Seeking Build Advice

[alienleprechaun]

Oh Wise PC Masters:

I am looking at buying a gaming PC and at first I was thinking of just buying a pre-built rig because I am not an IT professional, and I have never done anything like build a computer before. However, after doing a bit of research, I think that I can muddle through the process, and the savings would be huge. I think I would rather dedicate a weekend to building something and have money left over for an extra monitor.

That being said, I would love to hear some expert opinions on some recommended parts.

1. This computer will be used mostly for gaming with some photo editing mixed in. Probably a 80-20 split.

2. My budget for this project is no more than $1,200. I was looking at $1,600 prebuilt rigs, but if I'm going to build it I would like to save at least a little cash.

3. The parts will be bought from the US.

4. I prefer Intel, but everything else I don't know enough about to make any sort of rational choice. Just looking for best performance for the dollar. I'd like to have 16GB of RAM.

5. I do not have any parts that will be used in this current build.

6. At this time, I do not plan on overclocking. I am not against the idea, I've just heard it wears out your system faster.

7. I will most likely be running my resolution at 1080. It might be nice to try a higher resolution, but after console gaming for so long I'm sure my mind will be blown either way.

9. I would like to build this computer within the next 3 weeks.



So, any helpful advice would be amazing. If it helps with parts selection, I plan on playing games like BF3, Skyrim, Guild Wars 2, and Minecraft. Thanks guys!

 

[Termie]

Welcome to the forum, alienleprechaun!

You have very straightforward needs as well as an ample budget, so you're in good shape. I would first take a look at this helpful thread:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2192841

That's a standard $1000 gaming build. Because you have slightly different needs and don't have peripherals or a copy of Windows, you'll need to make a few minor tweaks. First, you want double the RAM, which could be useful if you work in a 64-bit photo application and use RAW files. For simple jpeg manipulation, you don't need that much memory.

Second, you don't need to spend as much on your video card. At most, I'd recommend a $280 HD7950, but honestly you'd be very happy with an HD7850, which starts under $200. If you regularly use Adobe CS6, an nvidia videocard like the GTX660 for a few more dollars might provide a speed boost in some functions.

Finally, you'll need a $100 copy of Windows 7 or 8 (your pick based on how forward-looking you want to be - W7 will be more straightforward), plus around $250 for a 1080p monitor, keyboard, and mouse. You might want to look for those locally, at least to try them out.

So that's it. The total cost working off the build in the linked thread will be $1200 (adding memory, dropping the level of video card, adding Windows, a monitor, keyboard, and mouse).

Any questions?

 

[alienleprechaun]

Thanks for the response Termie!

If you are referencing the link you posted, then yes, I agree that 16GB is probably the way I should go. I've heard that 32GB is pretty much overkill except for the most intensive of tasks.

Second, why do you recommend downgrading the video card? I would think (and this shows you how much of a newb I am) that the more the merrier, especially with games?

Thankfully, I already have all the peripherals so I don't even need to include that in the final cost. At most I might add a second monitor.

 

[DSF]

What size monitor are you using? LCDs have a maximum resolution, so if your display is 1920x1080 that's the most you can run. There's no way to go higher without buying a new monitor.

At that resolution a 7950 is fine unless you must have the settings cranked as high as possible all the time.

 

[Termie]

Thanks for the response Termie!

If you are referencing the link you posted, then yes, I agree that 16GB is probably the way I should go. I've heard that 32GB is pretty much overkill except for the most intensive of tasks.

Second, why do you recommend downgrading the video card? I would think (and this shows you how much of a newb I am) that the more the merrier, especially with games?

Thankfully, I already have all the peripherals so I don't even need to include that in the final cost. At most I might add a second monitor.

You're welcome! I dropped the video card down a bit to keep you in budget, but that's when I thought you didn't have a monitor yet.

Now, in truth, for 1080p gaming, an HD7850 is quite adequate, and an HD7870 is ideal. I use one for the newest games at 1080p and love it. Right now, I'd still say it's the best bang for buck, unless you like GPU overclocking, in which case go with the 7850 on the low end or 7950 on the high end, again for 1080p.

 

[mfenn]

If you have $1200 set aside just for the PC and OS, I would take my build as it is in the midrange builder's thread, double the RAM with this Crucial kit, add Windows 7 HP 64-bit, and double the SSD to the 840 250GB.

 

[alienleprechaun]

So here's another question:

If I have about $100 left over, and I could upgrade one thing, which would make the most difference for gaming: the RAM or a better GPU? I'm looking at 16GB of RAM, and a ASUS GeForce GTX 660 2GB right now.

So, which one to upgrade with an extra hundred bucks?

 

[Termie]

So here's another question:

If I have about $100 left over, and I could upgrade one thing, which would make the most difference for gaming: the RAM or a better GPU? I'm looking at 16GB of RAM, and a ASUS GeForce GTX 660 2GB right now.

So, which one to upgrade with an extra hundred bucks?

The GPU by a long shot. But the difference between 8GB and 16GB is only $40, so I'm wondering what you meant by a $100 upgrade. Did you mean going from 16GB to 32GB? In addition to that not working under the Home edition of Windows, it would do nothing for gaming.

With $100, and assuming you already budgeted for 8GB of RAM, step up to the HD7950, which will come with two free games.

 

[alienleprechaun]

Sorry for the confusion, I meant an upgrade from 16GB to 32GB. What I meant was just that the current build calls for 16.

But this is what I figured, that a better GPU is more helpful. I appreciate your response, and now I'm gonna go update my parts list!

Now that I think about it, I can also downgrade from Windows Pro to Windows home (since I'm using 16, not 32 GBs of RAM) and that will save me a little more money as well. Sweet.

 

[Termie]

Sorry for the confusion, I meant an upgrade from 16GB to 32GB. What I meant was just that the current build calls for 16.

But this is what I figured, that a better GPU is more helpful. I appreciate your response, and now I'm gonna go update my parts list!

Now that I think about it, I can also downgrade from Windows Pro to Windows home (since I'm using 16, not 32 GBs of RAM) and that will save me a little more money as well. Sweet.

Absolutely. Sounds like a great tradeoff.

 

[mfenn]

So here's another question:

If I have about $100 left over, and I could upgrade one thing, which would make the most difference for gaming: the RAM or a better GPU? I'm looking at 16GB of RAM, and a ASUS GeForce GTX 660 2GB right now.

So, which one to upgrade with an extra hundred bucks?

My $1000 rig that was linked above has a 7970, so for $1200, you should not be looking at anything at anything near a GTX 660.