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nouseforaname
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PostPosted: Mon, 14th Mar 2011 18:47    Post subject: Help! Suggestions for a half decent gaming desktop?
My sister-in-law brought her computer over for me to fix but alas it seems the motherboard is fried, so she asked about just getting a new computer instead. She had picked out something that really is too much for what she needs (which I told her), but I don't really have a good idea about what constitutes a good value these days.

Basically it doesn't need to be a powerhouse, but really needs to last her for a couple years or so. She's mostly playing the sims / WoW for now but who knows what she might end up playing in 2012.

criteria:

1) let's aim for the $500 range (just the tower, no monitor, O/S would be a bonus but not necessary)
2) this is the store she intends to buy it from (there is a bricks and mortar version of it in her city) http://www.tigerdirect.ca/
3) should be pre-assembled, because no, I don't feel like doing it myself

there are pretty much set in stone, so no point in making suggestions that don't meet 1+2+3 Smile

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dingo_d
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PostPosted: Mon, 14th Mar 2011 18:55    Post subject:
Can you buy the components and let them assemble it? Because you can often get better rig by picking components (for the same $)...

"Quantum mechanics is actually, contrary to it's reputation, unbeliveably simple, once you take the physics out."
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chiv wrote:
thats true you know. newton didnt discover gravity. the apple told him about it, and then he killed it. the core was never found.

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nouseforaname
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PostPosted: Mon, 14th Mar 2011 18:58    Post subject:
dingo_d wrote:
Can you buy the components and let them assemble it? Because you can often get better rig by picking components (for the same $)...


lol, no she is definitely not the type to assemble the components herself Wink

she is going to just go to that store and buy whatever they try to sell her unless I can give her a better suggestion.

tbh I'd rather just stay out of it but my wife asked me to help (it's her sister).

asus z170-A || core i5-6600K || geforce gtx 970 4gb || 16gb ddr4 ram || win10 || 1080p led samsung 27"
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sabin1981
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PostPosted: Mon, 14th Mar 2011 19:02    Post subject:
I had a look on the site.... and sorry mate, I can't help. If neither you nor she are willing to build, then there is nothing I'd recommend. Their prebuilt machines are AWFUL.
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dingo_d
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PostPosted: Mon, 14th Mar 2011 19:45    Post subject:
sabin1981 wrote:
I had a look on the site.... and sorry mate, I can't help. If neither you nor she are willing to build, then there is nothing I'd recommend. Their prebuilt machines are AWFUL.


That's why I said that he should try to buy components.

And I meant (I said that, but maybe I wasn't clear), that they at the store assemble it for you. You just say what components + case you want and they do all the work. At least they do that here.

The builds on that site are really awful (for your price range especially). That's why I never buy anything pre build. They tend to overcharge for crap hardware...

"Quantum mechanics is actually, contrary to it's reputation, unbeliveably simple, once you take the physics out."
Scott Aaronson
chiv wrote:
thats true you know. newton didnt discover gravity. the apple told him about it, and then he killed it. the core was never found.

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human_steel




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PostPosted: Mon, 14th Mar 2011 19:46    Post subject:
Why don't you want to assemble the computer yourself? It's not rocket science and/or extremely time-consuming?
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Werelds
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PostPosted: Mon, 14th Mar 2011 20:15    Post subject:
Their prebuilt systems are pretty shit indeed, and then I saw this: Build To Order (1)

Are there no shops that assemble it for you near her?
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nouseforaname
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PostPosted: Mon, 14th Mar 2011 20:58    Post subject:
human_steel wrote:
Why don't you want to assemble the computer yourself? It's not rocket science and/or extremely time-consuming?


indeed it isn't and I would never do anything but assemble it for myself. I've learned my lesson before helping people out with computers, you become 24/7 technical support/to blame if anything goes wrong.

but this is good feedback, that absolutely nothing there is worth buying pre-built from that website.

maybe I'll tell her to get a dell Razz

asus z170-A || core i5-6600K || geforce gtx 970 4gb || 16gb ddr4 ram || win10 || 1080p led samsung 27"
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nouseforaname
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PostPosted: Mon, 14th Mar 2011 21:06    Post subject:
ok, IF I do suggest going the buying components route, what are the best values @ www.newegg.ca?

only need suggestions for cpu + motherboard + gpu ...

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sabin1981
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PostPosted: Mon, 14th Mar 2011 21:08    Post subject:
To be honest, if she wants even remotely interesting gaming - and to last a couple more years - forget the i3 and GT220. A GT220 wouldn't even be considered an adequate gaming card TODAY, let alone 2-3 years down the line. I'm not familiar with value when it comes to USD/CAD, so I wouldn't know what to recommend Sad
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Werelds
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PostPosted: Mon, 14th Mar 2011 21:22    Post subject:
1 USD is just about 1 CAD at the moment; and to get a sense of what things should cost, just flip the Euro sign around Sabin

@ nouse: I'll have a look, gimme a few minutes Smile

Edit:
- GPU: GTX 460 @ ~$150-$160
- CPU: Phenom II X4 955BE @ ~$140
- MB: One of the 880-based boards @ ~$100-ish (need to check reviews on this, Asrock/Gigabyte/MSI probably being the best value - should be able to get one with USB3/SATA3 as well at that price)

The above totals out at just $400-ish, because I assume you also need some RAM and stuff Smile


Edit #2: the above system will gladly play any current titles flawlessly at 1080p/4xAA; the CPU is an unlocked one to overclock *if necessary* (doubtful).

Sadly, it'll continue to play any title flawlessly for the next 2 years, since that'll be when the new fucking derpbox will show its ugly face.
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nouseforaname
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PostPosted: Mon, 14th Mar 2011 21:50    Post subject:
see this is the problem. now I'm thinking about spending my tax return on something I don't need Razz

suggestions for a good value power supply / case (plain looking) / cpu cooling fan from newegg as well?

and also a question for all of you: is it bad to tell your wife that your computer is closer to dying than it actually is just to get agreement that you need to buy a new one? Razz

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Przepraszam
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PostPosted: Mon, 14th Mar 2011 21:56    Post subject:
Have this one and its amazing (psu) but I think it has been discounted :/

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003

and cheap case?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068
5/5 with 2500 reviews ><
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PumpAction
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PostPosted: Mon, 14th Mar 2011 22:09    Post subject:
nouseforaname wrote:
and also a question for all of you: is it bad to tell your wife that your computer is closer to dying than it actually is just to get agreement that you need to buy a new one? Razz


Well yes... But we are talking about a new computer here... so... Very Happy

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sabin1981
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PostPosted: Mon, 14th Mar 2011 22:14    Post subject:
nouseforaname wrote:

and also a question for all of you: is it bad to tell your wife that your computer is closer to dying than it actually is just to get agreement that you need to buy a new one? Razz


As one husband to another; ABSOLUTELY NOT. It's perfectly justifiable Very Happy
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bushwacka




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Location: Vienna
PostPosted: Wed, 16th Mar 2011 09:10    Post subject:
sorry for hijacking nouse's thread, but i'm kinda in the same "predicament"...money burning a hole in my pocket and although my old pc still works well, i have the feeling it's dying...anyway, budget is around 5-600 euros and i just need a cpu/ram/mobo/gfx combo

so what's good these days in that price range? don't need any exact models (gonna look through that myself), but rather which chipsets etc...alyways built PCs myself, but i stopped caring about pc hardware about 3 years ago so i know jack shit about the current market situation Laughing

oh and has anything changed concerning PSU plugs or mobo/case norms? since i'd like to use my old stuff from the socket 939 era Laughing
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Werelds
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PostPosted: Wed, 16th Mar 2011 09:26    Post subject:
bushwacka wrote:
so what's good these days in that price range? don't need any exact models (gonna look through that myself), but rather which chipsets etc...alyways built PCs myself, but i stopped caring about pc hardware about 3 years ago so i know jack shit about the current market situation Laughing

oh and has anything changed concerning PSU plugs or mobo/case norms? since i'd like to use my old stuff from the socket 939 era Laughing

Plugs are still the same; you'll need a 4-pin CPU plug, 20-pin ATX power plug, 1 or 2 PCI-E plugs (depending on videocard) and then the SATA plugs obviously. Same shit as in P4 era

Same recommendation stands for you; what resolution do you intend to play on?
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bushwacka




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Location: Vienna
PostPosted: Wed, 16th Mar 2011 17:19    Post subject:
ok thanks, resolution is 1920x1200 btw
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Werelds
Special Little Man



Posts: 15098
Location: 0100111001001100
PostPosted: Wed, 16th Mar 2011 19:29    Post subject:
Then yeah, the above should be plenty; you could optionally go for a slightly higher class GPU, but I don't think it'll be necessary any time soon Smile

You could opt to go for an Intel platform (slightly more expensive), really depends on what you use your PC for.
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bushwacka




Posts: 2990
Location: Vienna
PostPosted: Thu, 17th Mar 2011 12:19    Post subject:
mostly just playing the few pc exclusives that will come out in 2011-12 (yeah, i'm a console faggot Laughing ) and doing some 2D gfx work...that's about it.
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PumpAction
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Posts: 26759
PostPosted: Thu, 17th Mar 2011 13:16    Post subject:
Get a cheap Athlon II X4 or Phenom II X4, 4 GB of RAM and a GTX 460 or better and you'll be fine Smile

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