First PC Desktop Build.

Hyper_Kagome

Hyper_Kagome

Well-Known Member
Hey, so I've decided I want to venture into the whole "Build your own PC" thing.

Budget ~700-800 CAD.

I recently got a free copy of Star Wars: The Old Republic and have been wanting to give it a try, as well as play Starcraft 2, The Witcher 2, Diablo III, etc.

I don't have a set budget yet as I'm not exactly sure what the price of the good end gaming parts are. (I said good, not best. I don't want to break my bank.)
If I have to go piece by piece over time in order to obtain this rig, just so I can look for deals on said parts, I will.

I live in Canada, so CAD would be best, as well as Canadian sites to view the items so I can get general ideas as to prices, and what to look for...
There is a place in my city called OTV Technologies. I believe they have a website if anyone wants to view there and see if they have good pricing to cut back on shipping, if possible.
Lest it be said: I am new at this, I do not know computer hardware.

From what I've come to understand my current laptop has:
Intel Core 2 Duo T6570 @ 2.1GHz
4gigs RAM - was unable to find what kind
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family

I've been wanting to get back into photography and minor edits and possibly HDRs and Panoramic shots, etc. Once I get this laptop back up to snuff (somehow) I would assume it'd be more than better to suit all those needs.
Then I could keep them off the desktop to leave room for other things such as the gaming, probably music, and other such things.
Possibly the occasional video.

Thanks

EDIT:
Hyper_Kagome said:
I do have an HD TV, but not a spare one. The one I have is my 40 inch Toshiba that I use for my gaming.
4 HDMI ports, two currently used... but I'm not sure what I think about using it as my monitor just yet...

And I'm extremely pressed for space in my bedroom, so I really need to think out how this is going to work. I might just have to suck it up and use the TV as a monitor until further notice.
Click to expand...

Just an FYI, I am not tight on money, I just do not want to throw a lot of money at it all at once (Hence why I can pick a build a like over some time and looking around at the suggestions here, and maybe buy the pieces one at a time and look for deals on them while doing so.)
This is a new area for me, so I'm hesitant to spend a lot of money all at once.
 
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Yeah... trying to anyway. I just lack any real space in my bedroom for a rig, compact or not, to have one. So I'm really starting to debate, and kind of upsetting myself in the process.
Hah.
 
I will come up with a basic list from newegg.ca so you can see about what the parts are, and thus what the general budget should be.

CPU: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157265
Case: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233
PSU: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371047
RAM: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144496
GPU: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125401
HDD: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840
HSF: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

Should be $1083 with windows. Some parts can be lowered, but this should be a pretty kickarse game system for the price.
 
Minus the fact that I know nothing about the parts, and what has what benefits over the other to make the games preform well... ugh. This is going to be more annoying than anticipated... but I'll try...

... well this seems like it's going to cost me a lot more than anticipated.

If it helps at all, I already have a set of 5.1 Logitech x540 that I'm using with my laptop, but I can always have that between the both of them. I also have a headset from Turtle Beach (CoD Delta; equivalent of the XP500/PX5 headsets) which I THINK I might be able to pair with a PC, I'm not 100% sure on that.

Everything else, I lack. Monitor, keyboard, mouse, system.
 
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well, I can try to explain.

Processor
-The 2500k is flat out the best processor for gaming on the planet currently. It is far more efficient clock for clock than anything preceding it or on the AMD side. An AMD processor would work, and perform fairly well, but not come close to the 2500k in muscle at stock, and I don't think AMD has anything that would match blows on OC ability on air.
Motherboard:
-No real advantage other than feature set. The P67 or Z68 chipset is required to overclock on Sandybridge. Otherwise ASrock is a good brand, and fairly cheap for the feature set.
RAM:
-As long as it is a reliable brand and fairly fast this has no effect in games. I think 1333 would perform the same as 1600, which cost about the same.
GPU:
-This is the deciding factor in gaming. The GTX560ti is the sweet spot for price to frames on the Nvidia side. The AMD equivalent, iirc is somewhere between a 6870 and a 6950.
Case:
-The HAF is affordable, and is fairly spacious for its size. It has excellent cable management. Basically, its features per dollar probably the best case on the market.
Cooler:
-It is a forum standard, if not industry standard cooler. Seems to do its job well, and cools about as efficient as your going to get in the sub $40 range.
PSU:
It is a quality brand, and has enough power. That is the motivation. Any PSU with enough watts and amps on the 12 volt rail and a quality brand will work.
 
As far as keyboard and mouse go, do you want something a little more on the gaming side, or will just standard periphreals work for you?
 
Also, the monitor can be a big factor in increasing cost, if you have a spare HD TV you can use that as a monitor and save a substantial ammount.
 
wolfeking said:
and I don't think AMD has anything that would match blows on OC ability on air.
Click to expand...

Bulldozer would match blows, but of course, nowhere near as fast.

For those games, I don't think you would need that advance of a machine. Since you have an xbox and PS3, any improvement over those would probably be satisfactory.

An i3 2100 would be fast as is, could get a regular 560 instead of the ti.

I think the only difference of the EVO from the 212+ is a different fan and brackets for LGA2011.

And I think she could go with a motherboard with less features.
 
 
StrangleHold said:
Best thing is just ask her what she wants to spend.
Click to expand...

First posts states no price, but nothing crazy to break the bank. I'm lucky to make $1100-1200 a month.

Also currently trying to save for a house.

I do have an HD TV, but not a spare one. The one I have is my 40 inch Toshiba that I use for my gaming.
4 HDMI ports, two currently used... but I'm not sure what I think about using it as my monitor just yet...

And I'm extremely pressed for space in my bedroom, so I really need to think out how this is going to work. I might just have to suck it up and use the TV as a monitor until further notice.

I might maybe, MAYBE, look into BF3 on PC, but I doubt it since I have it on my consoles.
Skyrim is also a possibility, just 'cause it's so broken on my PS3 still. (sigh)
Everything else... your standard RPG and RTS games, I suppose.
 
How badly do you need the PC? Because if you can wait, you should, as it will give you time to save up money and have newer, better parts come out.
 
MineIQ1701 said:
How badly do you need the PC? Because if you can wait, you should, as it will give you time to save up money and have newer, better parts come out.
Click to expand...

I don't need it right away, but at the same time I DON'T need high-high-end parts for a super high-end rig.
I do most of my gaming on my consoles, it's just be nice to have a rig for SWtOR, StarCraft 2, Diablo 2 and 3, POSSIBLY (not needed 100%) Skyrim and BF3 and The Witcher 2, so far.

I can go without BF3 and Skyrim if need be for a lower cost, since I have both of those on my consoles. (Though Skyrim looks so pretty on PC, I can do without).

While I understand that The Witcher 2 is coming out on 360, I have a strong feeling it will be a very broken port.

And I have money saved, I just don't want to go overboard since I'm also saving for other things as well. IE: house.
 
If you throw Skyrim and BF3 out of the ring, then you can go for some lower parts, but I'd still estimate around 700-800$
 
I think this setup will be more to your liking, still plenty capable of gaming, and will upgrade very well later on if wanted. There are some things i'd change in this, but the combo's discount saves you some so i thought i'd leave it that way.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.816522

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151233

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

that totals ~889 shipped, than choose a video card from this

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produc...Value=679:100638&PropertyCodeValue=679:265208

anything off that will game fairly well up to maxing everything on the planet out at the same time
 
If your tight on money just buy used.

I picked up an AMD 925 oc'd to 965 speeds..a mobo, 4 gb of ram, after market cooler and some fans for 110$ shipped. Pair that with a 560ti... and now I can play any game on the market with high settings. Its all about where you look.
 
BUMP:

$700-800 Budget, I've decided.
How is this? Friend picked them out:
2z656y1.jpg
 
Are you getting these from newegg.ca? I'm seeing different prices.

That CPU is overkill for you. You'd be better off with this:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115073

You wouldn't see any performance gain from the i7 in games. Better to use that extra $100 for a better graphics card.

This PSU would be plenty for you:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151096

If looking for a case in that price range, I'd get this: (There's different colors to choose from)

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119248

Need that much space? I'd go down to 1TB.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840
 
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claptonman said:
Are you getting these from newegg.ca? I'm seeing different prices.

That CPU is overkill for you. You'd be better off with this:
Click to expand...

They are .com pricing. I know it's over $800, but my friend stated he could shuffle things and get better results if I decide on a build. I'll likely be cross-checking the build with my girlfriend as well to get her opinions.

Wouldn't a better CPU be best for the long run over a lower one?

Reasoning on the case?
 
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