Desktop Computers

Joeboo

Molten Core Raider
8,157
140
If I were building a new computer today, I would use this as my baseline:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1tNb0
PCPartPicker part list/Price breakdown by merchant/Benchmarks

CPU:Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor($229.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard:ASRock Z87 Extreme6 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard($174.99 @ Newegg)
Memory:G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory($59.98 @ NCIX US)
Storage:Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk($182.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card:Gigabyte GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card($254.99 @ NCIX US)
Case:Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case($47.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply:SeaSonic S12II 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply($71.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System:Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit)($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total:$1077.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-19 13:38 EDT-0400)
I would also fully expect to be able to build this exact system for ~$800 in November of this year, as we get closer to Black Friday. I used Black Friday last year to build a PC for about $800 that was no less than $1100 when I priced it a month before in October, and for months afterwards as well. For instance, grabbed 32GB of PC1600 G.Skill RAM for $140, an i5 3570k + ASRock mobo for $199, a 180GB Intel SSD for $89, gold-rated modular Seasonic 750W power supply for $99, etc. Many of those prices still haven't been that low again and we're sitting here 9-10 months after the fact.

Black Friday is absolutely NUTS for buying computer hardware online(I bought all my items online, no waiting in line outside stores for limited deals or anything), and we're really only a few months away from it. Anyone looking to upgrade right now would be wise to wait a couple months if it isn't urgent.

Black Friday/Cyber Monday in late Novoember is NUTS for computer hardware, I'll be timing all my upgrades/builds in the future to coincide with that time of year
 

TecKnoe

Molten Core Raider
3,182
51
anyone got any recommendations for a monitor? like what brand etc i dont know shit about them i have this same old ass lcd ive been using for like 8 years so i wanna upgrade not something giant maybe like 24+

are these benq gaming monitors worth it anyone with one that can chime in?

http://gaming.benq.com/
 

Zodiac

Lord Nagafen Raider
1,200
14
I have the "x-star" version of the qnix and it's pretty nice. Only thing is that I'm going to have to upgrade my video card now because I had a significant frame rate drop from the resolution bump.

If you don't want to go 27''/ higher resolution, I can vouch for the Dell 2412m.
 

gogusrl

Molten Core Raider
1,359
102
+1 for the koreans. I had a Shimian for more than a year and then upgraded to an X-star for 120hz and semi-glossy coating goodness.
 

Denaut

Trump's Staff
2,739
1,279
Yea.. no! You can keep your Win7 just as it is. I havent seen a single glowing review of Win8 (Nor 8.1) outside of people using tablets. Win8 is your Vista or Millennium Edition. Win7 is your XP.
Groupthink fail. Win8 is upgraded version of 7, I have it at home and use plenty of the new features daily. I still use Win7 at work and would prefer it to be 8, but I don't prefer it enough to bother asking for the upgrade now that it is pricier. If you are buying the OS outright there is absolutely no reason to go with 7 over 8.
 

McCheese

SW: Sean, CW: Crone, GW: Wizardhawk
6,895
4,277
Having used both Win 7 and Win 8, I opted for Win 7 when I built my new pc recently. Is Win 8 terrible? No, but I didn't find any of the new features particularly interesting or useful and Win 7 is what I'm used to. At this point, unless you're going into the realm of touch screen, it's personal preference which Windows you go with.
 

Mist

Eeyore Enthusiast
<Gold Donor>
30,512
22,435
Or if you like booting in under 2 seconds, that's another good reason for Windows 8. UEFI boot on any decent SSD is retarded fast.
 

bixxby

Molten Core Raider
2,750
47
anyone got any recommendations for a monitor? like what brand etc i dont know shit about them i have this same old ass lcd ive been using for like 8 years so i wanna upgrade not something giant maybe like 24+

are these benq gaming monitors worth it anyone with one that can chime in?

http://gaming.benq.com/
Big fan of Asushttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236103. I've had their 24 inch monitor for a few years now too. Never had any problems. I think my mom's even still using an old 20 inch monitor from mid 2000s perfectly fine too. They make a good product.
 

gogusrl

Molten Core Raider
1,359
102
[email protected]/* <![CDATA[ */!function(t,e,r,n,c,a,p){try{t=document.currentScript||function(){for(t=document.getElementsByTagName('script'),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute('data-cfhash'))return t[e]}();if(t&&(c=t.previousSibling)){p=t.parentNode;if(a=c.getAttribute('data-cfemail')){for(e='',r='0x'+a.substr(0,2)|0,n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)e+='%'+('0'+('0x'+a.substr(n,2)^r).toString(16)).slice(-2);p.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(decodeURIComponent(e)),c)}p.removeChild(t)}}catch(u){}}()/* ]]> */" is crap. Either go 24" or 2560x1440/1600.


For a video card I'd recommend a gtx 760/770 or radeon 7950/7970 in the 250-300$ range.
 

Joeboo

Molten Core Raider
8,157
140
770s are well outside of the $250-$300 range. They are pretty much $400+. The 760 and 7970 are pretty much neck & neck on performance, I'd just go with whichever one of those you can find cheaper at the time. An AMD 7950 is about on par with a Nvidia 660Ti. There's actually a pretty good deal on Slickdeals today on a nice 7950, if you are on a tight budget

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/1010...d-reward-games.

3GB 7950 + 3 games for $178 after rebate
 

bixxby

Molten Core Raider
2,750
47
770s are well outside of the $250-$300 range. They are pretty much $400+. The 760 and 7970 are pretty much neck & neck on performance, I'd just go with whichever one of those you can find cheaper at the time. An AMD 7950 is about on par with a Nvidia 660Ti. There's actually a pretty good deal on Slickdeals today on a nice 7950, if you are on a tight budget

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/1010...d-reward-games.

3GB 7950 + 3 games for $178 after rebate
Thanks for that, ordered one.
 

mkopec

<Gold Donor>
25,448
37,590
So I saw my temps last night at idle sitting at like 45C I was like WTF? I took off the cover and sue enough the 212 fan is dead. So i took the paper cover and then the little rubber grommet off and sprayed some lubricant int here, I got it working again but i dont know for how much longer the fan will work. So obviously I have to get a new one. Any good recommendations? This thing is on 24/7 usually and i need something that will last and maybe be a bit better than the stock fan that came with the 212 also it needs to plug into the the motherboard so it controls the fan speed.
 

gogusrl

Molten Core Raider
1,359
102
Depends on how much you want to spend on a fan but you can't go wrong with Noctua (5 years warranty I think). Not sure how the weather is around there but here in the middle of the summer 45C is very reasonable if you don't want to hear it whooooshing.


edit : make that 6 years.
edit2 : link for the lazyhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...d=1&name=120mm
 

Disp_sl

shitlord
1,544
1
Yeah that deal is nuts. I bought my 7950 5-ish months ago for $270 after rebate + game pack, and the card is a fricken beast. Easily run every game I've played with everything maxed at 2560X1440.
 

Denaut

Trump's Staff
2,739
1,279
Looks like my stuff shipped today. When I get it all together I will post some pictures/benchmarks.
 

Intrinsic

Person of Whiteness
<Gold Donor>
14,422
12,052
Interesting, I'm kind of fed up dealing with nvidia and SLI. The experiment was fun but between certain games / apps not supporting it and every other driver release seemingly breaking the korean monitors. Even if it really isn't, it just feels like a hassle. Thinking about selling my two 670s and just picking up a bigger single card (not that the 7950 I'd necessarily that card, just got me thinking).