Build-A-PC |OT| Soooooooo, I don't know what the fuck to do...
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So, I want to build a PC for gaming and multimedia work that I won't have to upgrade for a couple years. Problem is, I'm on a fast-food job budget. So, I decided to just do some random math to see how much it would cost to build a good PC. This is whaty I came up with:
1. ASUS Crosshair V Formula-Z AM3+ AMD 990FX + SB950 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Gaming Motherboard with 3-Way SLI/CrossFireX Support and UEFI BIOS - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131876">$229.99 on Newegg.
2. AMD FX-9590 Eight-Core Vishera Processor 4.7GHz Socket AM3+ w/o Fan - http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=FX-9590BOX">$217.99 on SuperBiz.
3. XFX R9-290X-8DFD Radeon R9 290X 8GB 512-Bit DDR5 PCI Express 3.0 Double Dissipation Edition - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150723&cm_re=290x_xfx-_-14-150-723-_-Product&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=11552995&PID=6340491&SID=">$434.99 on Newegg.
4. FSP Group AURUM 92+ Series PT-450M 450W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS PLATINUM Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104167">$99.99 on Newegg.
5. Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced - High Air Flow Full Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0 and All-Black Interior - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160&ignorebbr=1&cm_re=PPSSBGDRYLXVJN-_-11-119-160-_-Product">$169.99 on Newegg.
Soooooooo, I probably overshot my boundaries a bit. I also probably have forgotten a few components.
Welp, what a better way to solve this problem than a thread that calls out to the Master Race to help plebians like me get a good PC at a decent cost?
This thread doesn't just have to be about straight up DIY PC's. This thread can also be used as insight into individual component upgrades, like graphics cards, motherboards, etc.
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[Basic Desktop Questions]
Your Current Specs: CPU / RAM / Motherboard / GPU (Graphics) / PSU (Power Supply) / Case / HDD (Hard Drive)
Budget: Price Range + Country
Main Use: Rate 1-5. 5 being Highest: Light Gaming, Gaming, Emulation (PS2/Wii), Video Editing, Streaming games in HD, 3D/Model work (and what program), General Usage (Word, Web, 1080p playback).
Monitor Resolution: What resolution will you be playing your games at? Are you going to upgrade later? Are you buying a new monitor?
List SPECIFIC games or applications that you MUST be able to run well: Is 30FPS acceptable? 60? 120? How important is PhysX / SuperSampling / CUDA to you?
Looking to reuse any parts?: List make and model (e.g. Corsair 520HX, 640GB SATA HDD, Antec 900)
When will you build?: Do you have a deadline?
Will you be overclocking?: Yes, No, Maybe (This means yes!)
/Shameless theft
There's a lot wrong here tbh.
What is your budget
Also I can't have you rockin AMD at this time. That has to change.
By Smokey Go To PostThere's a lot wrong here tbh.
What is your budget
Also I can't have you rockin AMD at this time. That has to change.
Like I said, fast food budget. So, there's gonna be a bit of money saving no matter which price range I shoot for. To give a number I'd prefer, I'd say under $1000, maybe even under $800. Something reachable after a few months of saving up.
Also, aren't AMD components better when it comes to price = performance?
By psychintellect Go To Post Speaking of PCs. I need an upgrade. I can't be using 1.5 gbs of RAM in 2015. My phone has twice that smh
By jWILL253 Go To PostLike I said, fast food budget. So, there's gonna be a bit of money saving no matter which price range I shoot for. To give a number I'd prefer, I'd say under $1000, maybe even under $800. Something reachable after a few months of saving up.
Also, aren't AMD components better when it comes to price = performance?
Not any more. AMD has been pretty bad the last few years. Intel has pretty much pushed them out of the desktop arena. They run hot and are in general worse off than their intel counterparts. Something like this is a good framework for you
Some of these things need to be updated but that gives you an idea of what you can work with on a 800-900 budget.
You even get a SSD in this example which is a necessity (imo) and a game changer in a PC.
By psychintellect Go To PostEven using cavs gifs now
Woooooooo
you gonna see cavs everything until you catch a W get used to it
By jWILL253 Go To Post How were you able to find that, Smokey?
From my 2nd home - PC Thread on GAF, in the OP
To take some cues from that thread:
My current specs: Stock HP Envy with an AMD FX 6200, Radeon HD 7570. With this setup, I can run most last gen software at 720p 30-60 FPS. WHen I bought this at Best Buy, the sales associate told me it was a gaming PC, SMH.
Usage: I'd say about a 5: Heavy gaming, music production, some streaming, and general usage.
Monitor resolution: 1080p, and I won't be going any higher than that until 4K prices come down.
Specific Apps that I want to run well: As far as games, GTAV at 1080p, 60 FPS. For other apps: I want to run Ableton Live with no slowdown. I also want to be able to stream games in 1080p with no meaningful slowdown.
Resusing parts: Maybe the RAM.
Deadlines: None.
Overclocking: Ehhhhhh, maybe. I want to get more knowledge about overclocking before I get my feet wet.
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You know what? I'm just gonna jack this format and put it in the OP.
So if you want to get to do streaming through your PC, whether console or PC gaming, you're going to want to lean towards i7 processors (you get more threads which help out in streaming). In the example I pasted above, that would be a 4790k, which comes clocked out of the box at 4Ghz. First processor to do so. You'll definitely want to go the NVIDIA route as they offerhttp://www.geforce.com/geforce-experience/shadowplay"> Geforce ShadowPlay
which is very easy to use and is magic.. On the console side I have an http://www.geforce.com/geforce-experience/shadowplay">https://www.elgato.com/en/gaming/game-capture-hd60">Elgato HD60 . My PS4 is hooked to this and the Elgato is hooked to my PC via USB. Works great.As far as overclocking you literally are changing two values in the BIOS -- cpu ratio (44 equals 4.4ghz for example) and the voltage. You then use something like Prime95 to test your OC for a few hours. If your machine does not crash, then your OC is most likely stable.
If it crashes then you go back into BIOS and up the voltage. Rinse repeat. You mess with these two settings until you get to a point where you have the lowest voltage needed for the highest OC you can achieve. It is not hard at all.
By Smokey Go To Posthttps://www.elgato.com/en/gaming/game-capture-hd60" target="_blank">Elgato HD60So if you want to get to do streaming through your PC, whether console or PC gaming, you're going to want to lean towards i7 processors (you get more threads which help out in streaming). In the example I pasted above, that would be a 4790k, which comes clocked at 4Ghz. First processor to do so. You'll definitely want to go the NVIDIA route as they offer Geforce ShadowPlay . On the console side I have an http://www.geforce.com/geforce-experience/shadowplay" target="_blank">
As far as overclocking you literally are changing two values in the BIOS -- cpu ratio (44 equals 4.4ghz for example) and the voltage. You then use something like Prime95 to test your OC for a few hours. If your machine does not crash, then your OC is most likely stable.
If it crashes then you go back into BIOS and up the voltage. Rinse repeat. You mess with these two settings until you get to a point where you have the lowest voltage needed for the highest OC you can achieve. It is not hard at all.
Isn't there a chance of completely frying your hardware, though?
That's my fear. Spending a bunch of money, just to fry the CPU with my worthless computer skills? That would be a bad L to hold.
By jWILL253 Go To PostIsn't there a chance of completely frying your hardware, though?
That's my fear. Spending a bunch of money, just to fry the CPU with my worthless computer skills? That would be a bad L to hold.
There is a chance, but your chip/motherboard would most likely shut itself down to protect itself before getting to that point. Also you start with a known value that pretty much every one can hit (4.2ghz for example) and some amount of voltage that it takes most others to hit stable overclocks (1.3v for example). You work from there. The K chips from Intel are designed for overclocking. They offer K and non K versions of their chips.
You don't just go in and change the multiplier to like 55 and voltage to 1.6v or something. Doing something like that is a negative and asking for trouble.
Most motherboards also offer auto OC software that will do everything for you. They work fine, although a lot of enthusiasts will tell you not to use them. Sometimes they use too much voltage for the speed it sets your chip at or or other things like that.
My opinion when designing a build is to spend as much as you can on a Power Supply Unit and a motherboard. Those are the guts of your system. If you have a shitty PSU that can blow up at any time well your entire system can potentially go with it. A good PSU can last you multiple years and builds. Likewise for motherboards that have solid components. Don't cheap out on these two items in your budget.
I second Smokey. I have been an AMD guy since they first came out and kicked Intel in the nuts. My last build was a n Athalon Quad Core 955 Black Edition, and I OC'd it about 0.5 GHz without breaking a sweat. But now? Intel. AMD cards run hot, and heat is by far and wide any machine's worst enemy. You don't want to buy hardware that is KNOWN to run hot. When it gets old/dusty, it will get worse, not better.
I did buy a 4690k and didn't bother with the OC because it's strong out of the box as Smokey said. I was being lazy and didn't feel like tinkering.
I use the CORSAIR h100i for cooling. Temps don't even get into the 40s while running Witcher 2 maxed. Looking forward to GTA 5 and Witcher 3.
By jWILL253 Go To Post What about cooling options? Last time I checked, there are, like, numerous cooling options for a custom PC.
3 types of cooling:
1. Standard heatsink coolers. These are pretty huge, but are cheaper than option two. I don't use these because they take up a large amount of space in your case, and can be in the way if you work in your PC a lot.
2. All-in-One water cooling units. This is what I use. These are your Corsair H80i, H100i, H110i etc type coolers. They look a lot better than option 1 and you never have to do any maintenance on the coolant. It's all closed. These are more expensive than option 1.
3. Custon water cooling loops. You make your own loop, apply your own coolant, radiators etc. Advanced level cooling and the best option, but requries a lot more up keep and maintenance. Also most expensive way of cooling your machine.
By Smokey Go To Post Dibs until it comes time and then y'all get spooked lol
you right.
im too broke for that ;_;
By Adam Blade Go To Post One of these days I'll build a rig better than Smokey's... until then I remain in the laptop ghetto.
My first machine was in summer of 2011. 2600k, 8GB RAM, ASUS DCII 580, Intel SSD that I still have now. I don't think I got deep in until I sold the DCII to kado and hopped on two 580 Lighting Xtreme cards. Then came the U3011 monitor and it was all down hill from there.
Should I sell jWILL my rig or nah?
Asus P8P67-V (or PRO, can't remember) with a i5 2500k OC'd to 4.3Ghz, 64GB SSD, 1TB HDD, eVGA 570GTX, Corsair Vengeance 8GB Ram. Also got a couple of LED Asus 24" 1080p monitors.
i dont really care about anymore resolution upgrades for monitors...work and school tiring me out so bad that i can barely be assed to put my ass in front of my monitor at home these days...
my next rig is definitely going to be big comfy couch mode...65+ inch 4k set with a twin titan x setup + consoles.....I'd be playing a fuck ton more games if I had that currently...just lay in the fuckin couch and ball out.
i'd have to kick my counter strike days goodbye though and my KDR in most competitive shooters (halo, cod) would probably drop 50%. but real talk it aint like im about that life anymore anyway...
getting old man...terrible
My next stop will probably be a true water cooling loop. that's really the only thing missing. i've got the loop planned out and everything. Speaking with some people who have done it before I'm probably looking at close to 1k in parts, but that's because I'm not trying to go cheap on anything that involves liquid and electronics.
New EVGA Pro Sli Bridges (v2)
Yo im interested in a PC or start upgrading my laptop but I dont know where to start.
My current build is an Intel i5 with 8gb of RAM 1td HDD and I don't know shit about the rest so I dont know what to start off on.
I just wanna game w/60 fps and emulate ps2 and wii shit really
Upgrading PCs is so 2014.
You're welcome.
Seriously though, I keep hearing good things about their cloud gaming / remote desktop thing, so I decided to try it for a month after I was told by the CEO that I can expect servers very near me (continental Europe). They're on schedule for a Q3/Q4 launch, I'll be sure to report back once the beta testing begins.
By reilo Go To PostShould I sell jWILL my rig or nah?
Asus P8P67-V (or PRO, can't remember) with a i5 2500k OC'd to 4.3Ghz, 64GB SSD, 1TB HDD, eVGA 570GTX, Corsair Vengeance 8GB Ram. Also got a couple of LED Asus 24" 1080p monitors.
http://www.thecoli.com/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/mjcry1.png
Yeah. Considering this option here for that amout (800-900):
This would give him a much more modern, and supported chipset. The P67 motherboard is now 3 gens old so obviously there is no upgrade path on it. The GPU is 3 gens old as well, and the newer Nvidia Maxwell GPUs are much more efficient than the 500 series.
Your machine is fine for todays games. The 2500k is an all time great CPU. If he bought your machine and got something like a 970 he'd be in great shape. That price is just a bit too high considering what he could get now.
Kado had asked me to create this thread with builds etc and I completely forgot due to work and life. The builds in the GAF PC OP are great, but just a little outdated. I'll see if I can throw some things in here this weekend.
Like Reilo said it's not hard to build. Everything is color coded for the most part, and there are tons of tutorials on Youtube. Plus we can help.
You know what...something like the Alienware Alpha could be perfect for jWill if he really wanted to keep the costs down
http://www.alienware.com/landings/alpha/">http://www.alienware.com/landings/alpha/
$399
Performance videos:
Crysis 3
Advanced Warfare:
Or the Alienware X51
http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-x51-r2/pd
I always hear Alienware getting a bad rap.
Those are great options, tho. Although I'm still leaning towards a custom setup because I want to at least learn about PC components and how they work together.
By jWILL253 Go To PostI always hear Alienware getting a bad rap.
Those are great options, tho. Although I'm still leaning towards a custom setup because I want to at least learn about PC components and how they work together.
They used to be over priced POS. With these new boxes they've kind of changed that. Just some options I thought I'd through out there to you.