Need spec recommendations for a new gaming PC ..

[ahmadka]

Hi guys ... Well I need some PC spec recommendations for a new gaming PC that I'm planning to build .. Here are some pointers regarding my requirements/preferences:

1) My budget is about $900 (does not include funds for monitor and casing - see point 6 below)
2) I want an nVidia based card, not ATI
3) Also, an SLI setup is NOT needed (unless its very cost effective)
4) The video card should be of relatively very high spec ..
5) The CPU can be a good one too, but money priority is to be given to the graphics card ..
6) The above indicated budget is for all components required except the casing and monitor, which I already have ..

So fire away people ... looking forward to some great recommendations

EDIT:

Answers to questions in the sticky:

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.

Well I'm a heavy Windows user, and by heavy, I mean I have a ton of applications running in the background normally .. I also do a lot of multithreading .. like at a given time I may have like 20 browser windows opened, jDownloader might be downloading, a second monitor might be connected via HDMI out and I might be watching a Bluray movie, WinRAR could be extracting stuff, etc .. So heavy stuff

Plus, I want to shift back to PC gaming (at least till the next consoles come out), so I want to build an insanely powerful gaming machine ..

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

My budget is actually about $900, but I can increase it a little if needed .. This budget is NOT for these things, which I already have, or will be buying separately: OS, DVD drive, speakers, monitor, casing ..

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

US

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.

nVidia and Intel are preferred ..

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

Mentioned in answer to Question 2 above.

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

At some point, yes, I might overclock, although I'm not a great big fan of overclocking ..

8. What resolution will you be using?

1920x1080

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Note that it is usually not cost or time effective to choose your build more than a month before you actually plan to be using it.

End of april, or start of May, this year ..

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?

Nope .. No software purchases for now ..

 

[Puppies04]

Copy/paste the sticky thread from the top of this (general hardware) forum into this thread and fill in the required info. We need to know a little more information to suggest a build.

 

[slayernine]

I think you should buy a Mac, those are good for gaming right?


jk


Serious Part:
Isn't there new Intel Ivy Bridge stuff about to come out really soonish? I would probably wait for that or go with an i5 2500 or 2500k build.

The new nVidia GTX 680 looks amazing and I want one really bad. If not planning on a trip this Summer I would buy one right now. Low stock levels most places from what I hear. Lots of clearance deals on old video cards as all the new ones are out but with hardware you are usually better off going with new stuff. Also if you like to hold on to your computer for a long time you should really stick with the latest series of processor and video card. And by latest I don't mean the high end stuff I mean the current generation of parts. For example: Old video cards use older versions of direct x and have less features so you want the newer one.

And like the other guy mentioned go look at suggested builds in general hardware. Once you have found a general idea of what you need then ask specific questions about individual parts or things you want to be able to do.

 

[Puppies04]

And like the other guy mentioned go look at suggested builds in general hardware. Once you have found a general idea of what you need then ask specific questions about individual parts or things you want to be able to do.

No.

This is not what I said, I pointed the OP to the sticky thread that has been designed to address all the required details required in a build from price to resolution.

This one. http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=80121

Copy/paste it here with the required info pls OP.

 

[ahmadka]

No.

This is not what I said, I pointed the OP to the sticky thread that has been designed to address all the required details required in a build from price to resolution.

This one. http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=80121

Copy/paste it here with the required info pls OP.

Done! Added the additional information in OP ..

 

[ElFenix]

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[ahmadka]

Thanks ElFenix for your suggestions .. Here are some questions:

1) Why not get a GTA 590 or GTX 680 ? .. If the budget needs to be slightly increased then let me know ..

2) What is GTX GEAR UP, GAME ON FOR LIFE ?

3) Won't the 500W PSU be right on the border line ? .. I may expand the system by adding more HDDs, drives the future, so I feel 500W might not be enough ..

4) I plan on getting one of the new Ivy Bridge processors when they come out at the end of this month ... But I'm not sure if I should get the i5 version or the i7 version ... Need opinions on this ..

5) Also I dont need an SSD, so budget for that can be used elsewhere ..

 

[ElFenix]

Thanks ElFenix for your suggestions .. Here are some questions:

1) Why not get a GTA 590 or GTX 680 ? .. If the budget needs to be slightly increased then let me know ..

add about $300 and you could get a 680. a 570 would be cheaper but still blew the budget. the 560 448 is the fastest thing that would fit. i'm working with the budget i was given.

2) What is GTX GEAR UP, GAME ON FOR LIFE ?

some free crap that newegg threw in and got copypastad with the rest of it.

3) Won't the 500W PSU be right on the border line ? ..

no

I may expand the system by adding more HDDs, drives the future, so I feel 500W might not be enough ..

hard drives don't use 100 watts.

4) I plan on getting one of the new Ivy Bridge processors when they come out at the end of this month ... But I'm not sure if I should get the i5 version or the i7 version ... Need opinions on this ..

i don't think you'll see any noticeable benefit from going with a hyperthreaded quad vs. a regular quad. the only thing you've said you'd be doing that requires any real computing power is gaming. and hyperthreading doesn't help much with that. if it's between spending $100 to gain hyperthreading and $100 on pretty much anything else, i'd spend it on the latter.

5) Also I dont need an SSD, so budget for that can be used elsewhere ..

yes you do, you just don't know it yet. it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.

 

[mfenn]

I pretty much agree with ElFenix. $900 budget for everything except the case and ODD (about $100) does not buy you a complete system with a $500 video card. Also, the only way you don't need an SSD is if you already have one but neglected to mention it. It's the #1 most important thing for making the usage scenario that you described above snappy.

 

[ahmadka]

Sorry for the late reply guys ... Was busy for the last few days and so could not come back here then ..

Anyways,

1) Regarding the SSD, I dont have one and have never really tried one .. As far as I know, they are basically recommended for quick data reads and very low latencies ... Thing is, I've used the normal HDDs all my life so I'm comfortable with that ... If there's anything else which I'm overlooking, please do mention it .. I guess I'll be googling this SSD business as well myself ..

2) Regarding the graphics card, how much would I have to increase my budget by in order to get one of the latest and greatest GTX 680 cards ?

 

[aaksheytalwar]

Get a 7850 for $250 and overclock it, will come near a 7950 stock, 10-15% near

 

[mfenn]

1) Regarding the SSD, I dont have one and have never really tried one .. As far as I know, they are basically recommended for quick data reads and very low latencies ... Thing is, I've used the normal HDDs all my life so I'm comfortable with that ... If there's anything else which I'm overlooking, please do mention it .. I guess I'll be googling this SSD business as well myself ..

The multitasking scenario you described is in your OP is the perfect use case for an SSD. The only reason that you're happy with HDDs is because you've never known better. I felt the same way you do several years ago, but then I tried an SSD. Now I can instantly tell the difference between and SSD and HDD system and cannot stand to use an HDD system for more than a few minutes. It is that big of a difference.

2) Regarding the graphics card, how much would I have to increase my budget by in order to get one of the latest and greatest GTX 680 cards ?

$250-300. What we're trying to tell you though is that it just doesn't make sense to buy a $500 video card for 1080p 60Hz gaming. You're far better off in terms of average gaming performance to buy a $250 card now and another $250 card 2 years from now.