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Building Minor Gaming/Family PC
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dataoneil
Junior Member
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15. July 2010 @ 19:36 |
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I am looking to build a computer that can deliver moderate graphics that can play most games, while acting as a family computer. I already have a 500 gb hard drive and a new sata dvd drive so I am basically looking for everything else. I would like it to run Windows 7 and be able to process HD video and multi-tasking. Here is a list of the specs/parts I am looking at/for (let me know If I'm missing anything).
6 gb ram
Quad Core Processor
Mobo (not specific)
Graphics Card (Not Radeon)
Power Supply
Computer Case
I am located in Canada and was wondering if its cheaper to buy the parts online. I am looking to keep it under a 1000$, but if its a lot lower thats fine. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am not looking to build a super computer, but anything is better then my current PC which has 512mb of ram and a single core processor.
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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18. July 2010 @ 15:12 |
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As Radeon graphics cards are basically the only ones worth buying at the moment, why are you avoiding them?
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dataoneil
Junior Member
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18. July 2010 @ 16:29 |
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I've been having issues with my current one, a Radeon HD 4600, which I think is responsible for some crash issues with Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds, and also because there seems to be more issues with ATI vid cards than with nvidia's.
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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18. July 2010 @ 16:46 |
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Baseless. There are plenty of issues with both manufacturers. You can go with an nvidia card if you must, but you will be paying far more for the same level of performance, and if you're buying high end,you'll have other issues to deal with too, such as astronomical power consumption, heat and noise. nvidia's high end may be fast, but apart from that, it's absolutely terrible.
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dataoneil
Junior Member
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18. July 2010 @ 21:53 |
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Okay, if that's your position, can you reccomend a card (Radeon, Nvidia or otherwise) that's not too expensive but provide mid to high level graphical capability and compatibility. And while you're at it, are there any other computer components you can reccomend for me (refer to the list) if you could, please?
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nottastud
Newbie
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24. July 2010 @ 13:44 |
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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24. July 2010 @ 14:57 |
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Avoid the case and PSU deal. That PSU will probably last a few months before going bang, destroying the components inside the PC (so watch out, nottastud)
Phenom dual cores are OK for low-end systems, representing reasonable value for money, but a modern system that has to last really needs a quad core CPU these days if you can afford it, even if it's something basic like an X4 630.
Asus motherboards are also to be avoided due to low quality, this also applies to their graphics cards.
You also want to avoid using 5400rpm drives as your OS, as this makes the PC run very slowly. 5400rpm drives are designed for data storage, not for running Windows off.
An HD4850 is a reasonable step up from an 8800GT, about 20-30% in most instances.
Here's what I would recommend for dataoneil (and sorry for the delay, had a busy week!)
Core i5 750 CPU - http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215
Gigabyte P55A-UD3 M/B - http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128412
4GB XMS3 RAM - http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260
XFX Radeon HD5770 - http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150462
Corsair CX 400W PSU - http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008
WD1001FALS 1TB HDD - http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284
LG GH22NS50 DVDRW - http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136167CVF
Antec Three Hundred case = http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066
This comes to around $920 posted, well within budget, and gets you a good midrange system.
Note: for $50 extra, you can upgrade to this PSU:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004
It is not required, but if you wish to make the PC a more high-end system in the future using an expensive graphics card, it's worth considering. Otherwise don't worry, the 400W unit is ample to run any CPU upgrade you might want, along with many hard drives.
A typical midrange gaming system will use around 150-200W at maximum load. The 400W Corsair will be able to produce about 420-440, more than twice what you need. The 550W unit can top out around 600. Meanwhile the 585W HEC unit nottastud has used will typically fail around the 150W mark, so he's cutting it very fine (cheap manufacturers like HEC abuse component ratings to get away with lying about the maximum rating of their PSUs. Most cheap PSU brands have never produced a single unit that can even match what it says on the label, let alone exceed it!)
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dataoneil
Junior Member
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26. July 2010 @ 11:15 |
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Thank you both nottastud and sammorris, I'll look into your reccomendations.
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Member
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28. July 2010 @ 10:49 |
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I would go with Sammorris's build, but to save money you can take away the hard drive and the DVD-Burner since you have already purchased new ones. I added up the total with the upgraded PSU and it comes too 948.03$ with shipping and taxes in NS.
link
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 28. July 2010 @ 10:49
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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28. July 2010 @ 10:51 |
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Ah yeah, missed that. Those can be removed, but do be advised it is strongly recommended to reinstall an operating system fresh when you change to an entirely new PC.
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dataoneil
Junior Member
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28. July 2010 @ 12:55 |
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Decodem, your link isn't working. And does installing a new OS delete any other files and programs I currently have?
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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28. July 2010 @ 12:57 |
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It's because he hasn't made a public wishlist, he's just linked to the present page he was at, which of course polls your browser cookies to show what's in it, it's unique to his PC :P
You should really, best practice, wipe a drive clean before you install windows to it. You can leave files there, but it's not recommended.
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dataoneil
Junior Member
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19. August 2010 @ 08:21 |
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In that case, should I just look into buying a new hard drive? I could use the other one as backup, once I installed the OS and copied over my files from my old drive.
And another question: I've looked at Sammorris' list but can't determine what component provides all the input plugs (USB slots, speaker, etc.) at the back or the front of the PC. Where do they come from?
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 19. August 2010 @ 08:34
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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19. August 2010 @ 09:21 |
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It's what I recommend to everyone that can afford to do it.
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Xplorer4
Senior Member
4 product reviews
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20. August 2010 @ 05:37 |
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Originally posted by dataoneil:
In that case, should I just look into buying a new hard drive? I could use the other one as backup, once I installed the OS and copied over my files from my old drive.
And another question: I've looked at Sammorris' list but can't determine what component provides all the input plugs (USB slots, speaker, etc.) at the back or the front of the PC. Where do they come from?
The connections in the rear are in the motherboard. The front USB ports are on the case. There will be a cable or two running from them, inside the case, and simply plug them in to the mobo. The mobo will come with an I/O panel which is just a piece of cheap aluminum(or soemthing like that) that snaps in to the back of the case and will seal up all the little gaps between the stacks of USB Ports and such to make it look nice, and help keep dust out.
Anyways I would go with Sams build and upgrade the PSU as he recommended. PSUs are the last thing you want to skip out on. It doesnt mean you cant buy cheap you just need to buy cheap but reliable otherwise you risk not only frying your parts, but also the risk of fire.
OS: Kubuntu 12.10/Windows 8 -- CPU: Intel Core i7 2600K -- Motherboard: MSI P67A-G45 -- Memory: 2x4GB Corsair Dominator -- Graphics Card: Sapphire 4890 Vapor-X -- Monitor: Dell 2208WFP -- Mouse: Mionix NAOS 5000 -- PSU: Corsair 520HX -- Case: Thermaltake Mozart TX -- Cooling: Thermalright TRUE Black Ultra-120 eXtreme CPU Heatsink Rev C -- Hard Drives: 1x180 GB Intel 330 SSD/1xWD 1 TB Caviar Black/1xWD 2 TB Caviar Green/2xWD 3 TB Caviar Green
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dataoneil
Junior Member
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25. August 2010 @ 12:05 |
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My friend Decodem (I know him in real life) told me not to doubt Sammorris, but I need to ask: Does your list of components work and work well together, Sammorris?
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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25. August 2010 @ 12:45 |
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If it didn't, I wouldn't have posted it here. I have specified several friends almost identical systems to these.
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dataoneil
Junior Member
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28. August 2010 @ 09:32 |
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Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa; never will I doubt thee again.
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Xplorer4
Senior Member
4 product reviews
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28. August 2010 @ 18:08 |
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Originally posted by dataoneil:
My friend Decodem (I know him in real life) told me not to doubt Sammorris, but I need to ask: Does your list of components work and work well together, Sammorris?
Sam always gives sound advice. Hes never given me bad advice.
OS: Kubuntu 12.10/Windows 8 -- CPU: Intel Core i7 2600K -- Motherboard: MSI P67A-G45 -- Memory: 2x4GB Corsair Dominator -- Graphics Card: Sapphire 4890 Vapor-X -- Monitor: Dell 2208WFP -- Mouse: Mionix NAOS 5000 -- PSU: Corsair 520HX -- Case: Thermaltake Mozart TX -- Cooling: Thermalright TRUE Black Ultra-120 eXtreme CPU Heatsink Rev C -- Hard Drives: 1x180 GB Intel 330 SSD/1xWD 1 TB Caviar Black/1xWD 2 TB Caviar Green/2xWD 3 TB Caviar Green
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