• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 04:13
CEST 10:13
KST 17:13
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
TL.net Map Contest #21: Voting2[ASL20] Ro4 Preview: Descent6Team TLMC #5: Winners Announced!3[ASL20] Ro8 Preview Pt2: Holding On9Maestros of the Game: Live Finals Preview (RO4)5
Community News
Weekly Cups (Oct 6-12): Four star herO05.0.15 Patch Balance Hotfix (2025-10-8)62Weekly Cups (Sept 29-Oct 5): MaxPax triples up3PartinG joins SteamerZone, returns to SC2 competition295.0.15 Balance Patch Notes (Live version)119
StarCraft 2
General
5.0.15 Patch Balance Hotfix (2025-10-8) Weekly Cups (Oct 6-12): Four star herO PartinG joins SteamerZone, returns to SC2 competition TL.net Map Contest #21: Voting TL.net Map Contest #21 - Finalists
Tourneys
WardiTV Mondays SC2's Safe House 2 - October 18 & 19 Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament RSL Offline Finals Dates + Ticket Sales! SC4ALL $6,000 Open LAN in Philadelphia
Strategy
Custom Maps
External Content
Mutation # 495 Rest In Peace Mutation # 494 Unstable Environment Mutation # 493 Quick Killers Mutation # 492 Get Out More
Brood War
General
[ASL20] Ro4 Preview: Descent I'm making videos again Any rep analyzer that shows resources situation? Whose hotkey signature is this? BW General Discussion
Tourneys
[ASL20] Semifinal A [Megathread] Daily Proleagues [ASL20] Ro8 Day 4 Small VOD Thread 2.0
Strategy
Current Meta BW - ajfirecracker Strategy & Training Siegecraft - a new perspective TvZ Theorycraft - Improving on State of the Art
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread ZeroSpace Megathread Dawn of War IV Path of Exile
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion LiquidDota to reintegrate into TL.net
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
SPIRED by.ASL Mafia {211640} TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
Dive Into Action with Spartans Games US Politics Mega-thread The Games Industry And ATVI Stop the Construction YouTube Thread
Fan Clubs
The herO Fan Club! The Happy Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread [Manga] One Piece Movie Discussion!
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion MLB/Baseball 2023 NBA General Discussion TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
SC2 Client Relocalization [Change SC2 Language] Linksys AE2500 USB WIFI keeps disconnecting Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List Recent Gifted Posts
Blogs
Inbreeding: Why Do We Do It…
Peanutsc
From Tilt to Ragequit:The Ps…
TrAiDoS
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1346 users

Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread - Page 2

Forum Index > Tech Support
Post a Reply
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 743 744 745 Next
When using this resource, please read the 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.
Torte de Lini
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Germany38463 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-08-23 10:19:43
August 23 2013 10:16 GMT
#21
Montior: BenQ XL2420T 120Hz 24.0" Monitor
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case


The thing is, yeah, it's for Battlefield 4, but I'll naturally be playing other games. Is it smart to go Intel and AMD instead of AMD for the CPU?

Here's what else I considered:
SSD: SAMSUNG 840 Series MZ-7TD250BW 2.5" 250GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive
PSU: CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 600W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

with my budget? Can I even afford something top-of-the-line to last me 4-5 years? I'm okay with non 120 hz since I've never used one before. I don't care about 3D either.

My old monitor was the ASUS VX series
https://twitter.com/#!/TorteDeLini (@TorteDeLini)
skyR
Profile Joined July 2009
Canada13817 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-08-23 10:32:16
August 23 2013 10:31 GMT
#22
On August 23 2013 19:16 Torte de Lini wrote:+ Show Spoiler +
Montior: BenQ XL2420T 120Hz 24.0" Monitor
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case


The thing is, yeah, it's for Battlefield 4, but I'll naturally be playing other games. Is it smart to go Intel and AMD instead of AMD for the CPU?

Here's what else I considered:
SSD: SAMSUNG 840 Series MZ-7TD250BW 2.5" 250GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive
PSU: CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 600W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

with my budget? Can I even afford something top-of-the-line to last me 4-5 years? I'm okay with non 120 hz since I've never used one before. I don't care about 3D either.

My old monitor was the ASUS VX series


You mentioned you were a graphics whore so no, a computer won't last 4-5 years even if it were top of the line. Typically, you will have to upgrade every two or three generations to keep up with the latest games. It's expensive to be a graphics whore )=

You should just look at the sample builds and work your way from there. You mentioned you had a $1600 budget but US / Canada pricing doesn't translate well into Europe.

CX600 is not something you should look at. It is overkill for a single GPU configuration yet underpowered for good SLI / Crossfire configurations.
Sayle
Profile Joined October 2010
United Kingdom3685 Posts
August 23 2013 10:49 GMT
#23
This is amazing, thanks so much!
Torte de Lini
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Germany38463 Posts
August 23 2013 11:33 GMT
#24
Hey, I just talked to Marc/Snowbird and he says you and Myrmidon know your stuff, so I trust you guys.
Marc is going to give me a build and I'll post it here sometime today (I think)
https://twitter.com/#!/TorteDeLini (@TorteDeLini)
issh
Profile Joined January 2011
Netherlands96 Posts
August 23 2013 11:34 GMT
#25
What is your current build?
CPU:Intel Core i5 3570K, Ivy Bridge, 3.4GHz Quad Core, 6MB Cache (overclocked to 4.5GHz)
GPU: Nvidia GTX 260
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H, Intel Z77 Chipset
Power supply: Cooler Master, ATX 12V V2.3 / ESP12V V2.91
Memory: DDR3, 8GB Total (2x4GB) Corsair Vengeance LP, 1600MHz

What is your resolution?
1920x1080

Why do you want to upgrade? What do you want to achieve with the upgrade?
The GPU and power supply, hopefully have a fairly good increase in fps.
As you can see the GPU mainly is a big problem for my system, im fairly sure it's bottlenecking my CPU.

What is your budget?
$450

If you have any brand or retailer preferences, please specify.
Honestly, abit of a Nvidia fanboy, would like to stick with them.


Amazing thread, thanks so much for this!
skyR
Profile Joined July 2009
Canada13817 Posts
August 23 2013 11:45 GMT
#26
On August 23 2013 20:34 issh wrote:+ Show Spoiler +
What is your current build?
CPU:Intel Core i5 3570K, Ivy Bridge, 3.4GHz Quad Core, 6MB Cache (overclocked to 4.5GHz)
GPU: Nvidia GTX 260
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H, Intel Z77 Chipset
Power supply: Cooler Master, ATX 12V V2.3 / ESP12V V2.91
Memory: DDR3, 8GB Total (2x4GB) Corsair Vengeance LP, 1600MHz

What is your resolution?
1920x1080

Why do you want to upgrade? What do you want to achieve with the upgrade?
The GPU and power supply, hopefully have a fairly good increase in fps.
As you can see the GPU mainly is a big problem for my system, im fairly sure it's bottlenecking my CPU.

What is your budget?
$450

If you have any brand or retailer preferences, please specify.
Honestly, abit of a Nvidia fanboy, would like to stick with them.


Amazing thread, thanks so much for this!


GTX 760 is ~$260 and a Rosewill Capstone 450 is $60, $320 total. You can go up to a GTX 770 for ~$400 as well but that will put you over budget by a little bit. If you're not in the US / Canada then you won't find a Rosewill Capstone so other options would be Superflower Golden Green 450, Seasonic G 450, and XFX Core Edition 550.
Antoine
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States7481 Posts
August 23 2013 13:47 GMT
#27
Shadowplay is still a ways away unfortunately (2 months after original promised date!), may want to note that in the OP
ModeratorFlash Sea Action Snow Midas | TheStC Ret Tyler MC | RIP 우정호
Deleted User 135096
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
3624 Posts
August 23 2013 15:38 GMT
#28
CBRT 2.0.
Administrator
TheMooseHeed
Profile Joined July 2010
United Kingdom535 Posts
August 23 2013 15:49 GMT
#29
Amazing work here.

I just worry that this thread will seem dead considering pretty much everything you could ever ask is in the OP :D
''Swarm hosts are the worst thing in the world, I mean terrorism is pretty bad but swarmhosts are worse'' IdrA on ZvZ
nosliw
Profile Blog Joined December 2008
United States2716 Posts
August 23 2013 16:32 GMT
#30
OMG this is so much good info
Rollin
Profile Joined March 2011
Australia1552 Posts
August 23 2013 17:55 GMT
#31
This almost makes me feel like putting a skyr quote in my sig again :D. Almost.
Throw off those chains of reason, and your prison disappears. | Check your posting frequency timeline: http://www.teamliquid.net/mytlnet/post_activity_img.php
Jonoman92
Profile Blog Joined September 2006
United States9104 Posts
August 23 2013 18:21 GMT
#32
Amazing OP, nice job and thanks! Built my first PC 5 years ago with the help of TL (o god... so old). Its lasted me 5 years of gaming and can still run new games decently enough (radeon 4870 w/ core 2 duo.)

Going to build a new rig sometime soon though, will definitely use this.
iGn1t3
Profile Joined May 2011
Hong Kong73 Posts
August 23 2013 19:02 GMT
#33
Omg I have been waiting for this for so long! Thanks so much skyR!
I lose today to win tomorrow.
upperbound
Profile Joined September 2011
United States2300 Posts
August 23 2013 19:47 GMT
#34
Haha I just built your exact "typical gamer" build for my brother last week using some better deals. This OP should help people focus their efforts a bit more and make it easier to help and refine builds. Great work!

Also curious at current RAM prices why you're not listing 4GB kits as an option at all. There are good 2x2 kits available at cas8, 1600mhz, 1.5v for $35 U.S.
Sylvex
Profile Joined January 2009
United States127 Posts
August 23 2013 20:09 GMT
#35
In the OP it suggests a gigabyte GTX 760 for the high-end gamer build. The 760 seems to be at the right price for me, but I've had bad experience with Gigabyte in the past, can anyone suggest an EVGA or MSI 760 or another card that would be on par with that for a similar price?

Looking at Newegg there seems to be 3 or 4 different versions of each card and I'm not sure what some of them even mean, such as double BIOS and super clocked vs overclocked (marketing buzzword?)

These 2 seem the most similar as far as I can tell:
MSI: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127745
EVGA: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130932

With the EVGA having a very slightly lower clock speed, and both of them having 2 fans instead of 3.

OP also mentions that the MSI twin frozr II and its fan failure, but I'm not sure that card uses it. Also mentions EVGA not being known for excellence in products, but I'm not sure what that actually translates to as to what kind of performances differences there would be if any.
skyR
Profile Joined July 2009
Canada13817 Posts
August 23 2013 20:12 GMT
#36
On August 24 2013 04:47 upperbound wrote:+ Show Spoiler +
Haha I just built your exact "typical gamer" build for my brother last week using some better deals. This OP should help people focus their efforts a bit more and make it easier to help and refine builds. Great work!

Also curious at current RAM prices why you're not listing 4GB kits as an option at all. There are good 2x2 kits available at cas8, 1600mhz, 1.5v for $35 U.S.


Higher speed memory benefit APUs a lot and there are no 2x2gb high speed kits on sale while there are plenty for 2x4gb.

You can get a 2x2gb kit for the budget gamer build but I don't particularly believe that 2x2gb is enough and I rather spend $20 to have the extra headroom than to spend $60 later for 2x4gb to replace the $35 2x2gb.
skyR
Profile Joined July 2009
Canada13817 Posts
August 23 2013 20:25 GMT
#37
On August 24 2013 05:09 Sylvex wrote:+ Show Spoiler +
In the OP it suggests a gigabyte GTX 760 for the high-end gamer build. The 760 seems to be at the right price for me, but I've had bad experience with Gigabyte in the past, can anyone suggest an EVGA or MSI 760 or another card that would be on par with that for a similar price?

Looking at Newegg there seems to be 3 or 4 different versions of each card and I'm not sure what some of them even mean, such as double BIOS and super clocked vs overclocked (marketing buzzword?)

These 2 seem the most similar as far as I can tell:
MSI: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127745
EVGA: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130932

With the EVGA having a very slightly lower clock speed, and both of them having 2 fans instead of 3.

OP also mentions that the MSI twin frozr II and its fan failure, but I'm not sure that card uses it. Also mentions EVGA not being known for excellence in products, but I'm not sure what that actually translates to as to what kind of performances differences there would be if any.


All of the newer MSI cards use Twin Frozr III and Twin Frozr IV. Whether the problem still persists, I do not know.

EVGA uses the the Nvidia reference PCB for most of their cards so they may not be able to overclock as high as some of the other cards using custom PCBs. Though this doesn't really matter since Nvidia has limited the voltage adjustments possible on their newer cards. EVGA's ACX heatsink is relatively new and doesn't have the same reputation as MSI's Twin Frozr or Gigabyte's Windforce. It might be better or it might be worse, no one knows. Nothing particularly drastic for the typical consumer.

OC and Superclocked just means that the card is pre-overclocked. Most cards with a dual-fan solution will be pre-overclocked.

Both of those cards are fine alternatives to the Gigabyte.
Sylvex
Profile Joined January 2009
United States127 Posts
August 23 2013 20:48 GMT
#38
Cool, thanks, one more question that I forgot to ask.

In the previous thread there was mention of this case, and that it was a very good case for essentially half off:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352023

I plan to pick one up, how significant is filling out the remaining fan slots and would this be a decent fan?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103078

On my old case, the stock fan on the back started making a grating noise to the point where I had to unplug it (temps are still fine in the case luckily). It probably just needs to be lubricated or something, but before I unplugged it it would drive me insane, especially when the grating was still not so bad and I couldn't tell where it was coming from.
skyR
Profile Joined July 2009
Canada13817 Posts
August 23 2013 21:00 GMT
#39
On August 24 2013 05:48 Sylvex wrote:+ Show Spoiler +
Cool, thanks, one more question that I forgot to ask.

In the previous thread there was mention of this case, and that it was a very good case for essentially half off:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352023

I plan to pick one up, how significant is filling out the remaining fan slots and would this be a decent fan?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103078

On my old case, the stock fan on the back started making a grating noise to the point where I had to unplug it (temps are still fine in the case luckily). It probably just needs to be lubricated or something, but before I unplugged it it would drive me insane, especially when the grating was still not so bad and I couldn't tell where it was coming from.


Yes, the Fractal Design Define R4 is an amazing case. It's not necessary to fill out the remaining case fans for most setups. You can just add a fan later with relative ease if you find it warranted.
Ropid
Profile Joined March 2009
Germany3557 Posts
August 23 2013 21:09 GMT
#40
@Sylvex:

That particular case you linked, be aware that the same case is available in different colors and without window, so compare the prices of the different configurations when buying.

If you buy an additional fan, for the Fractal Design Define R4 case in particular, buy 140mm and maybe see if you can get the same fan as what's shipped with the case. Put the fan in the front or bottom, so you have 2x front + rear or 1x front + bottom + rear. Remove one of the drive cages. I'd use 2x front + rear just so it's on the same intake dust filter for cleaning.

If you put it in side panel or top, there's a good chance you will worsen the air flow situation inside the case. This could happen by sucking out fresh unused air at top or side, or by pushing against the air flow from front to back if using side as intake. You will also increase noise as you'll open up the dampening on side panel and top.
"My goal is to replace my soul with coffee and become immortal."
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 743 744 745 Next
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 1h 47m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
SortOf 120
StarCraft: Brood War
Larva 541
actioN 430
Leta 417
PianO 344
Mini 70
Sharp 56
ToSsGirL 41
NotJumperer 22
Bale 12
Dota 2
XaKoH 86
League of Legends
JimRising 670
Counter-Strike
Stewie2K815
allub203
Super Smash Bros
Mew2King66
Westballz66
amsayoshi35
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor135
Other Games
summit1g13820
ceh9420
Happy138
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick622
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 15 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH157
• LUISG 24
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• WagamamaTV438
League of Legends
• Rush1768
• HappyZerGling96
Upcoming Events
Afreeca Starleague
1h 47m
Barracks vs Snow
Wardi Open
2h 47m
Monday Night Weeklies
7h 47m
Replay Cast
15h 47m
Afreeca Starleague
1d 1h
Soma vs Bisu
OSC
1d 5h
OSC
1d 9h
PiGosaur Monday
1d 15h
The PondCast
3 days
OSC
3 days
[ Show More ]
Wardi Open
4 days
CranKy Ducklings
5 days
Safe House 2
5 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
6 days
Safe House 2
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Acropolis #4 - TS2
WardiTV TLMC #15
HCC Europe

Ongoing

BSL 21 Points
ASL Season 20
CSL 2025 AUTUMN (S18)
C-Race Season 1
IPSL Winter 2025-26
EC S1
ESL Pro League S22
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
IEM Cologne 2025

Upcoming

SC4ALL: Brood War
BSL Season 21
BSL 21 Team A
RSL Offline Finals
RSL Revival: Season 3
Stellar Fest
SC4ALL: StarCraft II
eXTREMESLAND 2025
ESL Impact League Season 8
SL Budapest Major 2025
BLAST Rivals Fall 2025
IEM Chengdu 2025
PGL Masters Bucharest 2025
Thunderpick World Champ.
CS Asia Championships 2025
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.