Help building first PC.

Darren

Moderator
Staff member
No I can't because prices and availability of products change. You can get a rough idea but there's really no point in even bothering until you have the money and are able to order. Prices change on a day to day basis and what you might look at today versus what you'd find in two weeks won't be the same.

Also,

Are you needing any of these? Operating System, Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard, Wireless card, Speakers/headphones, or any other peripherals?

Tower generally includes a Power Supply, Case, Motherboard, CPU, GPU, RAM, Hard Drive, and disc drive if needed.
 

Lando454

New Member
yeah a operating system. What you think about this GPU
Gigabyte AMD R7 360 128 Bit GDDR5 2GB 2xDVI/HDMI/DP Overclocked Graphics Card GV-R736OC-2GD
 

Lando454

New Member
instead of buying parts and building a PC why dont I just buy a alienware alpha??

Alienware Alpha
$548.99


Intel Core i3-4130T Processor Dual-Core (3M Cache, 2.9GHz)

Windows 8.1

8GB Memory

1TB Hard Drive

NVIDIA GeForce GPU 2GB GDDR5
 

beers

Moderator
Staff member
You originally gave us a budget of $300, why are you quoting PCs at $550 now?

You can obviously do whatever you want, but building a PC from parts gets you more for your money.
 

Lando454

New Member
You originally gave us a budget of $300, why are you quoting PCs at $550 now?

You can obviously do whatever you want, but building a PC from parts gets you more for your money.
if you read all my messages I have posted on this thread you can see I did say I can do a 500$ budget.
If I buy the exact gpu and processor could I make a pc like the alienware alpha for cheaper?
 

Lando454

New Member
The alienware alpha already has a OS running on it also and after buying all the parts to make a PC like the Alpha I would have to pay around $100 for windows 8 so I am not sure I can do a PC with same specs as the Alpha under $550. Mostly if I buy the Alpha at christmas it will most likely be on sale or come with bundle items like what consoles do at the holidays.
 

Darren

Moderator
Staff member
What a ripoff. A 2.9GHz Dual Core i3 and a custom GPU that is claimed to "outperform the 860M. Probably just means it's very slightly overclocked. That thing is just laptop hardware. For 550 bucks that's a laughably high price for that kind of hardware. I'd stay as far away from Alienware as possible in most instances.
 

Lando454

New Member
yeah but it has a HDMI in, a operating system that cost alot, and Wi-Fi so you can take it anywhere in the house without having to run a ethernet.

If I shouldn't buy the alpha then pick the best parts that add up to the same amount I understand that prices change alot but I will buy most parts at Christmas, Cyber Monday, and Black friday so I will get some good deals. Might sound wierd not buying all the parts at the same time but who cares that is how I am doing it.

I need these items: GPU, CPU, power supply, Windows 8, 1TB HDD, tower, and RAM. make sure the total comes up to around 500.

also a motherboard
 
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Darren

Moderator
Staff member
If you want to get the Alienware Alpha, go nuts. You're clearly wanting it.

Bioshock has two whole presets above high. It's also a 2.5 year old game. Not saying it looks bad or anything, but it's not exactly hard to run.


They have a good marketing team, I'll give them that.


And, just to humor you, this is a system that's 541, cheaper than the Alpha.

Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153
HDD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840
Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130722
GPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500349
PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428
OS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416776
CPU
http://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=N82E16819113326

And, it runs Bioshock at Ultra (two presets above what you posted) at 60FPS 1080p. This system isn't identical, but same graphics card and arguably equivalent specs otherwise.

You're wasting your money with the Alpha. You WILL get better performance for your money if you build your own system. Do what you want though.

 
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Lando454

New Member
thank you very much for the help I am not the best at looking at parts since I am new to building you are correct the Alpha is not really worth the money if I can build cheaper but I did not want to mess up building a PC because alot of people use different thermal paste on the cpu and alot of people use braclets or mats that ground you so you dont ruin your board. Have you ever ruined a build by bot grounding yourself and do you ground yourself when building?
 

Lando454

New Member
If you want to get the Alienware Alpha, go nuts. You're clearly wanting it.

Bioshock has two whole presets above high. It's also a 2.5 year old game. Not saying it looks bad or anything, but it's not exactly hard to run.


They have a good marketing team, I'll give them that.


And, just to humor you, this is a system that's 541, cheaper than the Alpha.

Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153
HDD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840
Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130722
CPU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500349
PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
CPU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428
OS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416776

And, it runs Bioshock at Ultra (two presets above what you posted) at 60FPS 1080p. This system isn't identical, but same graphics card and arguably equivalent specs otherwise.

You're wasting your money with the Alpha. You WILL get better performance for your money if you build your own system. Do what you want though.

when clicking the links you provided they lead to MoBo,RAM,OS,PSU,GPU,HDD,case, but non of the links took me to a CPU
 
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MyCattMaxx

Active Member
~~~ if I can build cheaper but I did not want to mess up building a PC because alot of people use different thermal paste on the cpu and alot of people use braclets or mats that ground you so you dont ruin your board. Have you ever ruined a build by bot grounding yourself and do you ground yourself when building?
I haven't ruined any that I build or repair.
Static isn't really a big issue where I am plus I don't work in a carpeted area, I do touch a grounded source before I build/work but don't wear a strap.
As far as a new build goes with a new CPU/heatsink unless you plan on serious overclocking the factory applied 'paste' that's on the heatsink works just fine.
 

Lando454

New Member

Lando454

New Member
got the case ordered newegg is awesome site with the coupon they sponsored on the site I got the case for only 42.79 and I get a 10$ rebate card
 

Darren

Moderator
Staff member
got the case ordered newegg is awesome site with the coupon they sponsored on the site I got the case for only 42.79 and I get a 10$ rebate card

That was my first case. Solid case, especially for the price. My roommate still uses it to this day 4 years later.
 
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