Hello,
I haven't built a computer since I joined the Navy (going on six years now) and my current laptop is on its last legs, so I'm looking for advice on building my own system. I'm not so presumptive as to ask a forum-goer to hand walk me through every choice, and I'll gladly read any links posted and thank you, but I'll outline some of my requirements and questions.
The system is intended primarily for gaming, with some basic Microsoft Office (or OpenOffice) work for when I have to bring work home.
Budget is roughly 2,000, plus or minus a few hundred. I'd rather spend money now and have it last me three or four years than chintz on it and be replacing gear when the next big game comes out.
I want to stay away from overclocking, because reliability is a prime concern for me and I'm honestly not proficient enough to feel comfortable monkeying around with clock settings and temperatures. I have enough stress worrying that the new headers and pipes I put on my Dodge Magnum are going to explode on any given drive that I don't want to add to my worries with a hot-rod PC. If this means I have to spend more to get a system that runs upcoming games like Mass Effect 3 well, so be it.
Finally, have the ins-and-outs of PC building changed that much in the past 5 years? I was there for the transition from IDE to SATA, and I know that SSDs are the new rage, but its still a job that can be done with a phillips head, some Arctic Silver and about a day's worth of work, right?
Thanks in advance for your response.
V/r,
IS1(SW/AW) David C Peters
II Marine Expeditionary Force, 2nd Intel BN
I haven't built a computer since I joined the Navy (going on six years now) and my current laptop is on its last legs, so I'm looking for advice on building my own system. I'm not so presumptive as to ask a forum-goer to hand walk me through every choice, and I'll gladly read any links posted and thank you, but I'll outline some of my requirements and questions.
The system is intended primarily for gaming, with some basic Microsoft Office (or OpenOffice) work for when I have to bring work home.
Budget is roughly 2,000, plus or minus a few hundred. I'd rather spend money now and have it last me three or four years than chintz on it and be replacing gear when the next big game comes out.
I want to stay away from overclocking, because reliability is a prime concern for me and I'm honestly not proficient enough to feel comfortable monkeying around with clock settings and temperatures. I have enough stress worrying that the new headers and pipes I put on my Dodge Magnum are going to explode on any given drive that I don't want to add to my worries with a hot-rod PC. If this means I have to spend more to get a system that runs upcoming games like Mass Effect 3 well, so be it.
Finally, have the ins-and-outs of PC building changed that much in the past 5 years? I was there for the transition from IDE to SATA, and I know that SSDs are the new rage, but its still a job that can be done with a phillips head, some Arctic Silver and about a day's worth of work, right?
Thanks in advance for your response.
V/r,
IS1(SW/AW) David C Peters
II Marine Expeditionary Force, 2nd Intel BN