New PC

[IndianWarbones]

I'm interested in buying a computer, but I don't have any idea what to look for and where to buy it from or how much it would cost. I'd be using it mostly for gaming. I want to run games like Fallout: New Vegas, Crysis 2, and Medal of Honor on their best settings. If anyone could point me in the right direction, it would be appreciated.

 

[badboyeee]

see this thread: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=80121

try to answer as many questions as you can

 

[bamacre]

What is your budget? Does that budget include a monitor and/or speakers?

 

[IndianWarbones]

Thank you, I posted my questions over there.

 

[muskie32]

Post them here...


Answer These Questions:

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

 

[muskie32]

without knowing your budget maybe something like this?

i5/ Case/ mobo
4GB Ram
430W PSU
Video Card
And Data Drive

Thing you can add on are are:
Solid State Drive
Better Video Card
Bigger data Drive
faster Ram/More ram
Windows 7/ or any other OS
Optical Drive
CPU cooler (for OC'ing)


But to know what you need you really have to post your budget and what you will be using it for!

 

[mfenn]

430W might be a bit light for a GTX 460, but otherwise Muskies build looks good. You only really need something in the 550W range, but the 650TX is a good deal right now at $60 AR Apromo.

EDIT: But yeah, this is kinda pointless until we get a budget.

 

[IndianWarbones]

Okay, sorry for the confusion everyone.

1. I'd be using it mostly for gaming. Other than that, just using the internet, wordpad, storing music, pictures, and other media. Small stuff.

2. As much as it takes to run games like Fallout: New Vegas, Crysis 2, and Medal of Honor on their best settings. The monitor and speakers included.

3. I was thinking of buying the whole computer because I don't know how to put one together.

4. No preference, whatever is more likely to work properly.

6. I searched, but could not find any similar threads.

7. I don't really know much about overclocking or its pros and cons, but I'd be interested in it if it really does improves my computers speed.

8. I don't know. Whats a good gaming computer resolution?

9. Within the month.

 

[muskie32]

2. As much as it takes to run games like Fallout: New Vegas, Crysis 2, and Medal of Honor on their best settings. The monitor and speakers included.

Well what is you price range? $600-$700? $800-$900? $1000-$1200? ect...

 

[Davidh373]

Dell
http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-580/pd?oc=dddoyb9&model_id=inspiron-580

This link might work
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...d=inspiron-580

If not I would customize with 8GB RAM, 24" 1080p HD monitor and logitech 2.1 speakers.

 

[mfenn]

Dell
http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-580/pd?oc=dddoyb9&model_id=inspiron-580

This link might work
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...d=inspiron-580

If not I would customize with 8GB RAM, 24" 1080p HD monitor and logitech 2.1 speakers.

I don't think the Inspiron is going to come with an acceptable graphics card.

OP, you can get a Studio XPS 7100 with a Phenom II X4 945, Radeon 5870, 4GB of RAM, a 24" monitor, and 2.1 speakers for $1300.

 

[Davidh373]

You're right, I forgot. If he felt somewhat courageous he could get a 460/470 and install that pretty simply. The i5 is better than a Phenom II X4 945 after all, and he could easily get that for the same price as the 7100

 

[IndianWarbones]

Well what is you price range? $600-$700? $800-$900? $1000-$1200? ect...

I'd say between $1500-$2000. Only how ever much is necessary to comfortably run most games at their best settings.

I don't think the Inspiron is going to come with an acceptable graphics card. OP, you can get a Studio XPS 7100 with a Phenom II X4 945, Radeon 5870, 4GB of RAM, a 24" monitor, and 2.1 speakers for $1300.

You're right, I forgot. If he felt somewhat courageous he could get a 460/470 and install that pretty simply. The i5 is better than a Phenom II X4 945 after all, and he could easily get that for the same price as the 7100

Thanks for all the help guys. Where can I buy this setup?

 

[badboyeee]

For an Intel rig check out this made from Alienware:
http://www.alienware.com/Landings/desktop-deals.aspx

The Alienware Aurora that starts at $1499 should work well for you. All the defaults should be fine (i7 930 overclocked to 3.36ghz, Win7 64bit, 5870 vid card, 3gb triple channel memory (or should he upgrade to 6gb?).

Out of the display options, the 21.5" AW2210 OptX (1920x1080 resolution) would be best for additional $300, but you can probably get a better gaming monitor for cheaper seperately.

 

[fffblackmage]

Out of the display options, the 21.5" AW2210 OptX (1920x1080 resolution) would be best for additional $300, but you can probably get a better gaming monitor for cheaper seperately.

For $200-$300, you can at least get a 24" 1080p monitor. $300 for a 21.5" TN panel is just ridiculous.

 

[bamacre]

Do NOT buy an Inspiron 580.

If you are looking at a Dell, you want to look at the Studio XPS 7100, 8100, or 9100.

 

[Davidh373]

For an Intel rig check out this made from Alienware:
http://www.alienware.com/Landings/desktop-deals.aspx

The Alienware Aurora that starts at $1499 should work well for you. All the defaults should be fine (i7 930 overclocked to 3.36ghz, Win7 64bit, 5870 vid card, 3gb triple channel memory (or should he upgrade to 6gb?).

Out of the display options, the 21.5" AW2210 OptX (1920x1080 resolution) would be best for additional $300, but you can probably get a better gaming monitor for cheaper seperately.

Don't buy Alienware, massive markups above the manufacturer markups there...

 

[crucibelle]

Thanks for all the help guys. Where can I buy this setup?

Just go to the Dell site and click on desktops > Studio XPS, etc.

 

[Davidh373]

Studio XPS has the same parts as the Alienware, in fact, you can get more RAM, better parts, monitors and speakers for the same price as the Alienware tower.

 

[badboyeee]

Studio XPS has the same parts as the Alienware, in fact, you can get more RAM, better parts, monitors and speakers for the same price as the Alienware tower.

okay i was able to build a $1330 Studio XPS 9100 with the similar specs of the Alienware Aurora, except its 6gb vs 3gb of ram and stock clocks of i7 930 @ 2.8ghz vs pre-overclocked i7 930 @ 3.3ghz.

maybe he should just pay one of us to build something hehe

 

[mfenn]

maybe he should just pay one of us to build something hehe

D:

Not touching that with a 10-foot pole!

 

[muskie32]

D:

Not touching that with a 10-foot pole!

Hahaha... :sneaky:

 

[Davidh373]

He doesn't want to get a 9xx series though, i5 is the best performance/$ on intels lineup.. and... the 1366 socket performs much worse in games when compared to their 1156 i7 counterparts. The i5 gets withing a few FPS of the i7, so best value is in the i5.

 

[dmoney1980]

If you really need to get a built PC, I would at least take a look at ibuypower - http://www.ibuypower.com/Store/Intel_P55_Core_i5_i7_Configurator

or at Cyberpower pc http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/

 

[Davidh373]

Dell is getting to be horrible with custom builds. It used to be you could get an i5 with a higher end graphics card but you can't anymore. In fact, only the 9xx series comes with high end cards now. So you need to take a performance LOSS and a price HIKE to get a decent card!?

What I would recommend doing OP, is to make things a little more cost and energy effective by getting an 8100 with whatever crappy card you can (I think it's the G310) forget the monitor and speakers. So go for this

Go to dell and choose the Studio XPS 8100 Economy

for processor you want the i5 760 (NOT THE i5 670!)

Pick memory and select 4GB Dual channel

No monitor

Then skip to keyboard and pick the logitech mk550 and then mouse and pick "mouse that comes with keyboard"

You should have the price $856.98. You can then checkout unless you want to buy software with purchase.

Then go to Newegg.com and buy these two Items:

Gigabyte GTX 470
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-320-_-Product

Corsair 650TX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9005&Tpk=650TX

This is a PSU to power the added graphics card.

Monitor - 24" ASUS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-049-_-Product

If you feel comfortable installing these yourself go for it. It's pretty simple all and all. If not, go to your nearest local computer shop, or Best Buy and ask around for hardware instalation prices. Geek Squad at best buy charges around $80, and your local computer shop should be a little less expensive.

Total cost should be 1546.93

This should be pretty cost effective and energy efficient (for the parts inside it) and give you balanced performance. Keep in mind however complete custom build would save you ~ $400. If you don't want the hassle of ordering the parts and taking them to best buy or wherever, get the 5770 graphics instead of leaving it generic. Then you can upgrade later if you wish. I would still order the monitor off newegg though.