Building a Gaming Computer

[IncognitoSOS]

Hey,

I attempting to build a gaming computer but since I've never built a computer, and have not followed the hardware market I really have no idea about how to go about this. (Actually, before I started researching this I though that a CPU was merely a software program ) Anyway I do know that I need the necessary parts: the Motherboard, CPU, Video Card, Power Supply, and the rest. Unfortunately I have no idea what items would be the ideal choice for my intended computer. My objectives for this computer are as such.

1. The Computer should run current games on maximum settings and should be able to run games that are made in the next few years.

2. It should be relatively easy to upgrade

3. That it doesn't cost me an arm and a leg to purchase.

I haven't set a budget yet but I am hoping for at least under two thousand dollars. If anyone has suggestions about what to purchase hardware-wise I would appreciate it greatly.

As for items like quad core processors or multiple video cards I simply would prefer to go with the option that has the best power per cost ratio.

Thank You
IncognitoSOS

Still Needed:

CPU
Motherboard
Memory
Hard Drive
Video Card
Monitor
Case
Power Supply
Sound Card
(The Following are not part of the ideal budget but I would still appreciate any suggestion as to noteworthy items in the following categories)
DVD Burner
Keyboard
Mouse
Speakers
Headphones

 

[hawkeye21]

were not gonna do everything for you, start doing some research and come up with some basics. Then come back for help

 

[huron]

Agreed hawkeye.

Do a little reading around here and come back here with some ideas. We'll help once you have a little research done.

 

[jevon]

Yeah it's nothing personal Incognito, it just takes time for us to link items and make suggestions so it's only fair you get the process started.

Best place to start would be 'Home Built' forums like this one and check out other systems that are priced similar to your budget and for the same use (gaming). Give them a read and make note of what people are saying in the threads for suggestions (especially anything and everything you come across that I've wrote )

Good luck!

 

[helios2052]

I agree you need to do a little research on your own....but I'm feeling nice.......and bored!
You can use this as a base...It is a very very fast machine.


Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131284

mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146731

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Yorkfield 2.66GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115042

XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003

X2 SAPPHIRE 100243L Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 Graphics Card - CROSSFIRE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102748

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218

LG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R Burner???
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136147

Total : $1653.89 plus you get like $75 back in rebates....maybe

Of course this would be considered a hard-core gaming system...so only go for something like this if you really are into gaming and on high resolution monitors.



For monitors, go for any 24" with descent reviews. As I said, This system will not mean anything to you unless you understand the parts and their specific purposes. Do All of your research before buying anything or this will be a VERY expensive lesson.

Good luck!

 

[Phrexianghoul]

While i agree with both of you (hawkeye and huron). Learning all, or most of, the various platforms and components is going to take more than a single night. I do think giving the guy a rough "outline" of what makes a good gaming rig would at least get him going in the right direction.

Incognito-
This list of parts, i feel, will give you a good sense in what makes up a "good" gaming rig. I advise you to look at each part and read the reviews that people have made about the products. And take special note of the not so great reviews as well.

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/TemporaryWishList.aspx?ChangeQty=0

 

[shadowthor]

helios that's a good list

 

[ridinondub247]

yea its beast

 

[zaksdad12]

I hate to admit it but I have been following these instructions for months and every time I go to NEWEGG to look, there ends up being 40 choices.
For instance,
going to the ATX Mid Tower Computer Case and you see multiple choices on the lower left.
How can I tell if I am getting the right product or for a little more a better product?
I need the Barney style instructions telling me what to get.

Sorry, hope I don't upset all those SME types but Pricewatch and Newegg get confusing with all the choices.

 

[aevm]

Helios great work there.

I'd just save $50 with a P5E X48
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=P5E+X48&x=0&y=0

and replace the IDE burner with a SATA version.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106057

 

[IncognitoSOS]

I'm afraid that you have misunderstood me. I already have an idea of what I want to get but I wanted to get this community's opinion without having the community having any idea before hand. The hardware I have been looking at for this follows

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115018
(I've read some very contradictory reviews about quad core processors so I haven''t decided whether a duo or quad processor would be best)
Motherboard:
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138122
Memory)
Hard Drive:
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148298)
Video Card: 8800GT or 9600GT
Case (Since I haven't decided on the pieces I haven't decided on a case yet)
Power Supply
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371007)

I'm building this mainly for gaming purposes so I'm trying to get the most efficient parts for this machine.

I'm sorry I came off as lazy and wanting to shrug off my job to other users, I didn't mean for it to sound like that, and I want to apologize to any user who was annoyed or frustrated by my previous post.

Anyway, thanks for the help and I will continue to research different parts.

 

[helios2052]

Your first post suggested that you are looking for a very powerful gaming PC that will last for years but in your second post you listed parts that would make a midrange system today and a low end system in the next year(s) or so.

The few parts you have listed considerably slower system than the one I posted (probbably about 1/3 of the graphics power) and has severely less upgrade ability (Power Supply) . Going with the parts you posted you are looking at a cheaper system at $600-$800.

If you are going for power, you need to forget either of those video cards, and go with 1 or 2 : 4850, 4870, or GTX260.
Power Supply should be at least 700Watts with good 12V rails if you ever want to upgrade in the coming years.
Your CPU is not bad at all, but is becoming dated by newer CPUs.
Harddrive is good although I still recommend the WD640
Motherboard should really be changed to X38/X48 only if you are going dual GPU.



And also you need to be more clear in your posts because look at this...(below).... And it takes time to link to all this stuff.

(from your first post) - "...I really have no idea about how to go about this. "
(from your second post) - "I'm afraid that you have misunderstood me. I already have an idea of what I want to get...."

 

[IncognitoSOS]

Ohhh...

Seems I was a little off on hardware. I thought that those parts added up to a high end computer. I'll look at your list and see what's on it (I had somehow missed it before)

 

[helios2052]

I'm not saying the parts you picked wouldn't add up to a great system, it is just not the top of the line computer I though you were going for.

If you are confused about anything just ask and we will be glad to help!

 

[Why_Me]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137 $84.99
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341001 $89.99 ($59.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate)
OCZ GameXStream OCZ600GXSSLI 600W ATX12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V CB/CE/CSA/UL/FCC - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037 $169.99
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003 $24.99 ($14.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate)
XIGMATEK HDT-S963 92mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019 $6.99
XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131295 $129.99
ASUS P5Q LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - EPU w/ 8-Phase power, deluxe OC features

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146731 $87.99 ($62.99 after $25.00 Mail-In Rebate)
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=N82E16814130372 $289.99 ($279.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate)
EVGA 896-P3-1262-AR GeForce GTX 260 Superclocked Edition 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148136 $79.99
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3500630AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106263 $23.99
LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020&Tpk=mx-2 $6.99
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488 $109.99
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM

Total
$1,105.88
$1,030.88 w/mail in rebates