Hello Community!
My name is Nathan, and this is my first post and question set here, I hope ya'll can help. I am planning to build a new gaming desktop to replace my laptop as my main gaming computer. Games I am anticipating are Elderscrolls 5: Skyrim, Battlefield 3, and Diablo 3 (if the graphics style of the games has a major impact on how a PC should be built), and it will be used alot for streaming movies and videos from Netflix and youtube as well .
I read through the Homebuilt PC Buying Guide by jbakerlent on the website here ( http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/288311-31-homebuilt-buying-guide ). It seems to be a year old, but I'll still use it as a reference for myself as I continue on here.
Based on the BestConfig threads in the New Builds forum I am looking at around 1-2000 dollars, but my budget for the project is more flexible than that.
I don't know if this is a bad idea, but I was thinking about spending less on the processor (based on jbakerlent's charts, so to avoid extra cost on features not needed by running intense game visuals) and instead focus most of the investment into a high end graphics card or crossfire set up. I haven't kept up on my computer stuff for several years though and my logic here is probably very flawed. Any input from the community to correct my thinking if so would be great.
Based on jbakerlent's buying guide, I was mostly considering these. I figure they are out of date now though and I'll be getting different hardware, but as an example I'll use them because I find the BestConfig threads more confusing. The jbakerlent's post has lots of definitions and explanations to help me understand whats what
Processor-
AMD Athlon II X3 445 (though I don't have a personal preference for AMD vs. Intel yet though)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103872&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1n6514hdj49bd
Mobo-
Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128435&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1umetmp57w034
GPU-
I got stuck when looking at Graphics cards. I'm not a graphics/visual craver exactly, mostly because my current and previous computers were quite limited. I usually use high resolution and lower game graphic settings to try and smooth jaggies and keep higher frame rate, and I like having a far view distance (I dislike object/world pop-in), and very low to no shadows. Like I said though, mostly because of my system, but I probly would use and like high to max settings if I had the option.
Monitor-
I have an Acer 20" 1680x1050 LCD stored from my last desktop I will probably use for this again. The box says it has DVI connections as well as the older blue monitor cable (seriel?), so a GPU that would support one of those naturally or with a converter cable would be prefered, though I could get a new monitor if needed.
I have been thinking about this project a long time, but have been too afraid of hitting hardware compatibility issues to go through with it. Any help and pointers from the community will be amazing.
Thank you every one!
-Nathan-
My name is Nathan, and this is my first post and question set here, I hope ya'll can help. I am planning to build a new gaming desktop to replace my laptop as my main gaming computer. Games I am anticipating are Elderscrolls 5: Skyrim, Battlefield 3, and Diablo 3 (if the graphics style of the games has a major impact on how a PC should be built), and it will be used alot for streaming movies and videos from Netflix and youtube as well .
I read through the Homebuilt PC Buying Guide by jbakerlent on the website here ( http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/288311-31-homebuilt-buying-guide ). It seems to be a year old, but I'll still use it as a reference for myself as I continue on here.
Based on the BestConfig threads in the New Builds forum I am looking at around 1-2000 dollars, but my budget for the project is more flexible than that.
I don't know if this is a bad idea, but I was thinking about spending less on the processor (based on jbakerlent's charts, so to avoid extra cost on features not needed by running intense game visuals) and instead focus most of the investment into a high end graphics card or crossfire set up. I haven't kept up on my computer stuff for several years though and my logic here is probably very flawed. Any input from the community to correct my thinking if so would be great.
Based on jbakerlent's buying guide, I was mostly considering these. I figure they are out of date now though and I'll be getting different hardware, but as an example I'll use them because I find the BestConfig threads more confusing. The jbakerlent's post has lots of definitions and explanations to help me understand whats what
Processor-
AMD Athlon II X3 445 (though I don't have a personal preference for AMD vs. Intel yet though)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103872&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1n6514hdj49bd
Mobo-
Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128435&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1umetmp57w034
GPU-
I got stuck when looking at Graphics cards. I'm not a graphics/visual craver exactly, mostly because my current and previous computers were quite limited. I usually use high resolution and lower game graphic settings to try and smooth jaggies and keep higher frame rate, and I like having a far view distance (I dislike object/world pop-in), and very low to no shadows. Like I said though, mostly because of my system, but I probly would use and like high to max settings if I had the option.
Monitor-
I have an Acer 20" 1680x1050 LCD stored from my last desktop I will probably use for this again. The box says it has DVI connections as well as the older blue monitor cable (seriel?), so a GPU that would support one of those naturally or with a converter cable would be prefered, though I could get a new monitor if needed.
I have been thinking about this project a long time, but have been too afraid of hitting hardware compatibility issues to go through with it. Any help and pointers from the community will be amazing.
Thank you every one!
-Nathan-