OK, so I used to pay close attention to all the new CPUs and chipsets and motherboards and the like, but I just don't have the time to keep up with everything.
Anyway, it's been a few years since I last built a PC, and I need a lot of help building my next one. To answer the standard questions:
1. PC used for: Gaming. I'll be doing work on it, too, but I wouldn't need help building a PC to run office. I am only recently getting into the newer games that can stress a PC, but I'm looking for something on the higher end (but still in/close to the sweet spot for price vs. performance).
2. Budget: $1200-$1500. I'd prefer to stay on the lower end of that budget if possible, but if the $300 is going to make a big enough difference, then I'd be willing to spend it. If the sweet spot is more toward the $1000 range, then I don't have to spend $1200 either.
3. Country: USA (state is CT if that makes a difference for tax purposes, but 99% of the sites I shop don't have a presence there for tax purposes).
4. Brand preference: None. I used to be loyal to AMD and nVidia, if everything else was equal, but that was before they were direct competitors and about 5 generations ago.
5. Current parts: Anything in my current case is staying with the old computer when I donate it to my parents. I'll be keeping my input devices (logitech gaming mouse, G15 keyboard), speakers (Logitech 5500s) and monitor (dell 2405, I think, anyway it's a 24" 1920x1200).
6. I have searched and read similar threads. I'm sure I'm not unique, but I wasn't able to find anyone who really was starting from complete scratch like I am in the last few weeks (since the new DX11 cards hit).
7. I've never overclocked before, but I'd be willing to give it a go this time, but nothing too extreme -- and I don't want to have fan noise drowning out everything else in the room.
8. Resolution: 1920x1200. Don't see myself getting a bigger monitor during the life of this computer, nor would I be going to 2 or 3 monitors either.
9. When do I plan to build it? This will be a Win7 build, so I guess sometime on or after 10/22, but not much after that. I *will* need a Win7 license, and ideally that would be included in the above budget.
Something similar to the Intel/AMD Performance Midrange PC guide released 3 months ago (but updated to current movements in the PC world) is what I'm probably targeting. Whether that means an i7 system or an AMD system, etc. is really open for discussion and I'll gladly listen to any suggestions that all of you have. I would like a DX11 card, and whether that's the 5870 or 5850 is open for suggestion.
Thanks in advance!
Anyway, it's been a few years since I last built a PC, and I need a lot of help building my next one. To answer the standard questions:
1. PC used for: Gaming. I'll be doing work on it, too, but I wouldn't need help building a PC to run office. I am only recently getting into the newer games that can stress a PC, but I'm looking for something on the higher end (but still in/close to the sweet spot for price vs. performance).
2. Budget: $1200-$1500. I'd prefer to stay on the lower end of that budget if possible, but if the $300 is going to make a big enough difference, then I'd be willing to spend it. If the sweet spot is more toward the $1000 range, then I don't have to spend $1200 either.
3. Country: USA (state is CT if that makes a difference for tax purposes, but 99% of the sites I shop don't have a presence there for tax purposes).
4. Brand preference: None. I used to be loyal to AMD and nVidia, if everything else was equal, but that was before they were direct competitors and about 5 generations ago.
5. Current parts: Anything in my current case is staying with the old computer when I donate it to my parents. I'll be keeping my input devices (logitech gaming mouse, G15 keyboard), speakers (Logitech 5500s) and monitor (dell 2405, I think, anyway it's a 24" 1920x1200).
6. I have searched and read similar threads. I'm sure I'm not unique, but I wasn't able to find anyone who really was starting from complete scratch like I am in the last few weeks (since the new DX11 cards hit).
7. I've never overclocked before, but I'd be willing to give it a go this time, but nothing too extreme -- and I don't want to have fan noise drowning out everything else in the room.
8. Resolution: 1920x1200. Don't see myself getting a bigger monitor during the life of this computer, nor would I be going to 2 or 3 monitors either.
9. When do I plan to build it? This will be a Win7 build, so I guess sometime on or after 10/22, but not much after that. I *will* need a Win7 license, and ideally that would be included in the above budget.
Something similar to the Intel/AMD Performance Midrange PC guide released 3 months ago (but updated to current movements in the PC world) is what I'm probably targeting. Whether that means an i7 system or an AMD system, etc. is really open for discussion and I'll gladly listen to any suggestions that all of you have. I would like a DX11 card, and whether that's the 5870 or 5850 is open for suggestion.
Thanks in advance!
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