Download the Tom's Hardware App from the App Store
The reference for current tech news
Yes No
Ads
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Systems > Homebuilt > My new pc?

My new pc?

Forum Systems : Homebuilt My new pc?

Page:    Previous 1 2 Next Bottom Search this thread
Word :    Username :           
 
- 0 +

Hi, im Mark, and i'm new here!
I want to build a gaming pc, because im getting bored with gaming on console.
I wouldn't classify myself as an extreme newb on the subject, but im not that much of a hardware expert. I've beem wanting to build my own pc for a while now, and i have a budget of arround 900 dollars(600 euros).
I've been googling arround quite a bit, and this is what i've come up with.
CPU: intel core i5 2500k, for arround €130
GPU: Nvidia GTX 460 1gb for arround € 180
RAM: 4gb corsair ddr3 RAM, For 40 euros
MOBO: asus p755d evo for €150

Now, I already have a nice keyboard, mouse and display from my old pc,
And I think I can use my hdd from my old pc as well. I also already have windows 7 premium laying arround so i dont have to buy that as well.
Are there a lot of expenses that I've missed here? Or do you have a diffrent suggestion thats way better or cheaper then what i've written down here?
I'd like to be able to max out most games, but im not expecting to play crysis on max.

So if you would like to add stuff to my build, it would be aprreciated really much!

Reply to mw2fan
Register or log in to remove.

good build, But i would substitute the gtx 460 for this 5850: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product
It's like the best deal on newegg right now. Significantly cheaper than the 460, same performance if not better.
Also, you have the wrong motherboard. That motherboard supports LGA 1156, you need an LGA 1155 like this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product
Remember you will need a quality PSU, something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product
and don't forget the case. The case depends, because you want one that both looks cool and has good airflow.

Hope it helps!

Reply to striker410
- 0 +

Thanks, so that's basically all I need to buy, before I bring it to the pc shop and have it built for me? Do i need a sound card ??

Reply to mw2fan

You do not need a sound card, as that motherboard has very good built in sound.
Also, why bring it into the shop? Assembling a pc is very simple, and there are many tutorials on this website. I encourage you to get a quote on how much it would be to have them build it, as it may be worth the extra money to just build it yourself.

Just my 2 cents.

Reply to striker410
- 0 +

Thanks, but do you really need to like solder wires and glue stuff, or is it just a matter of sliding things into place??

Reply to mw2fan

Lol, If you have to bust out a soldering gun, you are gonna blow something up.

It's a very simple process, with the most challenging being applying the right amount of thermal paste in my opinion. Nowadays, computers are almost made to be built by the average consumer.

But, there is a small chance you could mess something up if you arent careful. That's why I suggested getting a quote from your computer store see how much they charge.

Here is an excellent tutorial on how to build your very own pc: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] e-building

Reply to striker410
- 0 +

Thanks a TON for the support, really appreciated!
I just have a feeew questions left though;
1: would there be a noticable increase in speed/gaming stuff with 8gb ram instead of 4 or would it be a waste of money?
2: would 2 of those GPU's you suggested work good in SLI or can I get a better single GPU for the same price?
3: How would this rig run most games? Maxed out on 1080p? With the exeption of really heavy games like crysis 1.

Oh yeah, so what I understood from that tutorial you sent me it's basically just clicking stuff into place and nothing really complicated?
Also, would that MOBO you sent support 5.1/7.1 dolby digital surround? I have a very expensive headset so that would be cool if they worked together!

Again, thanks alot for helping out a total newb here!

Reply to mw2fan

No problem, we try.
1. Most games cannot take advantage of more than 4GB, but 8GB is what most people are picking if they can afford it, so that when a game comes along that needs more than 4GB, they can run it.
2. The 5850's can be put into crossfireX (AMD's version of SLI), but some people say it's a driver nightmare. Also, I believe you budget was $900, so that might be kind of difficult. But keep in mind you can always add one later!

 

(also, I forgot to take into account that you aren't in the US. If you can get a better deal on the GTX 460 then the 5850, choose the 460.)

 

3. At 1920x1080, you should be able to play all games (except for CRAZZYYY ones like Crysis and Metro 2033) on high/max. BFBC2 for instance should run at 60fps on high.

 

The ASRock Extreme4 does in fact support 7.1 surround.

 

If you wish to crossfire in the future, you will need a higher wattage PSU, like this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

 

Once you decide for sure what you want, help us out and post the links here so we can check them out!


Message edited by striker410 on 05-05-2011 at 03:10:28 AM
Reply to striker410
- 0 +

I kinda forgot, that budget is only for basic hardware like Mobo, cpu, gpu, and ram. I already have all the other supplies. The pc store told me they'd assemble that for €50, so im just gonna do it myself :p
I already have 4gb of ddr2, so what would i benefit from the most? 8gb of ddr2 or 4gb of ddr3??
I also saw that the GTX 460 is just 10 euros more then the 5850, but my guess is that the 460 will be better for me since I plan on SLI right? Also, would buying 2 cards with 2gb of video-ram be overkill?(so 4gb vram in sli) or would i benefit from it.. And finally: which card is most suited for overclocking? The GTX 460 or the 5850?

Reply to mw2fan
- 0 +

One more thing, i wouldnt need to buy a new case right? I have this old packard bell laying arround, but would the hardware just fit in ANY case i buy or do i need to be on the lookout for certain features?

Reply to mw2fan

At just 1080p, you will NEVER need 4gb of vram. That option is for people with 3-5 screens, and really need that vram.
Also, the 5850's can SLI, but it's know as CrossfireX (google it).
And get DDR3 ram. DDR2 is much slower. 4 GB is plenty.

A GTX 460 can overclock higher, but the 5850 is above and beyond it even at stock clocks. Get the 5850, it's better than the 460 by a bunch.


Also, if you are planning on making a high performance pc, you will need a new case.
Nowadays, cases not only look cool and hold the parts, but serve a very important function. Cooling. These parts get hot under load, and you need a bunch of fans to move the heat away.
The best budget case out there right now is the HAF 912: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119233
No fancy lights, but it definitely gets the job done in terms of cooling.

Reply to striker410
- 0 +

I hope you see this message, because I've been posting here since a day ago and I dont see my new messages appearing :s but yeah, here goes:
So if I made a list of absolutely everything I needed to buy in order to build this pc:
Gpu, Cpu, Mobo, Ram, PSU, A case and thermal paste, a dvd reader thingy, and thats all? If I just have those things i can just piece 'em together into a pc?? I already have a SATA hdd, so will that just work?
If I need anything more, please tell me, it feels like im leaving a lot out.

Reply to mw2fan
- 0 +

Probably my final questions:
Will the PSU you recommended be enough for two of those sapphire 5850 hd's in CrossfireX, 4gb ram and an intel i5 2500k? 650w doesnt seem enough to me..
And: what do you think is the bottleneck in this build?
My best bet is the HDD, does it offer a huge performance boost if I invest in a better hdd/ssd?

Reply to mw2fan
- 0 +

I have a corsair pro psu running 2 gtx 580's in sli its a 750 watt the brand matters alot on psus.

Reply to cia24
- 0 +

How much are those? I cant find it on newegg, could you send me a link or tell me how much they run for? Thanks man!

Reply to mw2fan
- 0 +

I guess newegg doesnt have them atm but tigerdirect does.


http://www.tigerdirect.com/applica [...] CatId=2533

Reply to cia24

^that 650 I linked will be just fine. A 5850 Crossfire only pulls around 500w anyway. And all an SSD does is make the computer start up faster/make games start faster. Wait to get an SSD when the price drops.

Reply to striker410
- 0 +

Yea but that PSU you linked is 650w right? If the GPUs alone use up 500w, is there enough power for the rest of the system??

Reply to mw2fan

Lol no, you misunderstand. THE WHOLE SYSTEM used 500w, on a less efficient rig. http://www.guru3d.com/article/rade [...] ossfire/22 If you look at the bottom, it says each card's maximum wattage is 150w. So the cards would only use 300w, the CPU is a 95w, which leave around 250w for everything else. That means your system will be running at around 450w, leave alot of headroom. I wouldnt worry.

Reply to striker410
- 0 +

(God i'm so stupid lol)
But back to an earlier comment from me, are there any more parts i need to order or is it just
Cpu
Gpu
Mobo
Ram
Case(with built-in coolers)
PSU, thermal paste, and a dvd reader? If i have those parts can I then just piece 'em together into a PC?
BTW, you guys are awesome for helping me out!

Reply to mw2fan

You aren't stupid, you are new at this, and I poorly worded my statement. And I think you are ready! If you have any leftover budget, be sure to grab some good games. I am partial to BFBC2 :D 15 bucks on steam!

Reply to striker410
- 0 +

Awesome, I love battlefield BC2 on the 360, kinda hyped for battlefield 3 actually.
I guess Ill start ordering the parts, and ill let you know how the build's going along! Thanks a ton for helping me!

Reply to mw2fan
- 0 +

I just heard I can get the AMD Phenom II X6 1100T Black Edition for the same price as the i5 2500k.
But seeing the i5 is a quad core and the phenom II X6 is a six-core, my question is: what's the better processor? I5 2500k or Phenom II X6??

Reply to mw2fan

the 2500k is better. It's confusing, but it's simply a much better processor. Here is a benchmark to back it up: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/203?vs=288 (make sure to note the Higher is better/Lower is better)
As you can see, the 2500k dominates the 1100t.

Reply to striker410
- 0 +

Okay, thanks.
Purely from a gaming perspective, what would be a better rig?
A: Core i5 2500k with 2 sapphire radeon hd 5850s in crossfire, or
B: Core i7 2600k with 1 sapphire radeon hd 5850?
I guess the smartest move is to go with rig B, and then buy another 5850 when I have enough money..

Reply to mw2fan

No, Rig A is better. This is because the i7-2600k and i5-2500k are IDENTICAL. The only difference is the 2600k has HyperThreading, which allows it to use 8 threads. In gaming, they perform exactly the same (except the 2600k has a tiny 100mhz boost). So, go 2500k and 5850 Xfire.

P.S. if you get a good deal on a 6850, get some. They crossfire better than 5850's.

Reply to striker410
- 0 +

Well, two 6850s are 60 dollars more then two 5850s, so unless the diffrence is worth 60 dollars im gonna stick with the 5850.
So what I saw was: the 5850 is faster, but the 6850 is more 'future-proof'..
But if it gives me like 2fps extra im not going to shell out the extra cash, so is the diffrence really notable/worth 60 dollars??

Reply to mw2fan
- 0 +

I just learned that if I save my money for a little longer, I can buy 2 6870s..
Would they be worth the price diffrence over the 5850 or 6850 crossfire?

Reply to mw2fan

UMM... Isn't that mobo an 1156 socket?

------------------------------ 650D - HX-850 - 8GB Vengeance - i5 2500k @ 5GHz - Asus P8P67 Deluxe - eVGA GTX580 - Asus DVD/RW 24x - Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB - Scythe Kaze Server - OCZ Vertex 2 80GB - XSPC Rasa 750 RS240

 

Reply to intel1502

- 0 +

So what does that mean? I dontn understand

Reply to mw2fan

No, the mobo is fine. He didnt update his list at the top.
Mw2fan, go ahead and edit your top post with the parts you are buying.

Reply to striker410
- 0 +

:( It says i'm not allowed to edit posts..
But do you think the 6870s are worth the price diffrence??

Reply to mw2fan

No. A 5850 performs almost as well as the 6870. You'd be better off going 5850.

Reply to striker410
- 0 +

Ati and Nvidia are good cards, A ati 6850 will do just fine. Though I HIGHLY reccomend you get VERY good airflow in your case.

Reply to Addison

Addison, please don't give advice when you don't know what you are talking about.

Reply to striker410
- 0 +

Alright, Dual 5850s it is! Thx for the help guys! You are awesome for helping me, n I appreciate it a lot. Ill let you guys know how the build's going!

Reply to mw2fan

No problem man! glad we could help.

Reply to striker410
- 0 +

striker410 wrote :

Addison, please don't give advice when you don't know what you are talking about.





Ah yes, think your smart what is error 1000006? BTW the ati 6850 and 5850 may just be the same BUT the 6850 has a HIGHER overclock abiltity.

Reply to Addison

Erm, the 5850 is better....Even an overclocked 6850 can't compete with an overclocked 6850...... You might be thinking of Crossfire scalability?

Reply to striker410
- 0 +

IDK what your talking about. Ever heard of liquid nitrogen? And yes a overclocked 6850 can compete with anthoer overclocked 6850 is what your saying.

Reply to Addison
- 0 +

Don't need to have a who is right contest in a persons asking for help thread.


Message edited by cia24 on 05-10-2011 at 12:19:28 AM
Reply to cia24
- 0 +

I just heard I can get an i5 2500k for 50 euros cheaper second hand.
Do processors have much wear and tear or will they stay working correctly no matter how much they were used.
BTW, it wasn't overclocked, and cooled properly.

Reply to mw2fan
- 0 +

Do they offer a 1-2 day doa warrenty?

Reply to cia24
- 0 +

Well it's off eBay, but the seller is one of those (I forgot the name for it)
Premium seller things? And the guy has 99% good feedback, but i dont think he does warranty? Should I save the money?

Reply to mw2fan

It depends. A processor is a very picky piece of machinery, so it's up to you whether the cost is worth the risk.

Reply to striker410
- 0 +

I'm not really sure what to expect, but they do wear out from use?
Like, after a years worth of gaming on a regular basis, is it still as new?

Reply to mw2fan

Well if it's a 2500k, it can't be that old. What's the warranty? If there's a good warranty on it, Go for it and spend a bit more on the other components. I personally would buy new since you are spending quite a bit on this computer anyway.

Reply to striker410

Wait where are you from in Europe? maybe I can help you on witch shop.

Reply to sap chicken
- 0 +

I'm actually from Holland :D
@striker410 So you say if the warranty's good, do it and then spend more on other parts? Where should I spent more on?
@sap chicken: I already have a great price comparisson site, called 'Tweakers', and it tells you where the price is the lowest. On there, the lowest cost is €160, but I can get the exact same one on ebay for 50 euros less.

Reply to mw2fan
- 0 +

Alright, I've been wondering this for a while, are the parts you told me to order EVERYTHING I need? I'm kinda worried I'll be building it and suddenly it turns out I need some little thing.. So you are saying that if I order Cpu, Gpu, mobo, ram, case, psu, then I have absolutely everything i need?

Also, I'll be playing a lot of GTA IV and other open world games, but I heard if you want to max out GTA IV you need a LOT of vram, so would GTA IV work on max settings with draw distance maxed, or would I be better of buying 1 Sapphire radeon HD 5850 1GB + 1 Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 2GB

Reply to mw2fan
Register or log in to remove.
Previous
1 2
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Systems > Homebuilt > My new pc?
Go to:

There are 1891 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Please mind

You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.

Add a reply Cancel
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
Ads
Latest best answer
1200-1400 Gaming PC - Want Opinions
By Why_Me, 11 minutes ago:

The Z68 boards are older and targeted for Sandy Bridge cpu's. For the newer Ivy Bridge...

Best offers
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them
Top experts