New Computer

[Beorg]

Beorg here, and as I marvel at my dinosaur of a computer, I began to wonder what it is like to have something not made seven years ago. So, in my quest for computer perfection, i've decided to ask Forumfall what computer specs and accessories I should aquire for my new computer. I'm trying to keep it under $800 and I want it to last me for a while. I'm buying it specifically for Darkfall and other games I might decide to play, so it's mostly just for gaming--therefore extra fluff like printers, scanners or mouses are not needed (i've bought them seperately from my old relic since they've all stopped working, even the keyboard). If you can reccomend me a site to purchase and customize a computer, please link it and if you would, please specify what items I should purchase.

Lastly, sorry for the terribly long post.

[Smarmy]

I think you should get a Pentium processor and a GeForce graphics card! That's what my friend did and he loves it.

[Spart]

I think you should get a Pentium processor and a GeForce graphics card! That's what my friend did and he loves it.

That advice was.. amazing.
So, are you going to put the computer together yourself?

[Haldred]

tigerdirect.com
browse here, but you can get better if you DIY

[Arkh]

Case + PSU : Antec Sonata III $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024
Motherboard : Abit IP35 Pro $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127030R
Processor : E2180 $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116052
Heatsink : OCZ vendetta 2 $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835202007&Tpk=Vendetta%2b2
RAM : 2GB DDR2 PC 6400 $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134488
GPU : Radeon HD 4850 $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121253
HDD : Seagate barracuda 7200.11 500GB $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288

[Agge]

Don't forget some cooling paste.

[Beorg]

tigerdirect.com
browse here, but you can get better if you DIY

That's what i've been looking at. It's got great customization choices, and i've been browsing over it for the last few hours.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/configdetails.asp?Base=3065377

This is the one I had in mind. If you guys could tell me what to get and what not to get that'd be terrific.

[Lachrymose]

use newegg

[Tundravalco]

no dont do any of that go to a local computer shop and say my budget is 800 dollars give me the best most efficient gaming rig you can give me. I took all the parts that i wanted on newegg and they added up to 2400 dollars then I went to a local computer shop told the guy what I wanted and I got it for 2000.

[Beorg]

no dont do any of that go to a local computer shop and say my budget is 800 dollars give me the best most efficient gaming rig you can give me. I took all the parts that i wanted on newegg and they added up to 2400 dollars then I went to a local computer shop told the guy what I wanted and I got it for 2000.

That sounds like a better idea, since I don't know what i'm looking at here.

[Viluin]

no dont do any of that go to a local computer shop and say my budget is 800 dollars give me the best most efficient gaming rig you can give me. I took all the parts that i wanted on newegg and they added up to 2400 dollars then I went to a local computer shop told the guy what I wanted and I got it for 2000.

I seriously doubt that, local computer stores have a tendency to be expensive as fuck because they're on the brink of bankruptcy. He probably didn't give you exactly what you wanted (Newegg has ten times more options for parts than most local stores).

You got screwed.

[Tundravalco]

actually i got exactly what i want all my computer specs are perfection and i can play crysis on high with constant 30 FPS or better.

[Viluin]

actually i got exactly what i want all my computer specs are perfection and i can play crysis on high with constant 30 FPS or better.

What did you want?

[Bombay1361]

newegg would own a local stores deals anytime.

[Tundravalco]

quad 2.66GHz processor
9800 GX2
4 gigs of ram
2 terabytes of memory (total waste i know)
dont know the name of it but some liquid cooling
and the nvidia 680 motherboard in case i ever had the need to SLI
oh yeah and vista 64 bit ultimate which was also a total waste.

[Grable]

use newegg

Use both. Every once in a while tiger beats newegg's prices on certain things.

[Viluin]

quad 2.66GHz processor
9800 GX2
4 gigs of ram
2 terabytes of memory (total waste i know)
dont know the name of it but some liquid cooling
and the nvidia 680 motherboard in case i ever had the need to SLI
oh yeah and vista 64 bit ultimate which was also a total waste.

You didn't give the store exact model numbers and brands? Just this vague description?

I am 99% certain they gave you the cheapest possible stuff fitting that description.

[Shinzen]

Yes, It would.

OP: Looked at your specs. Get more RAM. A lot more. You will regret 512 FAST. Get 2+Gigs.

DOn't be cheap. Spring the 30-50 bucks for 8 times the HD space

Don't use an integrated video card. Get a Geforce. I'd suggest the 7 or 8000 series, but you probably aren't looking to spend $600 on GPUs like I did.

If you can find a deal get a Quad. Well worth it.

I built my own system offa tigerdirect, and I saved easily over $1500 doing it. It was top-of-the-line as of last August, and it still runs everything (Including Crysis) on max settings @ 1650x1050 with well in the 50s FPS wise.

This would be my area of expertise.

And Viluin is correct, you likely got screwed.Small-time stores = Bad. They charge more. I managed to get to a Tigerdirect store in Toronto and got all my stuff in one go.

[Arkh]

For GPU : ATI HD 4850. Can't beat that at the moment.

[Grable]

Here's my build that I'm working on atm. It's my first PC build:

The monster case known as Kandalf

ASUS P5K3 deluxe Mobo (P35 chip)

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 CPU

Seagate Barracuda 250GB SATA Hard Drive(x2)

4GB(2 x 2GB) OCZ Reaper HPC Dual Channel DDR3 RAM(1333

Radeon HD 4850 512MB Vid Card(eventually 2 in X-fire mode)

26 in 1 card reader

700W Power Supply

Fan Controller

DVD RW

Vista Home Premium 64

G15 Keyboard

G9 Mouse

I think that covers it all. I already have a good monitor but I'm going to upgrade from 19" to 24", eventually. Not taking a new monitor into account, and considering that I'm starting off with just 1 video card, my estimate is about $2100.00 for this build.

[Arkh]

Do you expect having some servers running on your rig while playing ?
If the answer is no, I think a quad core is useless.

[Dragon_fire]

I think you should get a Pentium processor and a GeForce graphics card! That's what my friend did and he loves it.

AMD/ATI > Intel/Nvidia

[Beorg]

Yes, It would.

OP: Looked at your specs. Get more RAM. A lot more. You will regret 512 FAST. Get 2+Gigs.

DOn't be cheap. Spring the 30-50 bucks for 8 times the HD space

Don't use an integrated video card. Get a Geforce. I'd suggest the 7 or 8000 series, but you probably aren't looking to spend $600 on GPUs like I did.

If you can find a deal get a Quad. Well worth it.

I built my own system offa tigerdirect, and I saved easily over $1500 doing it. It was top-of-the-line as of last August, and it still runs everything (Including Crysis) on max settings @ 1650x1050 with well in the 50s FPS wise.

This would be my area of expertise.

And Viluin is correct, you likely got screwed.Small-time stores = Bad. They charge more. I managed to get to a Tigerdirect store in Toronto and got all my stuff in one go.

Thanks for the info. I think i've found a better one than I linked before...

It's only come out to $834. I didn't go cheap on the monitor or graphics card either, and I think I can scrounge up the money for it in about a month after I pay my car payments and overpriced rent *cough* Greedy landlord! *cough*.

[Spart]

Thanks for the info. I think i've found a better one than I linked before...

It's only come out to $834. I didn't go cheap on the monitor or graphics card either, and I think I can scrounge up the money for it in about a month after I pay my car payments and overpriced rent *cough* Greedy landlord! *cough*.

From the local shop, or online?

[Dragonfly]

rather than start my own pc build thread i ll just stick it on this one.

let me know what you think.

Case: Cosmos 1100 (this is non-negotiable)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119150

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-X48-DS4 LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128336

Memory: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231184

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4GHz (quad core non-negotiable need it for the production stuffz)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 500GB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288

Graphics Card: SAPPHIRE 100243L Radeon HD 4870

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102748

Monitor: BenQ FP202W V3 Black 20" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor (I have one already and it can't be beaten for the price.)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824014146

CD/DVD: LITE-ON SATA DVD Burner

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106072

Keyboard: DCT Factory

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823174004

Headpwnz: eDimensional AudioFX Pro 5+1 USB Circumaural Force Feedback Gaming Headset

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826504004

PSU: COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro RS-850-EMBA 850W

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171017

Subtotal: $1,668.89

[Beorg]

From the local shop, or online?

Online. I'll get people from Geek Squad to help me set it up when I get it via mail.

rather than start my own pc build thread i ll just stick it on this one.

let me know what you think.

Case: Cosmos 1100 (this is non-negotiable)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119150

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-X48-DS4 LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128336

Memory: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231184

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4GHz (quad core non-negotiable need it for the production stuffz)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 500GB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288

Graphics Card: SAPPHIRE 100243L Radeon HD 4870

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102748

Monitor: BenQ FP202W V3 Black 20" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor (I have one already and it can't be beaten for the price.)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824014146

CD/DVD: LITE-ON SATA DVD Burner

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106072

Keyboard: DCT Factory

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823174004

Headpwnz: eDimensional AudioFX Pro 5+1 USB Circumaural Force Feedback Gaming Headset

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826504004

PSU: COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro RS-850-EMBA 850W

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171017

Subtotal: $1,668.89

That's way out of my price range. I'm saving for a bigger apartment as well, so anything over $900 I can't afford right now.

[Ankh]

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4GHz (quad core non-negotiable need it for the production stuffz)

That looks pretty sweet! I've got an older B3 stepping of that processor and still manage to clock it to 3.2Ghz without as much as a hitch. If you buy that now you'll get the G0 stepping which runs cooler and clocks even better.

Make sure you get a good cooler if you plan on overclocking it though, the stock cooler is shit.

[Daccus]

You didn't give the store exact model numbers and brands? Just this vague description?

I am 99% certain they gave you the cheapest possible stuff fitting that description.

QFT!

As for the OP, build it yourself from Newegg.

For $800 this is what I'd do.

Cheap case, I have it and it stays very cool. Has a side vent, too. - $19.99 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147095)
I just don't see the point in spending a lot of cash on a case, unless you're OC'ing.
CORSAIR 750W Power Supply - $129.99 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006)
Corsair Memory 2x1GB, get a third or forth stick later - $97 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145183)
ASUS ATI HD 4850 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121253)
ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - $344.98 with video card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299)
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 - $195 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037)

If you need a new HDD or other devices, you may need to skimp on some of these. You can always buy the E2180 Intel cpu and save $125 or so, you'll only lose a few FPS in any game by doing this. Plus, you can very easily overclock this CPU with stock cooling. OC'ed it matches the E6600.