So I've been wanting to build a new computer for a while now. My current pc is about getting old, and it's becoming sluggish. 4 years ago I walked into a Fry's Electronics and bought the most expensive pc on the shelf(at work right now, I can post stats later if they become relevant) because I just graduated high school and was ghetto rich from my first job.
While the pc was fast and I was satisfied at first I definitely don't want to go that route again for a few different reasons.
I'm not extremely knowledgeable of hardware at the moment and don't pretend to be an expert. But I do learn extremely quickly and can remember things rather easily. Besides, I have the internet anyone can do anything these days if they know how to use a search engine.
So I open Google with building a new pc in mind, and figure the couch had got to be a decent place to start. After briefly looking around it seems that the i5 3570k is the current favorite (it was the 2500k last time I took a go at this). The processor everyone seems to love, good value, high end but cheap enough to not start hitting that heavy diminishing returns threshold.
Okay, 3570k, sure! Why not?
I plan on mostly playing WoW, LoL, and watching videos or surfing the Web. But my current computer can do those things just fine atm.
There are two main reasons I want to upgrade; to have the option to fire up BF3 or graphic modded skyrim on(or at least near, I don't need all the super intense filtering) max settings and run them at a seamless frame rate. And secondly, to have a somewhat future proofed rig.
My question to you fine folks is whether or not I need that much processor. Basically I have all the reasons to buy it. What's harder to find is the reasons not to buy it. Has anyone bought a cheaper cpu and achieved the results I'd like to? Am I giving the processor too much credit, and I should be spreading my a focus more over the other hardware?
Also curious if some of the people who are more adept at the ebb and flow of hardware releases and prices would have something to say. Is there some new architecture around the corner that is going to bring this processor one step closer to obsolete? Or lower the price considerably? Should I take care and do a lot more research before I decide to buy? Or snap up any deals I can in this holiday madness?
Thank you for reading and thanks in advance for any help or advice you offer.
While the pc was fast and I was satisfied at first I definitely don't want to go that route again for a few different reasons.
I'm not extremely knowledgeable of hardware at the moment and don't pretend to be an expert. But I do learn extremely quickly and can remember things rather easily. Besides, I have the internet anyone can do anything these days if they know how to use a search engine.
So I open Google with building a new pc in mind, and figure the couch had got to be a decent place to start. After briefly looking around it seems that the i5 3570k is the current favorite (it was the 2500k last time I took a go at this). The processor everyone seems to love, good value, high end but cheap enough to not start hitting that heavy diminishing returns threshold.
Okay, 3570k, sure! Why not?
I plan on mostly playing WoW, LoL, and watching videos or surfing the Web. But my current computer can do those things just fine atm.
There are two main reasons I want to upgrade; to have the option to fire up BF3 or graphic modded skyrim on(or at least near, I don't need all the super intense filtering) max settings and run them at a seamless frame rate. And secondly, to have a somewhat future proofed rig.
My question to you fine folks is whether or not I need that much processor. Basically I have all the reasons to buy it. What's harder to find is the reasons not to buy it. Has anyone bought a cheaper cpu and achieved the results I'd like to? Am I giving the processor too much credit, and I should be spreading my a focus more over the other hardware?
Also curious if some of the people who are more adept at the ebb and flow of hardware releases and prices would have something to say. Is there some new architecture around the corner that is going to bring this processor one step closer to obsolete? Or lower the price considerably? Should I take care and do a lot more research before I decide to buy? Or snap up any deals I can in this holiday madness?
Thank you for reading and thanks in advance for any help or advice you offer.