Gaming build or buy prebuilt

[maestrorr]

I've read through some of these forums (though not all) but still not sure what to do and need advice. I'm wanting my first gaming rig. I've never built a computer and am nervous about trying but not out of the question. Just not sure I have the time to learn, especially trial and error, so I might want to just purchase from a company. Need a great rig that will play current and near future games at max. I don't need pretty lights or moving parts but I'm overwhelmed at all the brands, options, and reviews. My budget is around $1500. I don't want to get soaked by a gaming computer company anymore than anyone else, but time is money and I don't want to get in over my head trying to do something I shouldn't and spend all my gaming time tinkering with the computer build. Any advice is most appreciated.

 

[jonnyp11]

well building a comp isn't really that hard, i'm 14 and decided i wanted to start a build, saw a case on sale, baught it and dissasembled my compaq presario into every single pice and reassembled it back ito the other case with no tachnical knowledge within 30 minutes, its not that much work, the only thing that takes time is making the wiring nice wich is optional, and installing windows and drivers but windows you can just put you current hdd in the new comp if its the right type, or get a pci card from ebay that will let you use it, but if you need that then it will probably be too slow of a drive for a cpu in that budget. but i'll tell you what i'd do with that much in a little while.

 

[jonnyp11]

here are some prebuilts on newegg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0,1427:46203&bop=And&Order=PRICED&PageSize=20

if you want one of them i'd say to go for the cyberpowerpc gamer xtreme 1317 or any other with 2600k at that price, then get another 4gb of ram of the same type and manufacturer preferably, then you can get another gtx 560 and sli them but w8 till you get it and then you can get the same brand and all, it's just safer to double with the same thing instead of different things, now i'll look up a list to get if you wanna build.

 

[wolfeking]

for 1500 you will be better off building it yourself.
check this out http://www.computerforum.com/104641-how-build-computer-step-step-photos.html

for parts, go intel at this point.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 (219)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128501 (119)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396 (34)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130658 (499)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136767 (59)

Thats the main components that you will need. total is $930 you will also need a case of your choice, a HSF, and PSU. I know nothing of HSFs and PSUs, so someone else can chime in with that.

 

[jonnyp11]

Here's my list

cpu/mobo combo- http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.674730

psu(allows for sli/crossfire later on, if you'd rather get a better gpu and less power let me know)- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...lverstone_strider_gold-_-17-256-069-_-Product

GPU- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133370&cm_re=gtx_570-_-14-133-370-_-Product

OS- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

RAM(has 15 off for 'till 7/4)- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416&cm_re=ddr3-_-20-231-416-_-Product

Case-That's more of a personal decision for value and looks so you can decide what you like and what you'll pay

HDD's/SSD's-Tell us what you want cuz that is also more of depending on you so i'll let you choose, but i do recomend a small ssd to boot from so you can boot in like <20secs i think, idk, too expensive for me

Everything else-you should be able to use your current monitor keyboard and mouse but if you want to upgrade then tell me and i'll look it up and try to fit it into your price range, but this should play anything you want for a while, if i'm wrong then someone correct me please.

 

[wolfeking]

the GTX580 will outperform a CF HD6850 for sure.

and thanks for the OS, I had forgot that.

 

[jonnyp11]

yeah i wasn't thinking and noticed that and went back and changed several of my things and think i'm donr now so have another look

 

[jonnyp11]

and don't forget things like ups's and backup drives, those are always a good idea, get like a 100 buck ups and 2tb backup is a good idea. i'm looking into this more to see about getting that 580 or similar in there. and for hdd's i was thinking 2 1tb caviar blacks in raid, since everyone seems to like that stuff, but i personally have never raided or any of that stuff, really i'm only on my first build and am in dier need of money, all i have is a vortex 3620 case, cheap and nice if you're gunna build 1, and a rosewill rv-2 500w psu, of course the next week the 600w version was shellshocked 2-3 bucks less than i paid for it but i aint got the money, and newegg won't send me their deals for somereason, they tried to help me but it just won't show them in my inbox or my junk or anything.

 

[jonnyp11]

oh yeah, don't forget dvd drives, but you can get those out of you current system or an externall for like 20-30 would be easier

and whenever i look at gpu's i look at this, is fairly helpfull.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card-game-performance-radeon-hd-6670,2935.html

 

[jonnyp11]

this 580 is a little better thn his by default, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133395

but i'd say this for a lifetime warranty and it's 10 less too, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133360

and this psu, if you want something blue or something if you do a color scheme then tell me, and the price is fo this weekend only, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...04A&PID=4169961&SID=f7dip4ry2bzg&AID=10521304

and that will leave you 90 for a game or good mouse or keyboard too

 

[maestrorr]

Here's what I came up with

Wow thanks for all the well though out replies. That has really stoked my thinking and it gave me direction in my searching. Here's a build i came up with at the Cyberpower site. Tell me what you think. It comes in at $1543, right at the top of my budget but doable. Tell me if I'm missing something important please, or if you have other advice.

Case: * In-Win Dragon Rider Full Tower Case w/ 1x120mm Front Fan, 1x220mm LED Side Fan, Front USB 3.0 x 2 & Water-Cooling Hole Ready (Black Color)
Internal USB Extension Module: None
Neon Light Upgrade: None
Extra Case Fan Upgrade: Default case fans
Noise Reduction Technology: None
CPU: Intel® Core™ i7-2600K 3.40 GHz 8M Intel Smart Cache LGA1155 (All Venom OC Certified)
Freebies: FREE Game - Shogun 2 Coupon: Total War
FREE! Killer Xeno Pro Gigabit High Speed Online Gaming PCI Network Interface Card
Venom Boost Fast And Efficient Factory Overclocking: No Overclocking
Cooling Fan: Asetek 510LC Liquid Cooling System 120MM Radiator & Fan (Enhanced Cooling Performance + Extreme Silent at 20dBA) (Single Standard 120MM Fan)
Motherboard: * [CrossFireX/SLI] GigaByte GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 Intel Z68 Chipset DDR3 ATX MB w/ Lucid Virtu + Intel Smart Response Technology & 7.1 Dolby Home Theater Audio, GbLAN, USB3.0, 2x SATA-III RAID, 2 Gen2 PCIe, 3 PCIe X1 & 2 PCI (All Venom OC Certified)
Intel Smart Response Technology for Z68: None
Memory: 8GB (2GBx4) DDR3/1600MHz Dual Channel Memory Module (Kingston HyperX)
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 1.2GB 16X PCIe Video Card (EVGA Superclocked [+5])
Freebies: FREE Game - Dungeon Siege 3
Video Card 2: None
Video Card 3: None
Dedicated PHYSX Card: None
Multiple Video Card Settings: Non-SLI/Non-CrossFireX Mode Supports Multiple Monitors
Power Supply Upgrade: 800 Watts - XtremeGear Gaming Power Supply - Quad SLI Ready
Hard Drive: * 128 GB ADATA S501 V2 SATA III 6.0G/s Gaming MLC Solid State Disk [+135] (Single Hard Drive)
Data Hard Drive: 750GB SATA-III 6.0Gb/s 64MB Cache 7200RPM HDD [+61] (Single Hard Drive)
Hard Drive Cooling Fan: None
External Hard Drive (USB3.0/2.0/eSATA): None
USB Flash Drive: None
Optical Drive: 24X Double Layer Dual Format DVD+-R/+-RW + CD-R/RW Drive (BLACK COLOR)
Optical Drive 2: None
Sound: HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
Network: Onboard Gigabit LAN Network
Network Switch: None
Keyboard: (Keyboard & Mouse Combo) Logitech Wireless Desktop MK320 Keyboard & Mouse Combo [+33]
Extra Thermal Display: None
Wireless 802.11B/G Network Card: None
External Wireless Network Card: None
Wireless 802.11 B/G/N Access Point: None
Flash Media Reader/Writer: INTERNAL 12in1 Flash Media Reader/Writer (BLACK COLOR)
IEEE1394 Card: None
USB Port: Built-in USB 2.0 Ports
Operating System: * Microsoft® Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit Edition)

 

[wolfeking]

you will need a better PSU. Try a Antec, seasonic or coarsair. There may be some other quality brands out there, but I cant think of one of the top of my head.