure you can get some $15-20 stand-alone cheapies that'll perform just as well as monitor speakers.
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On August 17 2012 04:17 MisterFred wrote:Show nested quote +On August 17 2012 03:52 Hierarch wrote:On August 17 2012 03:26 MisterFred wrote:On August 17 2012 02:19 Hierarch wrote:On August 17 2012 02:08 MisterFred wrote:
DVI & HDMI will give you the same quality signal. You'll want to plug into your video card. As for what monitor to pick, I recommend perusing the Team Liquid Monitor Thread, maybe asking for advice there. Or maybe someone here will respond. Long story short, no response time won't matter much and manufacturers often lie about true response time anyway. Depending on what monitor you have now & your budget you might even use your current monitor as the secondary screen.
As for watching video & gaming, desktop graphics tasks take essentially no effort for your GPU. I'd expect no reduction in skyrim or other game performance or next to no reduction. This is my main monitor atm that I use for gaming and everything else http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236051this is the monitor I was gonna grab in terms of that 2nd monitor for internet/video. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung - 21.5" Widescreen Flat-Panel LED HD Monitor - Black High Glossy/Blue Deco/4835379.p?skuId=4835379&id=1218540192800 Looking at those monitors, I'd say you have two decisions to make: glossy vs matte and upgrade vs saving money. Note that your current monitor is a "matte" monitor (has anti-glare coating that fuzzes things a tad so you don't get irritating reflections). The Samsung monitor you're looking at is a "glossy" monitor (mirror-like finish that makes things super clear but in the wrong lighting settings has all kind of reflections/glare problems). So make sure you were wanting glossy. Other than that there's not much difference between the monitor you have now and the monitor you're looking at - they're both 21.5" 1920x1080 ordinary TN screens. You might consider buying an upgrade like an Asus VS229H-P or a Dell u2312hm. The Asus is 21.5", while the Dell is 23". The Asus is currently $155 according to shopping.google.com, while the Dell is more around $235, but apparently it goes on sale now and again for under $200 if you're willing to wait. They're both IPS monitors, which means the colors & some other features will be slightly higher quality. So they'd become your new "good" monitor, while your current one would be the second, back-up monitor. Both monitors are matte. Credit to: Team Liquid Monitor Thread Awesome thanks! I really like that asus and that's about what I was looking to spend anyway so it would be a good upgrade you say? Last question is that since my current monitor has speakers but idk if this new one does, if the new one doesn't will the sound play from my secondary speakers for what's happening on each? Well it would be a minor upgrade. The IPS panel should be a little better than your current one in some ways, but it's not like it's a bigger resolution or screen size or something like that. I assume the speakers will work fine. I've never run speakers through a monitor though. If for some bizarre reason they do not, I'm sure you can get some $15-20 stand-alone cheapies that'll perform just as well as monitor speakers.
Well I use headphones 95% of the time tbh, i was actually just trying to stay with another 21.5 I like to keep my monitors the same size (I'm ocd like that I guess). Thanks for all your help Mister Fred!
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The plan is:
i5-2500k
8GB ram,
650watt psu
The only problem is, it is hard to decide on a GPU,
What would be the best for the game in 1920*1080 something like that.
I want to be able to run it on ultra. And with the upcomming exp's in mind.
Would a Gtx560ti 2gb be enough, or would i have to go up a littlemore?
Like a HD 7850 or even 7870 ?
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for what other game then sc2 do you your gpu?
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It will be mainly sc2 and wow i guess. but would be nice to be able to play the other games like bf and such
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On August 17 2012 03:09 skyR wrote:+ Show Spoiler ++ Show Spoiler +On August 17 2012 02:43 elsemyano wrote:Hi guys, I'm a computer build virgin, so any and all help is much appreciated here. I'm looking for a decent performance PC to last me a long time, on a budget. I have done a bit of research into this, so hopefully I don't sound clueless with my requests, but if something I say here makes no sense, pleasee work with me and point out the problem, so that I don't live with ridiculous misconceptions of how PCs work for the rest of my life. Thanks <3 + Show Spoiler +
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?
I would prefer to keep everything under $700.
What is your resolution?
I think my current monitor is 1280x1024, but it is pretty awful, so I will probably upgrade to a decent 1920x1200 soon. Dual monitor capabilities would be nice, but definitely not a must.
What are you using it for?
As far as gaming, mostly Starcraft 2 with a few other games mixed in, but probably nothing super-new or much more graphics-intensive than SC2. At the very least, it needs to run SC2 on high-ultra smoothly (single monitor 1920x1200, probably 60Hz), and any other game I would play should be fine (even if on low graphics). I have no interest in streaming. Other than that, it will mostly be used for school, watching movies/videos/streams. No need for video editing/extreme photoshop capabilities (maybe a bit of photoshop though).
What is your upgrade cycle?
Durability/reliability is what I would like to emphasize here. I would like for the majority of this build to last a long time, at least 5+ years. (That's realistic for the CPU/Mobo, PSU, and storage right?) I can upgrade SOME of other components (GPU, RAM, HSF, storage) as necessary, but preferably not within 2-3 years of buying.
When do you plan on building it?
As soon as I select some parts, hopefully within a couple weeks, but I can wait a bit if there will be any expected discounts within a month or two that anyone knows of.
Do you plan on overclocking?
If it adds viable options and would save money for the build (keeping in mind the priority of long-lasting performance), I'm all for it. Even if I wouldn't need to OC anytime soon after building, having the option to do so in the future would be nice.
Do you need an Operating System?
Nope, get OS for free from my school B-).
Do you plan to add a second GPU for SLI or Crossfire?
Not immediately. If the PSU you guys have chosen from previous criteria can handle it and if a compatible motherboard can fit within the budget, then yes again, I'd want to have the option.
Side note: How common is GPU overclocking and how much does it increase performance? Is it ok to OC both CPU and GPU simultaneously? Maybe if the heat management for that is less of an issue than getting a compatible mobo, I won't need SLI/CrossFire and could OC instead.
Where are you buying your parts from?
Microcenter, and anywhere online. I'm looking to take full advantage of Microcenter package deals/discounts and rebates.
Oh since this isn't asked in the questionnaire, I'm looking to get an SSD-HDD combo. I guess as long as a 5400 HDD doesn't slow down opening of files significantly (vs 7200), I wouldn't mind saving some money there. I have a vague idea of the components I want and the price ranges they fall in, and I think (hope) $700 is a reasonable limit. Again huge thanks to the people in this thread in advance, you da best! If you have a vague idea of components than please post the list... you have a lot of "would be nice to have but not necessary" in your Q&A. If you're looking for a build to last five years performance wise than that's easy if you aren't going to do anything besides Starcraft II and similar demanding games. Most components will easily last more than five years but as with any other electronics, there is the possibility of the motherboard, CPU, PSU, and HDD dying. This is where warranty comes into play and with a $700 budget, you simply won't be able to afford the high-end parts that carry a longer warranty (eg. Caviar Green which is a 5400 RPM drive only carries a two year warranty as opposed to the 7200 RPM Caviar Black which carries five years, Corsair AX carries a seven year warranty as opposed to most other units which are five years of warranty.) GPU overclocking is done through software so it's a pretty easy performance boost for anyone willing to do it. You can overclock both GPU and CPU simultaneously without worry. CPU overclocking requires a K suffix processor (2500k, 3570k, etc) so that's $200 minimum + the motherboard which is going to be around $100. $700 budget isn't large enough to do overclocking along with getting a SSD + HDD, you would have to skimp on another component in order to achieve this. Don't even consider SLI / CrossfireX with a $700 budget. It's just going to end up being a waste of money.
Thanks for the input!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I could use what I save by going with a lower-end GPU to make sure I'm crossfire compatible for further down the road, when I can add on to my current $700 build, and get a second GPU, right?
So the $700 doesn't have to include multi GPUs, or potential aftermarket HSF, etc. Only capability for the upgrades. Unless it still would not be worth it.
Taking that into account, I might be able to squeeze in a Caviar Black too 
On August 17 2012 04:15 MisterFred wrote:+ Show Spoiler ++ Show Spoiler +On August 17 2012 02:43 elsemyano wrote:Hi guys, I'm a computer build virgin, so any and all help is much appreciated here. I'm looking for a decent performance PC to last me a long time, on a budget. I have done a bit of research into this, so hopefully I don't sound clueless with my requests, but if something I say here makes no sense, pleasee work with me and point out the problem, so that I don't live with ridiculous misconceptions of how PCs work for the rest of my life. Thanks <3 + Show Spoiler +
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?
I would prefer to keep everything under $700.
What is your resolution?
I think my current monitor is 1280x1024, but it is pretty awful, so I will probably upgrade to a decent 1920x1200 soon. Dual monitor capabilities would be nice, but definitely not a must.
What are you using it for?
As far as gaming, mostly Starcraft 2 with a few other games mixed in, but probably nothing super-new or much more graphics-intensive than SC2. At the very least, it needs to run SC2 on high-ultra smoothly (single monitor 1920x1200, probably 60Hz), and any other game I would play should be fine (even if on low graphics). I have no interest in streaming. Other than that, it will mostly be used for school, watching movies/videos/streams. No need for video editing/extreme photoshop capabilities (maybe a bit of photoshop though).
What is your upgrade cycle?
Durability/reliability is what I would like to emphasize here. I would like for the majority of this build to last a long time, at least 5+ years. (That's realistic for the CPU/Mobo, PSU, and storage right?) I can upgrade SOME of other components (GPU, RAM, HSF, storage) as necessary, but preferably not within 2-3 years of buying.
When do you plan on building it?
As soon as I select some parts, hopefully within a couple weeks, but I can wait a bit if there will be any expected discounts within a month or two that anyone knows of.
Do you plan on overclocking?
If it adds viable options and would save money for the build (keeping in mind the priority of long-lasting performance), I'm all for it. Even if I wouldn't need to OC anytime soon after building, having the option to do so in the future would be nice.
Do you need an Operating System?
Nope, get OS for free from my school B-).
Do you plan to add a second GPU for SLI or Crossfire?
Not immediately. If the PSU you guys have chosen from previous criteria can handle it and if a compatible motherboard can fit within the budget, then yes again, I'd want to have the option.
Side note: How common is GPU overclocking and how much does it increase performance? Is it ok to OC both CPU and GPU simultaneously? Maybe if the heat management for that is less of an issue than getting a compatible mobo, I won't need SLI/CrossFire and could OC instead.
Where are you buying your parts from?
Microcenter, and anywhere online. I'm looking to take full advantage of Microcenter package deals/discounts and rebates.
Oh since this isn't asked in the questionnaire, I'm looking to get an SSD-HDD combo. I guess as long as a 5400 HDD doesn't slow down opening of files significantly (vs 7200), I wouldn't mind saving some money there. I have a vague idea of the components I want and the price ranges they fall in, and I think (hope) $700 is a reasonable limit. Again huge thanks to the people in this thread in advance, you da best! I think you're getting a little ambitious here for your budget. Although one thing to note is that SC2 requires very little graphics power to run compared to other games, which a lot of people don't realize. For SC2, what you buy depends somewhat on what you play. For 1v1s, 2v2s, and most normal circumstances, an Intel dual-core will do well for you. If you like to play lots of 3v3s & 4v4s and want super-smooth guaranteed in those circumstances, then an overclockable quad-core might be considered as well, even though that's going to run quite a bit more. Here's what I'd get given the priorities: Kills SC2, will be a very strong gaming processor for quite some time Plays other games decently, but not with super-high graphics settings @ 1920x1080 or 1920@1200 No other major resource-intensive tasks. + Show Spoiler +Normally for a gamer I'd recommend getting an i3 & cheap h61 mobo, then spending more on video card (one way to fit in an SSD as well). But this will give you a powerful overclockable quad-core, and the video card is overkill to max SC2 and should play any current game well on medium graphics (@1920x1080, right off it will max any game, this will change when you upgrade your monitor), and should last for awhile too. The CPU I recommended is overkill, but with microcenter deals, not insanely so. Note also that a budget SC2-streamlined rig could afford a monitor upgrade right off the bat, but there you'd be downgrading CPU to a non-overclockable dual-core (a pentium g850 + h61 mobo). Upgrades to look forward to: 1) A better monitor! Looks for a Dell u2312hm coming on sale (anywhere under $200) at the Dell website, then you can use your current monitor as a secondary non-gaming adjunct. 2) Quality 128gb SSD ($100-ish) 3) Better video card - this last one maybe some years down the road)
Awesome, thank you!
I guess it is pretty ambitious, but that's why I'm asking you guys for help haha. I think there's a lot of leeway here, and I'm open to suggestions.
I was thinking i5 3570K + ASRock Z77 Pro4 myself. I can get these in tandem at microcenter for ~$260, and I think it'll be a worthwhile investment since I won't need to upgrade these and they'll last for quite a while.
I think the most graphics intensive game I will play for a while would be like Civ4... I tend to play older games more and most likely won't be playing any new ones anytime soon (SC2 is the last game I bought). Like I said above, hopefully this will allow me to go with a relatively inexpensive graphics card with the option to upgrade later?
+ Show Spoiler +
Immediate comments/concerns:
- what do you guys think about that GPU (MisterFred: the free adobe elements is nice, but not a huge selling point for me) and RAM? Not enough/ too much?
- the case is a stylistic choice more than anything, but also saves a bit of money.
- I feel like the PSU is a pretty important component in terms of longevity/capability, right? Does this unit allow any room for OC? Since the GPU should use up less power, do you think it could work?
- Do I need a CPU fan right away, even if I don't overclock for a while?
- I honestly don't think I need 2TB of space. I'm currently working with 288GB (albeit struggling to fit some shows/movies  ), so 750/1TB should be plenty. The 5 year warranty is pretty appealing too.
If I were to splurge over my limit a bit and get an SSD with this setup, which one would you recommend? I can always get the monitor later.
So the build is starting to come together a little! So pumped...
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quick question:
how do you figure out how much wattage your PSU should have?
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On August 17 2012 09:50 meijin wrote:
quick question:
how do you figure out how much wattage your PSU should have?
Do you mean you picked components and need to know how much power you need?
Single GPU? Quality 400W power supply. (380D, 450/520c, few others we always reccomend here)
Dual GPU? Quality 600w or so.
edit: don't trust marketing, you don't need 700w on a single GPU system.
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On August 17 2012 08:05 elsemyano wrote:+ Show Spoiler +On August 17 2012 03:09 skyR wrote:+ Show Spoiler ++ Show Spoiler +On August 17 2012 02:43 elsemyano wrote:Hi guys, I'm a computer build virgin, so any and all help is much appreciated here. I'm looking for a decent performance PC to last me a long time, on a budget. I have done a bit of research into this, so hopefully I don't sound clueless with my requests, but if something I say here makes no sense, pleasee work with me and point out the problem, so that I don't live with ridiculous misconceptions of how PCs work for the rest of my life. Thanks <3 + Show Spoiler +
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?
I would prefer to keep everything under $700.
What is your resolution?
I think my current monitor is 1280x1024, but it is pretty awful, so I will probably upgrade to a decent 1920x1200 soon. Dual monitor capabilities would be nice, but definitely not a must.
What are you using it for?
As far as gaming, mostly Starcraft 2 with a few other games mixed in, but probably nothing super-new or much more graphics-intensive than SC2. At the very least, it needs to run SC2 on high-ultra smoothly (single monitor 1920x1200, probably 60Hz), and any other game I would play should be fine (even if on low graphics). I have no interest in streaming. Other than that, it will mostly be used for school, watching movies/videos/streams. No need for video editing/extreme photoshop capabilities (maybe a bit of photoshop though).
What is your upgrade cycle?
Durability/reliability is what I would like to emphasize here. I would like for the majority of this build to last a long time, at least 5+ years. (That's realistic for the CPU/Mobo, PSU, and storage right?) I can upgrade SOME of other components (GPU, RAM, HSF, storage) as necessary, but preferably not within 2-3 years of buying.
When do you plan on building it?
As soon as I select some parts, hopefully within a couple weeks, but I can wait a bit if there will be any expected discounts within a month or two that anyone knows of.
Do you plan on overclocking?
If it adds viable options and would save money for the build (keeping in mind the priority of long-lasting performance), I'm all for it. Even if I wouldn't need to OC anytime soon after building, having the option to do so in the future would be nice.
Do you need an Operating System?
Nope, get OS for free from my school B-).
Do you plan to add a second GPU for SLI or Crossfire?
Not immediately. If the PSU you guys have chosen from previous criteria can handle it and if a compatible motherboard can fit within the budget, then yes again, I'd want to have the option.
Side note: How common is GPU overclocking and how much does it increase performance? Is it ok to OC both CPU and GPU simultaneously? Maybe if the heat management for that is less of an issue than getting a compatible mobo, I won't need SLI/CrossFire and could OC instead.
Where are you buying your parts from?
Microcenter, and anywhere online. I'm looking to take full advantage of Microcenter package deals/discounts and rebates.
Oh since this isn't asked in the questionnaire, I'm looking to get an SSD-HDD combo. I guess as long as a 5400 HDD doesn't slow down opening of files significantly (vs 7200), I wouldn't mind saving some money there. I have a vague idea of the components I want and the price ranges they fall in, and I think (hope) $700 is a reasonable limit. Again huge thanks to the people in this thread in advance, you da best! If you have a vague idea of components than please post the list... you have a lot of "would be nice to have but not necessary" in your Q&A. If you're looking for a build to last five years performance wise than that's easy if you aren't going to do anything besides Starcraft II and similar demanding games. Most components will easily last more than five years but as with any other electronics, there is the possibility of the motherboard, CPU, PSU, and HDD dying. This is where warranty comes into play and with a $700 budget, you simply won't be able to afford the high-end parts that carry a longer warranty (eg. Caviar Green which is a 5400 RPM drive only carries a two year warranty as opposed to the 7200 RPM Caviar Black which carries five years, Corsair AX carries a seven year warranty as opposed to most other units which are five years of warranty.) GPU overclocking is done through software so it's a pretty easy performance boost for anyone willing to do it. You can overclock both GPU and CPU simultaneously without worry. CPU overclocking requires a K suffix processor (2500k, 3570k, etc) so that's $200 minimum + the motherboard which is going to be around $100. $700 budget isn't large enough to do overclocking along with getting a SSD + HDD, you would have to skimp on another component in order to achieve this. Don't even consider SLI / CrossfireX with a $700 budget. It's just going to end up being a waste of money. Thanks for the input! Correct me if I'm wrong, but I could use what I save by going with a lower-end GPU to make sure I'm crossfire compatible for further down the road, when I can add on to my current $700 build, and get a second GPU, right? So the $700 doesn't have to include multi GPUs, or potential aftermarket HSF, etc. Only capability for the upgrades. Unless it still would not be worth it. Taking that into account, I might be able to squeeze in a Caviar Black too On August 17 2012 04:15 MisterFred wrote:+ Show Spoiler ++ Show Spoiler +On August 17 2012 02:43 elsemyano wrote:Hi guys, I'm a computer build virgin, so any and all help is much appreciated here. I'm looking for a decent performance PC to last me a long time, on a budget. I have done a bit of research into this, so hopefully I don't sound clueless with my requests, but if something I say here makes no sense, pleasee work with me and point out the problem, so that I don't live with ridiculous misconceptions of how PCs work for the rest of my life. Thanks <3 + Show Spoiler +
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?
I would prefer to keep everything under $700.
What is your resolution?
I think my current monitor is 1280x1024, but it is pretty awful, so I will probably upgrade to a decent 1920x1200 soon. Dual monitor capabilities would be nice, but definitely not a must.
What are you using it for?
As far as gaming, mostly Starcraft 2 with a few other games mixed in, but probably nothing super-new or much more graphics-intensive than SC2. At the very least, it needs to run SC2 on high-ultra smoothly (single monitor 1920x1200, probably 60Hz), and any other game I would play should be fine (even if on low graphics). I have no interest in streaming. Other than that, it will mostly be used for school, watching movies/videos/streams. No need for video editing/extreme photoshop capabilities (maybe a bit of photoshop though).
What is your upgrade cycle?
Durability/reliability is what I would like to emphasize here. I would like for the majority of this build to last a long time, at least 5+ years. (That's realistic for the CPU/Mobo, PSU, and storage right?) I can upgrade SOME of other components (GPU, RAM, HSF, storage) as necessary, but preferably not within 2-3 years of buying.
When do you plan on building it?
As soon as I select some parts, hopefully within a couple weeks, but I can wait a bit if there will be any expected discounts within a month or two that anyone knows of.
Do you plan on overclocking?
If it adds viable options and would save money for the build (keeping in mind the priority of long-lasting performance), I'm all for it. Even if I wouldn't need to OC anytime soon after building, having the option to do so in the future would be nice.
Do you need an Operating System?
Nope, get OS for free from my school B-).
Do you plan to add a second GPU for SLI or Crossfire?
Not immediately. If the PSU you guys have chosen from previous criteria can handle it and if a compatible motherboard can fit within the budget, then yes again, I'd want to have the option.
Side note: How common is GPU overclocking and how much does it increase performance? Is it ok to OC both CPU and GPU simultaneously? Maybe if the heat management for that is less of an issue than getting a compatible mobo, I won't need SLI/CrossFire and could OC instead.
Where are you buying your parts from?
Microcenter, and anywhere online. I'm looking to take full advantage of Microcenter package deals/discounts and rebates.
Oh since this isn't asked in the questionnaire, I'm looking to get an SSD-HDD combo. I guess as long as a 5400 HDD doesn't slow down opening of files significantly (vs 7200), I wouldn't mind saving some money there. I have a vague idea of the components I want and the price ranges they fall in, and I think (hope) $700 is a reasonable limit. Again huge thanks to the people in this thread in advance, you da best! I think you're getting a little ambitious here for your budget. Although one thing to note is that SC2 requires very little graphics power to run compared to other games, which a lot of people don't realize. For SC2, what you buy depends somewhat on what you play. For 1v1s, 2v2s, and most normal circumstances, an Intel dual-core will do well for you. If you like to play lots of 3v3s & 4v4s and want super-smooth guaranteed in those circumstances, then an overclockable quad-core might be considered as well, even though that's going to run quite a bit more. Here's what I'd get given the priorities: Kills SC2, will be a very strong gaming processor for quite some time Plays other games decently, but not with super-high graphics settings @ 1920x1080 or 1920@1200 No other major resource-intensive tasks. + Show Spoiler +Normally for a gamer I'd recommend getting an i3 & cheap h61 mobo, then spending more on video card (one way to fit in an SSD as well). But this will give you a powerful overclockable quad-core, and the video card is overkill to max SC2 and should play any current game well on medium graphics (@1920x1080, right off it will max any game, this will change when you upgrade your monitor), and should last for awhile too. The CPU I recommended is overkill, but with microcenter deals, not insanely so. Note also that a budget SC2-streamlined rig could afford a monitor upgrade right off the bat, but there you'd be downgrading CPU to a non-overclockable dual-core (a pentium g850 + h61 mobo). Upgrades to look forward to: 1) A better monitor! Looks for a Dell u2312hm coming on sale (anywhere under $200) at the Dell website, then you can use your current monitor as a secondary non-gaming adjunct. 2) Quality 128gb SSD ($100-ish) 3) Better video card - this last one maybe some years down the road) Awesome, thank you! I guess it is pretty ambitious, but that's why I'm asking you guys for help haha. I think there's a lot of leeway here, and I'm open to suggestions. I was thinking i5 3570K + ASRock Z77 Pro4 myself. I can get these in tandem at microcenter for ~$260, and I think it'll be a worthwhile investment since I won't need to upgrade these and they'll last for quite a while. I think the most graphics intensive game I will play for a while would be like Civ4... I tend to play older games more and most likely won't be playing any new ones anytime soon (SC2 is the last game I bought). Like I said above, hopefully this will allow me to go with a relatively inexpensive graphics card with the option to upgrade later? + Show Spoiler +Immediate comments/concerns: - what do you guys think about that GPU (MisterFred: the free adobe elements is nice, but not a huge selling point for me) and RAM? Not enough/ too much? - the case is a stylistic choice more than anything, but also saves a bit of money. - I feel like the PSU is a pretty important component in terms of longevity/capability, right? Does this unit allow any room for OC? Since the GPU should use up less power, do you think it could work? - Do I need a CPU fan right away, even if I don't overclock for a while? - I honestly don't think I need 2TB of space. I'm currently working with 288GB (albeit struggling to fit some shows/movies ), so 750/1TB should be plenty. The 5 year warranty is pretty appealing too. If I were to splurge over my limit a bit and get an SSD with this setup, which one would you recommend? I can always get the monitor later. So the build is starting to come together a little! So pumped...
$700 isn't a budget where you should spend money and plan for multi-GPU setups. The cost is not worth the possibility for headaches down the road (managing multi-GPU setups). Down the line, once your graphics card has fallen to irrelevancy, you're not going to want to pair it with another of the same crap. You'll want whatever is new or has good price/performance then.
GTX 560 is decent and actually more than you need. You could just get a HD 6850 for $130, if you wanted to save a little:
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=56240
RAM is more than enough. It's not worth saving like $10 and getting just 4GB. More than 4GB is useful for some people, and honestly, there's not much to be saved here.
Antec Neo Eco at that price is good. I mean, it probably wouldn't last 8 years unscathed, but it's hardly a junker. There's plenty of room there for upgrading and overclocking.
You can buy the CPU cooler later, but uninstalling the old one, removing old thermal paste, and installing the new one when your motherboard is screwed into the case... that can be annoying, so you may as well just install the better one now, unless you really need to save there.
If you want an SSD, get a Crucial M4 128GB or Intel 330 120GB. They shouldn't be over $100:
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0364545
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0388571
A better monitor is probably more important than most things in the build, but that's something that can be added later. Reinstalling or migrating to an SSD is more of a pain, so if you were going to get one, do so now.
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How would a HD 7850 be then? compared to 560?
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On August 17 2012 10:27 Darktazz wrote:
How would a HD 7850 be then? compared to 560?
better in almost every aspect. Performance, power consumption, heat etc etc
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+ Show Spoiler +
Hey TL.
I just wanted to thank you all for helping me build my computer. The build is above in the spoiler and I couldn't be happier! I have streamed @720p while playing on 1920x1080 and my CPU load stayed below 70% and the temp was below 50 degrees!! My only complain would be that my PSU only had 1 free PCI-E hookup so I couldn't power a GPU without buying an SATA to PCI-E cable but thats only a minor hiccup. Either way I'm very satisfied and grateful!
After a monitor I spend just under $600 so job well done.
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On August 17 2012 00:37 MisterFred wrote:Show nested quote +On August 16 2012 23:49 Nuwen wrote:The last thing I'm waffling on is gtx 680 vs. hd 6970. The monitor I'm getting now isn't even big enough to support games at the resolution intended for these babies... but I do plan on upgrading my monitors within a ~6-8 month period. http://i.imgur.com/8JNt1.png I'm assuming you mean 7970 vs 680 (or, I suppose 6970 vs 580 if you're going off really out-dated advice). The answer is generally: neither, go with the 670. Only a tad worse performance than 680, and $100 or so cheaper. However, there's LOTS of other stuff you should be waffling on. Including but not limited to: DO NOT BUY RAIDMAX PSUs. RAIDMAX=BAD FOR YOUR PC. You're overspending somewhat on motherboard. A cheaper one will give you no loss in performance for less money. Looks like you have the non-low profile Corsair vengeance, which is a bad mix with air coolers. You're buying a relatively small/bad monitor for how much you're overspending on everything else. Get proper price/performance components and a real monitor that will actually let you use your graphics card to the fullest.
Nifty, thanks. I spent all night reading about benchmark performance between the 680 and 670 and you're definitely right about the marginal increases not being worth $100.
I swapped in a 600W Rosewill PSU - they seem to get a lot of recommendations in this thread? I might have glossed over sarcastic undertones on the brand though.
Motherboard is now http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130647 - lost some USB 3.0, SATA lines, and am now in a Micro ATX form factor. Better air flow in the case now? Should I still check out other case options? My case selection is mostly based on aesthetics. The Corsair case now has too many drive bays for my mobo.
Monitor suggestions? I thought 23'' would be fine @ 1920x1080. Are there other features I'm missing? Will read the monitor thread / Tom's during work today. Keep in mind that I'll be buying a duplicate monitor next payday.
Updated part's list:
GTX 670 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130782
Corsair Carbide Case (suggestions!) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139016
MSI Z77 G45 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130647
Rosewell 600w (wattage slightly too high for my setup, I'm told?) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182032
i7 3770K http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501
8 GB Corsair ram (swapped to low profile style) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186
Kingston 240G sata III SSD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820239046
Scythe Fan (I just picked this because the name was cool; the case I currently have supports both 120 and 140mm fans) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185175
+optical drive suggestions?
Also fielding suggestions / specs for a case and cooling solution. Relevant info:
1. Aluminum / plastic > steel, but steel & plastic is okay too. Lightweight is good - I travel with my computer every few months to amateur BYOC SC2/LoL things, am a chick with weak upper body.
2. Pretty/windows are good - I'll probably end up installing some cathode light kits or other doodads.
2a. Does anyone have experience with acrylic cases? The ones I've been looking at aren't very robust and seem to have cooling issues, but that could just be the design and not the material (http://www.xoxide.com/xopacl1.html).
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Only a few lines of Rosewill power supplies are actually not garbage. The Rosewill you have selected is garbage. Only Rosewill Capstone is recommended in this thread because it's an amazing unit for its price, Capstone-M 450 is currently $64 with promo code - it is significantly better than everything else at its price point: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182261
The motherboard does not block airflow so not sure what you mean by better airflow. Having more drive bays than your motherboard has SATA ports is irrelevant as you can add more SATA ports via PCI-E / PCI cards.
Just get the cheapest optical drive, who cares? You'll use it to install windows and most likely never use it again.
What is defined as pretty to you? Corsair 550D? Silverstone FT03? Something from Lian Li?
Corsair memory is often overpriced and Vengeance Low Profile at $49 is no exception. There's tons of other kits from G.Skill, Mushkin, Samsung, Crucial, etc for around $40.
I'd pick the Samsung 830 which is more reliable and slightly less expensive than the Kingston HyperX.
Size of your monitor is fine but what you selected is nothing special, it's just your typical cheap TN panel. You'd want to get a 120Hz or IPS monitor if you're going to be building a nice computer.
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United States22154 Posts
I figured this would be the thread to ask (because I don't want to clutter up tech support with yet another "help I need a laptop " thread)
I need to get a new laptop, because my old one is literally falling apart. Now I can pay up to 800$ for a decent laptop (although less is better if possible, and I can stretch for more if I absolutely have to). I need it to be extremely durable (I carry my laptop everywhere all the time, so rugged is pretty necessary) and fairly portable (again, carrying everywhere). A decent wireless card is absolutely a plus, and it would be nice if it could run SC2. I'm assuming I can't just build one like I did my PC.
Thanks ahead of time for the help.
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EPT
