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Thanks for the help, Incognoto.
A couple questions?
i5 vs i7: So since I don't plan to be streaming I don't need one and an i5 should handle most if not all of the work related/ gaming applications I plan? Does the i7 add more potential versatility in the long run?
Re: Mobo; Are all of them built basically the same? Assuming similar card slots, RAM speeds, and data speeds? Is there any stock to be taken in branding? Or certain features? i.e. ROG motherboards? 'Gaming' motherboards? or do they just have flashy paint?
Memory: would there be a noticeable difference in a higher speed of memory? I assume a 1600 to a 2133 or such would be a noticeable improvement? Or am I better off spending this money elsewhere?
Also is there any branding that I should be aware of or is memory just memory?
GPU: I've always been in a family that hasn't had too many Radeon products. I've heard they have bad drivers or such and should be avoided, is this still true or are they on comparability terms with nVidia now?
Also to my understanding: 780~ 2x 7970> 7970 ~ 770? Would there be an issue with two 780s? or would that bottleneck somewhere else in the system? Or even worth the investment? Or possibly should I go with one 780 with plans of adding another later in the computer's lifespan?
Bearing my price range in mind would there be any harm in me trying a dual screened layout? I mean, what should I do to maximize the potential?
Again, thanks in advanced.
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An i7 would be beneficial in some aspects of editing and design.
All motherboards have the same basic functionality. More expensive branded motherboards like the ROG or Sabertooth add extra and better chipsets (like dual LAN, built-in Wi-Fi, better audio, more SATA, more USB3.0 - basically everything that can be added on via add-on cards) and have features such as on-board buttons (making it easier to troubleshoot and overclock). Unless the rest of your configuration and setup is already godly, money should not be wasted on the motherboard.
Faster memory does offer small gains and the price difference between 1600MHz and 2133MHz is negligible (like $5-$10) in comparison to what you pay on the rest of the components, it's silly not to get 2133MHz. Memory is for the large part mostly the same because it all comes from a small list of manufacturers (Hynix, Elpida, Samsung, Micron, etc). Unless you're an overclocking enthusiast, don't put too much thought into it. So whether you pick G.Skill, Corsair, or some lesser known brand just comes down to pricing and post-sale support considerations. You'll also want 2x8GB rather than 2x4GB for professional use.
Both AMD and Nvidia have their shares of bad drivers.
A GTX 780 is not equivalent to 7970 Crossfire. What route you should take depends on what you want to accomplish or do. If you're not willing to buy used products (because that's how you'll acquire a second video card down the road) than SLI / Crossfire is a bad idea. If you want to play the latest games on near max settings than SLI / Crossfire is necessary because a GTX 780 will not max every game comfortably at 1080p.
Are you talking about gaming on dual-screens or gaming on one screen and having another for browsing / streams / etc. Gaming on dual screens is a bad idea because you'd be sitting off center or have a bezel infront of you. If you want a panoramic gaming experience than you'll want three screens. This would also mean you'd need SLI GTX 770 or Crossfire 7970 to run most games comfortably on reasonably high settings.
For gaming on one screen and stuff on the other than there's nothing to consider or worry about. If your girlfriend spends more time on the computer than you and/or if you're willing to put her needs above yours than you should consider a 2560x1440 display or even two. Three 1080p displays would work too. Obviously less desirable than 2560x1440 for professionals but a good compromise if you're looking for the best gaming performance since gaming at 1920x1080 isn't as demanding as 2560x1440. A multiple monitor setup is basically expected for people who spend lots of time on a computer as the extra pixels increase productivity by so much.
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Hahaha alright tyvm :D i kinda figured, but someone recommended this PC to someone else and I happened to find the post.
I thought, only $500?? seems cheap. and started assuming bad specs
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I see. So basically an i7, and the additional memory would probably be worth it, as well as the faster speed of the memory if it is a sensible buy.
I haven't entirely thought about the panoramic gaming experience, but I suppose it would be within my price budget to do so?
As far as who would be using it. Unknown really, maybe a 80/20 split in my favor or at the most a 60/40.
Concerning the GPU, I'm trying to maximize effectiveness without paying top dollar for bleeding edge, if you know what I mean. Should I consider an SLI/Crossfire set up only if I am dealing with multiple monitors? Also, if I would go for a panoramic set-up, would one handle the load better than the other?
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I think it's pretty much required if you want to have a game stretched over three screens as that's so much more pixels as on a single screen. That's a pretty special circumstance. I just feel SLI and Crossfire are suspicious technologies, may result in headaches with the drivers and settings for each new game.
Two screens can be neat for work. You'd still game on a single screen on a machine like that. The graphics card would not need to be more powerful.
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United Kingdom20342 Posts
On October 10 2013 08:58 IMKR wrote:
Hahaha alright tyvm :D i kinda figured, but someone recommended this PC to someone else and I happened to find the post.
I thought, only $500?? seems cheap. and started assuming bad specs
It's terrible for $500.
First generation FX 4 core? gt610?
2 module bulldozer.. Haswell i3 with integrated graphics would be better on both CPU and GPU fronts, and you'd have your own psu, mobo, case etc (of good, not terrible cheap prebuilt quality) with such a build. Pretty sure that doesn't cost $500 either
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Alright so....Is there any potential issue with.....this? http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1MUXH
Bottlenecks, etc. Am I overdoing the graphics cards for only one monitor?
Are the voltages a real issue? And how can I change that?
Additionally is there any stock to be taken in 'Bronze' to 'Gold' or 'Platinum' in the efficiency of the PS? Or is it all just marketing?
Edit: Mild stupidity on my part; http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1MV7s fixed?
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Go for NH-U14S instead of U12S as the CPU cooler. It's about $10 more. It's simply larger and cools better.
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Two video cards is not necessary for gaming at 1080p unless you really want to max out games. A single 7970 will play most games on reasonably high settings comfortably.
You probably want a 840 EVO since it has significantly better sequential writes and is not all that much expensive over the regular 840.
Higher efficiency adds up over the years but it's nothing significant. But units such as the Seasonic X and Platinum or Corsair HX and AX are typically better built and have a seven year warranty (as opposed to the five you find on units like the Corsair TX). And many manufacturers are moving towards gold for a majority of their line-up so Gold units really aren't expensive anymore. A Corsair HX750 or Seasonic Platinum 660 are both at ~$120 currently and are both superior to the Corsair TX.
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There we go: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1MVyl
Yes, a certain part of me wants to max out settings, at least for a little bit as I have never had a rig capable of such a feat.
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I am confused on what SSD is.
the only thing i know about it is that they are similar to your regular harddrive and that SSD is faster (faster for what tho?)
what is the use of a SSD ? also, how do i put it in use? Is it treated the same as if it was the harddrive? (when im saving stuff into it, instead of saving into the harddrive i save it into the SSD?)
EDIT: another question :D
How do you know what generation the CPU is on a AMD processer?
i know that for intel cpu's, the 1st number in the 4 digit is the generation indication (IE: intel i7 - 3770k the 3 means 3rd gen
and in i7- 4770 the 4 means the 4th gen or haswell)
thank you
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SSD and HDD function the same to someone actually using a PC. You wouldn't be able to tell the difference between them (except for maybe speed, but you wouldn't know why it was fast).
Basically, SSD is much faster in typical use of a PC, but also much more expensive per MB. There are cases where HDDs can be equal or even faster than an SSD at certain tasks, but you almost certainly won't run into them (or rarely enough that an SSD is effectively always better in terms of speed).
Technically speaking, an HDD has a disk in there that's literally spinning around and being read through a tiny head, whereas an SSD doesn't have moving parts like that. In order to read (or write) something to the HDD, it has to physically rotate to the place on the disk the data is going to go. Defragging puts files close together physically on the disk so that the HDD can grab all the relevant pieces of data without going all over the disk (plus it can read certain edges, I think the outside, faster than others, so it also moves the entire set of data in that regard). SSDs don't have that issue, and therefore don't need to be defragged (and in fact should NOT be defragged because they have a finite number of writes, albeit a large number). HDDs can write a single bit of data, while SSDs have to write an entire block (size varies by disk), which means SSD writes can suffer because it's having to re-write a lot of things that aren't actually changing. SSD writes are still fast (comparably even or better than HDDs typically).
SSDs can be mounted in any orientation in a PC. I have 3 literally attached with velcro to the underside of my motherboard tray). SSDs also happen to be much lighter and smaller than HDDs (in width, thickness, and length)
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United Kingdom20342 Posts
AMD FX Bulldozer CPU's are listed like 4-1-xx or 6-1-xx
Piledriver is 4-3-xx or 6-3-xx etc
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The SSD has a super small size for the same price. It saves data on chips, has no moving parts. The HDD has a rotating disk and a little arm moving around, that little arm reading and writing things to that disk.
I feel the main thing between HDD and SSD is, sometimes the HDD gets veryyyyyy slow for a bunch of seconds. That's when Windows and programs all want to do something to it at the same time. It's pretty random. The SSD in comparison does not care about several things happening at the same time. It will make the PC always run at the same speed and it will always feel fast.
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On October 06 2013 22:35 Jonoman92 wrote:My Q4 2008 PC has served well, but I'm finally going to build a new rig! + Show Spoiler +
What is your budget?
~$1000 USD
What is your monitor's native resolution?
I will be getting a new 1920x1080 monitor (not included in the budget.)
What games do you intend to play on this computer? What settings?
Mainly I play DOTA 2 (will play LotV for a month when it comes out, beyond that... we'll see!). But I also want to be able to play new AAA titles at medium/high settings.
What do you intend to use the computer for besides gaming?
Media PC/Web Browsing
Do you intend to overclock?
Haven't done it before, but I am willing to give it a try. Don't want to risk shortening the life of my cpu too much though.
Do you intend to do SLI / Crossfire?
No
Do you need an operating system?
No. I will be using Windows 7 Professional.
Do you need a monitor or any other peripherals and is this part of your budget?
I want to get a 23"-24" IPS monitor. This is in addition to the $1000 budget. So +$200 or so I guess.
If you have any requirements or brand preferences, please specify.
None
What country will you be buying your parts in?
USA
If you have any retailer preferences, please specify.
None, I have access to a Microcenter nearby though.
What is your current build?
core 2 duo, radeon 4870, 4gb ram
I'd like to get something around the high-end gamer sample build in the OP. i5 something, 8gb ram, 160-250gb SSD, and at least a 2TB hard drive. Other note, I am lazy and don't want to do upgrades n' stuff once I build this in case that influences anything. Ready to buy any day now, unless there's some good reason to wait.
So, I've done a little research and have thrown a build together (just missing a case). http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Jonoman/saved/2yac
Any comments?
I decided to try a mATX build. Can anyone recommend a case? Additionally, I would like to try some minor overclocking but nothing major (the K is oddly cheaper for me by $15 since I can get it for $200 at microcenter... while the mobo upgrade was about $40 from Z87 to H87 for the ones I picked). I'd like to just use the stock cooler, is this ok?
edit: Added case and changed video card and PSU. Deciding which 7950 to get seemed somewhat arbitrary. I chose one that was a slightly more expensive but had better reviews.
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I'd still get an aftermarket heatsink for a light overclock unless you're talking like 300 MHz more.
If you just want to say you did mATX, you can get a Fractal Design Arc Mini for $50, which is a great deal:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352008
It's pretty much a normal ATX mid tower but with three less slots so a bit shorter. Not much smaller than just a normal ATX build.
Silverstone Sugo SG09 is compact and thus a bit unwieldy on the inside and louder.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163222
Silverstone PS07 (also in white) or TJ08-E is noticeably but not much smaller than the usual ATX towers, but that's a bit more roomy. These tend to have better temps / acoustics than some other smaller options because of layout, though the stock fan on the TJ08-E is loud by default.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163186
Something fatter but a bit smaller overall and with yet another different layout would be the BitFenix Phenom M (also in white):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811345035
Depending on the case, you could have lots of room for cables (no need for modular PSU) or not. CX is decent enough but not really good quality; that could be upgraded if you're thinking very long term.
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Hello,
My laptop is starting to fail after I abused it during a bad game (I feel terrible about it). I was thinking of buying a desktop from Cyperpower but decided to try my hand at building my own pc after remembering TL has this thread. I've never built one before (total computer noob) and after going through the op's post and watching a video and trying to familiarize myself with the process (as well as the component names and brand names), I've settled for the "typical gamer" sample build for the US from skyR's second post (last edit was about a month ago):
+ Show Spoiler +
Processor (CPU): $215 Intel Core i5 4670
Motherboard: $75 MSI B85M-G43
Memory (RAM): $60 G.Skill Ripjaws X 2x4GB 1600MHz
Video Card (GPU): $185 Sapphire Radeon HD7870 GHz Edition OC 2GB
Primary Storage: $165 Samsung 840 250GB
Secondary Storage: $55 Western Digital Blue 500GB
Power Supply (PSU): $60 Rosewill Capstone 450
Case: $50 Corsair Carbide 200R
What is your budget?
I was thinking $800-$900, but I will also need a monitor, a keyboard, and Windows 8, which puts the above config over my budget. I was thinking maybe I should lower the quality of some parts, but I'm dead set on Intel i5 and a SSD drive.
What is your monitor's native resolution?
Don't have a monitor since I use a laptop. I hope to get one that's not too expensive.
What games do you intend to play on this computer? What settings?
The usual Blizzard games (SC2, D3) on the lowest settings. Also some steam games, fps (Borderlands 2) and hopefully some fighting games (Street Fighter 4, KOF13). I usually play pc games on the lowest settings anyway to increase performance. Going to quit LoL since that's how my laptop got messed up in the first place grrr...(also on lowest settings, though I probably should've turned on shadows for Zed?)
What do you intend to use the computer for besides gaming?
Internet, word processing with Microsoft Word, some Excel (looks like I have to shell out more money for Microsoft Office?), watching HD movies, music. I don't stream and don't plan on doing so.
Do you intend to overclock?
I don't know how to, so probably not right now, though I would like to learn in the future.
Do you intend to do SLI / Crossfire?
I play on lowest settings, so probably not.
Do you need an operating system?
Windows 8, maybe an older one like 7 since I'm more familiar with that one.
Do you need a monitor or any other peripherals and is this part of your budget?
I need a monitor and keyboard, and I hope I can squeeze them into my budget. Though for the keyboard I can make an exception to go over since I'm thinking of getting one of the Razer ones.
If you have any requirements or brand preferences, please specify.
Maybe the Intel Core i5, though it probably is more than I need?
What country will you be buying your parts in?
United States
If you have any retailer preferences, please specify.
None I can think off really. I'll probably be buying most, if not all, of the components through Newegg since that's the one I'm most familiar with. Unless, of course, there are other sites where I can get them for less.
Also, will I need an optical drive to install Windows? Before I go order any parts, any input/critique/advice would be very much appreciated!
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Ah thank you for the reply. I switched the PSU on you right after I posted (the link now shows the updated list). I think 500W is plenty (pcpartpicker say estimated wattage is 388W) and EVGA seems like a top brand, though I dunno about their PSUs I guess.
I don't care about saying I did mATX heh. I could just as easily switch to a normal ATX mobo and wouldn't care much. That Fractal Design Arc Mini looks good to me though, think I might just jump on that.
edit: Updated wattage to reflect changes I made.
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EPT
