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Topic:   Building a computer   (Read 9222 times)

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Zoo

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Building a computer
« on: January 24, 2013, 05:06:22 PM »
Guys, this year, I've decided to build a new computer. Being that I have ABSOLUTELY NO experience, I'm asking the most possible people for advice.

THE CHALLENGE
Build a computer that meets the following:
  • It must be fast enough to run most new games on low settings at 60 fps (Skyrim, PlanetSide 2, ect.)
  • The parts have to cost $600.00 or less total (Excluding hard drive, disk drive, case, and monitor which I'm getting for free from friends.)
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Gan

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Re: Building a computer
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2013, 05:59:15 PM »
Shouldn't be too hard.
Granted the 3 most expensive bits: CPU, GPU and Motherboard

High end:
$200 can get you a very high end GPU. More than enough to handle those games.
$300 can get you a core a top of the line i7.
$200 can get you a motherboard that can handle that i7 processor
Low end:
$50 can get you a normal but very capable GPU. Probably still more than enough to handle those games on medium quality.
$150 can get you an i3. $200 will give you an i5.
$100 will get you an okay, may not be super customizable motherboard.


On top of that there's other pieces of the puzzle. Ethernet/Wireless card, Audio card, other types of cards.
My computer is a Core 2 Duo laptop(very bad GPU) and has more than enough power for me. So I'm sure just a normal GPU and CPU from 2012/2013 will be able to provide stunning visuals. And you probably won't need more than a i3 processor. 8 gigs of ram is relatively cheap, $40. You can get a power supply to power your motherboard for $50. In fact you can probably fine a motherboard+CPU combination which should be cheaper than buying separately.

I suppose your main worry will be about your motherboard. It's essential that it'll be customizable when you want to update your GPU/CPU in a few years and also that it is compatible.

Now to search best buy for good deals...
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Gan

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Re: Building a computer
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2013, 06:11:36 PM »
$390 - i5 Core Processor + Motherboard Combo
$110 - Not too shabby GPU
$9 - Ethernet Card
$27 - Audio Card
$41 - 8 gigs ram
$60 - Power Supply

The motherboard only has 3 PCI slots. So probably only gonna fit a GPU, Ethernet Card and Audio Card. Hope you don't need wireless.
Now if you wanted to splurge and make sure you have the best experience:
Solid State Drive for Instantaneous Booting and Game Loading
Just keep your OS and games on the solid state, put everything else on the normal hard drive.

And if you want the best operating system available, there are ways of installing macs on these custom built PCs. They're called Hackintoshes.

Disclaimer: I have never built a machine myself, the parts above may not be the cheapest or best and they may or may not be compatible with each other.
« Last Edit: January 24, 2013, 06:14:08 PM by Gan »
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Zoo

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Re: Building a computer
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2013, 07:59:50 PM »
Needs a wifi card, also, because my router is in the basement. It really won't be that hard to do. The hardest part will be the construction (because I'm inexperienced.) but I think this'll be fun, and with the money I save by building it instead of buying it, I can buy games. Or possibly a Wii U. Wind Waker HD is pretty tempting...

EDIT: Nevermind, Wifi Cards are cheap. anything under 50$ doesn't concern me. I'm not building it until April. There are USB wifi adaptors, so that might be a thing I could do.

EDIT: Also, solid state drives are expensive, so that might be something to avoid to start. As for OS, I'm going with Windows 7, because it's the best for compatibility. I've already got a terabyte hard-drive, and solid state drives are awesome, but I dunno.
« Last Edit: January 24, 2013, 08:08:06 PM by Zoo »
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Zoo

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Re: Building a computer
« Reply #4 on: January 24, 2013, 08:09:26 PM »
Brands? I think I'll get an Intel CPU (Obviously), but apart from that, not sure.
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Zoo

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Re: Building a computer
« Reply #5 on: January 24, 2013, 08:16:34 PM »
You know what'd be SWEEEEEET?! Converting an old iBook into a gaming computer.... like "Extreme makeover laptop edition"  ;D
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Gan

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Re: Building a computer
« Reply #6 on: January 24, 2013, 11:18:13 PM »
That would be sweet but I think you'd have to completely gut the machine.
The motherboard probably doesn't support anything but arm architecture, I don't even know if it has a GPU and if it does it's integrated, and the motherboard won't allow very much ram and I doubt there's any PCI slots.

You'd have to be a very talented hardware/circuit person.
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Connors

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Re: Building a computer
« Reply #7 on: January 25, 2013, 12:19:29 AM »
I'll have to get in on the discussion sooner or later, this is something I'd like to do too. Of course, at the moment I already spent $500 on this laptop and more on college so I won't be building mine for a while.... But what better way to learn about putting together a computer than watching a friend do it?

Hey Zoo you think you could get photos when you're finally putting it all together?
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Zoo

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Re: Building a computer
« Reply #8 on: January 25, 2013, 02:08:55 PM »
Yeah, I'll take some pictures. I'm worried about breaking it while building it, but at least I'm not using water cooling LOL. I saw a video on YouTube where a guy was showing off his new computer and he opened it and the pipe burst and ruined his $3000 gaming computer...
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Gan

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Re: Building a computer
« Reply #9 on: January 25, 2013, 02:16:18 PM »
Ouch

I'm excited to see you put it together. :D
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Zoo

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Re: Building a computer
« Reply #10 on: January 25, 2013, 10:21:30 PM »
I'm picking out most if not all of the parts tonight, and Find out exactly how much it'll cost. Then it's only a matter of ordering and building it when I get all the money
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Gan

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Re: Building a computer
« Reply #11 on: January 26, 2013, 01:32:37 AM »
Post your list when ya finish it. I'd like to check compatibility and other requirements. Sometimes when you buy a part you realize you don't have a connector cord or slot to fit it.
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Connors

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Re: Building a computer
« Reply #12 on: January 26, 2013, 02:05:34 AM »
Pure H2O isn't a conductor so I bet you could get some deionized water and use that for a cooling system. I'm serious. There's contaminants in water that make it a conductor. Salt water conducts even better.
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Zoo

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Re: Building a computer
« Reply #13 on: January 26, 2013, 12:34:12 PM »
Potential parts list time!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006YM9JSW/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1357084869&sr=8-2&pi=SL75

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0033Z2BAQ/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1359181047&sr=8-1&pi=SL75

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0054L9PWO/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1359181181&sr=8-3&pi=SL75

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0045JHJSS/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1359181321&sr=8-1&pi=SL75

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003O8J11E/ref=aw_cr_item_title?qid=1359181521&sr=8-11

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0026ZPFCK/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1359182337&sr=8-1&pi=SL75

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003NREDC8/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1359182844&sr=8-3&pi=SL75

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003M9RWGG/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1359183133&sr=8-1&pi=SL75

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008IXLA8M/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1359183216&sr=8-1&pi=SL75

The total for these comes to around my goal, but I also need RAM and (unfortunately) an OS. And a motherboard (so that won't be cheap) I've got a monitor already, as well as a nice terabyte hard-drive (7200 RPM or something like that)

If you want to check the compatibility of these (I'm sure they aren't all compatible), that'd be great. Also, does anyone know of a good brand of RAM that's not too expensive? I'm gonna get 8GB, I think. I also need to pick out a motherboard... so much for a $600.00 budget.
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Zoo

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Re: Building a computer
« Reply #14 on: January 26, 2013, 04:04:00 PM »
Update: I'm getting an i5 instead. Much cheaper. Still quad core. 3.1GHz.

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128545

I gotta pick out RAM and then I'm set.
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