computer advice

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by TheJoker

I wish i could get one of you to build it but i live in Gilbert, AZ I was born and raised in calgary till i was fifteen

Check out the computer stores near you? Or try newegg.com?

Originally Posted by TheJoker

turns out i cant spend that much on a computer. would this work for the games i stated earlier

Case ( NZXT Gamma Gaming Case - Black )
Case Lighting ( None )
iBUYPOWER Labs - Noise Reduction ( None )
iBUYPOWER Labs - Internal Expansion ( None )
Processor ( Intel® Core™ i7 870 Processor (4x 2.93GHz/8MB L3 Cache) )
iBUYPOWER PowerDrive ( None )
Processor Cooling ( [Free Upgrade] Liquid CPU Cooling System w/ 120mm Radiator [SOCKET-1156] )
Memory ( 8 GB [2 GB X4] DDR3-1333 Memory Module - Corsair or Major Brand )
Video Card ( ATI Radeon HD 5770 - 1GB - Single Card )
Video Card Brand ( Major Brand Powered by ATI or NVIDIA )
Motherboard ( MSI P55M-SD40 )
Motherboard Add-on ( None )
Power Supply ( 650 Watt -- Casegears ECO-Element 80 Plus Certificated High Efficiency Power Supply - SLI Ready )
Primary Hard Drive ( 1 TB HARD DRIVE -- 16M Cache, 7200 RPM, 3.0Gb/s - Single Drive )
Data Hard Drive ( None )
Optical Drive ( 24X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive - Black )
2nd Optical Drive ( None )
Flash Media Reader/Writer ( None )
Meter Display ( None )
Sound Card ( 3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard )
Network Card ( Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100) )
Operating System ( None- Pre-formatted Hard Drive Only )
Monitor ( None )
2nd Monitor ( None )
Speaker System ( None )
Power Protection ( None )
Headset ( None )
MP3/MP4 Player ( None )
Video Camera ( None )

Care to let us know what vendor it is so we can have a look to judge the value?

The priorities are all off on that computer. Get 4GB instead of 8GB of system ram. That 5770 should be at least a 5850 or a 5870 or a GTX 460. You don't need watercooling. If you're lucky, you'll get Corsair H50. If you're unlucky, you'll get CoolIt garbage that rusts inside. Get a tower air cooler from Thermalright, Noctua, Zalman, Coolermaster, Tuniq, Prolimatech, ZeroTherm, Arctic Cooling etc.

Do you have other choices for the motherboard? MSI is okay but there might be better options.

That Powersupply is a generic brand and is crap. Get a Corsair, Seasonic, Silverstone, Antec, or maybe even Coolermaster PSU on the cheaper end.

That computer has no operating system, you may need to buy a copy of windows for it or use an older one.

[TheJoker]

ibuypower.com

[Hack&Lube]

What is your optimal budget?

[TheJoker]

800 to 1000 maybe a bit more

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by TheJoker

800 to 1000 maybe a bit more

You could do that with a well chosen custom build with parts from big sales from Newegg, etc. You'd be hard pressed to make a good system with that i7 processor that you want from a vendor that builds it for you, especially a custom one that is a small outfit that builds gaming systems. Almost all of them will probably make a good $200-$300 off you that you could save by doing it yourself. I looked at the prices for parts on that ibuypower.com and many of them are priced $30+ over retail or sale prices each.

Maybe try NCIXUS.com and pick up items from their weekly sales and get them to build it for you?

Honestly, for a low $800 budget, I would consider buying last generation and overclocking it to current generation speeds.

[TheJoker]

what parts should i buy i have a friend that could build it for me

[Hack&Lube]

The sticking point is that CPU you want is a bit expensive for your budget. The videocard is much more important for gaming than the CPU. If you are intent on getting that:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboB...t=Combo.441105

Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor (Model: BX80605I7860)

ASUS SABERTOOTH 55i LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard

Patriot Viper II Sector 5 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1600 (PC3
12800) Desktop Memory w/ 3DMark Vantage (Model: PVV34G1600LLKB)

OCZ Vertex Series 2.5" 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (Model: OCZSSD2-1VTX60G)

Rosewill 2.5” SSD / HDD Aluminum Mounting Kit for 3.5" Drive Bay (Model: RX-C200)

Antec Twelve Hundred 750 Blue Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case w/ 750W Power Supply

$818.95

Now, throw in an XFX 5850 for $294.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-477-_-Product

$1113.94

That's probably the best you could do for a simple purchase and build. The 60GB SSD is great for your OS and will make games faster. You would probably need another harddrive down the road for storing files and movies and music, etc. but those are cheap.

On a super tighter budget, sacrifice the i7 for an i5.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboB...t=Combo.441087

Intel Core i5-650 Clarkdale 3.2GHz LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor (Model: BX80616I5650)

ASUS LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard (Model: P7H55D-M EVO)

CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory (Model: CMX4GX3M2A1600C9)

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 1.5TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive (Model: ST31500341AS)

NZXT Crafted Series Vulcan Black Steel/Plastic Gaming mATX Computer Case (Model: VULC-001BK)

$502.97

[TheJoker]

thanks for the help

[Hack&Lube]

Main points I think you should consider:

1. I would try to get an i5 7xx series processor instead of an i7 if you are on a budget, an i5 700 series shares most of the same features. A 700 series i5 is quad core while 600 series are single core.

2. Buy either an XFX 5850 or an EVGA GTX 260 for gaming (both companies have lifetime warranties). If you have more money to spend, get a 5870.

3. Make sure you get a good PSU of at least 650 watts from a big name brand (Corsair for example).

4. 4GB of system ram is all you need.

5. Maybe buy the case locally, they are big and heavy and expensive to ship

[Hack&Lube]

Looks like the price has gone up on this overnight:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboB...t=Combo.441105

One more thing about that, if you are considering a bundle like that, check if the motherboard supports SLI or Crossfire. That motherboard supports both so you could cheap out and buy a 5770 for it right now and later when you need more power in the future and you have more money and when videocard prices are cheaper, buy another 5770 and put it into there for Crossfire and you'll have the equivalent of a 5870 in terms of performance.

You could do the same with a GTX 460 which would give you better performance.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130562

This is only $199 right now and free shipping in the USA and it comes with Just Cause 2. I think that's a great deal. GTX 460s in SLI (you can buy a second one in the future when prices drop to $130 or less) will be very powerful in terms of performance and much better than a single 5870 right now.

[TheJoker]

I got a gateway 6840 is there anybody with info on it and how it runs games

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by TheJoker

I got a gateway 6840 is there anybody with info on it and how it runs games

- Completely depends on what model number you have as there are different versions of the 6840.

http://www.gateway.com/systems/series/529598162.php

FX6840-03e is the best

[TheJoker]

thats the one

[Hack&Lube]

That's a very fast machine in terms of processor and ram for $1100.

The 5770 should do you fine but is more a lower-mid range card that you could probably replace with something faster in the future but it should be fine for most casual gaming.

[TheJoker]

so games like wow will riun with no lag on this machine

[TheJoker]

so it could handle wow with ease then?

[FlamingStuffedTiger]

Yes. A single 5770 will be able to play pretty much any game out there right now without any problems, unless you are going higher than 1680x1050. As for future MMOs and such, its kind of hard trying to predict how long your card will hold up. However, there is some room to spare yet. Just remember that when the time comes, you should also check your PSU.