Time for a new PC...

AshburnerX

AshburnerX

I finally have the cash to get a new PC, but I'm not sure where to start. I need just about everything at this point, so any thoughts? I have $1000 to spend but I'd prefer not to spend that much... more like $800.

Things I know I need:
- Monitor
- Keyboard
- Motherboard
- processor (want to get at least a decent quad core) (Prefer to get this comboed with motherboard)
- Ram
- Win 7 64-bit (unless I can get a REALLY persuasive argument for Win 8)
- Videocard
- 650w power supply

Things I'd like:
- Soundcard (Because Realtek audio is SHIT)
- web cam (don't need anything fancy)

Any advice?
 
PatrThom

PatrThom

Do you have anything you can reuse until you can finally upgrade? (keyboard, monitor, etc) Or are you looking for a drop-in replacement for your current setup?

--Patrick
 
AshburnerX

AshburnerX

PatrThom said:
Do you have anything you can reuse until you can finally upgrade? (keyboard, monitor, etc) Or are you looking for a drop-in replacement for your current setup?

--Patrick
Click to expand...
My video card is still alright, so I can switch that over for now. I suppose my keyboard is fine but I'm going to need to get a modern one soon, as this one came off a Sony Viao and looks like shit.

Basically everything else needs to be upgraded though, especially the processor, motherboard, and monitor (a 15+ year old CRT which has started sparking AGAIN.)
 
strawman

strawman

Try to get a monitor with IPS. It'll cost extra, but it'll be worth it.

Everything else is really a budget decision. I'm not in a position to make specific recommendations, but the has well arch is out, so you can either get a really good last gen processor and motherboard for cheap, or try to get a lower end haswell for your budget.

If you're doing WoW, you'll want a lot of memory, but for most gaming you don't need to try to get 16GB of memory, and a lot of people are happy with 4, though it'd drive me crazy.

Keep your current video card and save up to replace it later so you can get a better machine now.
 
PatrThom

PatrThom

I would recommend 8GB at a minimum.
Even if you only use a 32-bit OS (or apps) to start with, you'll want that expansion room waiting for you when you upgrade.

--Patrick
 
Frank

Frank

I would seriously wait on the video card. AMD might just force Nvidia to become competitive again soon.
 
Eriol

Eriol

I always check out these guys first: http://techreport.com/review/25250/system-guide-current

It's their current system guide, and has a number of different cost brackets, more than one of which is within your means.

As for the Windows 8 or not, I'd say this: if you're willing to download web browsers, image editors, or pretty much anything not already built-in to the system (steam, any games whatsoever), then you're probably fine downloading and installing a 3rd-party start menu: http://www.classicshell.net/

Then you have the ability to do anything with the "new UI" if you WISH to, but if you want to be in windows-7 land 99% of the time (or more, like I am) then you're good. Boots directly to desktop. But if for some reason there's this really killer new-UI-only app, you can get that too.
 
PatrThom

PatrThom

Frank said:
I would seriously wait on the video card. AMD might just force Nvidia to become competitive again soon.
Click to expand...
AMD's newest card series (the R2xx series) is mainly a rebadge of the older 7xxx series with some tweaks. The only cards with any sort of actual new architecture are the 290-series parts, and the official reviews for those haven't come out yet.

--Patrick
 
Frank

Frank

PatrThom said:
AMD's newest card series (the R2xx series) is mainly a rebadge of the older 7xxx series with some tweaks. The only cards with any sort of actual new architecture are the 290-series parts, and the official reviews for those haven't come out yet.

--Patrick
Click to expand...
Those are what I was referring to.

However, that 280X (I think) is 100 bucks cheaper than it's nearest Nvidia equivalent.
 
AshburnerX

AshburnerX

Ordered my parts.

- Intel Core i5 4430 (4 x 3.2GHz CPU - 6MB Cache +1150MHz Graphics) (CPU)
- Asus Z87-K (motherboard)
- Acer G236HLBbd (Monitor) (Got this $100 off on the Newegg Columbus Day sale)
- Seagate Barracuda 2TB HD (Data Drive)
- Samsung 840 Series MZ-7TD120BW 2.5" 120 SATA III (Solid State drive)
- CORSAIR Vengeance 8gb RAM
- CORSAIR CX600M 600W (Power Supply)
- Windows 8 Professional 64-bit

All in all spent a little over $1000. I'm going to stick with my video card for awhile. I can get something great in Spring 2014 instead.
 
Eriol

Eriol

AshburnerX said:
Ordered my parts.

- Intel Core i5 4430 (4 x 3.2GHz CPU - 6MB Cache +1150MHz Graphics) (CPU)
- Asus Z87-K (motherboard)
- Acer G236HLBbd (Monitor) (Got this $100 off on the Newegg Columbus Day sale)
- Seagate Barracuda 2TB HD (Data Drive)
- Samsung 840 Series MZ-7TD120BW 2.5" 120 SATA III (Solid State drive)
- CORSAIR Vengeance 8gb RAM
- CORSAIR CX600M 600W (Power Supply)
- Windows 8 Professional 64-bit

All in all spent a little over $1000. I'm going to stick with my video card for awhile. I can get something great in Spring 2014 instead.
Click to expand...
If you can grab it, you may as well go to 8.1 immediately. And of course, http://classicshell.net ASAP.
 
AshburnerX

AshburnerX

Nope. I had half this stuff by Friday of last week so I'm just sitting on a box. I'm just waiting on the processor and motherboard combo, which I had assembled and with some deluxe cooling options. Unfortunately FedEX stopped giving me updates on it's progress Tuesday and i have no idea where it is right now.
 
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