Is a gaming rig worth it?
- Thread starter crepesack
- Start date
For a <$1000 budget, skip the i7. Its advantages over i5 and Phenom 2 (hyperthreading, memory bandwidth, multi-GPU scaling) won't have much effect on gaming performance with a single video card. As an overclocker, you'll be able to get phenomenal results with Intel's i3 530 (dual core+HT), i5 750 (quad/no HT), or AMD's Phenom II 955/965. Any of those should get close to 4ghz on air.
Speaking of cooling, watercooling probably isn't the best choice from a value perspective. It'll definitely help you hit higher clocks and lower temps, but the expensive of a spacious case, a radiator, CPU/GPU waterblocks, pumps, tubing etc. puts it firmly in enthusiast territory.
I'd recommend avoiding most nVidia cards right now. The 200 series' prices have risen over the past few months, so you'll end up paying more than you would for a similarly performing Radeon. The venerable here [http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6020570&SRCCODE=GOOGLEBASE&cm_mmc_o=VRqCjC7BBTkwCjCECjCE] for some choices at several price points, including a comparison chart on the last page. A 4890 alongside an OC'd quad will run fine on a Corsair PSU in the 600 watt range. You could probably get by with less, but it wouldn't be much cheaper anyway.
4 gigs of DDR3 shouldn't be much more than $100, check newegg [http://www.newegg.com].
Edit: I use Prime95 for stress testing, one instance per core.
Speaking of cooling, watercooling probably isn't the best choice from a value perspective. It'll definitely help you hit higher clocks and lower temps, but the expensive of a spacious case, a radiator, CPU/GPU waterblocks, pumps, tubing etc. puts it firmly in enthusiast territory.
I'd recommend avoiding most nVidia cards right now. The 200 series' prices have risen over the past few months, so you'll end up paying more than you would for a similarly performing Radeon. The venerable here [http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6020570&SRCCODE=GOOGLEBASE&cm_mmc_o=VRqCjC7BBTkwCjCECjCE] for some choices at several price points, including a comparison chart on the last page. A 4890 alongside an OC'd quad will run fine on a Corsair PSU in the 600 watt range. You could probably get by with less, but it wouldn't be much cheaper anyway.
4 gigs of DDR3 shouldn't be much more than $100, check newegg [http://www.newegg.com].
Edit: I use Prime95 for stress testing, one instance per core.
Spend a few bucks on a good gaming rig and it'll treat you right for years. I've sunk about $2000 into mine over the last 3 1/2 years between the initial build (a prebuilt Dell I paid $1500 for) and the upgrades (new video card, RAM, and power supply). It runs just about everything on medium-high to high.
If you're planning to overclock (or give it a try), the Phenom II 965 BE should be quite easy to overclock because of the unlocked multiplier.crepesack said:Thanks for the input, if i get an i5/phenom i can drop my costs to a cool 600 dollars.
There's also a new set of motherboards with new chipsets coming out in late April (they also support Phenon II x6). I'm waiting 2-3 weeks before buying a new computer. If you want to hear what I'm planning to buy, just ask : )
A gaming rig is ALWAYS worth it. If you can, spend money on your rig first, and your consoles third (PC games are second of course). However in the end it all depends on what you want. Consoles are more popular, and therefore have more people to interact with online. While PC's have mods, great communities, and usually friendly people. I'm currently a console gamer because my video card 'sploded, so I'm stuck at the moment.
As a console gamer-recently turned PC gamer I would have to say yes! My entertainment unit plays home to a PS3, PS2, Xbox 360, Wii, N64, Dreamcast, SNES and Megadrive. And now sitting next to them all is a glowing green PC! It is a bit of a change but after using it for a few weeks I must say I am very impressed. No more running out to stores to cop that new title (not to mention the awesome sale prices on Steam), the option to use a keyboard and mouse with every game, and of course the fact that it is also a the perfect media center. I've been getting back into the RTS genre as I is actually playable unlike the console ports of these games. I'll still be buying my multiplayer FPS games on PS3 and my racing games on 360, but it's nice to have an extra choice as to how I play my games.
I don't feel like I am betraying my console heritage though, as I see it more as an addition to the family, rather then a replacement.
I don't feel like I am betraying my console heritage though, as I see it more as an addition to the family, rather then a replacement.
I just bought a new desktop for about $850 which I very much like, and while I don't know computers well enough to advise you on the individual merits of the different parts you're describing, you might want to look at the one I bought:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229178
This is the first computer I've ever bought, and I've never built by own, but I have friends who have built their own and they still thought mine was a pretty decent deal.
Also on the subject of PC gaming, you must be aware that most old console games are available on PCs using emulators, and I would expect that trend to continue in the future.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229178
This is the first computer I've ever bought, and I've never built by own, but I have friends who have built their own and they still thought mine was a pretty decent deal.
Also on the subject of PC gaming, you must be aware that most old console games are available on PCs using emulators, and I would expect that trend to continue in the future.
Nah. Very flashy cases and average kit inside.likalaruku said:
You'd be better off building your own... or buying the parts and bribing a mate who knows what they're going to build it.
A lot of non-chain computer stores also offer prebuilts and custom builds and can be a good option as they'll often knock a bit off would have been the total cost of the parts to shift a built system, so they can be a good 2nd option.
My PC is 3 years old and I can still max out most games.
I'd say it's totally worth it. Also, why does an investment into consoles mean you can't PC game? I have a shit load of consoles as well (PS3, 360, Wii, NES, SNES, Genisis, Xbox, PS2, game boy, DS) and my trusty gaming PC. There are some games you simply must experience on the PC (as they are exclusive) if you are to call yourself a true gamer
So yeah, I've been PC gaming and console gaming since I was 4 years old - I hold no allegiances. I PREFER the PC simply because I prefer control, but I have no beef with playing games on consoles.
@OP Once you get up and running I'd be more than happy to point you towards some great games & deals online based on your genre preferences.
I'd say it's totally worth it. Also, why does an investment into consoles mean you can't PC game? I have a shit load of consoles as well (PS3, 360, Wii, NES, SNES, Genisis, Xbox, PS2, game boy, DS) and my trusty gaming PC. There are some games you simply must experience on the PC (as they are exclusive) if you are to call yourself a true gamer
So yeah, I've been PC gaming and console gaming since I was 4 years old - I hold no allegiances. I PREFER the PC simply because I prefer control, but I have no beef with playing games on consoles.
750 is more than enough for his proposed setup.lacktheknack said:
@OP Once you get up and running I'd be more than happy to point you towards some great games & deals online based on your genre preferences.
