Buying parts one at a time, down to GPU/CPU/RAM!

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GoStumpy

GoStumpy

Golden Member
Sep 14, 2011
1,211
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Uses: Browsing, some video decoding, watching movies when hooked up to TV. Would like to play Left4Dead series, Diablo III when it comes out (if ever).

Long term plans would include early next year turning this into a HTPC with a new case, and building a seperate gaming computer.

Monitor: Acer 22" resolution: 1680x1050



Case: Purchased
Antec 300
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16811129042

PSU: Purchased
Corsair CX430 V2
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...9026&Tpk=cx430

Motherboard: Purchased
Biostar TH67+
http://www.newegg.ca/Special/ShellSh...6-_-09272011_1

Memory:
CORSAIR Vengeance DDR3 1600 2x2GB
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16820145343
$22 after MIR

DVD Burner: Purchased (Already own)
Asus 24x CD/DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16827135204

HD: Purchased (Already own)
WD Green 1TB
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...8&Tpk=wd10eads

Video Card:
XFX HD-675X-ZMFR Radeon HD6750 1GB
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16814150572
$80 after MIR

Processor:
Intel Core i3-2100 3.1ghz
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078
$120

Total Remaining to buy: $222

I don't need a quad-core for HTPC or simple gaming, especially since I don't need 1920x1080 resolution?
 
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DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
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An i3-2100 is only a little better than the E8400 core 2 I'm using now, and I'm finding it struggles a little in Borderlands though it's still fine for almost everything else.

I'd say either the i3-2100 and keep your fingers crossed that it will be good enough, or spend an extra $10 for an i5-2400 at 3.1 GHz, since per-core speed helps in games more than the extra cores.
 
lehtv

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
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Would a dual-core i3 processor be more than enough for basic games and HTPC use?
Click to expand...
Yes, i3-2100 would be fine. I'd wager it will last in HTPC use for a long time. I don't think a 2300 is good value for money, it's a 2.9ghz quad, when the much cheaper 2100 is 3.2GHz dual HT. If you go quad at least get 2400 but it'd be a bit overkill for HTPC / light gaming.

The GPU looks great for the price. Will be fine for some 1680x1050 low-medium settings gaming. If you think you need better this XFX 6850 is $130. A pure HTPC would probably be fine with the integrated graphics, so you could move this over to your gaming PC (Ivy Bridge based) and maybe crossfire it, or sell it and buy 28nm.
 
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GoStumpy

GoStumpy

Golden Member
Sep 14, 2011
1,211
11
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Thanks for the input!

Now, can anyone lend me $200 so I can finally buy the rest of the parts???? Gah!
 
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DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
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> Yes, i3-2100 would be fine. I'd wager it will last in HTPC use for a long time.

It's perfect for a HTPC, even with just the HD2000 integrated graphics.

And I should say Borderlands is the only game that has me thinking about upgrading my CPU -- others like Fallout / FONV, Mass Effect 1-2, Dragon Age, etc. all run problem-free and the i3-2100 is a little faster.
 
GoStumpy

GoStumpy

Golden Member
Sep 14, 2011
1,211
11
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Now you guys made me think perhaps I'll buy the CPU/Ram first and then get the GPU later :) Might get this thing built this year afterall!
 
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DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
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I've played 60 hours of Torchlight and a little Half-Life 2 on an i3 with HD2000 graphics at 1024 x 768, so it's also OK for very light 3D gaming.
 
GoStumpy

GoStumpy

Golden Member
Sep 14, 2011
1,211
11
81
I'm upgrading from a Sempron 3400+ 1.8ghz, 2gb Ram, GeForce GT220 1gb.

I've been playing Torchlight on that machine for a bit now, pretty happy with performance except when a LOT of monsters are in a room... I think I'm at 1600x900 resolution too??
 
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DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
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That's because of the GT220.

The i3-2100 is a great CPU, and would offer serious gaming performance with a 6850, 6950, or nv 560 ti but the HD2000 graphics are only good for HTPC and very light gaming:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/...core-i7-2600k-i5-2500k-core-i3-2100-tested/11

That Dragon Age screen cap is hideous compared to how it looked on my AMD 4870.

You can always add a good video card later for gaming, then transplant that card to your gaming PC when you build it.
 
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GoStumpy

GoStumpy

Golden Member
Sep 14, 2011
1,211
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Thanks for that link! Very informative...

Does appear like if I want to play anything right now I'll need to A) Buy a Video Card, or B) Use the GT220 from my current PC to tide me over. Amazed at how well this video card works considering it was $10 after MIR, LOL!

Wife is already going to kill me for spending the couple hundred on this new PC, I'm just banking on the fact that she'll love it hooked up to the TV to watch all of our TV shows straight from the computer!

-edit-

Just checked into it, video card I have:

Zotac ZT-20202-10L GeForce GT 220 Core: 625MHz Shader: 1360MHz
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500129
Currently going for $69.99 - $30MIR

Guess I got a great deal for $39.99 - $30MIR in April!
 
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lehtv

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
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Haha that was a steal, nice. You could probably get by on a 2100 and GT220 if you just keep the resolution low.
 
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mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
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www.mfenn.com
Rather than spending $22 on two sticks of fancy RAM, I'd get either a single 4GB DDR3 1333 stick for $20 or just go ahead and get 8GB for $42. Reason being that 4GB sticks are cheaper per GB than 2GB ones and you can preserve your DIMM slots for future upgrades.
 
GoStumpy

GoStumpy

Golden Member
Sep 14, 2011
1,211
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Good advice, but for the $3 extra I like the fancy ram :)

And I'll always have an extra computer to put it in if I decide to upgrade later!
 
M

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
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www.mfenn.com
GoStumpy said:
Good advice, but for the $3 extra I like the fancy ram :)

And I'll always have an extra computer to put it in if I decide to upgrade later!
Click to expand...

Suit yourself, but don't come crying to me when you have to take a pair of tin snips to the heat spreaders because they block your HSF. ;)
 
GoStumpy

GoStumpy

Golden Member
Sep 14, 2011
1,211
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I won't :)

Besides, the motherboard has 4 dimm slots
 
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Spikesoldier

Spikesoldier

Diamond Member
Oct 15, 2001
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i think for the uses youve listed you can even cheap out and get a SB based pentium or the celeron.
 
GoStumpy

GoStumpy

Golden Member
Sep 14, 2011
1,211
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81
I would like it to be at least moderately future-proof, even though I don't know why right now, LOL. I think socket 1155 is the best for that, as well as USB 3.0, SATA 6gb/sec, etc...
 
lehtv

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
91
Would not buy a CPU that is cheaper than the mobo. Just goes against my "value for money" instinct :p
 
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