Help me build a PC?

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  1. Posts : 10
    10
       #1

    Help me build a PC?


    So for Christmas this year I am asking for a gaming PC. They ideal price is between 500 - 800 dollars, (maybe more, if I can negotiate) but the problem is, I have little knowledge of computer hardware, so I don't know what to look for. I know I need one with a dedicated GPU, but that's pretty much it. I've been looking at www.cyberpowerpc.com for some, so if you can find one that's good, please let me know!

    I'd like to play games like GW2, SWTOR, Roller Coaster Tycoon World, and Tera on max setting, if that's possible with the amount of money I have.

    Thanks!
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  2. Posts : 172
    Windows 10
       #2

    It's possible to play virtually any game at max graphics settings, but performance varies depending on your hardware specs.

    Your budget is low, so you have to be realistic about what kind of setup you can get.

    You can consider this setup, even though I am not a fan of AMD. Intel systems are guaranteed to have better performance, but they generally cost more too.

    If you can spend US$1,000, you can expect a significant better system.
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  3.   My Computer


  4. Posts : 17,136
    macOS Big Sur
       #4

    satchmo said:
    It's possible to play virtually any game at max graphics settings, but performance varies depending on your hardware specs.

    Your budget is low, so you have to be realistic about what kind of setup you can get.

    You can consider this setup, even though I am not a fan of AMD. Intel systems are guaranteed to have better performance, but they generally cost more too.

    If you can spend US$1,000, you can expect a significant better system.
    I've heard that AMD is better for gaming, but I may be wrong about that.
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  5. Posts : 76
       #5

    Chuck38 said:
    I've heard that AMD is better for gaming, but I may be wrong about that.
    These days it's much of a muchness really. A few frames better for one platform and game, a few for the other. For pure gaming, the difference is virtually negligible really. Improving multi core support in software has helped breach the gap.

    The same applies to nvida vs AMD cards - some games tend to perform better on one than the other and vice versa.
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  6. Posts : 3,506
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #6

    I would buy a Core-i3 or the cheaper i5 model, 8GB RAM (you can always upgrade it later), a 500GB HDD, a DVD-RW, at least 500W PSU, cheap motherboard and keep the rest of the money to buy an as higher nVidia or AMD model as possible. Don't focus only on video memory, see the model family and the chipset. It is better to buy a higher level model with 2GB RAM than a lower model with 3GB RAM.

    So the guide is to buy a medium CPU, at least 8GB RAM, as cheap as possible other devices, at least 500W PSU and then give the rest amount for a good graphics card which will make all the difference. If you start buying i7, expensive motherboard, large RAM etc, you will have to compromise with a medium graphics card and screw performance. Don't make the common mistake most gamers do. CPU and RAM make little difference. The most important component is the graphics card.
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  7. Posts : 10
    10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Help me build a PC?


    So my grandpa is building my PC I need to give him the parts I want for the PC. My price range is around $500, so it's not gonna be top of the line, but I hear that you can build a PC for a lot cheaper than buying one. So here's a list of things I've compiled so far:

    • Intel Core i5-6400 6M Skylake Quad-Core 2.7 GHz LGA 1151 65W BX80662I56400 Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 530
    • GIGABYTE G1 Gaming GA-Z170X-Gaming 7 (rev. 1.0) LGA 1151 Intel Z170 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.1 USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
    • EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SSC GAMING ACX 2.0+, Whisper Silent Cooling w/ Free Installed Backplate Graphics Card 04G-P4-3967-KR
      (ALSO A POSSIBLE 2GB OPTION, IF IT'S REALLY ANY DIFERENT)
    • Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - CPU Cooler with 120 mm PWM Fan
    • HT | OMEGA Claro Halo 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Card w/ a built-in HI-FI Headphone Amplifier
    • CORSAIR RMx RM650X 650W ATX12V / EPS12V 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Power Supply
    • Cooler Master HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 - High Air Flow Mid Tower Computer Case
    • Hitachi (0A38876) 1TB 32MB Cache 7200RPM SATA2 (3.0Gbps) 3.5" (Heavy Duty) Hard Drive NAS, RAID, CCTV DVR, PC/Mac - OEM w/ 1 Year Warranty
    • ASUS VG248QE Black 24" Gaming Monitor, 144Hz 1ms (GTG), 3D Monitor, Height&pivot adjustable, 350 cd/m2, Built-in Speakers
    • Perixx PX-1100 Backlit Gaming Keyboard - Red/Blue/Purple Illuminated Keys
    • Redragon M901 PERDITION 16400 DPI High-Precision Programmable Laser Gaming Mouse for PC-MMO, 18 Buttons, 12 Side Buttons, 5 User Profiles, Omron Micro Switches (Black)

    Now this all comes to about $1246... Obviously not in my price range.
    Can someone suggest some parts for me that can fall within my price range, I'd say about $300 - $700. Thanks!

    The types of games I would be playing are: Tera, GW2, SWTOR, No Limits 2, Rollercoaster Tycoon World...
    I don't have to play them on max setting, because that's obviously not very reasonable, but on better settings than my laptop right now. (Low to Med setting depending on which game).

    EDIT: You can leave out the cost of the Monitor btw.
    Last edited by Brink; 25 Nov 2015 at 09:52. Reason: moved to original thread
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  8. Posts : 14
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #8

    Not much room to trim. The CPU-Mobo-Graphics card is almost 600 bones. I also see you forgot to add some RAM. Add that and we're almost at 700. Trying to build a $700 dollar gaming rig is not impossible but you will have to really look for the bang-for-the-buck parts.

    One, ditch the soundcard. You have one on the mobo - or use headphones. Two, dial back the processor. The video card is the backbone of the gaming system; you can game for years on one CPU by upgrading the video card. Look for the most CPU you need for the games you want to play and add a little for future growth. Look at AMD if you need to - a true gamer will buy the parts that best suit his/her needs - be manufacturer agnostic. And last- go back a generation or two. Older chipsets and processors still have some life in them; pair them with a good video card and you will have a good setup that you can use by just upgrading the video cards. Even Sandy and Ivy Bridge parts still have some good years left in them.

    Your gaming rig is out there but it'll take some research to dial it in to your price range. Good luck.
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  9. Posts : 79
    Windows 10 Build: Redstone
       #9

    Around 3rd-4th gen Ivy or Sandy Processors.
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  10. Posts : 3,506
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #10

    See my previous reply. I told you to buy as basic as possible the other components so you keep money for a good graphics card which is the most important.

    Buy the cheapest possible Core-i5 or even cheaper, a Core-i3. 8GB RAM is OK, no need to overdo it. You certainly don't need a "gaming" motherboard! Any cheap motherboard should do as long as you don't plan to add more than one graphics card and you don't need to fill it with expansion cards. So we are talking about a cheap mini-ATX motherboard, it doesn't need to be full-ATX. This should at least have two memory slots (there are mini-ATX models with 4 as well), so buy a single 8GB module to be able to increase to 16GB some time later. No need for expensive modules, just value RAM (or whatever is called) will do. Also forget any fancy PC tower! Buy a typical midi ATX tower. Remember our goal here is to spend as less as possible for anything else, so we leave the rest budget for a good graphics card. A 650W PSU is more than enough, doesn't necessarily have to be 80+ though. Get a regular 500GB or 1TB SATA disk, nothing special, and a regular DVD-RW drive. A 21" monitor should be enough, there is no need for anything expensive. You can change that some other time, or connect to a large screen TV with HDMI. Since you are on a tight budget, forget any USELESS "gaming" keyboard or mouse (good old trick, when you want to sell something at a high price, give it a "gaming" tag). Buy the main computer now and you can add anything later. That's why modern computers are modular, so you can change stuff any time you want without having to buy everything at once. If you follow my advice you should need half your budget or even less, so you can devote the rest amount for an as good as you can buy graphics card which is the most important part.

    If you plan right you can do it without increasing your budget. When you gather some pocket money, you can then add a "gaming" mouse or keyboard. Next time you add something more, such as another RAM module. You don't need to get everything at once!
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