Building or buying a pc

[redy.]

I like jobba's config. nice job!

however, (like jobba already stated) get a SSD! This is the biggest performance boost you can have. 250GB is about 80$ and it is way worth it.

 

one question that didnt came up yet:

You talk about you dint have too much trouble with your old system. Can you use any old components like the power supply / case / memory etc? This would save $ you could invest in other components.

[Platonic]

Also if your new at building PC's, the internet and youtube is your friend, and so are these forums.

Taking a look at this later, you guys are great. Only problem is that you keep using amazon.com which makes your prices often pretty optimistic

 

I like jobba's config. nice job!

however, (like jobba already stated) get a SSD! This is the biggest performance boost you can have. 250GB is about 80$ and it is way worth it.

 

one question that didnt came up yet:

You talk about you dint have too much trouble with your old system. Can you use any old components like the power supply / case / memory etc? This would save $ you could invest in other components.

That's one of the few things I was certain of indeed (ssd). Have seen what an ssd can do.

My old system aka the one I'm using right now is an old laptop (dell vostro 3358). I'm not planning on murdering it just yet even if it was any use

My old desktop... Was garbage at the end (think it's from 2009). I kept a few parts but it will take me 2 weeks before I can see them (I'm somewhere else now). Probably won't be much though

 

I'm gonna let this rest for 2 weeks (exams upcoming) but I already wanted to have something to start with so I can start right away when my exams end. I will certainly keep you guys informed of my choice and of how it works. And I'll bug you for more help once I'm ordering for sure

[RendeL]

I'd also be aware of couple more facts:

 

- CPU/GPU standard fans: I am not sure if this is fixed, but Intel used to have very noisy cpu standard fans, I mean like mine is atm, it is like sitting next to a vacuum cleaner, very annoying Also standard GPU fan(s) might be noisy, however I believe the new mobo's support software for controlling the fan speeds and even the mobo's bios might have something built in for that.

 

- Case: A good case has very good "tunnels" for air flow inside the case to prevent heating inside and on the parts. Most if not all of the cheap cases has very simple and bad structure when it comes to airflowing. Something to think about maybe, because you might end up buying many useless expensive fans when you could've saved money in the first place by buying a good case

A good case has big fans in it ready, a small fans usually are noisy like cheap cases usually have.

 

HDD: Still I figure how much data space do you need, because 240 GB is very little these days and if you fill it/keep it almost full, it makes pc slower. OS part should keep clean and have plenty of free space. I'd still get one ssd (128GB maybe, is it much cheaper than 240GB?) for the OS and programs NEEDED there (not all programs need to be installed on C/ , like ET for example) and a sata hdd for movies, pics and...

 

If you are not sure about your current pc if some parts could be used from it (like hdd), google cpu-z and let it check what parts your pc has and post here the results.

[Vanaraud]

Remembered a few things:

 

- get 1x 8GB RAM stick, if not going with a mobo with 4 free RAM slots then populating all 2 RAM slots with 2x 4GB set restricts further upgrading abilities, 2x4GB wouldn´t get any significant perf gains anyways. Also 1600Mhz for ddr3 or 2133Mhz for DDR4 is max with H\B chipsets, only Z chipset allows RAM to run on higher speeds, it defaults better sticks to default speed...

- get better PSU- that Cooler Master 550 PSU is actually a 485W PSU

- in rendering AMD FX 8xxx series might\might not have perf gain over i3, but i3 has definitely better 1 core perf- ET uses only 1 core. So for ET Intel would be better.

- dont go with Silverstone PSU, waste of money

- (In my opinion Kingston made a bad move when sending review samples out to magazines and afterwards switched SSD memory chips to worst ones, there are more cheaper options than v300, also PNY 1311 is priced too high for very poor perf)

(Tried win10 and it messed up scaling on 1440p monitor, I have 125% scaling on desktop and works on Win8.1 with ET also, on win10 it zoomed ET in also:P )

- I don´t see a reason to get i3 + poorly performing  gt 720 when Broadwells int GPU does much better, even as good as r7 240\gt740. Though you´d pay about 80 premium but adds an i5 into PC, later a 150.- GPU can be added for great perf...Before Broadwell a separate GPU was always better, it is NOT the case anymore. And I´m eager to see what AMD brings out. He made deals for PS4+ MAC for his new APU-s... Not saying to go for Broadwell, but saying not to go for GPU under GTX 750\r7 360\260...

[Platonic]

So the parts I still have...
-Graphics card: http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-EN8400GS-SILENT-51-512M/dp/B017O2DJYU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464616788&sr=8-1&keywords=EN8400GS+SILENT%2FP%2F512M
-A very noisy dvd drive, but I think I'll use that one. I won't need dvds often but I don't want a computer without one. Model is DH-16A1P13C.
-2 1gb RAM sticks. Quite useless I suppose.
-Western Digital WD3200AAJS-22RYA0 320GB harddrive. Not going to use that one because I'm afraid of virus infection.

Any thoughts on the graphics card?

 

 

[Vanaraud]

-I think todays APU-s have more powerful int GPU-s than the 8400GS model, wouldn´t use it.

DVD-drive, as long they still produce them, can be switched out easily any time- if it works and doesn´t braeke ur CD\DVD-s, why not.

-1GB RAM is not much by todays standards and I guess it´s not even DDR3. S\N maybe helpful if any more specifics isn´t readable from the sticks, or if its still running in PC GPU\CPU-z programs can be helpful. Not usuable probably.

-Have 1 WD 320GB running also, don´t see a reason not to use it. You can always get a CD\USB bootable linux or there should be Diskpart\Gparted Live available- partitioning tool running on basic linux. Wipe it clean with format, especially with low level format.  (not actual LLF: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_formatting#Low-level_formatting_.28LLF.29_of_hard_disks digged into it and found from Seagate LLF tools in the days, go figure)Hard Drive companies had low level formating tools released before, now I only found Cloud Sync from there site, sigh and facepalm...

 

I´ve not erased my HDD lately, last time I used Seagates own tool. What you´d want to do is create a tool from clean computer, then install only this HDD to avoid it to infect your system and low level format  erase your disk with writing it with zeros: http://askubuntu.com/questions/142858/how-to-zero-out-a-drive for a starting point. HDD naming can change from distribution to distribution or in time, for instance sda\sd1, fdisk -l should show the correct disk name.

If HDD and its MBR is zero-filled it should wipe any traces of malware let on disk with usual formatting. Usual format nowadays doesn´t even erase data on disk, not to mention touching the MBR. Just for case could use zero-filling on MBR separately. And afterwards do couple of usual delete\format on whole disk, install GRUB and then proceed with Windows installation. Should "mess" with the data on disk enough... It seems annoying at first but in the end it comes just down to googling: "ubuntu do this and that" Ubuntu is great for newbies, it has thoroughly answered topics on anything. Fedora\Mint etc need some more discovering by yourself. (even zero-fill doesn´t help you with Samaritan installed, but now I may mix RL with Person Of Interes series )

 

If you are not in a hurry, then AMD is coming up with its new lineup, if its as good as rumors go then GTX 970 can be bought below 300.- with great efficieny. June\start of July if you can wait till then;)  AMD zen CPU-s come in the end of the year or even next year, so too long to wait atm. If you want a SSD, then the prices have dropped lately enough and there are rumors there will be shortage on SSD NAND chips, so perfect time to grab one atm.

 

Edit, me and edits... Forgot to mention PC case and power supply(a decent one) can save up some money also. (Also in EST there´s a local website with reputation system, have got couple of good deals on  refurbished parts. Even a decent gaming rig can be purchesed for around 500 these days. So if new PC is not a must and theres a local tech forums around...100% reputation over time over long time is almost trustworthy )

[OnionKnight]

It's much better to build the PC yourself, but you have to pick the best parts. If you buy a standalone PC, it may be more reliable and you'll have support you can contact if something goes wrong. 

However, These guys have all mentioned some damn great builds for you.

Here's my build for you. I think this build is both uses less power, delivers performance and is efficient. You'll save power and juice out performance that most people use today for gaming.

I included an OS and ODD into this build.

This build costs $570 or 505 euro.

 

OS: Windows 10 64bit $88: http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Home-System-Builder/dp/B00ZSI7Y3U?ie=UTF8&keywords=Windows%2010%2064&qid=1463319616&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

 

CPU: i3-6100 $116 - Snappy, more efficient and reliable than any AMD: http://www.amazon.com/Intel-BX80662I36100-i3-6100-Cache-Processor/dp/B015VPX2EO/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1463319255&sr=1-1&keywords=i3-6100

 

GPU: EVGA GTX 750 Ti $110 : Uses 60w compared to 100w on the r7 360 and is ~ to GTX 960: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dcomputers&field-keywords=GTX+750+ti

 

MOBO: Gigabyte DDR4 LGA 1151 $70:http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-LGA1151-Intel-Motherboard-GA-H110M-/dp/B0165YUDTM/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1463318442&sr=1-2&keywords=lga+1151+motherboard

 

RAM: Crucial 1-slot 8gbs DDR4 $35: http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Ballistix-Single-PC4-19200-288-Pin/dp/B00UFBZOVE/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1463319119&sr=1-2&keywords=8gb+ddr4

 

HDD: Seagate 7200RPM 1TB $50: http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Desktop-3-5-Inch-Internal-ST1000DM003/dp/B005T3GRNW?tag=gcgctest-20

(I know this seems a little weird, however this build cost $570. If you wish, you could take out the Seagate, save $50, and put in an PNY/Sandisk 240gb SSD into it.): $62 http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Plus-240GB-2-5-Inch-SDSSDA-240G-G25/dp/B00S9Q9VS4/ref=sr_1_5?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1463318991&sr=1-5&keywords=SSD

 

PSU: EVGA 500w $40: http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Continuous-Warranty-Supply-100-W1-0500-KR/dp/B00H33SFJU/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1463319343&sr=1-1&keywords=500w+psu

 

CASE #30: Rosewill Micro ATX Mini Tower: http://www.amazon.com/Rosewill-Micro-Tower-Computer-SRM-01/dp/B00ZPWOA6I/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1463318879&sr=1-1&keywords=MATX+case

 

ODD $20: Samsung 1.5gbs: http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Optical-Drive-SH-224DB-BEBE/dp/B00CE58ZYC/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1463319437&sr=1-3&keywords=ODD

 

Also if your new at building PC's, the internet and youtube is your friend, and so are these forums.

 

I approve of this.