Building an exclusive SC2 pc

[Hoplite]

Hey everybody, I want to make a PC solely for playing SC2. This will be the one and only job of the computer. I'd prefer it to play on Ultra, but High settings would be fine as long as there is no lag. I don't really know where to start though; I'm a pretty big noob when it comes to this stuff.

I'd like to keep it between 500-700, but I can go higher if you guys convince me.

Thanks for the help

 

[DominionSeraph]

Has Starcraft's multicore support improved since http://www.techspot.com/review/305-starcraft2-performance/page13.html?

Edit: never mind, that doesn't really matter. The i5 is sufficiently better even in that graph to make it worth it over the i3. The extra money saved by going dual-core wouldn't be better spent anywhere else.

Promo code CMC10 saves you $9 on the PSU.

 

[tyl998]

Hey everybody, I want to make a PC solely for playing SC2. This will be the one and only job of the computer. I'd prefer it to play on Ultra, but High settings would be fine as long as there is no lag. I don't really know where to start though; I'm a pretty big noob when it comes to this stuff.

I'd like to keep it between 500-700, but I can go higher if you guys convince me.

Thanks for the help

Will you be trying to cannibalize any parts from an existing PC for this new PC?

 

[Hoplite]

A monitor and a keyboard perhaps but nothing else.

 

[DominionSeraph]

This is cheaper, $490 after rebate vs $630, but the Phenom II X2 when overclocked only just manages to reach the i5 750 running stock clocks. And if Starcraft is ever optimized to run 4 cores the quad-core i5 will decimate the dual core. (Unless you're lucky enough that your Phenom unlocks to a quad.)

 

[Axon]

Has Starcraft's multicore support improved since http://www.techspot.com/review/305-starcraft2-performance/page13.html?

Edit: never mind, that doesn't really matter. The i5 is sufficiently better even in that graph to make it worth it over the i3. The extra money saved by going dual-core wouldn't be better spent anywhere else.

Promo code CMC10 saves you $9 on the PSU.

Thumbs up to this. Unless you have a microcenter near you, you will not be able to do much better.

 

[Hoplite]

Thanks for all the help I really appreciate it.

 

[mfenn]

Has Starcraft's multicore support improved since http://www.techspot.com/review/305-starcraft2-performance/page13.html?

Edit: never mind, that doesn't really matter. The i5 is sufficiently better even in that graph to make it worth it over the i3. The extra money saved by going dual-core wouldn't be better spent anywhere else.

Promo code CMC10 saves you $9 on the PSU.

This looks good!

 

[DominionSeraph]

Ram in the palit combo just sold out.
Replacement combo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.559965

 

[ScorcherDarkly]

I think these are kind of a waste, but since you're apparently a big SC2 fan I thought I'd mention them. Paired with an Antec 300 or 902 and blue LED fans, would look pretty sweet.

SC2 Mouse, Keyboard, Headset

 

[mfenn]

Ram in the palit combo just sold out.
Replacement combo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.559965

1.65V = No go with a Nehalem

 

[DominionSeraph]

1.65V = No go with a Nehalem

Well the original ram just came back in stock... just as the Palit went out.

 

[Hoplite]

I've actually got the Mamba so I'm all good on mice.

 

[mfenn]

Looks like most of DominionSeraph's BF/CM deals are dead, so let's start from scratch:

Phenom II X4 955 BE $145
MSI 870A-G54 $100
G.Skill DDR3 1333 $48
GTX 460 1GB $180
Samsung F3 1TB $70
Samsung DVD Burner $20
Seasonic S12II 520W $65
Antec Three Hundred $60
Total $688