Gaming Forums => General Gaming => Topic started by: Oblivion on April 10, 2013, 02:30:46 PM
Title: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Oblivion on April 10, 2013, 02:30:46 PM
I just need to know what parts that would be good for what price, and I want to future-proof this enough so I wouldn't need to mess with it for like the next four years.
I also have no idea what to do to build one. I'm half-tempted to pay somebody to do it for me.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: BranDonk Kong on April 10, 2013, 02:54:31 PM
No such thing as future proof with a gaming PC.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Oblivion on April 10, 2013, 02:56:01 PM
Damn. Alright, then what about being able to run everything that has been released and everything coming out this year, not including the next gen? I'll be using my 60hz television to display it so I won't need anything that goes above that.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Ceric on April 10, 2013, 03:33:47 PM
MMO-Champion does a set of computer builds per month. Not a bad set of kit. Though I would say SSD isn't really optional. Here's the Link. (http://www.mmo-champion.com/content/3202-Transmogrify-From-Bank-and-VS-VoidTransmog-Addon-Blue-Tweets-Setup-of-the-Month)
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Louieturkey on April 10, 2013, 03:48:55 PM
Well, an SSD is essential. A motherboard that you can do Crossfire or SLI on is also essential for future proofing. I'd maybe wait and see the reviews on the new Haswell Intel chips since they are coming out fairly soon. Get an unlocked i5 (or i7 if you want to spend the money) along with the board.
The only way to future proof is to make it so you can add on later without having to replace huge amounts of the build to do it. There are some better forums for something like this such as Toms Hardware. You'll get many different opinions and people will even link to the products they are suggesting. There are other places as well, but I can't think of them right now. You can also see what others have done and see if you can build around what they did.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Oblivion on April 10, 2013, 04:50:31 PM
Why are SSD's essential? They just speed up boot and load times, right? I'm not really interested in my SSD failing after a certain amount of writes.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: magicpixie on April 10, 2013, 04:55:10 PM
Why are SSD's essential? They just speed up boot and load times, right? I'm not really interested in my SSD failing after a certain amount of writes.
I skipped out on SSD. Occasionally, I feel the urge to change, but it really hasn't bothered me. I keep a lot of games loaded at all times on multiple HDs, and load times are still reasonable to me. Maybe I'm still used to WiiU load times, but a few extra seconds/minutes isn't going to make/break my experience.
Output to a TV is nice, because it limits your resolution options so you don't have to go spec crazy.
I built my system recently and it's played everything on my TV at high settings with nary a hitch.
i5 2500 CPU GTX560Ti Video Card 8 GB RAM etc...
I don't foresee having a huge issue with "next-gen" games, but my motherboard can handle some upgrades. You can build a decent rig for under $1k, but you can easily spend well over that.
Building a computer these days is fairly easy. It's almost like paint-by-numbers. There are a few things to keep in mind regarding static electric discharge and such, but once you know what you're doing, you can't really mess it up. The only thing the pros do better is keeping everything nice and neat inside your tower. If you know someone that can do it, I would suggest enlisting them to show you how to do it so you can upgrade components/build another one later.
Don't cheap out on your power supply. Make sure you get as big and obnoxious a tower as you can find; something that flashes blue, red, and green lights would be best.
Ultimately, questions like this are very hard to answer without knowing more about exactly what it is you're looking for.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Ceric on April 10, 2013, 04:58:02 PM
Why are SSD's essential? They just speed up boot and load times, right? I'm not really interested in my SSD failing after a certain amount of writes.
SSD writes are now to the point that its like Burn-In on a Modern Plasma. You can do it if you try but even heavy users would have to try.
Your harddrive is the slowest part of you machine that is essential. SSD speeds up a lot of things. But yeah load and boot times are the main thing but its a night and day difference.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Louieturkey on April 10, 2013, 07:55:48 PM
Your harddrive is the slowest part of you machine that is essential. SSD speeds up a lot of things. But yeah load and boot times are the main thing but its a night and day difference.
This. It's the difference between waiting for 2 minutes for a game to load and less than 10 seconds. Not huge, but not bad at all. I guess essential was not the right word. Highly convenient and worth the money are probably better terms.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Oblivion on April 10, 2013, 08:07:09 PM
Why are SSD's essential? They just speed up boot and load times, right? I'm not really interested in my SSD failing after a certain amount of writes.
Ultimately, questions like this are very hard to answer without knowing more about exactly what it is you're looking for.
WHat exactly do you need to know?
@Ceric and Louie: Alright. I might have both, just in case? Is that a good compromise?
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Ceric on April 10, 2013, 08:11:08 PM
If you have an SSD you'll still want a regular harddrive simply for the raw space.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: ymeegod on April 10, 2013, 09:28:57 PM
A few things we would have to know:
1.) What resolution do you plan on playing on? 720P/1080 or higher. If you're stuck on a lower resolution then you wouldn't exactly need a top of the end graphics card.
2.) What's your budget going be? Do you have any parts from your current rig that can be reused (keyboard, mouse, power supply, ect).
3.) Are you planning on overclocking? Heat a big issue with any PC so you have to plan ahead on what to buy.
I would suggest going to Anandtech forums and looking at some of their recommended builds (they have them for every budget).
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Oblivion on April 10, 2013, 09:56:36 PM
1. 1080p on my HDTV. 2. I don't have a previous rig. I have a laptop I use for school, browsing the web, and running some older games on lower settings. I'd say my budget will be trying to keep it under 1000. 3. I doubt it. I don't see the point with the risks involved. I want to keep things simple.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: magicpixie on April 11, 2013, 04:35:41 PM
For $1000, you should have no problem building something that will play games for the foreseeable future. At that cost, you're probably already ahead of the "next-gen" console specs, even if you were to build today. Do you have any restrictions on size? Some people don't want a big, bulky tower sitting around their home entertainment center. That could change the components/scope of your build a bit.
I would say to prioritize RAM and GPU. Try to spend around $300 on a video card, I'd say. Unless you go with Linux, you'll need to set aside some money for an OS(go OEM). For gaming, if you're going the Intel route, an i5 chip will work fine. Most games aren't set up to take full advantage of hyperthreading, so the i7 would not be worth the extra cost. RAM can be found fairly cheap, and is going on sale all the time at various vendors; 4 GB is the absolute minimum for "future-proofing" I think.
After that, you'll need a hard drive, tower, PSU and mobo. Maybe an optical drive, up to you, but they can be had for cheap too. I don't even know if they make conventional HDs with less than 500 GB these days, which is... a start.
That will probably get you right in at around $1k, depending on how you do your shopping. I spent about that much on my rig 6 months ago, and it won't have any issues playing games on my tv for a while.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Louieturkey on April 11, 2013, 04:39:32 PM
Yes, if you get an SSD, you need an HDD for the extra space, unless you like constantly deleting things. The SSD would be used as the boot drive and the drive you put all your most essential programs (OS, games, music players, Photoshop, etc). The HDD would be used as a storage device. It's where you would put all your music and videos and things that would not benefit from faster read/write speeds.
My suggestion is to review deal sites like slickdeals.net that people are constantly informing others of good deals (not just pc components). On there, you can find good deals on power supplies, CPUs, GPUs, SSDs, HDDs, and everything inbetween. Then pick them up as you find them. If you want it all at once, I'd go to anandtech or tomshardware forums and check builds there as they are usually based on current prices. A thousand can get you a lot. Toms Hardware System Builders Marathons always have pretty good builds and they mention the prices and reasons for going with the builds they pick.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Louieturkey on April 11, 2013, 04:42:42 PM
Most games aren't set up to take full advantage of hyperthreading, so the i7 would not be worth the extra cost.
Remember that the PS4 has an 8 core chip and rumors are the 720 will be the same. My guess is this new generation will have a lot more games that are threaded much better just because of these two systems.
With that said, I'd say an i5 is good enough right now. If you really feel the need for an i7, you can grab one down the road for much cheaper when you actually will need it.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Oblivion on April 11, 2013, 05:41:02 PM
For $1000, you should have no problem building something that will play games for the foreseeable future. At that cost, you're probably already ahead of the "next-gen" console specs, even if you were to build today. Do you have any restrictions on size? Some people don't want a big, bulky tower sitting around their home entertainment center. That could change the components/scope of your build a bit.
I would say to prioritize RAM and GPU. Try to spend around $300 on a video card, I'd say. Unless you go with Linux, you'll need to set aside some money for an OS(go OEM). For gaming, if you're going the Intel route, an i5 chip will work fine. Most games aren't set up to take full advantage of hyperthreading, so the i7 would not be worth the extra cost. RAM can be found fairly cheap, and is going on sale all the time at various vendors; 4 GB is the absolute minimum for "future-proofing" I think.
After that, you'll need a hard drive, tower, PSU and mobo. Maybe an optical drive, up to you, but they can be had for cheap too. I don't even know if they make conventional HDs with less than 500 GB these days, which is... a start.
That will probably get you right in at around $1k, depending on how you do your shopping. I spent about that much on my rig 6 months ago, and it won't have any issues playing games on my tv for a while.
I don't understand those terms. And I really don't have a restriction on size, I couldn't care less how big the tower is.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: ShyGuy on April 11, 2013, 05:45:50 PM
Original Equipment manufacturer. A copy of Windows licensed to sell with a new PC, versus an upgrade version.
Hyperthreading is Intel's technology for running multiple tasks on a single CPU core.
PSU is Power Supply Unit. Get a good quality one.
Mobo is motherboard.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Oblivion on April 11, 2013, 05:48:46 PM
Ah, okay. Thanks.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: ShyGuy on April 11, 2013, 05:49:48 PM
I'm an AMD fan myself, but Intel CPUs are ahead of the game at the moment. I prefer Nvidia over AMD video cards, but mainly because of Linux performance.
Mini-Itx form factor is a good way to go if you want something small to go in the entertainment center. If you're going to rock a full size ATX board, the smallest case I found is a CoolerMaster 361, which I use. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119258 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119258)
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Oblivion on April 11, 2013, 05:55:18 PM
Only two USB 2.0? Isn't that a little old? benefit of Nvidia over AMD video cards? Is there any other
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: ShyGuy on April 11, 2013, 06:45:37 PM
well. your modern motherboard will probably have like six usb in the back, two of them USB 3.0...
AMD video cards are usually cheaper, but some people say that Nvidia drivers are better for Windows games.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: ymeegod on April 11, 2013, 08:05:50 PM
You really can't go wrong with neither an AMD 7870 or an Nvidia 660 Ti cards--both around $200 and can ran at full 1080P with high settings with every game out there. Both cards are around the $200-225 range.
Just about everyone recommends the I5 (quadcore) series for CPU ($150-200 depending on model).
I would go with 8GB 1600 DDR ram though, you can get them cheap $50-60.
For PSU get a brand name (generic ones seem to die or not carry the correct voltage). You can get a good Brand name PSU for about $50 to $60 for 600 watt models.
A big part of me says to wait for the first UE4 game to release prior to building an gaming PC. Usually when a new engine is released a flood of new graphics cards come to the market and you usually can score a better deal that way and also future proof your system since engines tend to last a few years at least.
Also why the sudden need for a gaming PC? The PS4 is an x86 system which means just about everything that's going be released on the PC will likely coming to the PS4. Might as well get an PS4 and save yourself $500 for more games :).
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Oblivion on April 11, 2013, 08:23:48 PM
Also why the sudden need for a gaming PC? The PS4 is an x86 system which means just about everything that's going be released on the PC will likely coming to the PS4. Might as well get an PS4 and save yourself $500 for more games :) .
I want to run PC games I can't get anywhere else, and I want to get better graphical fidelity.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: pokepal148 on April 11, 2013, 09:04:41 PM
steam interests me far more then the ps4 and microsoft has long lost me
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: SixthAngel on April 11, 2013, 09:37:43 PM
If you want it to "future-proof" your pc it just has to be able to run PS4/720 games. Game that need specs beyond that are going to be beyond rare for probably near a decade.
I can't help you much choosing the parts. If you still need this in a month or two post again and I should be able to though.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on April 12, 2013, 10:41:35 AM
I had a thread like this about a year or two ago where I built an entire computer from scratch with a $800 budget. That was monitor, keyboard and everything. It still runs every game I tried at good settings.
So for $1,000 budget, you should be able to put together something very very nice if you shop smart.
Edit: I found my old thread http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/forums/index.php?topic=31386.msg610728#msg610728 I went a little over my budget, but it was worth it.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Oblivion on April 13, 2013, 01:58:41 AM
Okay, I'm going to do this step by step. First, the processor. How is this one? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: ymeegod on April 13, 2013, 07:45:01 AM
$10 cheaper and a bit more power. I5 2500 is a bit older (hell I was considering it when I built my PC three years ago--was expensive then).
--------------------------------
For $100 more you can get an decent I7 or if you go cheaper route; $20 less you can get an 8-core AMD (actually $40 less since there's an $20 rebate) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113284 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113284)
Part of me says to go with 8 cores since next generation is heading that way meaning software is going be written to take advantage of multiple cores much better so you might get an advantage over 4 cores. And it's cheaper :) .
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: BranDonk Kong on April 13, 2013, 08:55:47 AM
Wait 6 months before buying anything.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: RABicle on April 13, 2013, 09:56:45 AM
$10 cheaper and a bit more power. I5 2500 is a bit older (hell I was considering it when I built my PC three years ago--was expensive then).
--------------------------------
For $100 more you can get an decent I7 or if you go cheaper route; $20 less you can get an 8-core AMD (actually $40 less since there's an $20 rebate) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113284 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113284)
Part of me says to go with 8 cores since next generation is heading that way meaning software is going be written to take advantage of multiple cores much better so you might get an advantage over 4 cores. And it's cheaper :) .
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: oohhboy on April 13, 2013, 11:13:56 AM
If money isn't an issue maybe I can interest you in this (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-vs-the-ultimate-gaming-pc).
3 SLI Nvidia Titians. 32GB 1600 DDR3. Sandy bridge six core Intel CPU 3970X. 1200 Watt PSU.
Play Crysis 3 on max and heat your home.
Jokes aside, Wait 6 months when we know what to expect out of the new consoles, then you can comfortably over shoot that with whatever parts you need at a cheaper price than trying to overshoot now. Even with the new consoles, my current 2009 computer can equal them if I swap out the GFX card. Their "Raw" specs sound impressive, but implemention is another story. They had to cut corners to get those numbers and that's where you are going to find your advantages. Also with the consoles going multiple small cores, it's going to find a hard time utilising them since games don't multi-thread easily. Most games won't use those cores or have the need to as it is really hard to do.
Don't skim on RAM, get 8 GB minimum or more, it's cheap and one of the easiest part to "Future proof".
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: ShyGuy on April 13, 2013, 01:52:01 PM
Completely agree on the RAM.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: pokepal148 on April 14, 2013, 03:49:46 PM
so what brand of ram should i get on that subject the old Vista desktop PC i have here is in dire need of upgrading, would it be worth my time to slip a few gigs of ram in there just to get some practice in the sort of thing
also what options are there for pc gaming on a TV, those Home Theater type builds seem promising but what of streaming from a desktop, is that reliable
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: TJ Spyke on April 14, 2013, 03:52:31 PM
Doesnt really make much of a difference. Corsair is good though.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: RABicle on April 19, 2013, 05:49:59 AM
Don't buy Strontium.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: pokepal148 on May 08, 2013, 07:55:59 AM
i see alot of amd in the PS4(and 720 rumors) and a fair bit of it in the Wii U... should I put this into consideration? will that affect how games are optimized for amd parts in a PC...
Either way I do not plan to break past 1080p... I will probably be using a gaming PC mainly on the TV with a controller... how many ways are there to stream content to a TV or should I go for a direct connection
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: BranDonk Kong on May 08, 2013, 08:19:11 AM
Use HDMI.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: pokepal148 on May 10, 2013, 07:39:35 AM
anybody plan to answer the first question?
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: BranDonk Kong on May 10, 2013, 08:46:18 AM
I don't think anyone understands the question. Go with Intel and Nvidia if that's what you're asking.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: magicpixie on May 10, 2013, 04:22:29 PM
The processor you decide to go with is going to depend solely on your own needs, ie: cost, performance, brand loyalty. If a game is ported to PC, it is going to work on AMD and Intel chipsets. So go with whatever's on sale, or whatever gives better benchmarks at the time. There may be some marginal improvements in quality, but ultimately, it won't really matter all that much.
In certain cases, graphics cards may contain manufacturer-specific technology that doesn't necessarily translate as well to other cards - "TressFX", "PhysX" - but those won't affect your ability to play the game. They just change how the game is displayed, and in some cases, driver updates can resolve the issue.
If you're outputting to your TV, streaming won't be an issue. Just treat your TV like a monitor and you will never have issues with file formats again.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: ShyGuy on May 10, 2013, 07:18:23 PM
I too wish to "run every good"
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: MukiDA on May 15, 2013, 08:30:28 AM
Guys, this isn't hard. First, buy the cheapest CPU on the top row (Probably i5 2500K, get a non-K if you're doing Linux with emulation): http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html)
Do your cross-comparison in Amazon.com and Newegg.com, and if you don't know how to, learn how to middle-click and use tabs. Also Newegg probably has a comparison tool.
Then get the highest one you can get in your price range (I'd recommend Radeon 7870 or Geforce 660): http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html) Do NOT spend too much on a video card. You're far better off spending $200 now and $200 again in two years than spending $400 now.
Get your RAM in 8GB sticks (starting with at least 1), and remember which speed you got (1300, 1600, etc.). Look to get another stick in the next 3 or so months, same speed. Repeat until you're comfortable or until you have 32 gigs. This'll "future-proof" your PC in more ways than most people think. 16-24 should be more than fine, if RAM gets too expensive in the future. Please trust me on this one. I could go on for hours about how almost everything about having "more than enough" RAM is bullshit.
For EVERYTHING else (e.g. case, RAM, motherboard, etc.) read the reviews. Don't get the cheapest case, but don't go crazy. Look in the reviews to make sure the inside of your case isn't razor sharp, and that your motherboard isn't riddled with funky bugs. Make sure you graphics card doesn't have overheating problems.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: magicpixie on May 20, 2013, 12:51:15 PM
Update? Did you decide on specs/build a rig?
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: falcon511 on June 01, 2013, 12:56:26 AM
This past summer i did actually build my own gaming desktop. I have no regrets whatsoever. While i did buy a medium range system and such, it runs every game currently out just fine and will probably be able to handle any xbox one and ps4 games easily that come out in the first year should they come to pc. The best part is just learning how a computer actually works and so forth. I think my main platforms going forth the next 2 or 3 years will be the 3ds, wii u and the pc as my main. If you ever get stuck just ask or watch youtube videos. There are people who dedicate hours to doing this and you can learn a lot.
If you feel this en devour isnt exactly for you, they you can always buy a pre built desktop from other sites. I recommend these 2.
Best part about these 2 companies is the parts they use to build your computer, even the case, can ber bought from newegg easily. You can even upgrade your entire rig if you need to. Nothing is smoldered in or downclocked weirdly.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: King of Twitch on June 06, 2013, 12:46:20 AM
What if I want to spend $600 on a PC and I don't want to build one?
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Oblivion on June 06, 2013, 12:50:41 AM
What if I want to spend $600 on a PC and I don't want to build one?
I can't remember the name of the company, but they sell gaming PCs for hardly more for what you'd pay if you bought and built it yourself. Maybe like 50 dollars more? I'll look it up and see if I can find it.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: King of Twitch on June 06, 2013, 12:51:23 AM
Thanks! I just want to walk in/walk out of a store with something and not order something online, if you follow me. And it doesn't need to be a gaming machine.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Oblivion on June 06, 2013, 12:52:49 AM
Oh, then that company isn't for you. They're online only.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: King of Twitch on June 06, 2013, 12:54:06 AM
You're dead to me.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Oblivion on June 06, 2013, 12:55:37 AM
In any case, I found the website if you're interested. Their cheapest one is at $699. $100 more than what you asked for but much better than what you'd get at a brick-and-morter store for that price. http://www.digitalstormonline.com/gamingdesktops.asp
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: King of Twitch on June 06, 2013, 12:59:26 AM
$600, including 8% sales tax, and it's gotta fit in my Ikea desk cubby!
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: King of Twitch on June 06, 2013, 01:03:03 AM
I want 5 good suggestions in my inbox by tomorrow morning or you're all going down on report for funhouse duty >:|
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Oblivion on June 06, 2013, 01:03:43 AM
I've done the best I can. :P
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Do_What on June 07, 2013, 09:19:06 AM
Woot right now has a decent computer for super cheap.
Only $470. You can make it better from there without spending lots o cash.
Go to Newegg and you can get that same computer at $460 with free shipping and no tax. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883256744
In any case, is this deal worth the money?
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: MukiDA on June 07, 2013, 10:48:28 AM
Hopefully this pointers'll help:
- Keep in mind that the tradeoff of not having to deal with tech support for individual parts (e.g. buying pre-built) is a pretty steep drop in "bang-for-buck", especially for gaming rigs. Look for clearance sales.
- My best suggestion is to go "hybrid built". e.g. buy a decent desktop for ~$400-500 and spend another $1-200 on a decent video card. If you're doing this, don't go for a big video card, your cheaper desktop might not have the power (smaller is better). Geforce 550 or Radeon 7770 is probably a good bet.
- WAIT WAIT WAIT. Valve's planning on launching a variety of Steam boxes this fall, between them and a few of their partners. I'd honestly tell you to wait to see how these turn out. All will be made for gaming and most will be made for a budget, so you might find something you like.
Assuming the Steam boxes hit, a few key suggestions:
- If there's some with Windows, GO FOR IT. I know we all hate Windows 8, but they're going to work with nearly all PC games. - Don't hesitate to tack an extra $2-300 for a Steam box vs an XB1 or PS4 if the graphics compare favorably. You'll make it up in two years' worth of Steam sales (July & January, usually). Never mind that you can catch up on PC ports of any games you missed. - If you're really into console gaming, SUPPORT CAPCOM. I can't stress this enough, they're really the only publisher from moontown that's offering honest support for PC releases.
CONTROLLERS:
If you own Xbox 360 remotes, invest in this: http://www.amazon.com/HDE-Wireless-Receiver-compatible-Xbox-controller/dp/B0096PLB9O/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1370616128&sr=8-5&keywords=xbox+adapter Works with up to 4 wireless remotes, and most games will automagically pick it up. Note that if the official driver doesn't work for you, you probably got a bootleg unit (most are, Microsoft discontinued them). Your (sadly slightly hoaky) solution: http://www.selfsimilar.org/2011/07/counterfeit-xbox-360-wireless-receiver-drivers/comment-page-1/
If you own Wiimotes or PS3 remotes, pick up one of these: http://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-Bluetooth-Micro-Adapter-GBU521/dp/B007GFX0PY/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1370616416&sr=8-7&keywords=bluetooth+usb It pairs bluetooth headsets as well. Pick up MotionJoy to get it working wirelessly with controllers. FAR hoakier than the Xbox option, again, sadly.
EDIT: I did NOT know we were lookin' through refurbished PCs, my bad. Here's my suggestion. At your budget, get this. No, seriously, get it. Yes, it's worth the extra $30. :
Don't bother with a more expensive machine. If this doesn't keep up 2-4 years from now, get a $100 power supply (750w and up) and a $200 video card, and you'll be able to play whatever's out at the time at amazing settings.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Oblivion on June 07, 2013, 11:16:46 AM
Well, the computer has built-in bluetooth so I wouldn't need an adapter, but the PS3 controller is my dominant controller so I'd have to deal with Motionjoy to use it.
So I should just wait for Steambox then? I have until 6/12 to decide.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: TJ Spyke on June 07, 2013, 02:47:00 PM
MukiDA, I wouldn't wait for the Steamboxes. There has only been one announced so far, and it's vastly overprices (the Xi3, which STARTS at $999.99). Maybe others will be cheaper, but the only one announced so far costs more than pretty much any normal computer.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Oblivion on June 07, 2013, 04:41:24 PM
So many conflicting opinions. :P
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: MukiDA on June 07, 2013, 06:19:26 PM
EDIT: MY SUGGESTION IS AT THE BOTTOM.
Low budget, won't build it yourself, AND you're in a hurry?
I'm going to make it clear: Nobody builds PCs right now for gamers under a grand. The ones that have video cards under that price range are going to be very low-end: You'll have trouble running games above the 360/PS3 level, and even that level might be a stretch.
Your best bet on a low budget and inability to build is to wait for a computer to go into closeout or clearance; being in a hurry isn't going to help this method.
Again, $200 on a decent video card and $400 to scrape together everything else is the best bang you're gonna get for your buck. Otherwise it will be not be a great computer.
If you cannot wait longer to buy it, and you can't build it, and you can't get something in the ~$1000 range, my suggestion is to use the time between now and the 12 to comparison shop. Take a look at these two charts: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html
Find something that ranks as high as you can manage in both lists. Look around on Amazon, Newegg, Google shopping, your local stores (print the first page of each chart out), and try to find something that'll fit your budget.
> There has only been one announced so far
Key point there. We don't know what anyone else has planned for this platform. It's like seeing the Samsung 9 series and assuming that Ultrabooks will never be inexpensive.
EDIT: I did NOT know we were lookin' through refurbished PCs, my bad. Here's my suggestion. At your budget, get this. No, seriously, get it. Yes, it's worth the extra $30. :
Don't bother with a more expensive machine. If this doesn't keep up 2-4 years from now, get a $100 power supply (750w and up) and a $200 video card, and you'll be able to play whatever's out at the time at amazing settings.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Oblivion on June 07, 2013, 06:50:08 PM
What extra 30 dollars? The one you linked to is $170 dollars more than the one I linked. I'll consider it though, thanks a bunch.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: MukiDA on June 07, 2013, 07:50:04 PM
Well, $30 past your budget wall of $599. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html CPU is at the top of the chart. The graphics chip is essentially a rebranded 6750 (same as the one in your sub-$500 rig), which is three tiers above the PS3's graphis chip, meaning you can play any current games with slightly nicer settings. It'll play this generation's games fine. It's about on part with the Wii U for graphics capabilities, so you'll probably be able to play most next-gen games, though they might be paired down. Nothing's future-proof in computers, so if you find yourself really enjoying using a PC over a console, wait a couple years before you look into upgrading it. Right now a Radeon 7970 will decimate what this fall's consoles can do, but it costs about as much as your entire computer. In two years, when you'll probably want something that compares, a comparable card will probably be less than half that much.
Title: Re: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?
Post by: Oblivion on June 07, 2013, 08:12:35 PM
I wasn't the one who had that budget. That was Zap. :P My budget is 700 to 800, which is perfect for that computer.
