Time for a New Gaming PC! ^_-

[ladybastilla]

Hello!

It looks like it is time for me to get a new gaming PC since my current machine failed badly on the Final Fantasy XIV benchmark -- right after I pre-ordered the Collectors' Edition! Any feedback or advice is most welcome. Thanks!

When Is It Being Built?: Within the next two weeks

What is your budget?: $1,500 Canadian before taxes and labour fees.

What will it be used for?: Gaming, Ventrilo, general internet use, light video editing (Youtube stuff)

What resolution do you play at?: 1024 x 768 (I think that's right?)

Where are you getting it built?: I am getting my PC made at Canada Computers and plan to buy my parts from them as well. Both of my previous PCs (both AMD ) were bult there as well and I have been very satisfied with their services throughout the years.

I decided to build this PC for Final Fantasy XIV. Check its specs before you gasp in shock at my "MMO machine". 😛

"Why aren't you building your own PC?": I am legally blind with cerebral palsy so that might not go over quite so well. I think I'll choose the parts and let someone else take care of that. ^.-

Do you plan to Crossfire?: Not now but I may consider it.

Do you plan to overclock?: Maybe. I might get my brother to help me. 🙂

My Build:

Processor: AMD Phenom II x4 965 BE
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-890GPA-UD3H
RAM: 4GB (Brand recommendations are welcome.)
Graphics Card: ATI Radeon HD 5850 (brand suggestions welcome)
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black 640gb / 64mb cache / 7200rpm
DVD Burner: Sony 24x w/ Nero 8
Wireless: D-LInks Xtreme N Desktop Adapter (Suggestions welcome)
Power Supply: Cooler Master Silent Pro 700w (suggestions welcome)
Case: CM 690 II Advanced (Suggestions welcome, please see note below though.)
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit

Any suggestions about anything listed above are welcome.

Questions:

1. Should I invest in an SSD?

2. Should I get 8gb of RAM instead of 4?

3. 5850 or 5870?

4. Should I switch to an 890FX motherboard?

5. Should I keep the 965 BE or switch to the 1055t or 1090t?

*Note: I cannot do *all* of these. I need to determine what would be the best choice(s) to make.

**Note about cases: I use my case as a mini table for my mouse so it needs to have a flat top. I also want one that has usb ports and mic / headphones at the front since I have trouble seeing to plug them in when they are at the back.

Thanks for your time & have a great day!

 

[Davidh373]

Good Budget, bad resolution.

That resolution is ancient, so I'd recommend a new monitor. If not you can get a computer with a 5770 instead of wasting a good $350 on a 5870 or even 5850.

Case (Coolermaster Elite 335)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/produ...item_id=020103

PSU (Corsair 650TX)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/produ...item_id=015708

Processor (Phenom II X6 😀)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/produ...item_id=030520

MoBo (Gigabyte AM3 880)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/produ...item_id=030753

Corsair XMS3 4GB 1333Mhz
http://www.canadacomputers.com/produ...item_id=029659

Sapphire Radeon HD 5770
http://www.canadacomputers.com/produ...item_id=026405

Corsair Force 60GB SSD
http://www.canadacomputers.com/produ...item_id=032222

WD Caviar Black 1TB Sata 3
http://www.canadacomputers.com/produ...item_id=029337

If you are accepting recommendations for monitors:

LG 1080p
http://www.canadacomputers.com/produ...item_id=023213

If you get this you may want to up the graphics card to:

Geforce 460
http://www.canadacomputers.com/produ...item_id=032908

Radeon 5850 (not as recommended because of the price..., but if you are an ATI Fanboy/girl)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/produ...item_id=031478

If links are broken, I apologize, but If you highlight what I put for the name and search it on Canadacomputers it should bring up what you are looking for. This Forum has been eating links recently...

I gave you an X6 instead of your pick of the black ed. because price/ performance it can't be beat.

I am also a handicapped gamer, apparently we aren't as much of a minority as I thought 🙂.

EDIT: If my link to the 460 doesn't work I'd recommend you get one of the 1GB (1024mb) versions of the card.

Total with 5770 = $1025.92

Total with Geforce 460 1GB = $1095.92

Total with Radeon HD 5850 = $1195.93 (not the most cost effective...)

Price for monitor = $169.99

LG Blu Ray writer (if desired) = $130

HERE: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?item_id=031739

CD/DVD = ? can't find any on the site !O_O!

 

[ladybastilla]

I play on that resolution because I cannot read the text in games when a higher resolution is used. I'm running a 37" HDTV as my monitor and my TV's native resolution is for 720p. Thought of going to a 20-something inch monitor and seeing if that would correct the problem and I am in the market for a new screen in general since this thing got some burn in so I will have a look at your suggestion. 🙂 Thanks for posting. ^.^

 

[betasub]

If you are using a 720p screen, it's no surprise that higher resolutions give text that's difficult to read! Those non-native resolutions are being interpolated to fit into a 720p image = blurry.

 

[mfenn]

David's link looks good. Since you require a low resolution, the GPU doesn't matter as much. I would go for the GTX 460 anyway since it is basically as fast as a 5850 and cheaper.

 

[betasub]

Could go far cheaper on the graphics card for only 720p, but a GTX460 768MB might be a nicely balanced card both for now and when you get a new monitor.

 

[Davidh373]

I play on that resolution because I cannot read the text in games when a higher resolution is used. I'm running a 37" HDTV as my monitor and my TV's native resolution is for 720p. Thought of going to a 20-something inch monitor and seeing if that would correct the problem and I am in the market for a new screen in general since this thing got some burn in so I will have a look at your suggestion. 🙂 Thanks for posting. ^.^

You are very welcome, I just hope the Trolls don't find us tomorrow lol (people recommending Dual Cores because they play anything when overclocked to 5Ghz and the like... also recommending you get RAID 5 lol). I don't think a smaller monitor will help, resolution doesn't work that way unfortunately. I really like the prices on Canada Computers' Site, it is quite competitive with newegg's prices in the US (when the exchange rate is considered).

One thing you can do for Valve's source titles is change font size in the sourcescheme.res file. It is a lot of filtering through programming but if you hit Ctrl + f in notepad and type "tall" and change tall's value from default (10) to something like 15 or 20 you should see a big difference and still play at your monitor's native resolution.