Newb Building a Gaming Computer

[HeThatMangles]

I posted this in the Gaming forums originally, I was directed here, specifically for the assistance of why_me.

Hello, I was shopping through Best Buy looking for a good gaming laptop to replace my MacBook that's starting to crap out on me. When I realized that there's no way to get a viable gaming laptop, I began fielding the idea of building a desktop computer in my mind, with a small netbook to complement it. I looked up videos of it and it looks like something I could do. This is my first time building a computer though, so I need help. Every other site on the planet sent me here. So for a decent computer (let's say, can run Brink at recommended settings), what can I expect to pay? And how would the project be difficulty-wise? I have a basic knowledge of computers, but nothing too in-depth. I'm good with software, but I've never mucked about the hardware side of things. Thanks in advance for the help.

Approximate Purchase Date:
This week.

Budget Range:
up to $750-800 after rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important:
Gaming, surfing the internet, schoolwork, music (including light recording/editing), movies.


Parts Not Required:
Mouse, monitor (I don't have it, but don't take it into account for the build)


Preferred Website(s) for Parts:
Wherever has good prices.

Country of Origin:
USA

Parts Preferences:
None

Overclocking:
No unless it's not too risky.

SLI or Crossfire:
I don't know what that means.

Monitor Resolution:
I don't own one.

Additional Comments:
None.

 

[springhalo]

Remember when asking for build advice, you should first fill out this form, so we can get a better idea as to what you need.


Approximate Purchase Date: (e.g.: this week (the closer the better))


Budget Range: (e.g.: 600-800) Before / After Rebates


System Usage from Most to Least Important: (e.g.: Folding@Home, gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies)


Parts Not Required: (e.g.: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS) **Include Power Supply Make & Model If Re-using**


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: (e.g.: newegg.com, ncix.com -- to show us selection & pricing)


Country of Origin: (e.g.: Grand Fenwick)


Parts Preferences: by brand or type (e.g.: I would like to use an AMD CPU & Biostar mobo with a 24" LCD and full tower case)


Overclocking: Yes / No / Maybe


SLI or Crossfire: Yes / No / Maybe


Monitor Resolution: (e.g.: 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200)


Additional Comments: (e.g.: Need to have a window and lots of bling, I would like a quiet PC)

 

[HeThatMangles]

Remember when asking for build advice, you should first fill out this form, so we can get a better idea as to what you need.

Ok thanks man, I'm new here. Working on it.

 

[genghiskron]

hopefully this will get you started. this is from a newegg shopping cart. make sure you enter the promo codes at the bottom.


SAMSUNG CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-222AB - OEM
Item #: N82E16827151233
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
$20.99


Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Item #: N82E16811129042
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
$69.95
$59.95


Seagate Barracuda ST3500413AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822148701
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
$39.99


MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video ...
Item #: N82E16814127565
Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
-$5.00 Instant
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate
$254.99
$249.99


Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
Item #: N82E16817371016
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
-$20.00 Instant
$79.99
$59.99


G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNS
Item #: N82E16820231394
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
$39.99


MSI H61M-E33 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813130588
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
-$5.00 Instant
$69.99
$64.99


Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52400
Item #: N82E16819115074
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
$189.99


Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit English 1-Pack - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116986
Return Policy: Software Standard Return Policy
$99.99
Subtotal: $825.87

Remove EMCKEKD24 Discount From Promo Code -$10.00
Remove EMCKEKD73 Discount From Promo Code -$15.00
Remove EMCKEKD52 Discount From Promo Code -$10.00

Grand Total: $794.74

 

[springhalo]

Adding a monitor into the mix is a difficult part of this. If you get a large monitor, it will cost more, and leave less money for a graphics card to run it. Assuming you spend around 180 dollars on a monitor, such as this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052

That gives you 600 bucks to work with. With that much, I'd suggest going with an i3-2100 build, getting a good graphics card to run the monitor...

 

[HeThatMangles]

Adding a monitor into the mix is a difficult part of this. If you get a large monitor, it will cost more, and leave less money for a graphics card to run it. Assuming you spend around 180 dollars on a monitor, such as this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052

That gives you 600 bucks to work with. With that much, I'd suggest going with an i3-2100 build, getting a good graphics card to run the monitor...

The monitor can be separate. The budget's for the actual hardware.

 

[springhalo]

hopefully this will get you started. this is from a newegg shopping cart. make sure you enter the promo codes at the bottom.

The only problem is that is lacking a monitor and a keyboard, two rather crucial parts to a build.

EDIT: Nevermind :3

 

[HeThatMangles]

-snip-

Thanks for the response. They've fixed the problem with the Sandy Bridge cards melting, right?

 

[springhalo]

Thanks for the response. They've fixed the problem with the Sandy Bridge cards melting, right?

I don't believe they ever had that problem.

 

[HeThatMangles]

I don't believe they ever had that problem.

It did happen, but they've fixed it. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cougar-point-recall-sata-6gbps,2896.html

 

[springhalo]

It did happen, but they've fixed it. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cougar-point-recall-sata-6gbps,2896.html

Oh. That problem. I wouldn't really call that melting, more like a faulty SATA line. It's all fixed up in the B3 revisions :3

 

[HeThatMangles]

Best answer selected by HeThatMangles.