49 replies to this topic

[Makenzie71]

My wife's Precision T5500 isn't cutting it as a gaming computer for a number of reasons...so we're looking at getting her a machine just to play on. Must play WoW and MWO nicely and reliably. We'd like to spend under $600 if at all possible. I'm curious if there's any decent desktops out there that we could slap a good GPU in and pull it off decently, or if it's just best to build from scratch?

Suggestions for machines or builds would be greatly appreciated!

[Lord Letto]

Build from Scratch 100%, For ~$600 I came up with this:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($64.98 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($19.88 @ OutletPC)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($6.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI Z97S SLI Krait Edition ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($100.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($76.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($51.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Raidmax ATX-502WBG ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit) ($102.93 @ Amazon)
Total: $609.49
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-03 10:20 EST-0500

Edited by Lord Letto, 03 February 2015 - 07:20 AM.

[Kuritaclan]

How about an i5 4460, Asrock B85 Anniversary Board, 8GB two stick kit 1600MHz CL9 Dual Ranked RAM, 1TB HDD (whatever is least expensiv for the capacity), since you only will have installed MWO and WOW you can also get a 256 SSD like crucial MX100/M550 and update the HDD later when you really need the space, no need for a extra cooler, since boxed cpu cooler is likely enough (maybee in the summer). Videocard 750TI/R7 265 (or a second hand 7950/7970 R9 280/280X GTX670/680/760/770), Coolermaster 300 Case, a pricey ~$5 120mm fan for the front (3Pin) for better airflow, A 450W PSU like the LC-Power Gold Series LC9550 V 2.3 500W, Super Flower Golden Green HX 450W or Corsair CS Series Modular CS 450M 450W a Win 8Key on e-bay (Win Install filles are on pc sites for usb ~$40)

Edited by Kuritaclan, 03 February 2015 - 08:35 AM.

[Oderint dum Metuant]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($64.98 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.75 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($66.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Toshiba Product Series:DT01ACA 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($72.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($42.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($37.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($13.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $618.64
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-03 11:06 EST-0500

[Goose]

Are you up for overclocking your significant others' system?

Find another $250 …

[Makenzie71]

No overclocking. Also, we already have our own OS....using 7 Pro..

I'm not too familiar with what's special about processors, but most people have suggested I3's and I5's. What's different between those and the 3528?

[Kuritaclan]

Makenzie71, on 03 February 2015 - 09:20 AM, said:

No overclocking. Also, we already have our own OS....using 7 Pro..

I'm not too familiar with what's special about processors, but most people have suggested I3's and I5's. What's different between those and the 3528?

3582 is Anniversary Pentium ->2 core - 2 threads with 100% but oc able and therefore in performance over i3 but lacking multitasking.
i3 2core 2HT simulated cores -> 4 threads (2 treads with 100% and 2 with like 25% performance)
i5 4core 0HT -> 4threads with 100%

[Oderint dum Metuant]

Makenzie71, on 03 February 2015 - 09:20 AM, said:

No overclocking. Also, we already have our own OS....using 7 Pro..

I'm not too familiar with what's special about processors, but most people have suggested I3's and I5's. What's different between those and the 3528?

Price chiefly, to fit an I5 (quad core) in your going to sacrifice a good portion of the budget compromising on the GPU.
An I3 isn't worth it at all.

The 3528 is an unlocked Haswell refresh CPU (dual core but performs very well under OC), you will need to overclock it there is no option. (but you need to do that really on any system for MWO)

Edited by DV McKenna, 03 February 2015 - 09:27 AM.

[Goose]

The i5 series will be quad-cores; That G3528 is a dual-core, but can be overclocked; i3 series stuff is dual, but also has Hyperthreading … For which we have no idea how useful it is to MW:O

We are the hard part about this build: If it wasn't for MW:O wanting real CPUs, you could build any ol' thing with a big graphics card, and be happy with it …

[Makenzie71]

To add a little more to it....

We do not need an OS. We can also probably use our existing 1tb hard drive/s. And, lastly, we have an Asus GTX560 we can use. We would still like a fair var in the build as if we use the 560 something will have to go in it's place.

[Oderint dum Metuant]

Makenzie71, on 03 February 2015 - 08:14 PM, said:

To add a little more to it....

We do not need an OS. We can also probably use our existing 1tb hard drive/s. And, lastly, we have an Asus GTX560 we can use. We would still like a fair var in the build as if we use the 560 something will have to go in it's place.

Even taking out the HDD and replacing the Pentium K your still over budget by $50.
You would have to use the 560 to move up into a quad core I5

[MechWarrior4172571]

DV McKenna, on 04 February 2015 - 01:31 AM, said:

Even taking out the HDD and replacing the Pentium K your still over budget by $50.
You would have to use the 560 to move up into a quad core I5

"Patience is a virtue"

A hardly used expression anymore?

All that couple have to do is to wait 1 month and their budget would increase because they didn't spend the last month... pretty simple, or so I thought.

[Goose]

Soooo this video card is only ~288mm, right?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($184.88 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright TRUE Spirit 90M Rev.A 39.4 CFM CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus Z87-A (NFC Express Edition) ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($58.50 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($74.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Antec One ATX Mid Tower Case ($42.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($36.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSC0B DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $436.32
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-04 18:33 EST-0500

Base Total: $527.81
Promo Discounts: -$36.49
Mail-in Rebates: -$55.00
Total: $436.32

Case will only hold a CPU cooler 155mm tall, but this one should be plenty for the CPU chosen.

The mobo is a gambit: Kind'a obscure, so much so the BIOS might not have been updated for the Haswell Refresh CPU I'm using here.

You can spend ~$2 and get an EVGA 750w PSU, but seemed overkill: Might be a good idea if you want to add a lot of HDDs later …

I can spend moar money, if you want. ;-)

[Lord Letto]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($174.69 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-HDS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 290 4GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($219.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Azza SIRIUS ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($47.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $597.63
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-04 19:02 EST-0500

[cSand]

People gonna sh*t on me, but if you're on a tight budget you should go AMD. The anniversary Pentium there is a low end chip that has good OCing features, but you will get a much better PC for most applications going with AMD instead of a 2 core cheapo pentium.

Although that guy above me with the i5 build made a pretty good one for decent price



FLAME SHIELD UP

Edited by cSand, 04 February 2015 - 04:06 PM.

[Makenzie71]

I'm not above using an AMD processor...I used one in my build a few years back and it performed admirably. The issue I had was when it came time to upgrade I didn't have a lot of options and ended up having to essentially start over. With the I-series I'm told that all the like-generation processors are compatible.

I'm also told that AMD processors really aren't the best for gaming but I don't know what it's in reference to...as said I was playing WoW and MWO nicely with my 620 Phenom. I'd gladly entertain builds that have AMD processors, but my preference is with the I3/5.

I rather like that build, Letto. I'm curious about that 920 though....I've heard there have been some issues with them. Does anyone here use a 920?


edit ~ not that's a 290. Temporarily dyslexic. Not that I know anything about the 290 either, though.

Edited by Makenzie71, 04 February 2015 - 04:15 PM.

[Makenzie71]

Anyone have any opinions on this build that was suggested to me:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2vL24D

[Jody Von Jedi]

I spent around 600.00 on a decent i5 w/8 GB ram and just upgraded the video card. I get 60 fps on medium settings.

Mine's just an off the shelf Acer from Tiger Direct.

[Makenzie71]

Do you mind showing which one? Of course that still puts us around the $750~800 mark but it's certainly something we're considering.

[Oderint dum Metuant]

Makenzie71, on 04 February 2015 - 07:44 PM, said:

Anyone have any opinions on this build that was suggested to me:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2vL24D

That build will perform well for WoW no doubt.
For MWO not so much, (unless the last patch has become a panacea) MWO is all about fast per core performance which is why the dual core Pentium performs just as well.

If your saying your upping your budget to $750 that will improve things.
But don't buy off the shelf.... You'll get more for your money building it yourself with better quality parts

Lord Lettos build above is great for the price a good CPU and high end GPU.
If you do have the extra cash to play with, upgrade the motherboard to a full ATX and a better case.

Edited by DV McKenna, 05 February 2015 - 02:25 AM.