[QUOTE=taipan;47662812]So Alienware usually has pretty shitty and proprietary parts. Meaning there is a chance that no standard parts will fit into the case/mobo/psu.
You will need a new MOBO anyway, since the CPU socket thats uses for the i7 930 is outdated.
For the case im not sure. Please try and find the exact model of the build (sticker on the underside? or inside a bay?)
Alienware also isnt know to put good PSU's in their builds. Please open up your case and post the brand, type and wattage here.
-What games are you playing?
-Please use speccy to give us more info.
If you cannot use any old parts, due to "ALIENWARE TM" your budget is probably a tad low for a high end gaming pc. 850-950$ should do the trick.[/QUOTE]
I wasn't planning on re-using any of my current parts. I wanted to get everything brand new and slap it all together myself. I can easily raise my budget, I just figured $800 would be a good amount for a high-end gaming PC. Spending an extra possibly $50-100 shouldn't be too bad. I guess my maximum that I would spend would roughly be around $950 tops then.
The games I've been struggling to get max settings on are GTA V, MKX, Advanced Warfare, and KF2 just to name some recent titles. MKX the only problem I've really noticed is [b]long[/b] load times, as well as stuttering/skipping during the X-Rays and Intros. A lot of times the game's audio freezes completely as the game stutters during a intro cutscene and then everything loads and the voices mix together. I feel like this is just due to my CPU though as 2.8GHz is pretty low for today's standards. All of those games I named plus even some older titles such as BO2 suffer from slow load times, it's really quite annoying waiting 5 minutes to join a game that's been going on without me for that long, especially for CSGO or any other competitive game.
[QUOTE=ashxu;47663207][url]http://choosemypc.net/[/url][/QUOTE]
Is this site reliable for high-end builds?
It's alright, but makes questionable choices. Definitely not as good as having someone who knows what they're doing recommend one.
Right now I'm sporting a fairly slow CPU compared to newer standards, and I have a question.
[T]http://i.imgur.com/qKkehTZ.png[/T]
I play quite a lot of games, and I also do a bit of Source mapping, and want to expand to modelling as well. Is it worth it to get an i7 CPU, or am I good enough with a i5 CPU? This my first time thinking about making the step to Intel when I have the money for it, so that's why I'm asking here.
[QUOTE=All0utWar;47667723]
Is this site reliable for high-end builds?[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Levelog;47667747]It's alright, but makes questionable choices. Definitely not as good as having someone who knows what they're doing recommend one.[/QUOTE]
Don't use it exclusively. It provides a good starting point, then generate a PCPartsPicker list and then get advice on what to change. You still need to do your own research but at least you know what you need.
Here's three links to get you started
[url]http://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc[/url]
[url]http://www.reddit.com/r/PCMasterRace/wiki/builds[/url]
[url]https://wiki.installgentoo.com/index.php/Build_a_PC[/url]
[editline]6th May 2015[/editline]
And my own personal advice from someone who built their first pc a month ago from scartch:
Small form factor cases are a bitch to do cable management in if you are planning to get a new case.
Consider how you are going to download drivers for your computer, transplanting a HDD with windows on it won't work. I had to tether my phone to my computer to download drivers, including Ethernet as I didn't have a CD Drive.
Consider a fan controller if noise is an issue as case fans run at 100% if plugged directly into the PSU. Some cases come with fan controllers built in.
[editline]6th May 2015[/editline]
Also I think Speccy lists your motherboard model. HWMonitor does too.
A USB DVD drive will come in handy on occasion if you're not going to keep an optical drive in your computer.
Can anyone tell me if I would be able to upgrade to a GTX 970? I have a GTX 660 at the moment.
The system requirements on Newegg were
[quote]500 Watt or greater power supply.****
PCI Express, PCI Express 2.0 or PCI Express 3.0 compliant motherboard with one graphics slot.
One available 8pin PCIE connector[/quote]
I have a 650W power supply but I'm not sure about the 8pin PCIE connector. My mb is a ASRock 990FX. Or is that for the power supply? I don't even know.
[QUOTE=Dirty_Ape;47672430]Can anyone tell me if I would be able to upgrade to a GTX 970? I have a GTX 660 at the moment.
The system requirements on Newegg were
I have a 650W power supply but I'm not sure about the 8pin PCIE connector. My mb is a ASRock 990FX. Or is that for the power supply? I don't even know.[/QUOTE]
What make/model is the PSU? That'll tell me what exact connectors it's got on it.
[QUOTE=Trekintosh;47672317]A USB DVD drive will come in handy on occasion if you're not going to keep an optical drive in your computer.[/QUOTE]
Can I install windows with one?
I didn't get an optical drive and assumed my usb drive would work fine,
[QUOTE=redBadger;47673070]Can I install windows with one?
I didn't get an optical drive and assumed my usb drive would work fine,[/QUOTE]
Your USB drive will work fine.
[QUOTE=Levelog;47672520]What make/model is the PSU? That'll tell me what exact connectors it's got on it.[/QUOTE]
I know what it means if it's the one that comes from the power supply. I don't have an 8 pin on it though. Mine only has a 6 pin pcie. Here's the power supply still if you wanted to look.
[url]http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438005&_ga=1.144858033.481331755.1430939043[/url]
Are adapters for 6 pin to 8 pin a thing?
[QUOTE=Dirty_Ape;47673942]I know what it means if it's the one that comes from the power supply. I don't have an 8 pin on it though. Mine only has a 6 pin pcie. Here's the power supply still if you wanted to look.
[url]http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438005&_ga=1.144858033.481331755.1430939043[/url]
Are adapters for 6 pin to 8 pin a thing?[/QUOTE]
That PSU has 4x 6+2 PCIe power. There's a 2 pin thing attached to the same cable that makes in an 8 pin
[QUOTE=Levelog;47674004]That PSU has 4x 6+2 PCIe power. There's a 2 pin thing attached to the same cable that makes in an 8 pin[/QUOTE]
Ohhh, thanks a lot, bro. I might be upgrading then.
[QUOTE=ashxu;47669785]Don't use it exclusively. It provides a good starting point, then generate a PCPartsPicker list and then get advice on what to change. You still need to do your own research but at least you know what you need.
Here's three links to get you started
[url]http://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc[/url]
[url]http://www.reddit.com/r/PCMasterRace/wiki/builds[/url]
[url]https://wiki.installgentoo.com/index.php/Build_a_PC[/url]
[editline]6th May 2015[/editline]
And my own personal advice from someone who built their first pc a month ago from scartch:
Small form factor cases are a bitch to do cable management in if you are planning to get a new case.
Consider how you are going to download drivers for your computer, transplanting a HDD with windows on it won't work. I had to tether my phone to my computer to download drivers, including Ethernet as I didn't have a CD Drive.
Consider a fan controller if noise is an issue as case fans run at 100% if plugged directly into the PSU. Some cases come with fan controllers built in.
[editline]6th May 2015[/editline]
Also I think Speccy lists your motherboard model. HWMonitor does too.[/QUOTE]
Well I was planning on getting a CD Drive so I shouldn't have a problem installing drivers and whatnot should I?
None at all.
Anyone have any reccomendations for a CD drive? Doesn't need to be fancy or expensive, I just need one so I can actually install windows on my new PC when I build it.
[QUOTE=FloaterTWO;47679684]Anyone have any reccomendations for a CD drive? Doesn't need to be fancy or expensive, I just need one so I can actually install windows on my new PC when I build it.[/QUOTE]
Just buy the absolute cheapest you can find at the store where you order the rest of your components from. It really doesn't matter much nowadays when we can probably count on one hand the number of hours per year it will see any use.
[del]Hey guys, I'm working on upgrading my rig (bought it prebuilt, have no experience doing this) and big ups to HWECQI for helping me out with a lot of this stuff, I'm getting a [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125684&cm_re=GTX_970-_-14-125-684-_-Product"]970[/URL] to replace what I have right now, and (most likely) [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139040"]this[/URL] to go with it, I just need the seal of approval on the PSU, as I'm not sure about how to gauge the quality of these things.[/del]
Guess this is what I'm going with, hope it turns out all right.
[QUOTE=ZnT00;47681842][del]Hey guys, I'm working on upgrading my rig (bought it prebuilt, have no experience doing this) and big ups to HWECQI for helping me out with a lot of this stuff, I'm getting a [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125684&cm_re=GTX_970-_-14-125-684-_-Product"]970[/URL] to replace what I have right now, and (most likely) [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139040"]this[/URL] to go with it, I just need the seal of approval on the PSU, as I'm not sure about how to gauge the quality of these things.[/del]
Guess this is what I'm going with, hope it turns out all right.[/QUOTE]
Euhh.. Ok.
Should I stay with my 770, or go for the 970, since it's on sale for $329?
[QUOTE=Frosty701;47684120]Should I stay with my 770, or go for the 970, since it's on sale for $329?[/QUOTE]
That's not really a sale, it launched at that price.
[QUOTE=Levelog;47684121]That's not really a sale, it launched at that price.[/QUOTE]
Well I'd get Witcher 3 and Arkham Knight with it so that'd be a plus.
But still, is it worth it to upgrade to a 970?
[QUOTE=Frosty701;47684124]Well I'd get Witcher 3 and Arkham Knight with it so that'd be a plus.
But still, is it worth it to upgrade to a 970?[/QUOTE]
Are you having performance issues with your 770?
Alright guys, just finishing my new build now. Should I stick with a 980 and wait for a price drop, or go completely fucking bonkers and wait for the 980ti which drops this month (or next?). I haven't bought a card yet
it's completely bonkers with both
Even for 1440p?
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487088&cm_re=gtx_970-_-14-487-088-_-Product"]These[/URL] [del][URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151119&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID="]two[/URL][/del] any good? I'm doin' my best here, people.
I have an Evga GTX780 SC w/ACX Cooler
Should I water cool it? I've already done my CPU and have plenty of overhead left for a graphics card.
Should note that I have no reason to water cool it right now, it never overheats and I have a mild overclock on it. That ACX cooler is actually very nice to look at, AND it cools incredibly well. Kinda torn between wanting to do it, and not needing to.
[QUOTE=dbk21894;47684600]I have an Evga GTX780 SC w/ACX Cooler
Should I water cool it? I've already done my CPU and have plenty of overhead left for a graphics card.
Should note that I have no reason to water cool it right now, it never overheats and I have a mild overclock on it. That ACX cooler is actually very nice to look at, AND it cools incredibly well. Kinda torn between wanting to do it, and not needing to.[/QUOTE]
IMO GPU overclocking is far more beneficial than CPU overclocking. With my 680 I got a 22% increase from stock clocks to max clocks under water, doesn't ever even break 60 degrees. Granted that was in Heaven Benchmark, but that's a lot more relateable to games than just about any other benchmark because it's literally just running a benchmark test in a game engine.
what a good graphics card that is under $200 USD
[QUOTE=mastfire;47684721]what a good graphics card that is under $200 USD[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202099&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=[/url]
[editline]8th May 2015[/editline]
$187.99 -$10 promo -$20 MIR ($157.99)
Edit, $149.99 at [URL="http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-11230-00-20G/dp/B00IZXOW80/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431098090&sr=8-1&keywords=SAPPHIRE+DUAL-X+100373L+Radeon+R9+280http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-11230-00-20G/dp/B00IZXOW80/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431098090&sr=8-1&keywords=SAPPHIRE+DUAL-X+100373L+Radeon+R9+280"]Amazon[/URL] after rebate. That's a damn good deal imo.
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