Need opinions on a gaming PC computer to play Skyrim with most mods on.

Vader6x

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Ok people i am asking your help here, I want to buy i pre built custom gaming pc off of Craigslist or Ebay, I currently own only a 2013 mac book pro and would like to play Skyrim with mods after watching awesome Youtube videos but cant. At first i wanted to buy a gaming laptop but after reading posts on why not to do that, i decided on a tower instead. Im ready to throw my X1 and PS4 away and game with the best:)

Now just as insite i dont know much about computers other then what most people do. I know alot but not enough compared to you guys. and before you ask no i dont have the time or patience to build my own from scratch. buying it pre made is the route i would like to go for simplicity.

I will put up links to various postings and if you guys could please tell me which bulid is best, preferably to play Skyrim maxed with alot of mods running. I know nothing can play it amazingly in this range, but whatever is best. my budget is 600 to 1000, Amazingly most of these bulids are only 500 to 800 bucks. Last thing can you list your TOP 3 so just in case the one you pick is sold i can go to the next. Thank you guys so much:)

All these posts have the specs listed really well. Just scroll down once and all the parts are listed. thanks

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Im leaning towards this one now, and just a quick gpu upgrade. What do you guys think good base specs

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my fav

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second fav. Because of the crossfire

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I think this is the best build guys

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For your needs, 16gb memory and a 256Gb SSD will be overkill. If it's also sold for 800$ without gpu (although it looks like a stock R9 290...that thing is literally a leafblower...), it's not worth it IMO. You would still need to ditch at least 200 bucks into a gpu and you would be spending too much.
AMD CPUs are bad for Skyrim (Skyrim relies almost entirely on core per core performance, to such a point that an i3-4130 beats the FX-8350 at stock), and crossfire/SLI is bad for Skyrim (microstutter, poor engine). Cross out all of the ones that use either of those.

These are the remaining options. (since the GTX 590 is basically SLI, it's disqualified as well)
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/sys/4646277122.html
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/sys/4618801962.html
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/sys/4548229211.html

Out of those, this one is the best due to a mixture of the OC-ready CPU/mobo, and the better power supply. The RAM is nice as well, but won't actually help with Skyrim since it can only use 3GB itself. (Skyrim's engine's memory chunk loading system is broken past 3GB)
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/sys/4618801962.html

 

Vynavill

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Well, what you pointed as the best build is spot on. It's your best bet for smooth modded Skyrim gameplay IMO.

The 4th one isn't bad either (placentia), but it would be still not good as the one you mentioned.
An heavily modded Skyrim does require power, but it also eats up lots of VRAM and a relatively good amount of RAM too.

The crossfire one could slightly be better with the rest of the games, but for how VRAM works in crossfire/SLI, it wouldn't help you too much in Skyrim alone (without too much explanations, the available VRAM on multi-gpu systems is "total VRAM of all cards / number of cards"). In any case, the performance difference between them wouldn't be too noticeable IMO.

The only thing I'd change on that "best one" is the PSU, as it's the bare minimum to use a 7970 with the rest of the system. I'd get a 600-650W at least, or a 750W if you plan on expanding/crossfiring in the future. Even in buying that, If I were you, I would consider ditching a couple more bucks in the effort, and get myself an Antec HCG, a Rosewill Capstone, a Corsair GS or an XFX pro series PSU.
 

Vader6x

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Yes my plan is if i pick that one or whichever one i decide on based on your guys suggestions is to crossfire/sli eventually once i cant run better games. I guess it would be crossfire being AMD. Plus i heard that AMD has more options in that you dont have to have the exact same card to crossfire.

So in your opinion the 'best one' is the best? lol What kind of performance would you think i would get out of it on skyrim with a decent amount of mods can i get most of the popular graphic enhancing ones and still run it fine? Mind you within a few weeks i will order up more ram i want 12-16
 

Vynavill

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Actually, I need to correct myself. I misread that fx-6300 on that "best one" for an 8350...
As Rationale said, AMD CPUs aren't the best choice in this case, but AFAIK the 8000 series can pull of the stunt anyway. Go anything lower and they're not worth it anymore.

As a side note, no need for such RAM unless.you're into light video editing or CAD.
 

Vader6x

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So im confused again, or i always have been. So which one do you recommend or do i still get the same one but have to buy a i5, i7 or something?



 

Vader6x

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Believe me Rationale, thats the one i want but i have not had any replies from that seller so i need to keep my options open. But I'm I not in the same boat with ether the so called "best one" and the other two you recommend. My reasoning being that on one hand the other twos gpus miss the mark slightly but have strong cpus but the "best one" have the opposite problem. Shouldn't i just settle with one then upgrade the lacking part which would be cheaper? and which one in its current state nothing added will run the best?
 

Vynavill

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If you want to keep it strictly pre-built, the one he mentioned is the best out of the bunch.

Otherwise, what you labeled as "the best" will require an upgrade in CPU, eventually MoBo (according to cpu brand and socket, only if needed) and PSU, at least IMO.
 

Vader6x

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Ok if i can get what you and Rationale believe to be the best i should, but if i cant i should go with the one i thought was good? But it will need a immediate psu upgrade and asap a better cpu. Anyones you can recommend price friendly?

And as is, the one i thought was best, Do you think it can run at least some mods on skyrim before i get a new cpu in it. I want the other PC but its been two days no replies so i may not.
 

Vynavill

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Not immediate, no, but the sooner the better anyway.

Even as it is, with the FX-6300, it can run mods, but it depends on what you want to run.
- Simple content add-ons (more dungeons, more weapons, more magics, etc) will run with variable performance hits, depending on how many packs you have and how much content each adds.
- Light or medium graphical improvements (includes 512 and 1k textures) will start taking their tollif you go overboard with them; the more you got installed, the worse it'll be.
- Heavy graphical improvements (includes 2k and 4k textures) will give you loading problems most probably. The game could run smooth with them, since the system has an HD 7970, but the FX-6300 will struggle at loading up everything in some cases, and the game can frequently freeze for a moment or two.
- ENBs should run relatively without too much effort, depending on how heavy the effects it adds are.

The one Rationale mentioned will prove a much better starting point. You can eventually upgrade it if it isn't enough, and by spending less than the other one.
 

Vynavill

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It would be ok too, it's the other one I advised you too, but should you feel unsatisfied with it, you'd need to change at least 2 pieces, and not just one....
An Intel would still perform better at Skyrim anyway, as it would still have a better performance per core (a thing Skyrim is quite dependant on).
 

Vader6x

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Breaking news..This guy offered me this set up for 800$ but no graphics card. what do you guys think? Worth it

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/sys/4632276202.html
 

Vynavill

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For your needs, 16gb memory and a 256Gb SSD will be overkill. If it's also sold for 800$ without gpu (although it looks like a stock R9 290...that thing is literally a leafblower...), it's not worth it IMO. You would still need to ditch at least 200 bucks into a gpu and you would be spending too much.
 
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Vader6x

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So a 1000 would have been to much for that setup with the r9? i priced all the items they are all worth about what he wants in price. God why cant this just be easy lol
 

Vynavill

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It can be easy if you want it to be. Order the single pieces and assemble it yourself, or let it get assembled by someone more skilled if you aren't.
I suck at cable management, so I assembled mine and let a friend do the rest :)

In any case, it is worth it for 1000$, but it isn't worth it for what you want to do in comparison to that price point. Those amounts of RAM and SSD capacity are good if you're into video editing or 4k gaming, otherwise they're wasted money. The RAM is also using a frequency of 2133, whose difference with 1600 counterparts is barely noticeable, but increases costs by a good amount.
Also, all the extra fans/cables/USB hubs/gadgets/thingamabobs he advertises annoy me, as they do improve airflow/capabilities, but they aren't always needed and can uselessly increase the final price of a product...
Let's skip the fact that stock 290/290x cards are leafblowers that can be heard even with a headset on, shall we? :)
 

Kastodian

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Very true. Even though good RAM and some tangible storage space is part of the things to consider when purchasing a gaming PC, the emphasis should be on the graphics card and processor. The rest can be toggled to meet your budget. With this, you are already tied up. What processor is it running on?
 

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