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Building a computer tips

Hey guys, so I need a better pc than the one I have right now. It's really crappy and I want to build a gaming desktop. Right now, I have $600 in total and I plan on spending most of that. I want to buy a new monitor, a gaming keyboard, and a gaming mouse, along with the actual computer. I want to buy a Razer keyboard and mouse. I really don't care about the monitor, as long it's around $100. I'm also estimating that both my keyboard an mouse together will cost about $150, leaving me with $350 to build my pc. I mainly play LoL. If you guys can tell me what's best to buy, that'd be great.

EDIT: I decided against getting a mouse and keyboard now and spending the entire $600 on the pc.

March 17, 2014

16 Comments • Newest first

Burning

[quote=thatsvery]what other games can that set up run, I don't know how graphic intense bioshock is :I[/quote]

Just about anything you can come up, though some of the Battlefield 4 multiplayer maps are troublesome even on Low. Bioshock Infinite was surprisingly demanding for a game that used a heavily modified Unreal Engine 3 in contrast to say Mass Effect 2 and 3 which were more in line with straight up Unreal Engine 3 console ports. The GTX 750 Ti can at best play Bioshock Infinte on the Ultra preset at 45 FPS, but can completely max out Mass Effect 2 and 3 at 60 FPS. A GTX 760 can break even at 60 FPS Ultra for Bioshock Infinite.

Using examples of some other popular PC games, the GTX 750 used my draft above is overkill for League of Legends, all Source Engine games including DOTA 2, CS:GO, and Titanfall, Starcraft II, and Diablo III. The same video card plays the most recent Call of Duty games - Blops2 and Ghosts - on Medium, Battlefield 3 on Medium/High, and Skyrim on High.

[quote=thatsvery]and is it for daily use to like whatever and not strictly a gaming machine?[/quote]

A daily computer with a video card (or discrete GPU in the case of laptops) is a gaming computer. It is one component that expands a computer's capabilities to include 3D gaming. A video card inserted into a compatible prebuilt desktop is the poor man's gaming PC.

[quote=thatsvery]btw how does the setup on the $648 line compare to the one you posted? http://www.logicalincrements[.]com/[/quote]

The $648 Logical Increments build is the more powerful gaming desktop. Comparing the $648 Logical Increments build (add $20 for DVD drive) and the $564 build I drafted above, the $100 price difference comes almost entirely from the choice of video card.

Reply March 18, 2014
WolfPotato

@Burning Dang, thank you for taking the time of providing me with the parts that fit my needs. I really appreciate your effort in helping me.

Reply March 17, 2014
Burning

This is something I have come with based on current retail stock. The marketplace is likely to change when July rolls around.

$119.99 Intel Core i3-4130 http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i3-4130-FCLGA-Processor-BX80646I34130/dp/B00EUUKVXM
$61.49 MSI B85M-P33 MicroATX Motherboard http://www.amazon.com/MSI-Computer-Motherboard-Motherboards-B85M-P33/dp/B00D12OAOG
$64.99 HyperX Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) 1600MHz DDR3 RAM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104262
$59.99 Western Digital 1 TB WD Blue Hard Drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236339
$129.99 EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Superclocked Video Card http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Superclocked-Dual-Link-Graphics-01G-P4-2753-KR/dp/B00IDG3LUO
$59.99 Corsair 200R Case http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Carbide-Series-Compact-CC-9011023-WW/dp/B009GXZ8MM
$44.99 Corsair CX430 Power Shttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026
$22.99 DVD Drive http://www.amazon.com/Asus-Serial-ATA-Internal-Optical-DRW-24B1ST/dp/B0033Z2BAQ

Total is $564.42. All items qualify for free shipping and won't be taxed.

All parts are interchangeable. This parts list is focused on getting as much value as possible while playing Bioshock Infinite on High at roughly 50-60 FPS. The computer that can be built from this parts list is incredibly overkill for League. An SSD was not included because it is an additional expense.

Reply March 17, 2014
WolfPotato

@Burning
Well, there is a small chance that I will be moving to NY, because my parents are leaning towards staying here in FL. I will most likely build it in July. If I do move, this pc will be coming with me.

Reply March 17, 2014
Burning

[quote=WolfPotato]...Currently, I live in Florida, but may move to New York, that is during the summer when I'll actually have enough money to build the pc.
I am able to order online, but if I move to NY, I may not need to...[/quote]

Can you clarify this a bit more? Do you know for when and where you'll be building? Amazon.com doesn't charge a sales tax for Florida purchases, but it does for NY and NJ purchases. Newegg.com charges sales tax for NJ purchases. Furthermore, if you do build now, will the computer move with you if it happens?

Another note I'll leave is that while I already have a rough idea of what your $600 can get today while effecitvely fulfilling your requirements, things do change within the time span of one season. Upcoming product releases will change the PC shopping landscape and either newer products will completely displace older products and or some products will see price drops in reaction to new releases.

Reply March 17, 2014
WolfPotato

@Burning
Currently, I live in Florida, but may move to New York, that is during the summer when I'll actually have enough money to build the pc.
I am able to order online, but if I move to NY, I may not need to.
I already do have a keyboard, a mouse, and a monitor. They're all pretty decent, they're getting old, but they don't have any problems with them.
I don't need need an OS, I still have a spare use left.

For my hard drive, I currently have 1 TB and that's running pretty well, so I wouldn't need anything more than 1 TB, but my friend has recommended I get a small SSD to contain my main programs like Windows and my main games to run them faster and to have my normal hard drive hold my files and such.
I wan to play games like Crysis and Bioshock, but I can't currently because my pc is so poopy.
I really don't do anything else besides like formatting videos to watch on my phone and stuff.
For a case, I really don't like those flashy red and hot pink stuff, I would prefer a clean black case that has a fan or two.

Reply March 17, 2014 - edited
Masinko

Upgrade the mouse and keyboard later, you would get a garbage pc if you just spend $350 on it, you should spend at least $500.

Anywho, I would recommend looking at bundle sets, since, if you find the right ones at least, they give a good parts and a pretty good discount with them.

[url=http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=8564588&CatId=31]This Bundle is pretty good.[/url]

Then based on your budget, pick one of these three:
[url=http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1366279&CatId=7005]This graphics card isn't that bad.[/url]
[url=http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3858032&CatId=7387]This graphics card is a whole magnitude better than that^.[/url]
[url=http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=934790&CatId=28]Depending on your use, this graphics card could be better than that^. [/url]

EDIT: REMEMBER TO BUY ADAPTERS FROM THE GRAPHICS CARD TO YOUR MONITOR IF YOU NEED ONE!
EDIT2: Okay, the last two graphics card have different applications for what you would play, depending which would be better or worse. For LoL, they're both fine, but do you play any graphics intensive games?

Reply March 17, 2014 - edited
Burning

Answer as many questions as you are willing. The information you provide will better help identify what kind of computer you actually want.

What country/state do you live in?
Can you order online? If you cannot order online, what stores are around you?
Do you already have a monitor, keyboard, and/or mouse? If you have a monitor, what is its screen resolution?
Do you need an operating system such as Windows 7 or Windows 8?

How much hard drive space do you want?
Are there any other games you play or want to play?
What other programs do you use?
Do you have any preferences or restrictions for a computer case(features, looks, etc.)?

Reply March 17, 2014 - edited
Dorks

It's a hassle getting all the different parts because for the best price, you're most likely going to get them from different vendors. Better to have a decent computer that does what you asked for than one that might not meet your expectations and upgrading later.
There's nothing wrong with using a Logitech mouse/keyboard for the time being o3o

oya this is my current build but I haven't a clue if it's up to par with your games because all I do these days is homework and Maple
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3b9R3
I don't really like my case though, it makes a weird noise when I boot it up because the front is meshy.

Reply March 17, 2014 - edited
GreatBolshy

why would you waste money on a mouse and keyboard then get a junk pc that has embarassing specs

Reply March 17, 2014 - edited
WolfPotato

Hmm, I was talking to my friend and he also said what you guys are saying, to invest in accessories after I build a good pc. So what should I buy with the full $600?

Reply March 17, 2014 - edited
SaviorH

What's the point of buying decent mice and a decent keyboard when you have a $350 pc?

Reply March 17, 2014 - edited
koeipope213

Don't buy into that ''MLG HARDCORE LCS GAMING'' keyboard and mouse crap, they won't boost your performance as much as the people they paid to advertise their product say they will. Honestly, if you're just gonna play League, and if you're already running at 60 FPS, there's no reason to build a PC, get a decent sized monitor with high refresh rate instead. If you do plan to play games that require more performance, then you really need to be focusing on the graphics card and the CPU.

Reply March 17, 2014 - edited
Caeg

If you already have a keyboard, mouse, and monitor, upgrade those later.
If you really do want a mechanical keyboard though, cheap mechanical keyboards would be the [url=http://www.monoprice.com/Product?seq=1&format=2&p_id=9433&CAWELAID=1617362360&catargetid=320013720000011325&cadevice=c&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CNzRz-mm47kCFcU5QgodDy0Adw]this[/url] and the [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823129002]CM Storm.[/url]

Reply March 17, 2014 - edited
romperz

you'll need at least 600 for the pc itself

Reply March 17, 2014 - edited
WeaselPopPills

for your pc's sake, upgrade your mouse and keyboard later...
you can't make a good gaming PC for under $350 unless you wanted low end and outdated components

Reply March 17, 2014 - edited