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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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_syphon_
United States12 Posts
On December 04 2011 13:40 beefhamburger wrote: You don't HAVE to and could just plug the hard drive straight in. But I'd recommend a clean install so you don't run into compatibility problems. But no, you don't have to. how would i go about doing that? | ||
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BigBlue
Canada1 Post
What is your budget? 1300-1400 CAD I have 100 in leeway if necessary but I'm looking for the most bang for my buck here. What is your resolution? 1920x1080 What are you using it for? Almost exclusively gaming, looking for it to run Sc2 extremely well on ultra settings other in addition to newer games. I'll be playing the Old Republic when it comes out so having that run well is also a major + Along with standard internet stuff like youtube etc.. What is your upgrade cycle? 2+ years I've been using this desktop of mine for atleast 4 years as an example with a few upgrades along the way. When do you plan on building it? I'm planning on getting the parts and assembling it as soon as possible. Do you plan on overclocking? Not currently no Do you need an Operating System? Yes I need Windows 7 Do you plan to add a second GPU for SLI or Crossfire? I wasn't planning on it Where are you buying your parts from? http://www.ncix.ca/ however if there are better deals/prices I may consider other website suggestions. Thanks for the help. | ||
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UniversalSnip
9871 Posts
2.2 ghz dual core 2 gigs ram geforce 8500 gt 512 mb ram | ||
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skyR
Canada13817 Posts
On December 04 2011 14:17 UniversalSnip wrote: If you have an old computer, is there something that is straight up always the best to upgrade? I have about 250 to burn, I like to play games but I don't care about the graphics quality, I just want good fps. I have 2.2 ghz dual core 2 gigs ram geforce 8500 gt 512 mb ram 2.2ghhz dual core tells us nothing. It could be a Pentium 4, Core 2 Duo, Phenom, Phenom II, or some other processor. If you're playing at anything that's not 800x600 than a graphics card upgrade will be the greatest - which will also require a new power supply. | ||
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UniversalSnip
9871 Posts
On December 04 2011 14:20 skyR wrote: 2.2ghhz dual core tells us nothing. It could be a Pentium 4, Core 2 Duo, Phenom, Phenom II, or some other processor. If you're playing at anything that's not 800x600 than a graphics card upgrade will be the greatest - which will also require a new power supply. It's an Intel E4500 Core 2 Duo. I'm totally ok with playing at low resolution actually, although I'm not sure if you meant it seriously when you implied that would change things? I've been playing skyrim at 960 x 600. I strip all my games down to the minimum graphics, got into the habit with quake and it's just how I prefer to play now. | ||
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skyR
Canada13817 Posts
For $250, you can basically get a Radeon HD6850 ($150) and a new power supply ($40) or possibly not if the old one you purchased is adequate. You'll be bottlenecked by the E4500 but you can upgrade that at a later time. The other route you can go is upgrade every component: Pentium G840 ($85), H61 ($50), 4gb DDR3 ($20), Radeon HD6670 ($80). But if I were you, I would save up some more and just build an entirely new computer when Ivybridge is released in March/April of next year or when Haswell is released in 2013. | ||
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UniversalSnip
9871 Posts
Thank you for the advice, I will look at those components. | ||
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skyR
Canada13817 Posts
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UniversalSnip
9871 Posts
On December 04 2011 14:54 skyR wrote: If you want to play at a low resolution on low FPS forever than go the second route. That is specifically what I don't want! I'm sorry I'm not being clear, what I mean is that I do not care at all if my components are capable of producing good graphics, I simply want games to run smoothly at the lowest settings. I'm going to set them to the lowest ones whether I have to or not. So I assume this should alter my purchasing because I have no interest in, for example, whether a graphics card can produce a billion shadows. | ||
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skyR
Canada13817 Posts
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UniversalSnip
9871 Posts
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MrStorkie
United Kingdom697 Posts
On November 29 2011 03:45 Shikyo wrote: http://www.aria.co.uk/Systems/Gaming Range/Gladiator/Gladiator Rage GTX Intel Core i5-2500K @ 3.30GHz DDR3 Gaming PC ?productId=47281 I think it'd be much cheaper if you got this one and changed the graphics card to 560 Ti and added the SSD. The aria gaming rig seems to match my previous specs quite a bit. For £599.99, it really is a bargain. (Or is it a bad choice?? Opinions pl0x? =)) I've tried to create a duplicate this exact system on other custom pc sites such as cyberpowersystem.co.uk & overclockers.co.uk, but they end up being almost £100 more! Anybody from the UK/EU knows any other good/cheap source? My question then will be, will the 500W PSU be enough?? (**500W Corsair Builder Series 500CX V2) I'm definitely planning on overclocking the system and including a SSD. Also, if I do start the overclock, I suppose the stock intel fan cooler will not be suffice. What cooling solutions do you guys suggest?? Another concern is the motherboard -- Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3 Intel Z68 (REV B3) Socket 1155. I've been reading on this forum that gigabyte's motherboard is pretty rubbish. Any reasons as to why that is the case? I read some reviews on this mobo and it seems to be quite a bargain mobo, even easily capable of achieving 4.2 - 4.4Ghz after OC. I will not be needing this gaming rig urgently.. wouldn't mind waiting up to 4-6 weeks. Should I wait for the next wave of release or is it better to just make up my mind now? On November 29 2011 03:34 skyR wrote: GTX 560 Ti 2GB isn't a good choice. Switch to 1GB variant. Roger that! What perks do the 2GB variant provide btw? Also, I've noticed that you have been highly recommending the MSI Twin FrozR II/III 560Ti and EVGA for better cooling/life time warranty. Should I be avoiding the DirectCu variant? Edit: Just realised that my post is basically one long string of questions. Thanks for your input and patience! | ||
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MisterFred
United States2033 Posts
I haven't seen the 2GB 560Ti on a lot of benchmarks, but the Radeon 6950 1GB &2GB versions perform EXACTLY the same for normal resolutions. But the 2GB versions of cards are more expensive, and therefore a bad choice. | ||
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Myrmidon
United States9452 Posts
Any type of typical tower cooler will be plenty for an i5-2500k at reasonable overclocks. e.g. Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO: http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Cooling/CPU Coolers/Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO Quiet CPU Cooler ?productId=47248 CX500 V2 is definitely enough and is not bad. Asus line of DirectCU is usually among the better ones. | ||
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FabledIntegral
United States9232 Posts
http://postimage.org/image/89fld584x/ Left my computer only for 5 minutes to come back to this... For some reason I can't get image quality right, the master card for the GTX 460 is at 94 degrees celcius after only 4 min 50s. When not in SLI, the cards individually run at around 80 degrees under load. If I have them both plugged in but SLI disabled it'll hit up to 85 degrees. Only when running in SLI does it crank that high  .Idling at 41 degrees and 35 degrees for master/2nd, respectively. | ||
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Shikyo
Finland33997 Posts
On December 04 2011 14:53 UniversalSnip wrote: Hmm, well, I appreciate your advice, you do seem to be skipping over what I specifically want though lol. I really don't care if my games look terrible, I just want them to be at good fps. Thank you for the advice, I will look at those components. by the way for you id just change the graphics card to a 6670 and no you wont need a new psu. this is goig to be fine for low settings and high fps even in 1080p | ||
Womwomwom
5930 Posts
On December 05 2011 06:15 FabledIntegral wrote: So uh, decided to test Furmark on my computer.... how worried should I be about this.... http://postimage.org/image/89fld584x/ Left my computer only for 5 minutes to come back to this... For some reason I can't get image quality right, the master card for the GTX 460 is at 94 degrees celcius after only 4 min 50s. When not in SLI, the cards individually run at around 80 degrees under load. If I have them both plugged in but SLI disabled it'll hit up to 85 degrees. Only when running in SLI does it crank that high .Idling at 41 degrees and 35 degrees for master/2nd, respectively. So what are you testing. If you're testing anything other than "I want to see how hot my video cards get", then test using real games and not this bullshit. | ||
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Shikyo
Finland33997 Posts
On December 05 2011 06:38 Womwomwom wrote: So what are you testing. If you're testing anything other than "I want to see how hot my video cards get", then test using real games and not this bullshit. why? but yes at 94c you should check the ventilation / dust, its higher than it should be especially as your hawks have really nice coolers and 460 is a cool card anyway | ||
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skyR
Canada13817 Posts
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FabledIntegral
United States9232 Posts
On December 05 2011 06:38 Womwomwom wrote: So what are you testing. If you're testing anything other than "I want to see how hot my video cards get", then test using real games and not this bullshit. I'm fully aware furmark is far more extreme than a normal setup. However, after reading online, after most stress tests people have reported their temperatures being significantly lower. At the same time, it worried me that it got that hot, that fast. And it didn't stop at 94 degrees, it was still going up. I tried playing battlefield 3 with a mild overclock and my computer shut down. | ||
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