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Tom's Hardware > Forum > Systems > New Build > Building First Gaming Desktop

Building First Gaming Desktop

Forum Systems : New Build Building First Gaming Desktop

Hello,
I am going to build my first computer for gaming, i know what parts i need, graphics card, HDD, ETC...but i'm not sure what graphics card can go with what, or even what graphics card to get, i'm trying to do this for a max of 700.00 and that's pushing it. I was looking at the following specs, all of this is from another site, all except the graphics card:GeForce GTX 460 768MB, Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-Z68AP-D3 Intel Z68, CPU: Intel Core i3-2120, RAM: Kingston 4GB DDR3 (1333MHz), Western Digital Caviar Blue 750GB, Case: Cooler Master RC-430-KWN1 Elite 430, Power Supply: Cooler Master Elite Series 460 Watts. Any Tips? Would these specs work ok? Should i upgrade anything? Again, I'm trying to do this as cost efficiently as possible. Any Help You all would give me would be awesome. Thanks

Additionally the graphics card that i listed above is the graphics card that i picked after reading an article on your site, it was based on your benchmark test for Crysis 2 since i have heard from a few people that game is pretty graphics needs, so what i'm saying (since i'm rambling) have i misread that or is that a pretty good graphics card? Also how many fans should i need?

Message edited by clearycw on 01-03-2012 at 05:46:31 AM

Reply to clearycw

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817171046

if thats the power supply you should not buy it .
Look for a bronze rated psu with Active PFC

The GTX 460 1 gig is still able to run games well even though its a generation old . The 768mb one is a fair bit slower . But performance in a game is closely related to your monitors resolution
If you are just gaming and not encoding you could save money by getting an H61 mb , and spending the money you save on a better newer graphics card .

Check the RAM you are getting is 1.5 volt or less

Reply to Outlander_04

i apologize in advance for my ignorance, but what is a better graphics card that i could get for approx the same price? I feel totally dumb when it comes to the hardware in computers (software is totally diff), additionally what is the H61 mb you are talking about. Again sorry, i'm dumb when it comes to this stuff

I found a Bronze PFC but i still need some assistance on the other parts, Thanks again Outlander, you've been a big help

Message edited by clearycw on 01-03-2012 at 06:28:05 AM

Reply to clearycw

H61 is a chip on the motherboard . Z68 is a later version with more features

Z68 can help you overclock some intel processors [ but not the 2120] , and it can make better use of an SSD hard drive . Its is the best chip set for intel processors IF you are using the relevant features .
If you are not then you can buy a perfectly good H61 based mb for considerably less
On newegg you can search for mb's with different chip sets .

On this site is a CHARTS tab , near the top . You can see relative performance of various graphics cards . The resolution of your monitor is critical . Each pixel has to be calculated by the graphics card for each frame so more pixels = less frames per second or a more powerful graphics card

Reply to Outlander_04

So if i get a low end monitor i'm gonna need a better graphics card?

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to clearycw

What do you think of this one Outlander? Its around my ideal price

http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce [...] 228&sr=8-6

http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce [...] 228&sr=8-6

Message edited by clearycw on 01-03-2012 at 07:14:17 AM

Reply to clearycw

clearycw wrote :

So if i get a low end monitor i'm gonna need a better graphics card?

Other way round .
A lower resolution screen does not need as much graphics power .

If your monitor is 1080p [ 1920 x 1080 ] then you will probably want a more powerful graphics card

if your monitor is 1600 x 900 you can use less graphics power

The 550 ti is less powerful than the older GTX 460 768 mb

Reply to Outlander_04

lol i'm so confused outlander so which graphics card do i get? Thanks again for all the help

I'm confused because the older has the better power, but the newer has better graphics capability? So which do i go with? What do you think of this MB

http://www.amazon.com/ASRock-H61M- [...] 712&sr=1-4

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by clearycw on 01-03-2012 at 07:41:24 AM

Reply to clearycw

clearycw wrote :

what monitor do you have?

Reply to Outlander_04

lol i don't have one just yet, i'm still in the "planning" phase, i just don't want to get the wrong stuff or parts that are going to clash with one another, if you could recommend one or link to one on amazon that is relatively inexpensive and that would work well i would appreciate it, i'm gonna link to what i have picked out, just take a look and see what you think. Power Supply (as per your advice ): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817171060

Tower: http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Maste [...] 468&sr=1-1

HDD: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B [...] 98TDGR2ZJN

Processor: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B [...] -1&seller=

Graphics: http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce [...] 228&sr=8-6

Monitor: http://www.amazon.com/Viewsonic-VA [...] 985&sr=1-6

RAM: http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Veng [...] gy_e_img_c

Motherboard: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B [...] -4&seller=

Just Let me know what you think or if i should change something, left something out etc please, and once again thank you very much

Message edited by clearycw on 01-03-2012 at 08:43:20 AM

Reply to clearycw

This is a good place to start.

http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] ,3097.html

You can of course tweak the components such as the mobo to Z68, better ram deal, different case, etc.

------------------------------ The power supply is the most important component in any computer. Without a good quality one, you usually wind up with a really expensive door stop.
Reply to tlmck

this would be a better PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371035

and for graphics at that price
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150534

but i'd splurge a little more for a 6850 like
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102908

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Reply to ebola28

I think i'm gonna go get the psu that you recommended ebola as well as the Sapphire graphics, so with my current setup that i've listed above with your PSU and sapphire graphics i shouldn't have any conflicting issues as far as hardware conflicting with each other I.E. Processor and Graphics card. I cannot tell you how glad i am that i joined this forum, you guys have been nothin but help I'm just trying to get all my I's doted and my T's Crossed, i don't wanna order a bunch of parts and then have issues and have to send stuff back in and what not.

Reply to clearycw

ebola28 wrote :

What is the best size monitor for that graphics card?
Also, do i need a soundcard?

Message edited by clearycw on 01-03-2012 at 09:44:28 AM

Reply to clearycw

How much room do you have left in your budget for a monitor? and no, a soundcard is not needed in most cases...

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to ebola28

ebola28 wrote :

How much room do you have left in your budget for a monitor? and no, a soundcard is not needed in most cases...

I would like to spend no more than 200 if possible
(that would be pushing it)

Message edited by clearycw on 01-03-2012 at 08:00:58 PM

Reply to clearycw

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824236059
would be my recommendation at that price

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to ebola28

ebola28 wrote :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824236059
would be my recommendation at that price

Thanks Ebola and everyone else that helped me out, i think i have my computer picked out . I'm so excited

Reply to clearycw

This monitor is also very good. A friend has one.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824176198

------------------------------ The power supply is the most important component in any computer. Without a good quality one, you usually wind up with a really expensive door stop.
Reply to tlmck