Help on building a computer

Discussion in 'Building a new PC' started by Buendia, Feb 27, 2010.

  1. Buendia

    Buendia Member

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    Hey everyone, I recently found myself in the market to buy or better yet build a new computer but have a few questions. I have helped friends before setting up and constructing computers, so I am not worried about making it myself, but what I do not know much about is the pieces/components of a desktop.

    I was hoping if I gave you guys what I would be using the computer for I could get some expert advice :) on what to buy/build with.

    Going on to grad school, and recently breaking my old laptop has made me somewhat desperate for a new computer. With that being said I do not need anything fancy at all but would still like to play certain games from time to time. The only games I would play are the Blizzard games, so Starcraft 1, 2, and Diablo 2, 3 (whenever they get released!). As for the school component again, I do not need much, I am not in arts or business so I really only need the system for write ups and storing files. (maybe some programming, i.e. Matlab)

    Does anyone have any recommendations? For my price range hopefully nothing to high, I was hoping for around 500 but we'll see.

    PS I did try to do some of my own research on selecting pieces here's what I was looking at.

    AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4GHz Processor w/ 8MB Total Cache
    CA$ 125.00

    Gigabyte GA-M61PME-S2P nVIDIA GF6100+nForce 430/AM2+/Dual-Ch DDR2-1066/PCI-E/SATAII/LAN/Sound/VGA
    CA$ 64.90

    Seagate 250GB SATAII 7200RPM Hard Drive
    CA$ 49.90

    LG GH22NP20 22xDVD+/-R/16xDVD+RDL/12xDVD-RDL/8xDVD+RW/6xDVD-RW/12x DVD-RAM W/SW-OEM (Black)
    CA$ 27.90

    Kingston PC2-6400/800MHz 4GB DDR2 Memory Kit (2x2GB)
    CA$ 108.90

    That's a total of about 375 CA (there probably are better items on that market for me though), I still need a case, power supply and video card.


    Thanks in advance for any tips/advice/help!

    PS I do not need any monitors, mouses, speakers, keyboards etc.
     
  2. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    You aren't going to be building a gaming PC for $500 if you want a powerful quad core processor. There are also quite a few mediocre parts in that build list. Here's a better idea:
    Core i3 530 dual core: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115222
    Gigabyte P55-USB3 M/B: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128425
    4GB Corsair XMS3 1600: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260
    Corsair CX 400W PSU: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008
    HIS Radeon HD4650: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161303
    NZXT Beta case: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146059
    Optiarc 24x DVD: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030
    500GB WD HDD: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

    This lot is around $650. You are only getting a dual core processor, and the games capability of the system is pretty weak, but it will get you by on minimal/reduced graphics settings for Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3.
    If you want a quad core CPU, you can step up to this one:
    http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215
    for an extra $79,
    and if you want better games performance, then get one of these:
    http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102824
    for an extra $62.
    These two upgrades will increase the total cost of the system to $800, but make it a viable PC for playing games with a decent amount of processing power.
     
  3. Buendia

    Buendia Member

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    Ah perfect! Thanks for the insight Sam. I think I will most likely go with the 'beefed up' version at around 800, being able to play my games nicely and be more the sufficient enough for school work. Alas I will probably get it once my funds are a tad bit higher, hopefully when schools out in another month and a half :).

    Thanks again!
     
  4. AfroKidd

    AfroKidd Guest

    why would you spend 800 when you can build one for 650

    AMD Athlon II X4 630 Propus 2.8GHz = $100
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103704

    MSI 770-G45 AM3 AMD 770 =$80
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130250

    Kingston 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 = $96
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134718

    Western Digital AV-GP WD5000AVVS 500GB 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5=$55
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136524

    LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA CD/DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM = $27
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

    POWERCOLOR AX4850 1GBD3-PH Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail = $114
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131163

    OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W ATX12V V2.2 =$50
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

    RAIDMAX Tornado ATX-238B Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case=$40
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156243

    thats about 600 but you could throw in a phenomII x4 for $50 more

    AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103809

    take the money you save and you could go crossfire and dominate any core I3 s*** any day
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 14, 2010
  5. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Why buy a good PC when you can build a bad one? Lots of things wrong with that build. It's chronically short on storage space as well as using a risky 7200.12 drive, it uses a terrible quality motherboard that will fall to pieces, and it's missing a case.
    Also, you seem to think having two graphics cards improves the speed of your processor. Back to school methinks
     
  6. AfroKidd

    AfroKidd Guest

    sam u really dont like anything i say do you


    first of all i never said that
    im talkin fps edited by ddp its been proven that for less you could build a phenom II x4 system with crossfire for less money than a core i7 or any other intel cpu

    my point
    "For a current difference of $215, you can purchase a second Radeon 4890 to go with a Crossfire setup in your Phenom II system and it will utterly crush a Core i7 gaming setup that will have only one graphics card. And we must admit, that provides a very compelling reason to consider an AMD gaming system, especially when we remember that a Phenom II X4 can overclock very well and also easily handle just about any regular use application."
    http://www.pureoverclock.com/review.php?id=794&page=13

    edited by ddp

    i only said to go amd

    1) it gives you more bang for your buck
    2) am3 socket mobos are usually cheaper than 1156 or 1366 socket mobos
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 14, 2010
  7. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    AfroKidd, watch the name calling & language, post edited.
     
  8. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    What can I say, I recognise a 'Kidd' when I see one. I don't mean to sound unkind, but there are some genuine bits of misinformation in that thread, or at the very least oversimplification. When someone strolls into a thread that is effectively dealt with, 11 days after the last message, there's a few things to consider.
    Firstly, it makes it sound like you wanted to show off a system you've thrown together, and this is the closest thing you could find. Posting nearly a fortnight after the last message in such threads is often wasteful as the PC in question has usually already been built.
    Secondly, if the original poster has not already completed their system, it can cause them to worry that what they've bought isn't right. To be honest, while there's nothing ghastly in that PC, there are a few things in that build I wouldn't put in one for somebody.
    I find it pretty funny that you've edited the post based on some of the things I've said. You can't really have believed you were spec'ing the right stuff anyway.

    However, the main thing here is you have absolutely no idea how to build a gaming system, and it shows. You post something here, when it's criticised, your response has to be censored, and your defense is a statement that you have completely misinterpreted.
    While I might normally try and explain to you what you've misunderstood, given your attitude, it's not worth the bother.
     
  9. Deadrum33

    Deadrum33 Active member

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    Would the action of jumping in the middle of a thread to inflame by calling out a troll, in definition make myself one?
     
  10. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Trolls trolling trolls, it's all very complex. If Afro really was a troll, I doubt he'd have gone to the effort of writing a list of components. However, I could have been very elaborately trolled, in which case congrats, I have indeed been trolled.
     
  11. Buendia

    Buendia Member

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    Ooo glad to see my post has been rejuvenated :).

    I do have one last question, a quick one I promise!. For the case I was wondering if you could suggest one from the following site, with a similar usage/productivity/safety etc, and price wise too,

    http://www.a-comp.ca/a-parts-source/cases/mid-tower.html

    The main reason being, from newegg I get charged an extra 30 dollars on shipping just from the case itself, thus I figured it may be better to pick one up locally. (where as my shop in town, pricewise, it's cheaper to buy the items on newegg)

    Thanks again, and I am just momemnts away from finalizing my deal on newegg.
     
  12. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    There are very few good cases available from that site. Your best bet is to buy an Antec Three Hundred and add two extra case fans yourself. Factor in the cost of getting to said store and see if it's worth paying the extra on the product.
     

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