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Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread - Page 608

Forum Index > Tech Support
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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.
mantequilla
Profile Blog Joined June 2012
Turkey781 Posts
June 16 2016 15:37 GMT
#12141
what do you guys think about [a cheap non-touch light laptop] VS [mini pc + small portable screen] for mobile light usage?

battery life is not very important because laptop batteries die anyways.

first came to mind:

- mini pc is a hassle to carry with seperate pc, screen and keyboard.
+ you can reuse your old hdd and ram lying around with a barebone mini pc (better cost-performance) And because parts are seperate, you can replace the ones that fail.
Age of Mythology forever!
Craton
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
United States17295 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-06-16 16:48:17
June 16 2016 16:45 GMT
#12142
You really haven't outlined your use-case at all, which is needed to make this decision.

Mini PCs must always be plugged in, which makes them far less mobile. Batteries also function as a de facto UPS, Similarly, carrying around a separate monitor is cumbersome (which is going to involve setting up when you want to use it and putting it away afterwards). You can theoretically get a monitor that powers off usb ports, but you'd have to be plugging in your PC anyway, so it's not worth the added cost.

Even a mini PC is going to be very bulky to carry around if it's something big enough to use your old HDD/RAM in. If you actually want a mobile mini PC then you should be looking more at those mini cube cases that are small enough to mount on the back of a monitor (using the VESA holes). That said, I don't know what kind of graphics card you can get into one of those.

You can get a portable enclosure for old drives to reuse them, but I'm not sure if you can run a full-size HDD off USB. Seems like worst case you could find one that connects to multiple USB ports for added power draw.

If you're just looking for something portable in the sense of visiting a friend or a LAN party, a mini PC might be a better option. For gaming, the mini is probably better. But, if you're looking for something to take to class, take on a trip (e.g. car, train, plane), or take to a coffee shop, a laptop is going to be better.
twitch.tv/cratonz
XenOmega
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Canada2822 Posts
June 17 2016 02:11 GMT
#12143
corsair air 540
i7 4790k
corsair h100i cooler
16 gig of ram 2400hz corsair dominator
msi gaming 7 motheboard
evga 850watt modular hold power supply
780 ti gpu
asus xonar essence stx soundcard
240 gig samsung 840ssd
1 tb mypass external hdd
2 extra corsair fans
comes with window 10 professional installed

On kijiji, for 1200$ CAD. I estimated about 1525$+++ (lowballing some of the stuffs because they are 1-3 generation behind).

Thoughts?
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20342 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-06-17 03:35:33
June 17 2016 03:24 GMT
#12144
You may have given too much value to the 780ti (that performance level can be beat for $200 USD now, but it's also 2 generations out of date for technologies like NVENC, 2.5x more power usage/heat etc.)

The samsung 840 and 840 evo also have a signifiacnt performance/longevity issue that degrades their value - especially the regular 840. There's a fix that clears up most of the symptoms for the 840 evo but not one for the regular 840
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
XenOmega
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Canada2822 Posts
June 17 2016 13:11 GMT
#12145
On June 17 2016 12:24 Cyro wrote:
You may have given too much value to the 780ti (that performance level can be beat for $200 USD now, but it's also 2 generations out of date for technologies like NVENC, 2.5x more power usage/heat etc.)

The samsung 840 and 840 evo also have a signifiacnt performance/longevity issue that degrades their value - especially the regular 840. There's a fix that clears up most of the symptoms for the 840 evo but not one for the regular 840


Hey Cyro, ty for the fast reply

So all in all, it's not a good deal at that price?
trifecta
Profile Joined April 2010
United States6795 Posts
June 17 2016 21:57 GMT
#12146
On June 17 2016 22:11 XenOmega wrote:
Show nested quote +
On June 17 2016 12:24 Cyro wrote:
You may have given too much value to the 780ti (that performance level can be beat for $200 USD now, but it's also 2 generations out of date for technologies like NVENC, 2.5x more power usage/heat etc.)

The samsung 840 and 840 evo also have a signifiacnt performance/longevity issue that degrades their value - especially the regular 840. There's a fix that clears up most of the symptoms for the 840 evo but not one for the regular 840


Hey Cyro, ty for the fast reply

So all in all, it's not a good deal at that price?


imo not really. The soundcard, 850w psu (overkill nowadays) and watercooler don't add much value in my opinion. you could build something better for the same money esp without those
XenOmega
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Canada2822 Posts
June 18 2016 02:19 GMT
#12147
Alright!

I'm also looking for an used laptop for a friend. Some light gaming :

How's this one looking?
Portable HP Envy 17" HD Blu-Ray, GTX850, 120GB SSD, Intel i7

17-j070ca

Asking price is 650$. Maybe I can negotiate it to 500-550$ (CAD) ?
Craton
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
United States17295 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-06-18 02:25:49
June 18 2016 02:25 GMT
#12148
Is there actually any difference between the GTX 1070 founders edition of the different manufacturers? I'm looking at NCIX (http://www.ncix.com/article/nvidia_GTX1070.htm) and they all look identical and seem to have the same specs.
twitch.tv/cratonz
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20342 Posts
June 18 2016 02:35 GMT
#12149
On June 18 2016 11:25 Craton wrote:
Is there actually any difference between the GTX 1070 founders edition of the different manufacturers? I'm looking at NCIX (http://www.ncix.com/article/nvidia_GTX1070.htm) and they all look identical and seem to have the same specs.


I don't think so aside from warranties. Even if a warranty says it's the same, dealing with different companies is different
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
adaro
Profile Joined April 2016
9 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-06-23 17:14:19
June 20 2016 13:47 GMT
#12150
--- Nuked ---
gobbledydook
Profile Joined October 2012
Australia2605 Posts
June 20 2016 14:08 GMT
#12151
RIP old computer, so I need a new one.


What is your budget?

Let's say $1000. I don't have a firm budget.

What is your monitor's native resolution?

1080p. I'm probably not buying a new monitor.

What games do you intend to play on this computer? What settings?

LoL: Highest, though LoL graphics aren't the most demanding so that's probably not the problem.
SC2: Ideally, it would run those mass unit arcade games on highest settings.
Civ6: I'm probably going to buy Civ6. I read that for this sort of game you need a good CPU too. It needs to resolve turns fast and not lag on highest settings when I scroll the map around.

What do you intend to use the computer for besides gaming?

Chemical engineering coursework, this would include industry specific simulation software. So a good CPU is a must.

Do you intend to overclock?

No

Do you intend to do SLI / Crossfire?

No

Do you need an operating system?

Windows 10


Do you need a monitor or any other peripherals and is this part of your budget?

No monitor needed at this stage.
I already have a 5.1 surround sound system.


If you have any requirements or brand preferences, please specify.

I'd prefer to buy parts from quality brands. My last computer died partly because I got dud parts from a computer shop in Melbourne. (I picked a 'gamers package', they built the computer from generic brand parts for me, not making this mistake again)

The case should be miniATX or microATX. I intend to carry it as hand luggage on a plane. I do want it to be big enough to fit a good GPU though.

What country will you be buying your parts in?

Hong Kong. I will probably have it built at a local computer shop there. They will have anything that you can suggest.

Don't worry about looking for the lowest price retailer for each part. The budget is a rough ballpark. I just want a setup that works so I can go look it up at the shop.

If you have any retailer preferences, please specify.

See above

I am a dirty Protoss bullshit abuser
ExPresident
Profile Joined January 2010
United States215 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-06-20 14:53:16
June 20 2016 14:52 GMT
#12152
What is your budget?
$1000 - 1200 USD

What is your monitor's native resolution?
1080P and most likely purchase a better one down the road.

What games do you intend to play on this computer? What settings?
Civ 5 & Civ 6 - High - Ultimate
Rainbow Six - High
XCom 2 - High
* Most likely future FPS titles. I've currently got a PS4 but feel the need to go to PC gaming so I want better quality visuals than I get from my PS4 on those FPS general titles like Battlefield or RB6 Siege.

What do you intend to use the computer for besides gaming?
Typical video/movie watching via Netflix, Hulu etc.

Do you intend to overclock?
No unless I could save significantly by doing so. I've never done it and not sure I feel comfortable with it.

Do you intend to do SLI / Crossfire?
Most likely no

Do you need an operating system?
Yes

Do you need a monitor or any other peripherals and is this part of your budget?
No

If you have any requirements or brand preferences, please specify.
Nvidia?

What country will you be buying your parts in?
U.S.


If you have any retailer preferences, please specify.
Amazon or Newegg is fine. I don't have a real preference as long as dealing with the company is relatively easy.
XenOmega
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Canada2822 Posts
June 21 2016 20:45 GMT
#12153
Is it worth paying 100$ more to go from GTX 850M (mobile) to GTX 860M ?

Both are using I7 processor 4xxx.

The cheapest of the two has 16 GB ram. The one with a more power GPU has 8 GB ram.
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20342 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-06-22 03:51:35
June 22 2016 03:49 GMT
#12154
850m vs 860m is only a fraction of the information that you need to make that choice, mobile parts often (even usually) have multiple parts or configurations with the same name written on them that can perform very differently.

850m can have ddr3 or gddr5 memory (32GB/s vs 80GB/s bandwidth)

860m can be kepler or maxwell, two entirely different GPU gens with different performance, capabilities and power efficiency

Either way, your overall performance per dollar will probably be pretty awful with this kind of hardware
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
kornetka
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
Poland129 Posts
June 22 2016 09:00 GMT
#12155
Hi guys, I'm trying to assemble a PC for the first time.

What is your budget?
Around 1100$, but I can spend a little bit more if necessary.

What is your monitor's native resolution?
1920x1080.

What games do you intend to play on this computer? What settings?
Witcher 3, Eu4, HoI4 on maxed settings.

What do you intend to use the computer for besides gaming?
Little bit of matlab and autocadish programs.

Do you intend to overclock?
Yes, though I have never done it before.

Do you intend to do SLI / Crossfire?
Not really, no.

Do you need an operating system?
Yes.

Do you need a monitor or any other peripherals and is this part of your budget?
No, but I already have a pair of nice stereo speakers. I think I need dedicated sound card for them, right?

If you have any requirements or brand preferences, please specify.
No specific brands, but I'd like to buy solid/trusted components.

What country will you be buying your parts in?
Poland.

If you have any retailer preferences, please specify.
Not really.

So far I came up with something like this:
CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K
CPU cooler: ?
Motherboard: ? + Show Spoiler +
Gigabyte GA-Z170-Gaming K3, ASRock Z170 GAMING K4, ASUS Z170a PRO, ASUS Z170 Pro Gaming, Asus Z170-A. Are there any significant differences between them, they all look the same to me.

Memory: ?
Storage SDD: Already have one
Storage HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200 ST2000DM001
Video Card: gtx 970, 980? + Show Spoiler +
I didn't notice a dramatic drop of prices since release of 10xx. Should I wait till release of AMD cards or is it futile to wait for better deals?

Case: Fractal Design Define S - Black
Power Supply: ?
Sound Card: Asus Xonar DSX

Would really appreaciate some insight about this composition. Cheers.
broodwar for ever
mantequilla
Profile Blog Joined June 2012
Turkey781 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-06-22 09:12:33
June 22 2016 09:07 GMT
#12156
I found two cheap monitors, asus VS229DA-W and VS229NA-W (don't know if there's any difference between them, second one is 6 bucks cheaper). They have VA panels. I'm thinking of replacing my old 1600x900 monitor. From what I read on the net VA panels have the worst input lag and not good for gaming, although these monitors say its 5ms gray to gray.

Question is, how bad is bad for gaming I don't understand. Bad for gaming when you play cs:go competitively or bad for gaming that you have trouble playing witcher 3, or stalkers lag when blinking, what degree is bad for gaming?

When you hook up the tv to computer and don't turn on the gaming mode, it lags so bad that even with regular windows usage it's noticable. Is it that bad?
Age of Mythology forever!
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20342 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-06-22 12:55:21
June 22 2016 12:39 GMT
#12157
From what I read on the net VA panels have the worst input lag and not good for gaming, although these monitors say its 5ms gray to gray.


You're talking about input lag but quoting response time, input lag and response time are not the same thing and only loosely related. "Response time" refers to the time that it takes for pixels to change color after recieving the signal to change (so from black to white for example, they'll spend a much longer time transitioning through shades of grey before reaching the final color). The biggest thing that this affects is making the image a bit more blurry and smeared across the screen in motion.

Grey to grey is one of the fastest transitions so with 5ms g2g, some of the harder transitions might take much longer (~20-50ms). One frame @60hz is 16.67ms.

Look at this vid from 0:27 - 0:37 (rest of video is unrelated) for slowmotion camera of what this can look like with a regular screen. You can still see the previous frame fading away for a period of time after the refresh. Some screens are faster and slower. This is a bit of a worst case test, you're not usually flashing between black and white 60 times per second so the effects are usually noticed with moving objects having visible trails behind them.
+ Show Spoiler +




When you hook up the tv to computer and don't turn on the gaming mode, it lags so bad that even with regular windows usage it's noticable. Is it that bad?


That's straight up input lag from processing time in the screen and it varies a lot screen-to-screen. Good PC monitors of any type will have almost no or no notable latency added here AFAIK
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
mantequilla
Profile Blog Joined June 2012
Turkey781 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-06-22 16:39:23
June 22 2016 16:39 GMT
#12158
Hmm. I always assumed without looking it up that response time is how fast the screen changes when input (like vga signal) is changed, so thought there was a direct correlation with input lag.

So if that isn't the case what makes monitors bad for gaming? That blur in fast paced games?
Age of Mythology forever!
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20342 Posts
June 23 2016 05:23 GMT
#12159
Blur and any input lag that does exist

Input lag from other sources will be delay before the pixels even start to change color while "response time" is the time that they take to switch from A to B after that
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Ethelis
Profile Blog Joined September 2008
United States2400 Posts
June 23 2016 18:17 GMT
#12160
What is your budget?
About $1300 USD

What is your monitor's native resolution?
1920x1080

What games do you intend to play on this computer? What settings?
Most taxing game atm would be Overwatch on max settings I guess. Looking to move possibly to move to a 144hz monitor sometime later.

What do you intend to use the computer for besides gaming?
Nothing else worth listing

Do you intend to overclock?
No

Do you intend to do SLI / Crossfire?
No

Do you need an operating system?
Yes, prefer Windows 7

Do you need a monitor or any other peripherals and is this part of your budget?
No

If you have any requirements or brand preferences, please specify.


What country will you be buying your parts in?
U.S

If you have any retailer preferences, please specify.
Disabled gamer - Diamond 3 (LoL) D+ Rank scrublord on BW. Bisu doesnt need DTs, He uses probes. just ask Flash.
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