Hey guys, recently got a job and I'm saving up for a decent gaming build. I did some research, and this is what I came up with: CPU: Intel i3-2100 – 120$ Motherboard: ASUS Maximus V Gene LGA – 199$ Memory: Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL – 25$ Graphics Card: GeForce GTX 560 Ti – 230$ Cooler: ARCTIC Freezer 7 Pro – 30$ Case: Corsair Carbide Series Black 300R – 80$ Optical drive: ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R – 20$ Storage: Western Digital WD VelociRaptor WD3000HLHX 300GB – 70$ Total: 775$ (not including taxes/shipping) Any revisions would be greatly appreciated. Skaara, move this to the "Computer Stuff" subforum when/if it gets created.
If I was you I'd gi with a GTX 560 Ti 448 core gpu, it should work like a gtx 570. Besides, I am very happy with my Sapphire 7870 card. Now for the cpu I have an AMD FX-6100 that has never crashed (!), and the only problems I've had has been due to shortage of RAM (I have 4 gigs). Changes made: SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB - 209.9 $ (AMD Gift: Far Cry 3 + Hitman Absolution, to get you started) Corsair Vengeance 8gb 1600 - 41.99 $ AMD FX-6100 3.3 GHz - 104.99 $ This sould cut around 18 dollars of your expense and add a newer graphics card and a procesoor of better capability than what you already have ( http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html) So yeah, maybe do my changes or at least go with the 448 core version of the graphics card.
Set yourself a budget and computer enthusiast boards would be much better to advise. I recommend Anandtech or Overclock.net since they are American. I'd be looking for something along these lines: http://www.avforums.com/forums/16887808-post4.html Or if you're on a budget then look at AMD's FX8350 CPU's. (But the computer boards can offer suggestions) With Christmas sales coming up you can save yourself some cash too and put it towards better components. We have this all the time in UK (a HD7950 for £199.99 with AMD's free games is a bargain http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18468724), maybe there is something in America too? Your build doesn't include a PSU or Operating System. A good PSU 650Watt from brands like Corsair, Seasonic, XFX, Enermax will last you a long time. I got Windows 8 for £15 via the upgrade route. It may be a bit un-moral but at the time no checks were carried out and everyone was doing it (which still maybe the case) http://www.avforums.com/forums/17865815-post683.html Unless you want a PhysX GPU (which is particle effects) then the AMD HD7850/7870 is a better buy.
For a monitor I'd recommend a Samsung any day of the week and twice on sunday. A Danish retailer asked a group of enthusiasts which manufacturer they'd choose next time they bought a monitor, and 80% said Samsung (There were around 20 options, Sony, BenQ and Dell included).
I would go for a radeon graphics card. They are better and cheaper. Other than that you've got a sweet rig right there. I'm going to see if I can get a good rig too for like 700. I've found one that would run Battlefield 3 at like ultra-max.
NVIDIA can offer the best graphics cards on the market for the worst prices on the market (they are perfect for someone who has a shitload of money). On the other hand, if you can settle for almost the same power but for a lot less money, then Radeon is the way to go. Really, it all just depends on how much money you have. However, if you do have the extra bucks, then I'd recommend NVIDIA over Radeon. Many of the most technologically advanced games out there support NVIDIA cards better than Radeon (Metro included especially).
Yea I guess but a radeon is a lot cheaper and you get the same amount of power. I mean look at the gtx 610. That card is complete poop yet it costs about 30 bucks more than a radeon that can run a game like battlefield 3 on high.
Radeon cards have PhysX as well (mine does, for example - even though its upper mid-range). PhysX just doesn't slow down your PC as much on an NVIDIA GPU, though I guess a Radeon card won't drag you down at all if you can afford a gamer's amount of RAM anyway. Btw, here's an interesting fact: Metro 2033 had PhysX on PC, but it was barely noticeable due to the environments that did not showcase it very well. And I'm glad they didn't. I hate it when a studio develops their game around the graphics, whilst it should be the other way around. Still though, it would have been nice to see more of it and I'm glad they're doing that in Last Light. Anyway, yep, Mirror's Edge has beautiful effects but here's something that is even more stunning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQMbFQVLhMc
I know Can't wait to finally be able to play Cryostasis all maxed out. Arkham City also has impressive use of PhysX.
Oh yeah, I heard that Arkham City is absolutely amazing on ultra with PhysX, but I've also heard that the PhysX features are not optimized well enough and do a big hit to your frame rate. Anyway, I have the PS3 version so this is just what I heard on the internet from various sources. The frame rate drops might not be as bad as people are saying.
Completely disregard my original post. I talked to a few mates at school and changed a few things, most notably the i3 CPU (upped to an i5) and added a PSU as per previous recommendations, as well as a monitor. GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130621 Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139011 CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115233 Storage: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840 PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153106 Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131837 Monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001541 Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148543 Cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065 Also, one of my friends insists that I get an SSD, what do you guys say? Total cost comes out to $1,064 but I think the price will go down a little by the time I raise the funds.
Indeed, no sound card. 850Watts for PSU is maybe a bit overkill, 750 or 650 should do. --- Not to hijack your topic, Mr. Picker. But... *cough* I'll just quietly leave this here.
Question regarding that; is RAM really that important? The price difference between 4GB and 8GB isn't enough to make me downgrade but I've heard that 8GB is kinda overkill.
