Building a PC from scratch.

[MGates84]

This is my first time posting on this site. I'm fairly new to the online gaming world. I love play World of Warcraft. Unfortunatly, I never get the frames per second I desire. I've updated my Ram, and my Video Card. I've tried every driver update I can think of, as well as, putting every setting on the game to maximize performance. Long story short, I need a new system. I would really like to build it from scratch with the help from a couple friends and I would really like the most kick-@$$ gaming computer possible, so I don't worry about things like FPS and worry more about gaming.

I've been researching the best motherboards to start out with, but I know each different make has their pros and cons when it comes to chipsets and compatible video cards, processor, ect. I'm not even going to set a price limit on the machine I want to build, because I plan on buying one item at a time.

So, finally, my question is, What is the best overall motherboard I can buy for gaming to start building around on? After that, what would be the best video card to use with it, as well as the processor, hard drive, power supply, ect.

Thank you so much for your time, patience and feedback.

 

[eklipz330]

"because I plan on buying one item at a time. "

i hope you know that if you plan on getting a motherboard now, and get the ram in a year, your computer wont turn on -_-

give us a budget, or ill pull something ridiculous outta my @$$

 

[megamanx00]

As far as the motherboard, CPU and Graphics Card, the most expensive one is pretty much the best. Basically buy the most expensive X48 based board from ASUS, MSI, or Gigabyte, buy two of the highest clocked (and likely the most expensive) Radeon 4870X2s, buy the most expensive LGA 775 Intel CPU, buy the most expensive 1.5 Tera Byte hard drive, and buy the most expensive case, buy the most expensive 1000 - 1200W PSU (no raidmax, sunbeam, or any of those cheap brands), buy the most expensive case, the most expensive sound card, the most expensive Panasonic Plasma you can get to use as your monitor (65" total happiness), the most expensive blu-ray, HD-DVD combo drive and burner you can get, and the most expensive Plextor burner for the absolute best DVD burning. Good thing for you New Egg lets you sort products from price in highest to lowest .

 

[mbbs20]

..actually if u dont set a price point for us then it will be very difficult to help...u can have a good machine for from $500 to $8000 depending upon your needs...and yes both machines will play games at different settings...so its better u set a range like 500-1000 dollars or up and i'll be happy to help...and please give us the games u play mostly and what monitor resolution u want to use...peace

 

[eklipz330]

i think megaman should build your computer.

except te 1.5tb... pFFTT with so much money who needs that much space? just buy him like 5 or 6 samsung ssd's...

 

[vibe]

I think Mega man should get a cut from New Egg.

Good starting point - pc hardware mags, nearly all of them keep a running list of their recomended hrdware for budget/midrang.media/gaming and extream PC builds. you can then come back to the forums for more opinions/comments on each bit.

You will have to buy at least the CPU,RAM and mobo at the same time - your choice of each is going to restrict choices of others. Most builders call this the holy trinity - (well the guys I know do)

 

[aznguy0028]

i think megaman should build your computer.

except te 1.5tb... pFFTT with so much money who needs that much space? just buy him like 5 or 6 samsung ssd's...

screw the samsung's. get him 5-6 velociraptors all in raid 0 configuration

 

[aznguy0028]

but seriously OP:

you have to give us a price range if you want advice from any of us. if you want the best and money is no issue, just go find the most expensive parts and put it together. there would be no point in coming to this forum.

 

[Onus]

Looking at your current configuration, I can see why you'd want an upgrade. I also think it permits the assumption that an $800-$1000 budget is probably reasonable.
Safe choices would be a P45 mobo, 2x2GB of 1.8V DDR2 RAM, and an e8500 CPU. I don't have it, but I hear that World of Warcraft is not particularly demanding, so a "mere" HD4850 would still be more than you need.
A 550W PSU from Corsair, Antec, PC Power & Cooling, Seasonic, Enermax, or OCZ would be sufficient. The case is a real personal-preference item. I really like my Coolermaster RC-690. If you want a window and more bling, an Antec 900 offers similar cooling. NZXT and RaidMax turn up the bling even higher.
Beyond this, you will need to be more specific as to budget, additional titles you play (or want to) and any other requirements you have.

 

[lordhighhead]

Megaman was right, if your budget is unlimited then get the most expensive hardware probably their the hottest & latest ones... This should be enough to play your wow and newer games even on stock, i bet that no game requires a 5 ghz cpu.. you should probably get a mobo, cpu, ram, & gfx at the same time so your rig can show its peak performance even with some old parts....

 

[geofelt]

jtt283 just saved me a bunch of typing. I agree.
For a case, I suggest the Antec 300.
I don't know what monitor the OP has, but a nice 24" monitor is wonderful for games.

 

[evongugg]

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151173 $26.99

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041 $319.99

GIGABYTE GA-X48-DS4 LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128336 $224.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX TX 750W Power Supply Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=750tx $119.99 -$20.00 MIR

Mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146731 $67.99 -$20.00 MIR

SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801 $309.99

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218 $74.99

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.buy.com/prod/antec-nine-hundred-steel-atx-mid-tower-computer-case-900-antec-nine/q/loc/101/202997579.html $99.24


Total $1,244.17 -$40.00 MIR's = $1204.17

 

[captaincharisma]

Yea, when you replace the mobo you going to have to get a mobo and ram that will work with it cause your CPU and ram from you old one won`t work with it. heck its getting harder just to replace an AGP graphics card these days. and if your just going to be playing WOW your not going to have to have a top of the line gaming PC if your just going to play that crack addict game LOL

 

[anartik]

Thats a question you will get unlimited opinions on... I do have a word of advise. Buying one piece at a time, spread over time is a very bad idea with defect rates on a lot of stuff. Most sites have very limited return time frames. Sure buy a heatsink, fans, case, mouse, KB in advance but plan on buying the mobo, cpu, memory, power supply and video card so you can assemble and test everything in a couple weeks. Go beyond 30 days and you will get the hassle of dealing with manufacturers for replacement with no returns.