Building a computer.
Alright well I'm going to start off with the fact of that I'm not a big tech person.
I will be using this: http://www.kitchentablecomputers.com/index.php as a guide for now.
I have no parts atm besides the computer I'm using right now (HP Pavlovian a1330n, Windows XP 2005 media center edition).
I would like for my computer to be windows 7, which I notice I can get for around $70.
Now as for the parts:
I'd like to have an HD graphics card
To be able to run a game (Such as Team fortress 2) and Mozilla Firefox with out either experiencing lag.
(If you want my internet speed for an idea http://www.speedtest.net/result/1420927898.png )
Edit: I've found a list of parts:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132020
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151096
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104203
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116713
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118050
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003N1A5W6/ref =ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=AZ8ZZL30AH7DI
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003IT6RE8/ref =ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001U3S5S0/ref =ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
How do I tell the parts are compatible with each other?
12 Comments • Newest first
Integrated sound card is enough, you don't need to get one. The Supreme FX on-board sound in my Crosshair IV motherboard gives me better sound with my Tritton AX Pros than when I use them on my PS3.
Let's talk budgeting. Get the Coolermaster 212+ as your cooler, it'll work fine. As for the graphics card, get a GTX 460 Fermi by EVGA, they go for around $150. If that's not enough, get two for SLi but personally, I think that you'll only need one. If you go for SLi, it has around the same benchmarks as the GTX 580, so you'll definatly save a lot of money there.
As for the OS, you should get Windows 7 64-bit OEM, which is cheaper. Skip the sound card, and as I stated before, get the GTX 460 Fermi. It gives better frame rates.
What "power supply" you already have? The one in the HP? This is something I will NOT suggest skimming down on, as a low quality one can potentially blow out and take out some of your component.
On that list, you didn't include an optical drive, the Operating System and the monitor. I'm assuming that you forgot the optical drive (unless you plan on using the old one), is the OS and monitor included in that $600 budget?
Like you said, you could put a hold on the GPU for now and used the Integrated solution on the i5-2500k which is an Intel Graphic HD 3000. It should be be to play TF2 on med-high on the lower resolution. Maplestory easily.
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=13340434
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.674883
Edit
You could also cut back on the PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371034
Even with that, you should be able to power a GTX 560Ti. The games you listed aren't taxing either, which you could settle for even the HD 6670. If you aren't going to overclock, you could drop the CPU to the i5-2400. Since the 430w won't be sufficient for crossfire/SLI, get a cheaper mobo with 1 PCIe slot. If you take those advice, I'm pretty sure it will stay under $600. A bit over if you factor in the Operating System.
@qwan456:
Currently with what I have,
My budget is ~$600,
With time though I planned on spending 700-$1000.
In order from top to bottom isn't the parts I want( In terms of I can only spend X amount on part 1 which is the most important and Y amount on part 2 being the second important) :
1. Motherboard
2.CPU
3. RAM
4. Storage
5.Video Card
6. Power Supply
7.Case
8. Cooling
I'm thinking on managing it this way as to focus on what I need for the most part, since the video card is integrated, it would be limiting me for a bit, but I could add it in later, and as for power supply+ casing I already have a computer for that.
[quote=FireRamen]I'm a tad short ( Close to what I want idealistically)
Can't I still use the Case/Power supply I have now+ the new parts?[/quote]
What's your budget again?
And there's no need to PM someone. Keep it on this thread. That way they are able to give their output on what is being suggested.
You could keep the case I guess, as the motherboard is the Asus A8AE-LE which is a mATX motherboard. You just need to switch out my selection with something else. Of course, it may limit you from upgrading to longer graphic cards, as well as cooling. I would just get a new case.
If you want a few cheaper options:
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371048
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233
Edit: Also, in general, local stores not only tends to be more expensive, they also give provide you with limited amount of components to choose from. Personally, I can't trust employees from any local store to give me tech advice on what to buy, as they will try to make you pay more than needed.
@quietkin: Alright, thank you.
[quote=FireRamen]I'm a tad short ( Close to what I want idealistically)
Can't I still use the Case/Power supply I have now+ the new parts?[/quote]
i wouldn't do that because your power supply could be 400W or so and not all cases fit your motherboard so i suggest getting a new one but thats just me
also the AMD CPU i have the same one and a cpu cooler comes with the case so no need for you to spend a extra 60 bucks for a new one
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/guides/2011/03/ars-system-guide-march-2011-edition.ars wonderful website he goes in depth about each part and 3 possible builds for PC
http://arstechnica.com/ask-ars/2011/04/how-to-build-your-own-computer-ask-ars-diy-series-part-i.ars same thing here he shows you how to construct your desktop
i needed help too back in march and i relied on this guy the most when i was making my first desktop and after you put it together DONT EXPECT IT TO RUN THE FIRST TIME because you could either put something together wrong it didn't work the first time for me so i took it all apart and back together and now i can do that in 5 minutes
but anyways hope my input helps pm me if you have any questions i will be happy to help
Also forgot to add this Try to buy from local computer stores instead of big corporations I.E: Best buy....
not only will local shops be cheaper they will most likely know more about there products and will also have enough knowledge for any of your questions or problems you might run across instead of relieing on a website
I'm a tad short ( Close to what I want idealistically)
Can't I still use the Case/Power supply I have now+ the new parts?
Build for you: http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=16680252
If you want to get an Dell, get the XPS 8300 with an i5-2400 processor and HD 6770 graphic card.
Edit: I believe that build you speced out is missing a motherboard. You don't need a sound card, as it will be integrated on the mobo already.
Also, are you actually going to watch/burn blurays?
[quote=Jazzman180][url=http://www.hardware-revolution.com/computer-systems/gaming-pc/] Very helpful website [/url][/quote]
Not trying to sound stupid,
but do they have a website like that for monitors?
[url=http://www.hardware-revolution.com/computer-systems/gaming-pc/] Very helpful website [/url]
The games I play:
TF2
City of Heros
Maple
DN
Outside of Gaming:
Just checking email, later on though I'll be doing projects/power points.
-copy and paste from my post from another thread.
Computer building guide by [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPIXAtNGGCw]Newegg[/url] and [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIJx6Y3tofg]NCIX[/url].
A quick mock build I made for someone just to give you a general idea of what you could get. http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=13296634
Of course, you could get a cheaper case, motherboard, or whatever. Even if you stick with that build, you could get a ~23" 1080p monitor within that $1200 budget.
Can you be more specific as to what games you will be playing? List them all if you have to. It will determine which graphic card we would recommend to you.
Also, what are you doing outside of gaming?