- Dec 28, 2008
- 12
- 0
- 18,510
Good evening everyone from Tom's hardware!
On this exact day, five years ago, I posted a topic requesting aid in building my first machine. I was helped by a number of kind gentlemen, and the computer that came into being has performed nothing less than valiantly while I've had it. However, along with years, it also accumulated numerous issues - dead USB sockets, random freezing, and it literally doesn't start anymore unless the CMOS battery is removed (what?). Because of this, and the fact that I'd like to play some recent games on higher than minimum settings, I decided to upgrade - or realistically, purchase a new machine entirely.
Unfortunately, other than a modest typing speed and hand-eye coordination, I'm still an utter amateur at computers, so I've come here to request aid once more.
I realize my current computer is horribly outdated (except for maybe the case, HDD and PSU), but these are the components it has:
I looked around a bit, mostly at the recent $800 Gaming PC article, and I worked from there. Here's what I got so far!
Case: ARK 4U Rackmount case
The case has to fit under a very low table, so I chose this case; I just assumed it would have better airflow than a tower on its side.
Processor: Intel i5-3470
It was chosen in the article and it seems a solid processor. I'm not sure how much of an impact 4x 3.2GHz cores will have on games though, compared to my previous 2x3.0GHz. I heard most games still don't support 4 cores, so would a modern processor with 2 cores be more cost-efficient? Are dual cores even a thing anymore?
Storage: 120GB SSD, old 640GB HDD
I thought of running my OS and other applications off the SSD and use the HDD for storage - I don't know how effective this is, though - would also appreciate advice on the read/write speed of the SSD, if it matters.
RAM: DDR3-2133 8GB (2x4)
Corsair's the go-to brand, right? Is 2133 overkill considering the other specs?
GPU: Radeon R9 270X
I thought this had an attractive price and good reviews, although I got a bit confused comparing the R9 series to the HD-4digit series. Not sure how much of an upgrade the R9 280X or HD7950 would be,
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3
I truthfully do not know what factors you consider when picking a motherboard, so I just opted for the one in the article. Suggestions more than welcome!
PSU: Corsair CMPSU-750TXEU
This one is already in my possession... I'm not averse to purchasing a new one though, if there is a reason for it. I have a vague suspicion 750W has been overkill for my previous machine...
If possible, I'd prefer to hover around €800 for the machine, although I'm happy to dig a little deeper into my savings if it provides more value for money.
I leave myself in your capable hands!
EDIT: I fear I had not seen the how-to-ask-for-help sticky. Here's the list; I also added some Newegg links to the components, although I will not be purchasing from Newegg due to localization issues.
Approximate Purchase Date: No rush, but ASAP
Budget Range: ~€800, $1000 USD.
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, watching movies, differential equation solving, text processing
Are you buying a monitor: Maybe - low priority, but my current monitor isn't amazing.
Parts to Upgrade: Possibly everything but PSU, HDD and
Do you need to buy OS: I do possess a legal copy of x64 Vista, but I would like to try Windows 7 or 8.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: I'm currently studying in the Netherlands - it is no trouble to find a local shop, and my budget is not rigorous, so any website (e.g. Newegg) is welcomed.
Location: Netherlands
Parts Preferences: Reputable brands, otherwise none
Overclocking: Not likely, poorly ventilated student housing and overheating paranoia
SLI or Crossfire: Not likely either - unsure how difficult this is.
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080, but I may upgrade.
Reason for upgrading: Hardware issues, general performance.
On this exact day, five years ago, I posted a topic requesting aid in building my first machine. I was helped by a number of kind gentlemen, and the computer that came into being has performed nothing less than valiantly while I've had it. However, along with years, it also accumulated numerous issues - dead USB sockets, random freezing, and it literally doesn't start anymore unless the CMOS battery is removed (what?). Because of this, and the fact that I'd like to play some recent games on higher than minimum settings, I decided to upgrade - or realistically, purchase a new machine entirely.
Unfortunately, other than a modest typing speed and hand-eye coordination, I'm still an utter amateur at computers, so I've come here to request aid once more.
I realize my current computer is horribly outdated (except for maybe the case, HDD and PSU), but these are the components it has:
I looked around a bit, mostly at the recent $800 Gaming PC article, and I worked from there. Here's what I got so far!
Case: ARK 4U Rackmount case
The case has to fit under a very low table, so I chose this case; I just assumed it would have better airflow than a tower on its side.
Processor: Intel i5-3470
It was chosen in the article and it seems a solid processor. I'm not sure how much of an impact 4x 3.2GHz cores will have on games though, compared to my previous 2x3.0GHz. I heard most games still don't support 4 cores, so would a modern processor with 2 cores be more cost-efficient? Are dual cores even a thing anymore?
Storage: 120GB SSD, old 640GB HDD
I thought of running my OS and other applications off the SSD and use the HDD for storage - I don't know how effective this is, though - would also appreciate advice on the read/write speed of the SSD, if it matters.
RAM: DDR3-2133 8GB (2x4)
Corsair's the go-to brand, right? Is 2133 overkill considering the other specs?
GPU: Radeon R9 270X
I thought this had an attractive price and good reviews, although I got a bit confused comparing the R9 series to the HD-4digit series. Not sure how much of an upgrade the R9 280X or HD7950 would be,
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3
I truthfully do not know what factors you consider when picking a motherboard, so I just opted for the one in the article. Suggestions more than welcome!
PSU: Corsair CMPSU-750TXEU
This one is already in my possession... I'm not averse to purchasing a new one though, if there is a reason for it. I have a vague suspicion 750W has been overkill for my previous machine...
If possible, I'd prefer to hover around €800 for the machine, although I'm happy to dig a little deeper into my savings if it provides more value for money.
I leave myself in your capable hands!
EDIT: I fear I had not seen the how-to-ask-for-help sticky. Here's the list; I also added some Newegg links to the components, although I will not be purchasing from Newegg due to localization issues.
Approximate Purchase Date: No rush, but ASAP
Budget Range: ~€800, $1000 USD.
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, watching movies, differential equation solving, text processing
Are you buying a monitor: Maybe - low priority, but my current monitor isn't amazing.
Parts to Upgrade: Possibly everything but PSU, HDD and
Do you need to buy OS: I do possess a legal copy of x64 Vista, but I would like to try Windows 7 or 8.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: I'm currently studying in the Netherlands - it is no trouble to find a local shop, and my budget is not rigorous, so any website (e.g. Newegg) is welcomed.
Location: Netherlands
Parts Preferences: Reputable brands, otherwise none
Overclocking: Not likely, poorly ventilated student housing and overheating paranoia
SLI or Crossfire: Not likely either - unsure how difficult this is.
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080, but I may upgrade.
Reason for upgrading: Hardware issues, general performance.
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