A newbie could use some help.

[Unholy Birth V]

Hello there! :awe: Sorry if it's the wrong forum. D:

Okay, without beating around the bush, this will be my first gaming PC. I've been a console gamer my entire life but I want to start expanding my gaming experience ie PC gaming. But, I need some help on how to buy/build my first gaming PC.

Now, when it comes to building PC's, well, I have no clue. And that's the problem. I know what kind of system I'm shooting for but I don't know where to buy it. I'm sure this thread will be cluttered with posts telling me to build a PC but I don't want to spend a thousand dollars on a bunch of PC parts and end up messing something up. :wub:. I've been looking at pre-built ones from Tiger Direct and Newegg, but I haven't found one that met everything I wanted. And I wouldn't dare to go to Best Buy, Target or Alienware. I would rather not have a PC if those were my choices lol.

Do you guys have any ideas on what my options are here? If I have any that is. :hmm: Oh and just a few details:

I'll be using the PC mainly for gaming, I have a budget of $1000, I would like to have a Intel CPU and a Nvidia GPU.

 

[Spikesoldier]

Welcome to the forum.

You can start here:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4360/warfactory-sentinel-gaming-on-a-grand

 

[DominionSeraph]

You can start here:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4360/warfactory-sentinel-gaming-on-a-grand

Whoa, seriously? A 955 with 768MB GTX 460 for $1k? That's more in the range of $650 counting OS.

Here ya' go OP:

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Mega_Special_III/

Base configuration there is with a i5 2500k and Z68 mobo, which is what you want.
Throw in a GTX 560Ti and the Corsair 650W PSU and you're at exactly $1k.

Of course, if you need monitor to go with it in the $1k budget we're gonna have to cut some things down.

Edit: crap, why do I always forget that their base doesn't come with an OS?
It's $1100 (with $50 rebate) for that with Windows 7.

 

[Puppies04]

Sounds like you are willing to have a go at building your own, if so you will get a lot faster machine for your money. Can you copy and paste the sticky into this thread so we know exactly what you are looking for

 

[Unholy Birth V]

Whoa, seriously? A 955 with 768MB GTX 460 for $1k? That's more in the range of $650 counting OS.

Here ya' go OP:

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Mega_Special_III/

Base configuration there is with a i5 2500k and Z68 mobo, which is what you want.
Throw in a GTX 560Ti and the Corsair 650W PSU and you're at exactly $1k.

Of course, if you need monitor to go with it in the $1k budget we're gonna have to cut some things down.

Thank you Seraph.

Now how long would a 560 last me before I would need to add another 560? A year? 2 years? I know how long the 2500K will last me but not quite sure about the 560.

 

[Unholy Birth V]

Sounds like you are willing to have a go at building your own, if so you will get a lot faster machine for your money. Can you copy and paste the sticky into this thread so we know exactly what you are looking for

A Ibuybuilder cart screenshot? Is that what you're asking for? :\

 

[Puppies04]

Once again.... fill out the sticky in this forum and post it in this thread. otherwise we got to play the guessing game everytime you ask something.... for example to answer your question about the 560GTX, we need to know what resolution you are planning to game at which we would know already

 

[DominionSeraph]

if so you will get a lot faster machine for your money.

Indeed.

 

[Puppies04]

A Ibuybuilder cart screenshot? Is that what you're asking for? :\

No this is what you need to answer...
PLEASE when you POST threads asking for input on system builds tell us...

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?

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.


The above information IS NEEDED, in order that WE can help YOU make wise judgments on YOUR purchases

 

[DominionSeraph]

Now how long would a 560 last me before I would need to add another 560? A year? 2 years? I know how long the 2500K will last me but not quite sure about the 560.

The 560 Ti is a stout card. With the pace of PC gaming dragged down by consoles, I doubt you'd ever need to SLI. It'll be better to replace it with a new single card in 3 years or so.

 

[Unholy Birth V]

Indeed.

Do you think it would be best to find a local PC shop near me and ask if they'll put it together? If anyone would even do that? :\

No this is what you need to answer...
PLEASE when you POST threads asking for input on system builds tell us...

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?

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.


The above information IS NEEDED, in order that WE can help YOU make wise judgments on YOUR purchases

1) Mostly gaming, but I would like to explore video editing etc..

2) At most $1,000.

3) United States.

4) Intel and Nvidia fanboy I guess.

5) None.

6) Yes. I searched this forum before making this thread.

7) I'm still deciding this.

8) Full HD. So 1920x1080?

9) Hopefully by the end of August.

10) Of course.

 

[DominionSeraph]

5) None.

So you need monitor, keyboard and mouse in that $1000?

Also, do you by any chance have an .edu email?

 

[Puppies04]

Well.... the parts that dominionseraph posted seem within your budget, are you planning on running this on a tv you already own or do you need a monitor as part of the $1000. Do you need keyboard and mouse aswell and how much of your budget do you want to spend on them

 

[Unholy Birth V]

The 560 Ti is a stout card. With the pace of PC gaming dragged down by consoles, I doubt you'd ever need to SLI. It'll be better to replace it with a new single card in 3 years or so.

tnaks for the info.

So you need monitor, keyboard and mouse in that $1000?

Well.... the parts that dominionseraph posted seem within your budget, are you planning on running this on a tv you already own or do you need a monitor as part of the $1000. Do you need keyboard and mouse aswell and how much of your budget do you want to spend on them

I do remember that I have a kb/m in my closet. They aren't flashy or anything, but they get the job done. It will last me until I can spend more. And yes, I will need a monitor.

Now, I do have a LCD TV I could use for a little while, but does that change gameplay in a big way?

 

[Puppies04]

Do you have the brand and model number of your tv on hand? Also have a think about if you would be happy using it as your only monitor i.e not just for gaming but for surfing the web or if you would want an actual pc monitor. If you can get by without you will free up more $ to spend on your system

 

[DominionSeraph]

Meh, if you can't build your own and you also are going to need a monitor, I'd say your best bet is just to get a Dell XPS 8300 with i5 2300 from Dell Outlet for ~$600 and throw in a 6850.
You'll be massively gimping your GHz by not going with a 2500k and overclocking, but it's just not within your budget. If you could build your own a 2500k with 1GB GTX 460 with monitor could fit under $1k, but it ain't gonna fit in a boutique build.

 

[Puppies04]

Meh, if you can't build your own and you also are going to need a monitor, I'd say your best bet is just to get a Dell XPS 8300 with i5 2300 from Dell Outlet for ~$600 and throw in a 6850.
You'll be massively gimping your GHz by not going with a 2500k and overclocking, but it's just not within your budget. If you could build your own a 2500k with 1GB GTX 460 with monitor could fit under $1k, but it ain't gonna fit in a boutique build.

He hasn't said he won't build his own, i dont know why people starting linking prebuilts in the first place.

 

[DominionSeraph]

He hasn't said he won't build his own, i dont know why people starting linking prebuilts in the first place.

He didn't sound confident at all in the OP, and then we had:

Do you think it would be best to find a local PC shop near me and ask if they'll put it together? If anyone would even do that? :\

At which point "Dell" came to mind.
An i5 2300 with 6850 and OS would be $918 from Cyperpowerpc. But if we throw a 6850 into a $600 Dell that puts us at $750, leaving plenty of room for a monitor. (Recommending 6850 over OP's preferential Nvidia for power reasons. GTX 460 being nearly the 6850's twin except it does use a bit more power.)

Yes, it's about $60 cheaper before rebates and $100 after to build your own going that route, and with that savings OP could get a i5 2500k, but that's also what I said.

 

[Unholy Birth V]

Meh, if you can't build your own and you also are going to need a monitor, I'd say your best bet is just to get a Dell XPS 8300 with i5 2300 from Dell Outlet for ~$600 and throw in a 6850.
You'll be massively gimping your GHz by not going with a 2500k and overclocking, but it's just not within your budget. If you could build your own a 2500k with 1GB GTX 460 with monitor could fit under $1k, but it ain't gonna fit in a boutique build.

After looking around a bit, I found a momitor that I can use. It's a couple years old, but I can use use it until I can get a good LCD monitor. Same with the mouse and keyboard. I think I'm going to end up buying from Cyberpower.

Yes, it's about $60 cheaper before rebates and $100 after to build your own going that route, and with that savings OP could get a i5 2500k, but that's also what I said.

I would really like to end up with a i5 2500k if possible.

 

[DominionSeraph]

If you have a .edu email you can get Windows 7 for $30

http://www.microsoft.com/student/en/us/windows/buynow/default.aspx

 

[mfenn]

After looking around a bit, I found a momitor that I can use. It's a couple years old, but I can use use it until I can get a good LCD monitor.

This implies that you found a CRT. No, just no.

I would really like to end up with a i5 2500k if possible.

No offense, but if you're not comfortable building your own PC, you have no business trying to overclock one. Without a good foundation of knowledge, you can find yourself up shit creek without a paddle very quickly.

I'm liking Dominion's Dell + 6850 idea more and more.

 

[Unholy Birth V]

This implies that you found a CRT. No, just no.

It's not a CRT.

 

[Blue Shift]

Unholy, do you have any friends in the area that can put together computers? If so, you could let one of them build it while you watch... and learn. Otherwise, you could watch guides on youtube and decide whether or not you're willing to attempt it. There's not THAT much to screw up.

 

[Maverick6969]

This implies that you found a CRT. No, just no.

And just what is wrong with a CRT if the OP is working with a limited budget? Yes we all know they suck up much more wattage than a fpm, but it will get the job done until he can save up for a new monitor.

No offense, but if you're not comfortable building your own PC, you have no business trying to overclock one. Without a good foundation of knowledge, you can find yourself up shit creek without a paddle very quickly.

No argument there.

 

[Maverick6969]

Unholy, do you have any friends in the area that can put together computers? If so, you could let one of them build it while you watch... and learn. Otherwise, you could watch guides on youtube and decide whether or not you're willing to attempt it. There's not THAT much to screw up.

That is a great idea provided that his friends have some amount of experience in building a good PC. Otherwise, it would be no better than buying a PC off the shelf.

There's not THAT much to screw up.

I've worked as a full time tech for the last 8-9 years - trust me. There IS. I've seen idiots bring in their PC because they got stuck and lacked sufficient skills to either a) finish the build or b) couldn't get the system to POST. Build a idiot proof system and they'll just come up with a better idiot. I've seen some crazy (read: stupid) shyte people try in building PCs.