Gaming PC??

[Naples39]

I think I'd like to invest in a gaming PC. I've used laptops since graduating from college, updating every few years, but with tablets I don't ever feel the need to use a laptop anymore. I think I can comfortably go back to desktops and reap their benefits.

I consider myself pretty competent with computers, but when it comes to hardware shopping for PSUs and motherboards, I really have no idea.

Basically I'm just looking for value. I don't mean cheap, I just mean good bang for your buck, whether it's an $800 computer or a $2,000 computer (that's probably my limit in price without feeling sick to my stomach).

I don't need the highest power stuff, or the ability to run three monitors, or want some massive, hideously ugly glowing PC tower, etc, but I want a solid set up that will give a few good years, at least.

Smallish form factor gaming PC like the Origin Chronos, http://reviews.cnet.com/2300-34236_7-10014228-3.html , seem like a good option to me.

Any tips?

[Rodster]

Naples if you don't want to assemble your own system you can go with the safe bet and buy an Alienware desktop. They start out at $699.

http://www.alienware.com/Landings/desktops.aspx

[Naples39]

Naples if you don't want to assemble your own system you can go with the safe bet and buy an Alienware desktop. They start out at $699.

http://www.alienware.com/Landings/desktops.aspx

Yeah, that kind of dumbed down package may be my best bet. The cnet review of the chronos liked the bigger power supply for the chronos, and it got much better benchmarks, but I suppose that's largely due to an older build with a less powerful processor and graphics card. I don't need the absolute most juice, and I presume choosing options on the X51 such as a i7-3770 processor and a GTX 660 would get me where I want to be. That puts me at ~$1,100, which is less than the basic chronos package.

I guess that smaller power supply would limit me from some processor overclocking and the highest end video cards?

[TCrouch]

I bought Alienware PCs for a while before getting a ludicrously powered rig for a hair over $2000 now. It's got an AMD FX-8350 8-core CPU, the now-typical 16 GB of RAM, a 512GB Solid State Drive, a 2 TB storage drive, and a pair of Nvidia GeForce GTX 670 4GB cards in it. It absolutely chews up everything in triple-screen 5760x1080 resolution on mostly max settings. Far Cry 3, Assassin's Creed 3, anything new is pretty much Ultra on most geometry and textures, and I typically just drop shadows 1 notch from Ultra and disable AA, because at that res it's pretty pointless. But I can run 16x AF everywhere.

Bottom line, depending on what you're willing to spend, you can definitely come out with something that will last a few years. If you wanted one for $600 or something, it will work--but not for a couple of years. You could build one from parts, as that's definitely cheaper, but you have the headaches of possible component failures, the headache of putting it all together and compatibility, etc.

But my last few PC's were Alienwares, and possibly due to seeing a gazillion of their ads in PC Gamer over and over, I went to iBuyPower this time (just a couple weeks ago, actually) to put together my new rig. I got a base model and then got the extra crap to throw into it after I bought it (like the GTX cards and the SSD), and only came out over 2G because of the cards.

If you're not planning on running absurd resolutions and want it to last a few years, any typical 4-core AMD or Intel i5 processor will suit you fine. Go with 16GB of RAM because it's cheap...and any 2GB AMD or NVidia card will work unless you get into triple-screen setups when you want more VRAM for the screen space.

For all of that, you can come in well under $2K, and probably closer to $1200 or so even at a prebuilt shop like Alienware, iBuypower, or Cyberpower PC.

[TCrouch]

Naples if you don't want to assemble your own system you can go with the safe bet and buy an Alienware desktop. They start out at $699.

http://www.alienware.com/Landings/desktops.aspx

Yeah, that kind of dumbed down package may be my best bet. The cnet review of the chronos liked the bigger power supply for the chronos, and it got much better benchmarks, but I suppose that's largely due to an older build with a less powerful processor and graphics card. I don't need the absolute most juice, and I presume choosing options on the X51 such as a i7-3770 processor and a GTX 660 would get me where I want to be. That puts me at ~$1,100, which is less than the basic chronos package.

I guess that smaller power supply would limit me from some processor overclocking and the highest end video cards?

I actually bought my daughter an X-51 last year...whatever the top one of the three was. It runs all of her games, including things like Skyrim, at high framerates at 2048x1152 resolution. So if you want something like that, I can personally vouch for the X-51 as it being a decent system as well. But you're spot on that you're not going to do a lot of upgrading in that thing. It's specially designed to fit what they send it with. It's sort of a console-like PC, where you put it somewhere and leave it alone. You're not going to be tinkering with it or OC'ing and putting new heat sinks in, or any fancy cooling. You get what you buy and you'll stick with it.

[Macca00]

I actually bought my daughter an X-51 last year....

Can you adopt me, dad?

[Naples39]

I actually bought my daughter an X-51 last year....

Can you adopt me, dad?

You already have an adoptive father.

[Danimal]

I went with a Falcon Northwest but they are really high end. It is a year old now and it run every game I throw at it on the highest settings without breaking a sweat. However the thing is a monster size wise and it's not cheap. I think mine cost over $3k.

[dbdynsty25]

You can buy a rig today for around a grand that will play any game for the next few years at 1920x1080 without problems. I recommend building it yourself. Everything is plug and play these days and RARELY are there issues with drivers and other random stuff. It's so damn easy to do. The rig I put together this summer cost about that much (tho I used a few carryover components like my case, power supply, storage drive and blu-ray burner) so you may need to add a couple hundred.

Terry is overkill tho for 2k, that's a ridiculously awesome computer if you're going to push multiple displays.

[TCrouch]

Yeah I didn't even mention Falcon just because there's no way he's getting that in his 2K price range

[TCrouch]

Yeah, I definitely went as large as I could reasonably afford (I didn't get GTX 690s or anything that were over $1000 each).

I found an article detailing how to build a gaming PC for cheap, but then saw it was from 2009

Removed the link, because that's like showing you how to drive a Model T in this day and age.

[Macca00]

I actually bought my daughter an X-51 last year....

Can you adopt me, dad?

You already have an adoptive father.

You take that back - he's my REAL dad!

[Naples39]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

No final decisions, but I am leaning towards a higher end X51 with an i7 and GTX 660 for $1,080 (only 8GB RAM though). Compact, no fuss, decent value. Hits my basic criteria. Too easy for me to get lost in all the options out there and I am choosing to wimp out.

[Macca00]

..... I am leaning towards a higher end X51 with an i7 and GTX 660 for $1,080 (only 8GB RAM though)...

That'll still smoke current consoles and if you're outputting to a TV you're good for a while.

[TCrouch]

Doesn't hurt--it will play most of your games now and for the next year. Once you get past that, you'll have to start turning some stuff down, though. Which will STILL look worlds better than the typical console game.

[Gangrel]

I got my new computer last summer, and basically just went to a local computer store (well, Canada computers, it's a chain, but a good one) and said "build me something I can game pretty good with for under 2 grand". We basically built it on the spot... ordered it, I had it a few weeks later.

I think that's probably cheaper than going with a fancy "brand name" one, while still being tons better then going to Best Buy and buying a rig from some guy who's probably never heard of EGA graphics or 5 1/4" disks........

[fsquid]

I'm actually going the other way when I get around to it. My wife complains about the big desktops we've had and wants a laptop that she can use throughout the home. As long as I get one that can play Football Manager, Pro Evo Soccer, and Rugby Challenge, I'm cool. I'll get a port replicator so I can still hook up to a monitor and speakers when need be.

[Naples39]

Since I know everyone is on pins and needles, after two nights of sleeping on it, I went with a mid-size gaming tower from iBuyPower.

i7 3770, GTX 670 EVGA, 8GB RAM. $1203 shipped.

I expect to be rocking nearly everything at maxxed settings at 1080 for the immediate future, and with reasonable upgrade breathing room down the line.

Thanks again.

[DivotMaker]

Nice rig....Enjoy!

[Macca00]

Nice rig....Enjoy!

Ditto!

Get Sleeping Dogs (download the high-res texture pack) and Far Cry 3 - make sure you get some towels to clean up the drool.

[Naples39]

Nice rig....Enjoy!

Ditto!

Get Sleeping Dogs (download the high-res texture pack) and Far Cry 3 - make sure you get some towels to clean up the drool.

Thanks!

I have held off on buying Far Cry 3 thus far but next time it's marked down on Steam I am all over it. In checking out all the benchmarks, I know Far Cry 3 is one of the few games that I expect to settle for "high" settings instead of max.

AC3 was included with purchase too, and I already have games like Arkham City, Rage and Dead Island from Steam winter sale. I could run them low on my laptop but now I will wait for the full glory.

[TCrouch]

Congrats man

I couldn't be happier with my iBuyPower rig so far. For the price, I'd recommend it heavily. I've heard some folks have poor service from them, but I haven't had anything with that yet.

Have fun with actual HD gaming

[pk500]

Good news for you cats with a hot-rod gaming PC:

http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/01/18/ ... es-in-2013

[Danimal]

Don't forget to join the DSP Steam group. Send me your handle and I will add you.

[Pete1210]

Since I know everyone is on pins and needles, after two nights of sleeping on it, I went with a mid-size gaming tower from iBuyPower.

i7 3770, GTX 670 EVGA, 8GB RAM. $1203 shipped.

I expect to be rocking nearly everything at maxxed settings at 1080 for the immediate future, and with reasonable upgrade breathing room down the line.

Thanks again.

A few months ago I got a lesser iBuypower from Newegg, then did some upgrades. The only issue I had was loud fans, so I replaced them. I am very happy with it.
My steam I'd is Pete1210.