Topic: I want to build a PC and run every good and maybe the next gen stuff. Advice?

[King of Twitch]

You're dead to me.

[Oblivion]

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

[King of Twitch]

$600, including 8% sales tax, and it's gotta fit in my Ikea desk cubby!

[King of Twitch]

I want 5 good suggestions in my inbox by tomorrow morning or you're all going down on report for funhouse duty >:|

[Oblivion]

I've done the best I can.

[Do_What]

Woot right now has a decent computer for super cheap.


http://sellout.woot.com/offers/hp-envy-six-core-desktop-w-10gb-ram-2


Only $470. You can make it better from there without spending lots o cash.

[ShyGuy]

They must have something decent for $600 at Frys...

[Oblivion]

Woot right now has a decent computer for super cheap.


http://sellout.woot.com/offers/hp-envy-six-core-desktop-w-10gb-ram-2


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?

[MukiDA]

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. :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883256785

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.

[Oblivion]

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.

[TJ Spyke]

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.

[Oblivion]

So many conflicting opinions.

[MukiDA]

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. :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883256785

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.

[Oblivion]

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.

[MukiDA]

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.

[Oblivion]

I wasn't the one who had that budget. That was Zap. My budget is 700 to 800, which is perfect for that computer.