What else do I need for my TS140 to be my regullar game/vid desktop

tunicata · Jun 8, 2015

Hi,
I bought this computer with some upgrades for $200:
Think Server T2140
http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkServer-70A4000HUX-i3-4130-Computer/dp/B00F6EK9J2

Plus: 8GB ECC RAM, USB mother board header, 2 x 8GB USB Sticks, 1TB HDD

I had already bought:
1 250gb SSD drive
1 Sapphire Radeon 7 250, 2gb graphics card

What else other than an OS do I need to get this up and running?

-I want enough power to run the card (TS comes with 280 W PSU).
-enough cooling to not burn anything/waste the life- comes with 3 fans I think in the tower
-I want to run mid to high end games generally well on medium at least. I know this isn't the BEST card in the world but I'm only a casual gamer.
-Do video editing casually- not a job, just hobby.
-Use USB 3.0
-Utilize both harddrives- SSD and the 1TB
-Do not know enough about comp to diverge from Windows just yet, but would be open to using Linux in addition. So, which OS, 8?
-Get as speedy processing/performance as this machine is capable of giving me (not just talking about overclocking, which I would need a friend to do for me if/when he gets time)

Please be explicit so I can simply add to my Amazon cart. This is my first project. I was going to build it from scratch which is why I already have some pieces , but I felt the price was too good to pass up.

IAmTheTofu · Jun 9, 2015

- You might at slightly lower resolutions run games at low or maybe even Medium if you're lucky. Like H1Z1 type games, not GTA5.

- You don't need a new cooler unless your CPU runs at a high temp (~33C+?)

- You don't have enough power. (Well you do, but it's real risky) I got you a 430W one instead.

- You can't overclock with a locked processor

- Any OS you'd prefer. I like 8 better, it's more user-friendly and it looks better. 7 is very compatible with basically all programs that support Windows.

- USB 3.0 depends on your motherboard

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $29.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-09 02:53 EDT-0400

tunicata · Jun 9, 2015

Hi Tofu, is it the R7 250 2gb ddr3 card that will limit my ability to play higher res games? If not, what are the limiting factors?

GTA isn't the type of game I'd play so I haven't even seen it. But, I would like to play Skyrim on medium or ultra.
I bought this card because it was sub $100 and it was listed on the Skyrim Scrolls Wiki as being able to play it as High/Very high:
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:System_Requirements

It has the 1gb version of this card listed and so I figured the 2 gb would at least perform the same if not better. Plus it compatible w Direct X 12 which is above standard. My CPU is also 3.4ghz and I have 8 gb of memory.

Darn. I didn't want to spend over $100 on a card. Since it's past it's return date, I'll have to just try it and see. In the future, if I actually think it sucks on games I actually end up playing, then I will upgrade something.

Thank you for the PS link! That's the highest I'd need?
Will that give me wiggle room to potentially grow in the future?

IAmTheTofu · Jun 9, 2015

tunicata :

Mainly. Usually the recommended graphics cards for high end games (GTA, etc) have 2GB of GDDR5 ram. Your card has DDR3. 1GB of DDR5 is better than 2GB DDR3 any day.

You could probably play Skyrim at medium-low.

Next time you upgrade a GPU, get it on ebay used. I mean, if you have the money for a brand new one, go for it.

A 500-550W would be optimal if you were to upgrade to another card, such as a R9 280x. Otherwise the 430 should do you fine with the 250.

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What else do I need for my TS140 to be my regullar game/vid desktop

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