First time builder, Gaming Computer; ~$1000 price-range.
12 replies, posted
Hey there, I had posted earlier about my laptop and got amazing advice and help... so i'm back with the same needs and stupidity!
My original question stemmed from me using my laptop for both professional and gaming related work. I originally built my laptop for school and professional work and went all out to make sure it fit all of those needs. It has great start-up and tons of memory for my art/educational purposes. It also runs very basic video games such as TF2 and others fairly well, but at an unstable rate. It does not run anything much better then that as my video card is a Intel(R) HD Graphics 3000.
I have saved a bit of money at this point, enough to spend a slight amount in a few months after I get my direct purchases done... so its time to start thinking about my desktop computer! Here are a few details that I feel may come handy:
- I play a few video games competitively. The one I do the most in is TF2, so I know that my card wont particularly matter. What does matter is consistency with my frame-rate. I have never had a great computer so I do not know if that is solved by just plain better hardware. I will plan on taking my desktop to lans and other fun social events in a year or two. I also play a lot of fairly graphic intensive videogames, just at min rates on my computer computer.
- I was hoping to start from a refurbished computer to save a bit of money. I was wondering if this is at all possible, and the risks I would be taking by doing so. Here is a link to the Micro-Center in my area, along with its refurbished area. [url]http://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.aspx?N=4294964325,519&prt=&feature=174623[/url]
- I hope to build it myself to save any direct costs I can, this goes with parts as well. I have very little experience building computers so any links or tips would be helpful.
Side question: I know that overclocking is great for gaming computers... is it possible to overclock at this range?
If there is anything else you need to know from me or anything else I need to say, just ask! I figure I have a few weeks at least until I order so I can always change anything. I may also be able to change the price range with time coming into key.
1. Generally, framerate consistency can be achieved by having more powerful hardware than a game needs (and enabling V-sync if you get tearing).
2. Yeah, it's possible. My computer is a total jalopy of eBayed parts and what have you. However, it's probably not generally recommended because parts have warranties, and warranties come in handy often. (To me, not so important because I change out parts every year or so anyway).
3. If overclocking, get a tiny tube of quality thermal paste (Arctic Silver Ceramique or something like that) and follow heatsink application tutorials on YouTube, and remember to get an aftermarket cooler. A cheap Hyper 212 for $30 will do for 90% of practical overclocking. Buy a bag of Rosewill zip ties, they are helpful. Also [I]take your time and make sure that your cable management is right[/I], most people rush their first build and leave a cable spider that they have to go back and clean up later. Just making sure that any cables are nicely routed and tucked behind the cable management area in a case will do.
If dust bothers you, be sure to get a case that [I]does[/I] have the capability to mount filtered intakes and just get a handful of filters and a handful of good fans blowing in. This creates positive pressure relative to the rest of the room inside the case, which means dust and bits get pushed out of the case. Otherwise, if you don't mind cleaning your computer every month with a can of air, open cases are generally more lightweight than silent ones.
If you're taking your desktops to LANs, I would recommend downsizing the computer to a MicroATX, although most people on this forum seem to just make generic builds ATX. This cuts down on size and weight without making it too much more difficult to build, but does make it impossible to upgrade to two graphics cards later. However, most people usually don't.
[editline]29th July 2014[/editline]
Also, builds vary depending on whether you're talking $1000 for just the tower or $1000 including KB/M, monitor and speakers.
[QUOTE=fishyfish777;45536942]Also, builds vary depending on whether you're talking $1000 for just the tower or $1000 including KB/M, monitor and speakers.[/QUOTE]
Need this information, as well as if you need an operating system.
All faulty parts on a refurbished model of something has been replaced with brand new, so that you shouldn't worry about. However like fish said, I recommend buying new for the warranty. The amount of money that will be saved is quite minimal to be honest and to give up a 3-5 year warranty on something doesn't make a ton of sense to me unless you know it is a temporary part.
First off, thanks for the detailed reply and advice!
[QUOTE=fishyfish777;45536942]2. Yeah, it's possible. My computer is a total jalopy of eBayed parts and what have you. However, it's probably not generally recommended because parts have warranties, and warranties come in handy often. (To me, not so important because I change out parts every year or so anyway).[/QUOTE]
In general I would be fine changing parts, but i'm more looking for a stable build that would need little to no part changing.
[QUOTE=fishyfish777;45536942]If you're taking your desktops to LANs, I would recommend downsizing the computer to a MicroATX, although most people on this forum seem to just make generic builds ATX. This cuts down on size and weight without making it too much more difficult to build, but does make it impossible to upgrade to two graphics cards later. However, most people usually don't.[/QUOTE]
What benefit would two graphics cards serve? I doubt I would do that but i'm curious. As for my case, I saw at one point a case with a handle or something similar. Considering I would be taking it to lan's I wouldn't want a hideous case, but I wouldn't really care on the appeal. I would just go with something simple.
[QUOTE=fishyfish777;45536942]Also, builds vary depending on whether you're talking $1000 for just the tower or $1000 including KB/M, monitor and speakers.[/QUOTE]
I have a mouse, I have headphones. I don't really have anything... new as to put it for anything else. I also do not have a Operating system. I would also most likely go for a 120hz monitor for the whole 120 fps thing. I am fine with paying more if those sort of things are fairly expensive.
This is as far down as I can get it for a 120hz monitor. It will play any source game at 120fps fine, but new games you'd be looking at closer to 60fps while maxed out. If you bump the GPU to an R9 290, you'd have a lot more luck with 120fps for new games. Also I left out a keyboard or speakers, as a lot of that is personal preference.
[url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/DKc3gs]PCPartPicker part list[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/DKc3gs/by_merchant/]Price breakdown by merchant[/url]
[b]CPU:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54690k]Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor[/url] ($199.99 @ Micro Center)
[b]Motherboard:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz97md3h]Gigabyte GA-Z97M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard[/url] ($112.98 @ SuperBiiz)
[b]Memory:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f312800cl9d8gbsr]G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory[/url] ($76.50 @ Newegg)
[b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-internal-hard-drive-ct128mx100ssd1]Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive[/url] ($73.99 @ Amazon)
[b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st1000dm003]Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive[/url] ($52.92 @ Amazon)
[b]Video Card:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-100363l]Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card[/url] ($284.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Case:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-nse200kkn1]Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case[/url] ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
[b]Power Supply:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-m12ii520bronze]SeaSonic 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply[/url] ($73.98 @ SuperBiiz)
[b]Optical Drive:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-optical-drive-sh224dbbebe]Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer[/url] ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
[b]Operating System:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-885370635690]Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit)[/url] ($93.94 @ OutletPC)
[b]Monitor:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/benq-monitor-xl2411z]BenQ XL2411Z 144Hz 24.0" Monitor[/url] ($249.99 @ Amazon)
[b]Case Fan:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-fan-co9050001ww]Corsair Air Series AF120 Quiet Edition 39.9 CFM 120mm Fan[/url] ($13.63 @ NCIX US)
[b]Case Fan:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-fan-co9050001ww]Corsair Air Series AF120 Quiet Edition 39.9 CFM 120mm Fan[/url] ($13.63 @ NCIX US)
[b]Case Fan:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-fan-co9050001ww]Corsair Air Series AF120 Quiet Edition 39.9 CFM 120mm Fan[/url] ($13.63 @ NCIX US)
[b]Total:[/b] $1315.14
[i]Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available[/i]
[i]Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-03 17:09 EDT-0400[/i]
Thanks a bunch, looks great. How much of a price difference is a R9 290? Also, what size Rosewell ties should I get?
Around $100 or so, and you get what you pay for - I can run most of my games maxed out in 1440p near 50-70 frames with my personal R9 290, so it'd definitely push the higher end of that monitor in 1080p. Also, get the small 4" size, you can chain them together (you'll have an excess, anyway) and they're less bulky. Generally the sapphire Tri-x version of the R9 290 is recommended because they cool the voltage regulator modules properly.
[editline]4th August 2014[/editline]
An R9 290 would stretch the limits of that 520W power supply though, so if you get one of those then you should probably add $20 to the cost of the power supply as well to up-rate to [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151095"]620W[/URL]. I run that same power supply in my computer right now and it spins pretty heavily at load, so I know it's working pretty hard.
What would a build look like with those changes? Im fine with paying a bit more for that big of a change
All you'd do from my build is switch to an r9 290 and the PSU fishy linked
Great thanks for all the help, I had some issues with my current laptop so I went ahead and ordered everything. Is there a place where I can post my build progress and get help while doing so If I need?
Here would work fine
[editline]8th August 2014[/editline]
There used to be a thread in general but it kinda died off
Sweet! Ill post back again once I recieve my parts. Thanks again all of ya'll.
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