Building my first gaming PC, could use quite a bit of advice. ($600-$650)
67 replies, posted
And I know this probably sounds like a silly question, but that'll of course work with the case and the rest of the parts, right?
[QUOTE=Linkuya;46905196]And I know this probably sounds like a silly question, but that'll of course work with the case and the rest of the parts, right?[/QUOTE]
Yep, refer to the case's manual when you're about to install it.
By the way, I'd recommend you to assemble the system in this order (although some might disagree):
1. Optical drive + harddrive
2. Standoffs + Motherboard
3. CPU + CPU cooler + RAM + GPU
4. Power supply
5. Cable management
None of your questions have been silly, by the way, better safe than sorry
If I don't connect the power supply first (and then plug it into the wall, connecting the grounding strip to the case and in turn myself), how would I properly ground myself?
Also, CPU cooler? I think mine just comes in with the fan, that should be more than good enough for keeping the system cool, right?
For the i5 4440, the stock cooler (I.E, the one that comes with it in the box) will do just fine.
And yes, if you're worried about ESD, you could move the power supply to step one.
As a last note, the GTX 760 just barely scrapes over the minimum requirements of The Witcher III, so in hindsight I would perhaps recommend something with a bit more power.
[URL]http://pcpartpicker.com/part/powercolor-video-card-axr9280x3gbd5t2dheoc[/URL]
I costs 44 dollars more, but on the other hand it matches the "Recommended" requirements for that particular game
Only 44 dollars more? I might go for it, overall it's a step up from the other card? And, obvious question time, it'll still work with the other parts?
Holy smokes, 3GB. Sounds nice. That won't change any parts of my build, right? Everything else will still work fine?
[editline]11th January 2015[/editline]
I hear about: 'Having just received this card, it's pretty damn big. A bit bigger than my previous AMD Radeon HD 6870 Card. You might need to relocate your hard drive if it's at the end if your PCI-E slot.'
It'll still fit, right?
And something about hearing a coil whine while playing games, it isn't too loud right? I'm worried it might be too beefy.
[editline]11th January 2015[/editline]
So I'm trying to find the new parts listed so that I can compile them all together so I can see the new total price on that PCpartpicker website, but I'm having issues finding some of them. Can someone compile the new updated version of the build and link it here?
The card will fit in that case, yes, but I did some additional research, and it seems like NCIXUS has a daily deal on the Fractal Design Core 2500, a much better case, for 39 dollars if you order it today and uses their coupon code.
[URL]http://www.ncixus.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=94344&vpn=FD-CA-CORE-2500-BL&manufacture=Fractal Design&promoid=1315[/URL]
(It may not look like much, but that's due to the "Swedish minimalism")
Regarding the coil whine, you won't notice it, seeing as you'll most probably be using sound while playing
[editline]11th January 2015[/editline]
[QUOTE=Linkuya;46905324]
So I'm trying to find the new parts listed so that I can compile them all together so I can see the new total price on that PCpartpicker website, but I'm having issues finding some of them. Can someone compile the new updated version of the build and link it here?[/QUOTE]
Yes, one moment
[editline]11th January 2015[/editline]
[URL]http://pcpartpicker.com/p/nxhq99[/URL]
(I found an even cheaper 280X that's still of high quality)
Oh, and one more important thing, once you've assembled the system, and Windows has been installed, you'll probably notice that things aren't working like they should, that's because you'll need to install the drivers for certain components manually, but that's like a 5 minute job so we'll walk over that bridge there and then
Holy fuck that's so much money lol
I'll do it, but only because I lack any kind of sense. Now I'm going to be super paranoid and careful building the PC. :v:
And looking at that case, I'd rather have the fancier looking one that costs a tiny bit more. It just looks nicer. Why do you like that case more?
Why does anything change with the new graphics card? Is it better/worse than the other 3GB one you just listed?
[QUOTE=Linkuya;46905594]
And looking at that case, I'd rather have the fancier looking one that costs a tiny bit more. It just looks nicer. Why do you like that case more?
Why does anything change with the new graphics card? Is it better/worse than the other 3GB one you just listed?[/QUOTE]
The one from Fractal Design has a MUCH higher build quality, allows for actual cable management which in turn allows for better airflow and cooling, and that Tri-X graphics card won't fit in the one from Rosewill. I suppose the real question is, will you be looking at the computer, or will you be using the computer? :v:
The Tri-X one is actually the slightly better one (It's thus also usually more expensive than that)
Yeah, I looked over it again and you're right about the case. I'll definitely get it.
Alright, I think that's everything, right? I'm going to order the parts listed in the latest list you gave+grounding strap tonight. I think that's all the stuff I need.
Yep, go for it
Last question, I can't quite find the size of the case. How tall, wide it is. I'm wondering if it'll fit in the area I store my tower.
(WxHxD):7.6" x 16.9" x 17.7"
7.6 wide, 16.9 long, and 17.7 high right? Just wanted to double check. Even if I got those last two reversed it should fit well. Thanks again!
No problem
Whoa, just saw this edit now.
"Oh, and one more important thing, once you've assembled the system, and Windows has been installed, you'll probably notice that things aren't working like they should, that's because you'll need to install the drivers for certain components manually, but that's like a 5 minute job so we'll walk over that bridge there and then"
Stuff like the mouse/keyboard will still work though right? As long as the basic stuff works it doesn't sound too bad. Oh, you might mean stuff like the graphics card, I get it.
Yeah yeah, mouse and keyboard will work. You'll just need to install motherboard drivers via the disk that comes with it, and grab the latest video card drivers from online.
Dang it, a few of these parts are out of stock on all the sites listed, like the motherboard. I guess I'm not going to order the parts tonight, I'd like to get them all at once and not have to worry about simply not getting the other parts.
[editline]11th January 2015[/editline]
Holy shit no one ships to PO Boxes either! This sucks, I was looking forward to this..
What do I do? Is there some simple place I can order all these parts, and it not be an issue with shipping to a PO Box? Ugh.. I'm wondering if I should go pre-built now..
I realize that I'm wavering a touch, and feel free to call the plebeian police to raid my house for suggesting this, but is it really that bad buying a prebuilt, even if it's meant for gaming? I mean, the shipping thing might be a legitimate issue, coupled with some other things. I'm wondering if for roughly the same price I can still get a really great PC that can max out games like Skyrim, the Witcher II, Dark Souls 1 & 2, and at least play the Witcher 3 at a steady 30+ FPS, for the same $600-$850 price range. Maybe I'm asking for too much.
Do you have a family member or trustworthy friend to ship it to? Most places have a problem shipping to a PO Box and buying a pre built would probably be the same about the PO boxes.
No, sadly. My mates have mostly moved away as this is not a pleasant place to live. And I think there's a limit to stuff our P.O. can have at once, one package would be fine though.
Oh well if its a limit of items that ship to the box and not shipping an item to the box itself then you could possibly order as many parts as you can from one place as they will usually put all the items you ordered into one larger box except for the case which will come by itself, it may be a little more money to purchase them all from the same place but usually unless one site has a particular deal it ends up not costing that much more and it's usually what I do anyway because it's just easier to track one shipment than 5 or 6 separate ones and I'm lazy.
Yeah, I thought about that, but prices skyrocket once I start looking elsewhere for parts. Like the motherboard, all the listed websites were out of stock, so I looked for the product on other sites and they were a solid $20-ish more; I don't have that kind of cash to be spending extra on parts.
Hence me wondering if [I]all[/I] prebuilts were bad, or if I could get a computer of similar power to the builds listed here, in prebuilt form. I just don't know.
I mean you can get one prebuilt that will perform close to the same but you will probably spent ~100 ish more usually, but not all the time, for the same than you would building it on your own. Would you be able to buy the parts from the sites you were normally going to buy them from and just wait for one package to ship and then order another then repeat the process until you get them all it will take a little longer but I am not entirely sure what exactly the problem is that is keeping you from shipping it all the PO box?
I managed to find this system:
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227593[/URL]
~90 dollars more, the graphics card is weaker, but the processor is faster (yes, also in applications that do not utilize hyperthreading)
Quite a lot of people in the reviews section are complaining about it being slow, though, most of them also mention Wi-Fi, so my guess is that the motherboard doesn't come with antennaes, which in turn gives them a horrible connection.
Then again I also know that tons of people have had problems with the R9 285's, if it's that kind of "slowness" and lag they're referring to
This is also a pretty good system: (It's basically mine but with the 760 again, and with a slightly, slightly, slightly faster processor)
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220798[/URL]
[editline]12th January 2015[/editline]
Alright, I'm messing around with the "iBuyPower Configurator" thingie, does anyone know what the "FREE Upgrade To X" thing means? Does that mean the original component somehow automatically gets "upgraded" to X?
I have a wired internet connection. Would it still be slow for me? And yes, the i7 is better than the i5 if memory serves, but what about the graphics card? Is it bad enough to where it wouldn't be able to play the Witcher III at least with a steady 30+ FPS? My monitor's native resolution is 1600x900, so I imagine that would be the setting games would be running on.
The second one you linked is an i5, but has a 3GB card. Would that make it better or worse than the first one you listed? The one with the 3GB card is less expensive, does that mean the processor isn't quite as good? Thanks again for all the help.
[editline]12th January 2015[/editline]
And what in the blaze is Liquid cooling? Sound dangerous.
[editline]12th January 2015[/editline]
Also, is it possible to ever upgrade prebuilts, such as the ones you listed?
Looking at those two computers, I'm slightly leaning towards the one with 3GBs of VRAM. Mostly because it resembles the one I was going to make originally.
I think I've found the solution to our problems. You can buy parts off of NCIXUS, and for a fee (60 dollars), they'll also assemble it for you, as well as install Windows and the drivers. I.E, they'll assemble it, I'll "design" it, and there will only be one box for you to gather. Just give me a moment
Alright, this system:
[img]http://i.imgur.com/4NxKS00.png[/img]
It's just as powerful as this one:
[url]http://pcpartpicker.com/p/nxhq99[/url]
So in other words you'll only pay around 55 dollars extra for it to be assembled and everything
Links to every part so you can put them in your cart on NCIXUS:
[url]http://www.ncixus.com/products/index.php?sku=7842[/url]
[url]http://www.ncixus.com/products/index.php?sku=89861&promoid=1443[/url]
[url]http://www.ncixus.com/products/index.php?sku=96905[/url]
[url]http://www.ncixus.com/products/index.php?sku=99169&promoid=1315[/url]
[url]http://www.ncixus.com/products/index.php?sku=94043&promoid=1260[/url]
[url]http://www.ncixus.com/products/index.php?sku=74462[/url]
[url]http://www.ncixus.com/products/index.php?sku=94344&promoid=1315[/url]
[url]http://www.ncixus.com/products/index.php?sku=101199&promoid=1315[/url]
[url]http://www.ncixus.com/products/index.php?sku=90712[/url]
[url]http://www.ncixus.com/products/index.php?sku=91219&promoid=1315[/url]
Holy shit, thank you. So many of these parts are totally different, you're sure they'll all still work well together, and play the upcoming games I listed as well?
[editline]12th January 2015[/editline]
I don't know if this is a big deal, but it seems like the motherboard you took the screencap of isn't the same as the one you linked.
Yes, the performance is more or less 100% identical to the performance you'd get from this one:
[url]http://pcpartpicker.com/p/nxhq99[/url]
And yes, judging from the requirements, you should be able to play The Witcher III on High @ 1920x1080 with at least 30 FPS
Alright, it looks like everything is in order. I'm going to order this tonight, if nothing changes or is amiss.
Thanks again for all the help, I realize it hasn't been easy. :v:
You're welcome, do report back when it's been delivered to you
[editline]12th January 2015[/editline]
[QUOTE=Linkuya;46910736]
I don't know if this is a big deal, but it seems like the motherboard you took the screencap of isn't the same as the one you linked.[/QUOTE]
Whoops, both of them will work, this one is the cheap one, though:
[URL]http://www.ncixus.com/products/?sku=84037&vpn=GA-B85M-HD3&manufacture=Gigabyte&promoid=1374[/URL]
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