The tower im thinking about is around 4k; am i doing this right?

ottograph

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Current Setup Alienware M17xR3: http://imgur.com/4UqmlNm http://imgur.com/Yq2VSgj
Looking at Origin PC: http://imgur.com/env34zW

I dont think im capable of building a pc so buying online is probably my only option. Id rather have way too much power then slightly not enough.

Approximate Purchase Date: this month

Budget Range: up to 4k

System Usage from Most to Least Important: game on the main monitor and watch movies/tv/streams on the second without fps drop on my main game

Are you buying a monitor: Yes 2; ~24inch monitors height adjustable or vesa compatible with hdmi and physical touch buttons (i.e. power, input etc..)

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Idc

Location: Des Moines IA

Parts Preferences: Not really

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe looking at SLI

Your Monitor Resolution: I want 1920x1080 or 1920x1200

Additional Comments: Right now im using my laptop as a second monitor and gaming on the monitor attached to it. I want to get a desktop with 2 monitors that i can game on the main monitor and watch movies/tv/streams on the second without fps drop on my main game. Also if internet poker becomes regulated in the US ill be playing ~12 tables while watching watch movies/tv/streams.

Any input on what i should get or where i should get it would be appreciated.

Also input on ~24inch monitors height adjustable or vesa compatible with hdmi and physical touch buttons (i.e. power, input etc..) would be nice too

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: The laptop doesnt do what i want it to well enough. Cant stand the fps drop while im gaming and watching something
 


If you have ever put together Lego as a kid, can read and use the internet, you can put together a computer. Just a matter of educating yourself how. I'l link to a couple of good build guides at the bottom to get you started.

Dont bother with pre-built options, they are vastly overcharging for whats in there. Also chances are you wont need such powerful hardware anyway, from what I can tell the systems main usage will be 1080p gaming and browsing the internet, a $1500 computer will have you more than covered for that.

If you could fill out this form, it will give us the info needed to best help you.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/353572-31-build-upgrade-advice

NCIX Build Guide.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84NvDMMrCNU
NCIX Installing Windows (ignore the bit about RAID).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfaUqk9wQOU
NCIX Tech Tips and the accompanying Linus Tech Tips Youtube channels are great resources, there is a video on just about everything between the two channels. One from a more straightforward retailers perspective (NCIX) with Linus Tech Tips being the more informal unboxer channel.

Newegg Build Series part 2 (3 covers windows and driver installs).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_56kyib-Ls

Tech-Report Build Guide.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea_bs5G1yYU
 

ottograph

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I cleaned it up. thanks.



Thats what i thought 2 years ago but now im stuck looking for an upgrade
 

mikerockett

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Something like this should put you in good stead.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($32.98 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($107.95 @ Mac Connection)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($135.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($379.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced ATX Full Tower Case ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 850W 80 PLUS Silver Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($122.75 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SN-208DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($26.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VS239H-P 23.0" Monitor ($174.99 @ Best Buy)
Monitor: Asus VS239H-P 23.0" Monitor ($174.99 @ Best Buy)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1739.55
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-07 09:11 EST-0500)

As manofchalk has already said, it really isn't as hard as people think putting a rig together.
 

ottograph

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Feb 7, 2013
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how much better do you think that pc is compared to my current one?
 

mikerockett

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It should perform much better. The limiting factor with your current set up is that it is a laptop. This means it's using low wattage mobile parts that do not have the same performance as their desktop counterparts.

For example, the 6990m in your laptop is roughly equivalent to an HD 6870 desktop GPU. The 7970 sits 6 tiers higher on Toms GPU hierarchy, it is generally considered a worthwhile upgrade as long as you go 3 tiers higher, so 6 tiers you will se a large improvement.

The same thing applies to the processor as well.
 
+1 to Mike's build, only changes I would make would be personal preference than any objection to hardware.

Chalk and Cheese is what its like to compare a laptop to a desktop, just know that it will outperform the laptop by a fair stretch.