PC noob in need of gaming rig

[PlateOfPaper]

I just want to get in on PC gaming, don't plan on using it for much else. i know little about the parts needed or preferred for a PC, if you don't mention it, assume i won't incorporate it.

1. Gaming as above says, nothing super recent, like the Fallout and Elder Scrolls series, heavily modded on highest settings... Can i run a broad spectrum of games w/ such a set-up?

2. $600-750 USD

3. Not sure if this applies, but i live in CA

4. Ditto

5. No idea of brand/product difference, hoping to learn w/ your help

6. Building from scratch

7. Overclocking is a topic i know nothing about... Not sure if it's necessary

8. 1080 i guess? Not a big graphics-hog

9. Just looking for good reference, maybe in the next couple months

X. No idea, i assume Windows and maybe whatever else is needed to run certain games?

Thanks a million!


Not sure if this is workable from my limited veiw point, found it on a quick look through some builds

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/B3YzsY

 

[lehtv]

Does your $600-750 budget also include the peripherals (monitor, mouse, keyboard, possible audio setup or headphones)?

A couple of months is a bit too far away to suggest any specific parts at this point. But a decent entry level gaming PC is quite doable on your budget.

 

[Nashemon]

First, welcome to the forums!

The following is my opinion. Please consider other's as we don't agree on everything.

1. Max Settings: To put it gently, no. Skyrim is a few years old, but with it "heavily modded" the graphics are supernatural. Going to need a pretty beefy system to run it at max settings. Basically, you're combating FPS (Frames per second) with graphic quality. You want to keep a steady FPS (30 minimum, but 60 is better).

2. Budget: You can build a really, really good system with that with the right deals. However, it depends if you're also needing to buy a monitor/mouse/keyboard/speakers. That alone can easily eat $250 of your budget depending on the quality you want. Bare minimum you can squeeze my with $100 for really low quality peripherals.

3. Location: Might benefit if there is a Micro Center or similar nearby, as they sell PC parts for great prices. Best Buy can't touch them for part options.

4. Eh?

5. Brand: For me, I would recommend picking processor and video card, and building the computer around them. No limit? i7 with Nvidia card. On a budget build, Intel i5 and R9 290. At least a Bronze certified PSU. RAM: Cheapest you can find. The PC Case has never been important to me. Seems most gamers not only like, but think they need a gigantic case that weight 95lbs (as I found at a LAN party I attended recently, when everyone was asking how I ran my 28" 4k monitor with "that tiny computer")

6. Build VS Buy: The only way to go is to build, imo. People will tell you how easy it is to build a PC, but it's only because they have done it before. Their first time was daunting, too.

7. Overclocking: I've never done it and never felt the need to. It decreases the lifespan of your hardware for a little gain in performance. Unless you are hardcore into having the best performance possible over protecting your investment, I would not advise. I'm sure you'll hear arguments, though.

8. Screen Resolution: 1920x1080 is the standard. In the US, at least. Again, if monitor is included into your budget, you'll likely be stuck with 1080 as higher resolutions are more pricy. 1080 can be had for cheap. Running at higher resolutions will require more graphical power.

9. The optimal build will likely change dramatically in a few months. Ask again when you're ready to buy.

X. OS: Windows, no question.

The one thing I would change about your PPP build is the video card. I'd strongly recommend an R9 280 at minimum. Preferably an R9 290. The 300 series might be out by the time you buy, though. Also, as you probably noticed from your PPP, buying from multiple places will result in a better final price.

 

[PlateOfPaper]

Thanks Nashemon! Peripherals too lehtv, and i understand, things seem to change a lot


All that makes sense, peripherals are an issue, monitor is the most important i'd think, everything else can be skimped on i'd think. i don't REALLY need to mod graphics to supernatural, i'm just shooting for stability and smoothness. By R9 290, you mean this, right?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HWQUI02/?tag=pcpapi-20

I'm getting incompatibilities with it, how do i fix?

And how easy it to upgrade parts after it's together? how long can i expect to use a lot of the same parts if i choose this above build?

 

[Ken g6]

Just looking for good reference

Did you see [thread=2389797]my stickied thread[/thread]? I think you actually have about $100 more to play with, after monitor.

Here's a build extended from my current non-OC build. There wasn't quite enough room in the budget for an i5 with a decent 8GB RAM, but there was room for an R9 285.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: *Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($103.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: *Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($54.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: *Team Elite Plus 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: *Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: *PowerColor Radeon R9 285 2GB TurboDuo Video Card ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Case: *Silverstone PS09B MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($36.60 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: *Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: *Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.97 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($87.75 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: *BenQ GL2460HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($139.93 @ B&H)
Keyboard: *Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator - OEM Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $744.16
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-10 13:18 EDT-0400

Edit: Changed mobo to make it more upgradable after I saw your comment. You can easily upgrade later with a faster CPU, more RAM, or a better GPU. What you can't do is use a newer generation of CPU or RAM without a new motherboard.

 

[PlateOfPaper]

Sounds good, that'll run most things i mentioned? Again, not looking for a stunning gaming experience, just high settings

I was reading the resource thread,do i need Windows 8? Will it simplify security and stuff?

 

[DigDog]

Ken's build will run anything @1080p.

however (and shameful for a elite member of AT) his build doesnt have a SSD.

Solid State Disks are a hard disk variant which is WAY faster, and possibly the best piece of tech invented in the last 5 years.
They can be quite cheap too.

a 64Gb SSD is a measly sixty bucks, and a 120Gb is $90CA.
even 64 is plenty - you just need the OS on it and whatever main software you are running at the time; all the data goes on the HDD.

*do not* build a PC without a SSD. they are amazing beyond belief.

 

[Ken g6]

An SSD would be nice, yes. But the OP says he's not using it for anything but gaming. So not having an SSD mainly means waiting a couple of extra minutes at most while the game loads. A good 64GB SSD can be had for as little as $45. But in a small budget that has to come out of something else.

3. Not sure if this applies, but i live in CA

I just realized this could mean different things to different people. Did you mean California or Canada?

 

[PlateOfPaper]

Ken's build will run anything @1080p.

however (and shameful for a elite member of AT) his build doesnt have a SSD.

Solid State Disks are a hard disk variant which is WAY faster, and possibly the best piece of tech invented in the last 5 years.
They can be quite cheap too.

a 64Gb SSD is a measly sixty bucks, and a 120Gb is $90CA.
even 64 is plenty - you just need the OS on it and whatever main software you are running at the time; all the data goes on the HDD.

*do not* build a PC without a SSD. they are amazing beyond belief.

What would you recommend? i'm quite illiterate in PC... i get the 64gb part but any particular model?

 

[Bubbleawsome]

I like the sandisk ultra series, but they aren't always the cheapest. The mx100 (?) is also good.

 

[Ken g6]

I was reading the resource thread,do i need Windows 8?

I just realized you seem to have Windows 7 listed at $55? However you're doing that - assuming it's not a fraudulent copy from Ebay or something - that's a good deal. Combine that with some savings elsewhere, perhaps a cheaper monitor, and you do have enough money for an SSD now. That Transcend SSD370 I linked should be good, though AnandTech didn't review that particular size.

 

[PlateOfPaper]

California, woops, and Windows 7 is preferred i guess. i'm all for faster loading, so $45 is good? where do i find the ssd in my list so i can compare?

gotta go to work, will check back in a few hours

 

[mfenn]

Ken's point was that spending cash on an SSD necessarily means that you have to take budget away from something else. His build is pretty tight, the only two places to gut would be the monitor and/or GPU. You really don't want to cut down the GPU of a gaming machine, so dropping down to a cheaper monitor like this Dell D2015H for $100 would be the way to make the SSD fit.

Also, note that you're not going to be putting games on a 64GB SSD, so it's really just improving your Windows experience. The improvement is huge, no question about that, but it might not matter if you don't plan to tool around in Windows on this PC. So overall, I would side with Ken's original build w/o SSD on this one.

 

[frozentundra123456]

i would upgrade to an i5 in preference to a ssd.

 

[PlateOfPaper]

Thanks, this is a great deal of info to consider! I'll be lurking around while i wait to buy this after tax season and such... Heck, if i wait long enough i can expand my budget a bit to accommodate a more flexible/up-gradable CPU, motherboard, etc.

 

[PlateOfPaper]

What size/type of case fan would work in this? The airflow in my apt. leaves much to be desired...

 

[Nashemon]

What size/type of case fan would work in this? The airflow in my apt. leaves much to be desired...

Cooling System
• 80mm Fans: 1 x Rear 80mm Fan
• 120mm Fans
- 1 x Front 120mm Fan
• Side Air duct: No

80mm and 120mm. Not sure if there is room for anything else. But it comes with one of each preinstalled.

 

[Syran]

Where in California are you, would you be near Orange County by any chance?

 

[PlateOfPaper]

No, more toward LA. And are those 2 enough?

 

[mfenn]

Cooling System
• 80mm Fans: 1 x Rear 80mm Fan
• 120mm Fans
- 1 x Front 120mm Fan
• Side Air duct: No

80mm and 120mm. Not sure if there is room for anything else. But it comes with one of each preinstalled.

The PS09B actually only comes with the 120mm front fan. You could add a quiet 92mm fan like this Arctic Cooling for $9.

 

[PlateOfPaper]

Could i assemble it, and add another fan if it's too hot? I know people can check their PC temps, is it done w/ some software? What is "safe", what is recommended?

 

[Nashemon]

The PS09B actually only comes with the 120mm front fan. You could add a quiet 92mm fan like this Arctic Cooling for $9.

Yes, it does. I was looking at the case from the original post.

 

[PlateOfPaper]

The price on ken's build dropped to $730, could i wait for more rebates before the current ones expire or just go with buying it now? Sorry, i hate to keep coming back for every little question

 

[mfenn]

Could i assemble it, and add another fan if it's too hot? I know people can check their PC temps, is it done w/ some software? What is "safe", what is recommended?

Easily, and that is in fact what I would recommend. You can use software like HWMonitor to check the temperatures of all your components. For a CPU, anything under 80C is safe, and for a GPU, anything under 90C. HDD's should be at or below 50C.

The price on ken's build dropped to $730, could i wait for more rebates before the current ones expire or just go with buying it now? Sorry, i hate to keep coming back for every little question

You could wait, but like the stock market, nobody can really predict what prices will look like next week. But the general trend is that your money goes further the longer you wait. If you need the PC now, then go ahead and buy it now. If you can wait, then don't worry about it, there's always something better just around the corner.

 

[PlateOfPaper]

Thanks, again, i'll just hold out a bit. and thanks for the temp answer!