Considering Buying a New Desktop

[Vylera]

This is a good watch for you Supra.

[SupraMedical68]

When talking about "middle of the road", I would think of something with a decent below $100 graphics card, like a Radeon HD6670 or a Geforce GT640, not something incredibly outdated like a Geforce 8400, which was already bottom low-end when it was released (the only graphics units weaker than the 8400 when it was released were onboard graphics).


When it comes to the processor, try to go for Intel Core i3 or better (if possible, Intel Core i5 2000 or 3000 series).

When it comes to graphics cards, don't go for anything with lower model numbers than these, try to go for either one of these, or anything with higher model numbers:
Geforce 500 series -> Geforce GTX550 Ti or better
Geforce 600 series -> Geforce GTX650 or better
Radeon HD5000/6000 series -> Radeon HD5770/HD6770 or better
Radeon HD7000 series -> Radeon HD7750 or better

For the record, the old man thought I wanted to put together a PC just for general use and nothing more. He probably wouldn't have suggested using old antiquated parts if I had been more precise...

[SupraMedical68]

Good Enough Gaming PC - VERSION 2 - NCIX Tech Tips - YouTube

This is a good watch for you Supra.

I'm definitely after the "Yaris" of computers.

I spent a few hours last night boning up on computers. I think I'm almost done with my list of components. Guess, I'll be putting together something myself...

[SupraMedical68]

MSI 990FXA-GD65V2 AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

G.SKILL Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9D-8GBSR

AMD FX-8120 Zambezi 3.1GHz Socket AM3+ 125W Eight-Core Desktop Processor FD8120FRGUBOX
Item #: N82E16819103961

MSI R7770-2PMD1GD5/OC Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video

Seagate Barracuda ST2000DM001 2TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

MSI 24X DVD Burner Black SATA Model DH-24AS

How is this for a desktop?

[Link1275]

MSI 990FXA-GD65V2 AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

G.SKILL Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9D-8GBSR

AMD FX-8120 Zambezi 3.1GHz Socket AM3+ 125W Eight-Core Desktop Processor FD8120FRGUBOX
Item #: N82E16819103961

MSI R7770-2PMD1GD5/OC Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video

Seagate Barracuda ST2000DM001 2TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

MSI 24X DVD Burner Black SATA Model DH-24AS

How is this for a desktop?

They have a new type of hard drive called an SSD, and an SSHD. The latter is a hybrid mad by Seagate, it goes for about 129.99 on newegg. You might also consider using a dual drive setup(SSD for OS and HDD for everything else).

[domokun1134]

MSI 990FXA-GD65V2 AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

G.SKILL Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9D-8GBSR

AMD FX-8120 Zambezi 3.1GHz Socket AM3+ 125W Eight-Core Desktop Processor FD8120FRGUBOX
Item #: N82E16819103961

MSI R7770-2PMD1GD5/OC Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video

Seagate Barracuda ST2000DM001 2TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

MSI 24X DVD Burner Black SATA Model DH-24AS

How is this for a desktop?

That's similar to the system I just built except I have the 4-core 4.2ghz processor. Won't make much of a difference either way in PSO2. I can run full settings at 720p and it's pretty damn smooth.

[SupraMedical68]

They have a new type of hard drive called an SSD, and an SSHD. The latter is a hybrid mad by Seagate, it goes for about 129.99 on newegg. You might also consider using a dual drive setup(SSD for OS and HDD for everything else).

I might go for the hybrid possibly, but the SSD are still a little to new for me. Sounds fantastical, but I'm going to probably opt out to save money.

[Ezodagrom]

MSI 990FXA-GD65V2 AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

G.SKILL Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9D-8GBSR

AMD FX-8120 Zambezi 3.1GHz Socket AM3+ 125W Eight-Core Desktop Processor FD8120FRGUBOX
Item #: N82E16819103961

MSI R7770-2PMD1GD5/OC Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video

Seagate Barracuda ST2000DM001 2TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

MSI 24X DVD Burner Black SATA Model DH-24AS

How is this for a desktop?

Is that a pre-built desktop or something that you're building yourself? How much does it cost? What's the power supply?

The components are nice, if you're building it yourself, if possible, I would switch the processor to an AMD FX 8320, which is a more recent and slightly better processor.

Note that the AMD FX series have a bit high power consumption, if you want something with lower power consumption, it's better to get an Intel alternative (for example, a motherboard with an Intel Z77 chipset and an Intel Core i5 3000 series processor).

[Link1275]

I might go for the hybrid possibly, but the SSD are still a little to new for me. Sounds fantastical, but I'm going to probably opt out to save money.

You only need a small SSD for a dual drive setup usually, and yeah SSDs are expensive. Personally though, SSDs should have been on the market years ago. An SSD works like a giant SD card essentially.

Is that a pre-built desktop or something that you're building yourself? How much does it cost? What's the power supply?

The components are nice, if you're building it yourself, if possible, I would switch the processor to an AMD FX 8320, which is a more recent and slightly better processor.

Note that the AMD FX series have a bit high power consumption, if you want something with lower power consumption, it's better to get an Intel alternative (for example, a motherboard with an Intel Z77 chipset and an Intel Core i5 3000 series processor).

Also, another not on Power Supplies, there is a company that rates them on power efficiency if you're into that(and if you're into a lower electric bill).

Add On:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139010
That's one of Newegg's top selling Power Supplies, you would need to check the voltage you'd need though as that one probably isn't compatible, most power supplies and what they power come in 650, 750, and 850 I think.

This is another one that's a little more high end:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139039

[Ezodagrom]

An SSD is not really essential anyway, they're nice as drives for windows, to boot faster and such, but mechanical 7200rpm hard drives are still good enough for normal use and games like PSO2.

Add On:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139010
That's one of Newegg's top selling Power Supplies, you would need to check the voltage you'd need though as that one probably isn't compatible, most power supplies and what they power come in 650, 750, and 850 I think.

Some power supplies have ratings that don't match the reality, like 600W power supplies from unknown brands that may be as weak as 400W power supplies from trusted brands.
Anyway, I suggest going for a power supply from trusted brands, like Corsair, Antec, Seasonic, ...