Is it worth it?

[empirion98]

Hello,

I'm looking for a gaming computer and I reluctantly bought a this HP.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pavilion+Elite+Desktop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B+i7+Processor+/+8GB+Memory+/+1TB+Hard+Drive/2670382.p?id=1218343205627&skuId=2670382

I'm not sure if the i7 2600S is going to hinder performance. Also for 900 bucks should I have just gone for a gaming rig from newegg with an i5 2500k or i7 2600k with a better graphics card.

I can still return it but just wondering what people thought. Thanks for your help

 

[venjhammet]

If I were you I'll go on my own picking my set of component in building my own PC which will give me a lot of option. I wouldn't buy a branded one. Grab a Core i5 2500k and overclock it easily and a GTX570 or ATI 6950.

 

[empirion98]

If I were you I'll go on my own picking my set of component in building my own PC which will give me a lot of option. I wouldn't buy a branded one. Grab a Core i5 2500k and overclock it easily and a GTX570 or ATI 6950.

I've thought about this but I was worried about me trying to build one for the first time. I mean is hard to apply the processor and thermal paste. How much....how little. lol. I'm just afraid of screwing it up I guess. I've read about it for years but never have tried it. Is it as easy as people make it seem?

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

The Intel® Core™ i7-2600S is designed to be a low wattage processor. The normal Intel Core i7-2600 runs at 95w while the Intel Core i7-2600S at 65w (the same as our dual core Intel Core i3-2100). To reach this power saving something had to change in this case it is the performance. The Intel Core i7-2600S drops down to the 2.8GHz from the 3.4GHz. You can see the differences between the Intel Core i7-2600, i7-2600S and the i7-2600k at http://ark.intel.com/Compare.aspx?ids=52213,52214,52215,. If you were looking for the performance of an Intel Core i7-2600K and you got the Intel Core i7-2600S I have a feeling you would be disappointed.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team

 

[barrymobiel]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIJx6Y3tofg
this can help with building the pc.
I would build the pc on my own, it's not that hard. Just do a little research.

 

[empirion98]

Ok, I think I'm going to return it. I'm thinking about going with the i7 2600K which people seem to like, I guess. Either that or the i5 2500K. What motherboard should I be looking into. I'd like to have USB 3.0 and a good amount of USB 2.0's too. Is there a website that helps you like if you put down what you need then it recommends what motherboards are available?

Graphics card I'll have to research. I'm trying not to go top top of the line which are energy hogs. I run an AC unit in my room and I'm worried if I go above a certain amount of wattage then I might have to sweat while I'm on my computer lol.

I don't think I want to go above a 650 Watt power supply. Thanks everyone so far for your help. I would have been dealing with HP's bloatware if not.

 

[empirion98]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIJx6Y3tofg
this can help with building the pc.
I would build the pc on my own, it's not that hard. Just do a little research.

Would you recommend your current motherboard or would you get something else if you were building right now?

 

[Emperus]

Definitely return it in the first place. Next, if this is going to be a gaming PC then opt for the 2500k over the 2600k. A GTX 560 Ti is an awesome video card to start with. The HD 6950 is the equivalent AMD option. Don't worry about USB 3.0 as every new age motherboard has it. Depending on your budget you can go for a good Z68 motherboard such as the Asus P8Z68 V-Pro.

 

[kajabla]

Definitely 2500K. 2600K is not noticeably better in gaming, and needlessly expensive.
For thermal paste:
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=170&Itemid=1&limit=1&limitstart=5