EPTComputer Build Resource Thread - Page 597
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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. | ||
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JingleHell
United States11308 Posts
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Shikyo
Finland33997 Posts
On September 25 2011 00:29 Pigbimping wrote: Hey SkyR, thanks for your insight; On September 24 2011 11:09, you posted about ncix deals so I'm going to cross reference with newegg but also I failed to mention I need a tower as well, will any old tower do? i can gut my old dimension 2350 if need be. Also I dont plan on storing much data aside from the basic programs, I geel like a tb HDD and 128G ssd might be a little overkill for my needs, If I down grade, am I going to need to change my power options? say like half the storage space? or Can I get away with no HDD atall and just the 128G? I plan to do downloading and storage on a seperate machine Currently it's pretty silly to buy a 500gb HDD for 45 dollars when you can get a 1TB one for 50$, 1TB seems to be the sweet spot and I'm pretty sure you can figure out some nice uses for it, if just for convenience. What he listed was also a combo deal so it's very likely it's going to cost around the same as a 500GB drive, and more space can't hurt, right? I'm sure you can think of some way to use it. As for the case, what are you looking for? He gave you an overclockable configuration but you said you don't want to overclock. It's pretty important to know what you are planning on doing as the case is pretty important for that. If you aren't planning on overclocking and the card isn't huge, you can get away with an Asgard II for 30 bucks. If you plan on overclocking and need better air cooling, something like HAF 912 might be in order. Basically what you should do is look up a nice looking case on Newegg or wherever you're going to buy from and then google the case name + review (For instance, "Cooler Master HAF 912 review") and check them out to see if it has some flaws that you think will be detrimental. But if you still lack ideas, I'll give you 4 good options with slightly different prices: Asgard II 30$ 25$ after MIR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815006 Antec 300 Illusion 45$ with EMCKAHH22: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066 Haf 912 60$, 50$ after MIR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233 690 II Advanced 90$, 80$ after MIR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119216 The last one is probably a bit too costly, but the first 3 should be good depending on what you like. Especially Antec 300 Illusion is a good deal right now. | ||
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DonkeyShot
Germany63 Posts
On September 25 2011 00:01 Madoga wrote: Something like this: Mobo: Asrock h61m-vs CPU: i5 2400 DVD/RW: Lite on iHAS 124 RAM: 8gb G.skill NT 1333mhz cl9 Case:Xigmatek Asgard II GPU: HD6770 HDD: Spinpoint f3 500gb PSU: Corsair CX430 V2 Total cost €451,16 You could downgrade the processor to an i3 2100 if you want to stay below the €500 mark including a €100 monitor. Sounds fair. I might just simply buy this. Thanks a lot! //edit I noticed I can get an S-ATA3 drive for just 5€ more. Is there any reason why I shouldn't? | ||
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Myrmidon
United States9452 Posts
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Womwomwom
5930 Posts
On September 25 2011 00:14 Shikyo wrote: And here I was thinking you shouldn't use 1.65v memory with sandybridge? I didn't notice that they were 1.65V but DDR3 memory's JEDEC spec is 1.5V anyway. Just downclock to 1.5V and perhaps a lower memory clock and call it a day. If you can't be bothered, pay $10 and get this. I've edited my previous post in light of this, thanks. Just throwing it out there but any case with a front 120mm intake and a rear 120mm exhaust can do CPU overclocking. The heatsinks does all of the heavy lifting and the fans just have to spin fast enough to guide air in/out. And because computer fans are too small to guide air properly, the smaller your case, the better - large cases like the Silverstone FT02*, Corsair 800D, and Fractal Design XL are notoriously weak at aircooling despite being able to harness a stupid amount of air. *Its great for cooling dual GPU systems with exhaust style coolers since it guides the air outside. For GPU coolers that recycle surrounding air, its actually pretty darn weak considering its using 3x 180mm fans. CPU cooling isn't fantastic either, its definitely louder and weaker at the job than my P183. | ||
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Shikyo
Finland33997 Posts
On September 25 2011 01:01 Phlegmatic wrote: Hey guys. Just started playing sc2 for the first time since beta. I am dissatisfied with my laptop and want a desktop again. I want to build one from scratch...and I don't know a lot about computers. I am sure you get a lot like me in this thread...so here we go. What is your budget? I would like to keep it under $1500. If this isn't possible, that's understandable...just my goal. What is your resolution? I currently play at 1600x900, but it doesn't really matter because I need a monitor. I am tired of this tiny minimap. What are you using it for? I literally only play games and watch netflix. I want to be able to run sc2, diablo2, dota2 very well. What is your upgrade cycle? Since I don't know much about computers, I don't plan to upgrade very much. When do you plan on building it? I would really like to build it within a month or so. Do you plan on overclocking? Doubt it, don't know enough about it. Do you need an Operating System? Yes. I use win7 atm and I like it. Do you plan to add a second GPU for SLI or Crossfire? Hadn't decided...I will see what you guys think... Where are you buying your parts from? I typically use newegg. Thanks ahead of time for your input. Hopefully I can afford a good computer, idk how much one runs from scratch yet--never done it before. 1500$ is a monster budget and it's going to be more than enough for you, especially if you won't be overclocking. CPU i5 2500 195$ with EMCKAHK26: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115073 Mobo ASRock H61DE/S3 68$: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157254 GPU GIGABYTE GV-R695OC-1GD Radeon HD 6950 1GB 240$, 220$ after MIR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125385 RAM G.Skill 8GB 2x4GB 38$ with EMCKAHH27: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231422 SSD Crucial m4 128 197$(OPTIONAL): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442 HDD Seagate Barracuda Green 1.5TB 50$ with EMCKAHH25: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148725 Case Antec Three Hundred Illusion 45$ with EMCKAHH22: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066 PSU Antec EarthWatts 500W 55$ with EMCKAHH43, 45$ after MIR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371035 Win7 Home Premium OEM 100$: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986 Total: 988$ with SSD, 791$ without. After all MIRs the total prices are lowered by 30$. As for the screen, I would suggest this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009261 21.5" 1080p for 120$ However if you don't mind MIR, this is good: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236051 21.5" 2ms response time 1080p for 150$, 130$ after MIR. If 21.5" is too small, for a bit more money this would be pretty good: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236112 23.6" 2ms response time, 170$ with EMCKAHK59, 160$ with MIR. I wouldn't pay more for a 1080p. On September 25 2011 01:27 Womwomwom wrote: This doesn't hold true for cases optimized for airflow like HAF X right? I didn't notice that they were 1.65V but DDR3 memory's JEDEC spec is 1.5V anyway. Just downclock to 1.5V and perhaps a lower memory clock and call it a day. If you can't be bothered, pay $10 and get this. I've edited my previous post in light of this, thanks. Just throwing it out there but any case with a front 120mm intake and a rear 120mm exhaust can do CPU overclocking. The heatsinks does all of the heavy lifting and the fans just have to spin fast enough to guide air in/out. And because computer fans are too small to guide air properly, the smaller your case, the better - large cases like the Silverstone FT02*, Corsair 800D, and Fractal Design XL are notoriously weak at aircooling despite being able to harness a stupid amount of air. *Its great for cooling dual GPU systems with exhaust style coolers since it guides the air outside. For GPU coolers that recycle surrounding air, its actually pretty darn weak considering its using 3x 180mm fans. CPU cooling isn't fantastic either, its definitely louder and weaker at the job than my P183. | ||
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FabledIntegral
United States9232 Posts
On September 25 2011 01:52 Shikyo wrote: 1500$ is a monster budget and it's going to be more than enough for you, especially if you won't be overclocking. CPU i5 2500 195$ with EMCKAHK26: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115073 Mobo ASRock H61DE/S3 68$: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157254 GPU GIGABYTE GV-R695OC-1GD Radeon HD 6950 1GB 240$, 220$ after MIR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125385 RAM G.Skill 8GB 2x4GB 38$ with EMCKAHH27: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231422 SSD Crucial m4 128 197$(OPTIONAL): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442 HDD Seagate Barracuda Green 1.5TB 50$ with EMCKAHH25: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148725 Case Antec Three Hundred Illusion 45$ with EMCKAHH22: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066 PSU Antec EarthWatts 500W 55$ with EMCKAHH43, 45$ after MIR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371035 Win7 Home Premium OEM 100$: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986 Total: 988$ with SSD, 791$ without. After all MIRs the total prices are lowered by 30$. As for the screen, I would suggest this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009261 21.5" 1080p for 120$ However if you don't mind MIR, this is good: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236051 21.5" 2ms response time 1080p for 150$, 130$ after MIR. If 21.5" is too small, for a bit more money this would be pretty good: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236112 23.6" 2ms response time, 170$ with EMCKAHK59, 160$ with MIR. I wouldn't pay more for a 1080p. This doesn't hold true for cases optimized for airflow like HAF X right? Just noting that if you decide not to get the SSD like recommended, you'd want a different HDD. | ||
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rightstuff
United States160 Posts
On September 24 2011 16:59 Womwomwom wrote: Why the hell are you getting an Enterprise hard drive. Ignoring the hard drive and GPU (GTX550 Ti is not good), its a decent build. Here is like the exact same build but with a higher capacity hard drive, better GPU, a free Deus Ex game coupon, and probably better motherboard. Perhaps even cheaper too: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313123 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157233 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115073 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150551 If you don't want to deal with RAM/memory voltages and clocks, just get these instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231424 Memory has a $10 Promo code and processor has $15 Promo code. Then you have $50 worth of rebates to deal with. Total, without a case, comes to $525. Assuming your case budget is $100, here is a better list of better cases: Lancool K58 (with window) - $50 Lancool K58 (no window) - $60 Silverstone TJ08-E - $100 Lian Li A05N Black - $90 Lian Li A05N Silver - $80 Antec 300 Illusion - $45 with promo code Personal favourite is the Lian Li K58. Built fairly well and has nice useful features. Thank you for the feedback. Upon looking at the options you've listed, I like the difference in the hard drive, case, and RAM. I thought about going the 2x4gb route, but I didn't figure it was necessary to have that much RAM (owing to my perusal of the OP). Could you explain to me why the GTX 550 is a bad graphics card and why that motherboard is better though? The GPU has a $20 rebate on it that brings the cost down to $109, and I thought it was one of the better Nvidia cards. Edit: Also, to note the two RAM suggestions. This is a computer being built for someone else... not myself. In fact, I won't be there (probably) to help put it together so any parts purchased should really be ready to go when they are hooked up. | ||
Phlegmatic
United States18 Posts
@FabledIntegral Thanks for your quick input. I am going to do a bit of research, but this is definately an amazing starting point! | ||
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Shikyo
Finland33997 Posts
On September 25 2011 02:39 FabledIntegral wrote: Just noting that if you decide not to get the SSD like recommended, you'd want a different HDD. True, I meant to add that but forgot. If you don't like it I suggest a 7200 RPM drive, this is available for 50$ with EMCKAHH23: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697 | ||
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FabledIntegral
United States9232 Posts
On September 25 2011 02:47 rightstuff wrote: Thank you for the feedback. Upon looking at the options you've listed, I like the difference in the hard drive, case, and RAM. I thought about going the 2x4gb route, but I didn't figure it was necessary to have that much RAM (owing to my perusal of the OP). Could you explain to me why the GTX 550 is a bad graphics card and why that motherboard is better though? The GPU has a $20 rebate on it that brings the cost down to $109, and I thought it was one of the better Nvidia cards. The GTX 550ti isn't an awful card, it's just priced a little on the expensive side for it's performance. When you can get something like a 6850 for only $10 more, it's not even a question. The 6850 blows the 550ti out of the water, they're not even competitors in the GPU market, the 6850 is a completely different tier. I'd say the 550ti at $100 is a decent deal, if you could find it, but the 6850 is usually priced around $150-160, so it's a far better deal. | ||
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rightstuff
United States160 Posts
On September 25 2011 02:59 FabledIntegral wrote: The GTX 550ti isn't an awful card, it's just priced a little on the expensive side for it's performance. When you can get something like a 6850 for only $10 more, it's not even a question. The 6850 blows the 550ti out of the water, they're not even competitors in the GPU market, the 6850 is a completely different tier. I'd say the 550ti at $100 is a decent deal, if you could find it, but the 6850 is usually priced around $150-160, so it's a far better deal. Ah, thank you for that. I'll stick with the AMD GPU then! | ||
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Womwomwom
5930 Posts
This doesn't hold true for cases optimized for airflow like HAF X right? Yes but think about why it doesn't hold true. "Cases optimized for airflow" is basically codeword for "I can't design a chassis properly so I'm just going to stick fans everywhere". Cases should have optimised airflow instead, which was actually the point of having ATX/BTX specs but it seems everyone has forgotten about it. Cases like the Mac Pro have ducted airflow, through uh ducting I guess, and the end result is a case that cools well while producing very little noise. I actually recommend looking at Apple's desktop chassis designs because despite what you may think of them, the engineering in them is amazing. Just like all the other cases I've mentioned, they struggle to cool well without requiring an absurd amount of airflow. So they're hardly quiet at the end of the day if you want to get any form of cooling performance out of them. When I hear people mention that the FT02 (I actually own one, it isn't quiet without undervolting) is a very quiet computer, I'm left with the impression that they've never actually seen a quiet computer before because it definitely isn't. GPUs are by far the more noisy components in modern desktops and when you've got two of them, making them shut up with large amounts of airflow is worth it. I think most people would agree smooth low pitched sounds are more desirable than rough high pitched noise. But when you only have one, smaller cases that can efficiently deliver airflow are much better - you can ramp up the fan speed to improve performance or slow them down to decrease noise. | ||
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Womwomwom
5930 Posts
On September 25 2011 02:47 rightstuff wrote: Edit: Also, to note the two RAM suggestions. This is a computer being built for someone else... not myself. In fact, I won't be there (probably) to help put it together so any parts purchased should really be ready to go when they are hooked up. Yeah so get the g.skill memory kit. They'll be good to go out of the box without any fiddling. | ||
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Shikyo
Finland33997 Posts
![[image loading]](http://media.bestofmicro.com/Q/I/284778/original/Avg%20Performance.png) Basically, I suggest you instead get the 1gb 460 from ncix for 100$ if you want a card with that kind of performance: http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=55409&promoid=1367http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=55409&promoid=1367 It's a tiny tiny bit worse than 6850 but the difference isn't worth 20 bucks. Not to mention that this 460 is factory overclocked as well. On September 25 2011 03:22 Womwomwom wrote: Yeah so get the g.skill memory kit. They'll be good to go out of the box without any fiddling. By the way I actually would suggest this kit as it's only 38$ with EMCKAHH27: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231422 | ||
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FabledIntegral
United States9232 Posts
To rightsuff, the GTX 460 1GB is noticeably superior to the GTX 550ti, and only slightly inferior to the 6850. If you're looking to save money, you could consider getting a GTX 460 1GB. The only downside would be that they probably won't be releasing any new drivers for it anymore since it's last gen, but at the same time NVIDIA driver support has always been superior to AMD imo. http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/313?vs=291 The cards are pretty damn similar, so it depends if you think that $20 is worth the small amount of extra performance. | ||
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Womwomwom
5930 Posts
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Shikyo
Finland33997 Posts
On September 25 2011 03:31 FabledIntegral wrote: That's still fermi, they use the same drivers.holy shit. The GTX 460 1GB is only $100? I might pick one up and SLI mine... To rightsuff, the GTX 460 1GB is noticeably superior to the GTX 550ti, and only slightly inferior to the 6850. If you're looking to save money, you could consider getting a GTX 460 1GB. The only downside would be that they probably won't be releasing any new drivers for it anymore since it's last gen, but at the same time NVIDIA driver support has always been superior to AMD imo. http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/313?vs=291 The cards are pretty damn similar, so it depends if you think that $20 is worth the small amount of extra performance. Also, those are stock clocks in that bench, this 460 is overclocked from 675MHz to 780MHz and shader clock from 1350MHz to 1575MHz. Oh I guess it depends on how much you value Deus Ex but I just ignore those things when picking components. | ||
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FabledIntegral
United States9232 Posts
On September 25 2011 03:39 Shikyo wrote: That's still fermi, they use the same drivers. Also, those are stock clocks in that bench, this 460 is overclocked from 675MHz to 780MHz and shader clock from 1350MHz to 1575MHz. Oh I guess it depends on how much you value Deus Ex but I just ignore those things when picking components. For some reason I assumed despite being similar architecture driver support was dependent on generation. Oh well, that's good to hear since I have a GTX 460 already. I don't really care about factory overclocks because I just manually overclock the card myself, I'm well beyond 780MHz on my card  .On September 25 2011 03:38 Womwomwom wrote: It doesn't come with a Deus Ex Human Revolution coupon, which is easily worth playing or selling to someone. For many people who torrent, free games don't factor into the equation whatsoever. Although yeah, I guess you could sell it. | ||
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JingleHell
United States11308 Posts
http://www.nvidia.com/object/win7-winvista-64bit-280.26-whql-driver.html Check the Supported Products tab. Architecture doesn't mean anything for driver support. So you're both wrong. Oh, and Shikyo's claim that the 6850 is superior to a stock 460 is dependent entirely on which games you prefer to play. The cards are pretty much equal, with differences on individual games due to the vagaries of design and drivers. Also, the 460 can OC to close to 150% of stock clocks, I doubt the 6850 can, although I wouldn't mind being proven wrong. But, he really likes AMD and wants them to be better than they are, and recently got disillusioned about their CPUs, so we mostly let it slide. | ||
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