need help building a pc to max WoW

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hhearld88

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Sep 20, 2013
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Hey guys, I'm a little bad at knowing what to get for computer parts, so I'm asking for the communitys help.

I am looking to build a computer to max out wow and keep a consistant fps while in raids and major cities, but, I don't want to spend more than 5-600$ USD. Would you guys mind helping?

I already have a 1000 watt power supply and a case and mouse and keyboard so no need to purchase new ones. I want to pick my parts up at my local microcenter which is towsen, Maryland, so no breech or amazon. I hope you guys can help me out here. Thanks in advance.
 
Solution
photonboy
My build:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1H86O

CPU and WOW:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i7-3970x-sandy-bridge-e-benchmark,3348-13.html

Comments:
I know you said you'd buy elsewhere but it's easy to build one and you can refer to it.

The most important thing is that WOW starts dipping frame rates when you drop below an i5-3470 or similar so I chose the i5-3350P which is slightly cheaper and about the same. I could have saved a lot of money with an FX-6300 but you would have dipped a lot.

So get an Intel i5-3xxx (not an i3). The motherboard for this is Socket 1155.

Things I didn't include were a CPU cooler and Windows. I didn't know if the build price included Windows either but if you need to buy it then get Windows 8 64-bit...
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fatboytyler

fatboytyler

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Jan 29, 2012
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250$ will not max WoW. WoW is actually relatively demanding game.

Make sure you go with Nvidia Graphics. I will help you with a build later when I have time.


EDIT: A 650 Ti will be within 5% of the performance of a 7950 in WoW on Ultra at 1080p
 
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burdenbound

burdenbound

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Aug 9, 2011
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I would go with an i5 if your looking for the best possible fps in town and in large raids. Don't skimp on the graphics card but WoW, like other MMOs, is heavy on the CPU in high population places. It may not be possible to always stay at or above 60 fps in major cities, just the way large player games run.
 
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photonboy

photonboy

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Jun 20, 2006
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My build:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1H86O

CPU and WOW:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i7-3970x-sandy-bridge-e-benchmark,3348-13.html

Comments:
I know you said you'd buy elsewhere but it's easy to build one and you can refer to it.

The most important thing is that WOW starts dipping frame rates when you drop below an i5-3470 or similar so I chose the i5-3350P which is slightly cheaper and about the same. I could have saved a lot of money with an FX-6300 but you would have dipped a lot.

So get an Intel i5-3xxx (not an i3). The motherboard for this is Socket 1155.

Things I didn't include were a CPU cooler and Windows. I didn't know if the build price included Windows either but if you need to buy it then get Windows 8 64-bit OEM (and also START8 from Stardock for $5).

The HD7950 was the best card I could fit and not go much over $600. Note the THREE FREE GAMES you get which add to the value. Redeem those ASAP.
 
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fatboytyler

fatboytyler

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650 Ti (Not Overclocked) with a FX6300 (Not overclocked) produces FPS within 5 frames of my i5 at 4.5 GHz and heavily overclocked 7950.

WoW favors Nvidia so much its not funny. However, with the case and PSU taken care of we should be able to fairly easily drop an i5 into your budget. Do you need a operating system?
 
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photonboy

photonboy

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Jun 20, 2006
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The GTX660 and HD7950 both cost roughly the same ($200) and produce nearly identical WOW benchmark results.

Even an HD7870 is almost as good at 1920x1200 as the GTX660 so the statement "WoW favors Nvidia so much its not funny" isn't true.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-660-geforce-gtx-650-benchmark,3297-13.html

The GTX660Ti costs more than the HD7950 so they can't be compared. I'd never buy a GTX660Ti when the MSI GTX760 costs about the same ($260).

While I do prefer the GTX760, it also put me out of budget and I couldn't take the money away from the CPU.

As mentioned, the CPU is very important with a dropoff below a i5 quad CPU.

At $200 the HD7950 comes with three games worth $100 as well chosen from a list. The NVidia cards come with Batman Arkam Origins ($60).
 
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fatboytyler

fatboytyler

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In all of my hands on experience with WoW in AMD vs Nvidia, the Nvidia cards are the clear cut winner. I've seen Entry level Nvidia cards be within just a few FPS of my 7950 in 25 man raids, and I had the superior CPU by far. Those benchmarks are incorrect because I saw a 650 Ti (Grant it it was the Ti version), hold an average of 60+ FPS on WoW.

As for CPU, the FX6300 is plenty for WoW.

However with all that said, I would still recommend the 7950 as it provides great performance in WoW and much better in other games if you should branch out versus the 660 Ti and below Nvidia models. However, if you can afford a 760/770 I would suggest it (OR wait for AMD's new lineup). I would also highly recommend an i5 if you can fit it within your budget.
 
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photonboy

photonboy

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No, the FX-6300 is not "plenty" for WOW.

That's why I gave the link comparing CPU's in WOW. The FX-6300 isn't on the list but it would be below an FX-8350. You can also google and find people with FX-6300's saying their frame rate drops really low at times and they determined it was that CPU.

*Not even sure why we're discussing this when you are recommending the i5 and HD7950 the same as I did.
 
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fatboytyler

fatboytyler

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Because the i5 is significantly more expensive. If he wanted to save more money he could. I am going by what I have seen in a computer build I did for a friend. The 6300 did just fine in several 25 man raids. He may be an exception, but I trust what I have seen with my own eyes rather than what others have done.
 
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photonboy

photonboy

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Jun 20, 2006
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Let's not beat a dead horse.
It's better to simply provide BENCHMARKS by trusted sites, look at the GENERAL consensus of people's experience and let him decide if the price difference is there.

The data shows the FX-6300 operating often at 75% of the i5-3570K and at times dropping below 50% of the performance (i.e. 30FPS vs 60FPS).

The title is "need help building a pc to max WoW" and the FX-6300 can't do that dropping to 20FPS at times. The i5-3570K or i5-4670K can (60FPS max/mostly max at 1920x1080).

Those are the facts so let's just leave it there.
 
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