I'd check out asus models and then just plan for upgrading the graphics card.

 

Yes, but it depends on what games you want to play and what you define as acceptable performance and graphical quality.

 

I'd be interested in doing something like this too. I currently have a very outdated MacBook and am in the market for a new computer. The only game I want to run on my laptop is Guild Wars 2.

I learned they are releasing this for Mac, which may keep me in the market for an Apple. But I feel it could be more economical to purchase a cheaper laptop and build a gaming desktop for the price that finsincebirth mentioned. I really only need my laptop for word processing and watching videos as a student.

 

Alright so for instance if one were to purchase a desktop such as this Asus: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220173


What kind of graphics card would be optimal to install for a decent price? Or rather, what should I look for when trying to find a graphics card. From my understanding they are very easy to install.

Or would I probably be happy with something like these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883103411

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227384

 

I recommend you both read this and the $750 build here.

The Gamebryo engine that powers Skyrim and Fallout 3/NV is pretty resource intensive. If you set a low resolution target, like 720p, then you can probably get away with a $500 budget. You'd have to go with a low-end Core i3 CPU and, say, a GeForce GTX 650 GPU. 4GB of RAM rather than the more standard 8, a very cheap case and motherboard, and you would have to go with a mid-range capacity hard drive rather than a solid state drive.

As a serious mid to long term purchase, you'll want to dedicate at least $200 to a GPU, so you can enter the midrange of the graphics market. The GTX 660 Ti and Radeon HD 7850 are what you would be looking at, though the AMD CPU on those PCs you're looking at will bottleneck the cards a little bit. Try to go for a Core i3, maybe the i3-3220, if you can work it into your budget.

 

It would be tricky. Try this site.

http://pcpartpicker.com/

 

Grab a shotgun and head to your local CompUSA

 

Needs a GPU upgrade, but otherwise that's a good budget system.

 

It's two generations behind and not exactly a high end part to begin with.

 

Thanks for the links Des.

After reading those I am fairly certain I will definitely not go below the i3 processors. It appears that the Ivy Bridge processor is superior to the Sandy Bridge and I will try to shoot for the i3-3220 like you recommended.

A few questions though.

With respect to the hard drive, in the article about the $750 rig, is there anything that I need to specifically look for in choosing a hard drive. I don't believe I need a SSD, and I don't need 1 TB worth of space. I know a 500 GB would suffice more than enough for my needs.

Is there anything else I should know specifically about putting together a computer if I were to purchase a kit like the one you recommended? I'm assuming that I would just need to install drivers once I put the thing together.

 

Like I told Stitches over a year ago, an SSD will change your life. :lol: They're well worth the cost of admission. If you can spare the change, it's worth getting a 128 GB drive for the sake of installing Windows and your apps/games on the SSD, with the HDD serving as large file storage (movies, music, pictures, etc). If you can't afford it, then you can't afford it, but I would at least seriously consider one.

You'd need to factor in the price of purchasing an OEM version of Windows 7 Home, which will run about $100. Once you install Windows, yeah, it's just a matter of installing all your drivers and apps/games. If you buy through Steam, then it's even simpler, just install Steam and let everything download overnight.

And you want to keep track of little things, like making sure you have enough SATA cables (and SATA ports on the motherboard) for any drives you want to install. If you decide to add an SSD, for example, you have to make sure you have a 3rd SATA port on the motherboard and then ensure you have that third cable to plug it in.

Other than that, it's just a matter of taking your time and ensuring Tab A fits Slot B.

 

He could just get a mac :shifty: Oh wait.

 

I can't in good conscience recommend a Mac laptop right now, because the only real options are either the 13'' Air (which wouldn't be optimal for gaming) for the 15'' Retina MacBook Pro (which, while excellent, should be held off on until next year's revision with the Haswell CPU comes out).

So, budget PC build it is!

 

Are the macs going to undergo a significant change next year? I currently have a late 2007 or early 2008 black macbook right now. Thing has served me well but I haven't been able to touch a computer game in ages lol.

 

You can expect greater proliferation of the Retina Display across all of Apple's computers, a Retina MacBook Pro update with the new Haswell CPU, and likewise an update to the Air line with the same CPU.

Haswell is going to be a monster and is well worth waiting for, especially in mobile.

 

... might be worth just waiting another year and grabbing the cheapest 13" MBP. Thnks for the heads-up.

 

Keep in mind we're talking about next spring/early summer. April/May/June time frame.

 

Yeah I realize... If my laptop can hold out long enough I am definitely going to get 1 of these.

 

That looks great. The Z77 architecture is definitely the way to go. My advice is to up your power supply to at least 600W so that ultimately you give your GPU enough power.

If you want great value, go with the 650 Ti, factory overclocked. Great value for the card. I have a 560 Ti right now and it is still handling quite well on the latest games.


I am late to this thread, but Desides gave you guys all the info you need. :)

 

Nice man. You are set for a while. Go get whatever game you want now. Any game....

 

It's a shame you missed the Steam winter sale… But you'll definitely want to install and use Steam. It's a fantastic service and should ideally be your primary way of buying and playing PC games.

Your best bet to start with would be either a new game that pushes all PCs, like Borderlands 2; a cross-platform game that is better on the PC, like any of the Assassin's Creed games; or an older game that you might want to replay with PC features, like Fallout 3 or Fallout New Vegas with mods.

 

Get the THQ super pack off amazon for $25.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00B1GFKCA/ref=nosim/cheapassgam08-20

Contains (separate keys, all activate on Steam EXCEPT CoH GOTY):

1. Company of Heroes - Tales of Valor
2. Company of Heroes - GOTY - NOTE NOT STEAM
3. Darksiders
4. Darksiders II
5. Homefront
6. MX vs. ATV Reflex
7. Metro 2033
8. Nexuiz
9. Red Faction Armageddon
10. Red Faction Guerrilla
11. Saints Row 2
12. Saints Row The Third
13. Supreme Commander
14. Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance
15. Titan Quest Gold
16. Warhammer 40K Dawn of War II: Gold Edition
17. Warhammer 40K: Space Marine
18. Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War Gold
19. Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War Retribution

 

Get battlefield 3 premium. A lot better on pc. Graphics wise and because the maps ate bigger and support 64 players.

 

Nothing at the moment to my knowledge.

 

Can download Planet Side 2 for free. Try out Team Fortress also for free on Steam.

 

Some of the references will go over your head, but generally, no, you don't need to play Borderlands 1 to understand what's going on in 2.

By the way, some other games that benefit from modding or will otherwise let you give your PC a nice test run: GTA 4, Max Payne 3, and Battlefield 3.

 

You'll probably want to play Black Mesa instead of Half-Life 1. It's HL1 in a slightly more modern wrapper. (The fact that Gordon Freeman can only jump about 6 inches will annoy the hell out of you, though.)

Half-Life 2 is well worth blundering through HL1, though.

 

Favorite.Game.Evar.
Beat it too many times. I ****ing love that game. I know Quake and Doom are credited with being "Grandaddys" of current shooters (Unless you wanna go back to the original, THE ORIGINAL Wolfenstein lol) but I think that original Half-Life was the first shooter with a legitimate story, NPCs and bunch of cool little background gimmicks that you could see through the course of the game. HL2 and episodes are good as well, but to me HL1 is the BOAT of games. Blue Shift and Opposing Force should be remade on Source too, IMO. Which of course will never happen, but a girl can dream, right?
Seriously though, HL1 isn't that long and I suggest you spend 2-3 days (depending how long you play in a sitting) running through that, and then enjoying the fruits of HL2 and beyond.

/HL Geek rant

 

You can build a solid AMD unit for <500.

I recommend overclock.net. There are threads regarding budget gaming PC's.

 

Spec Ops: The Line for $5 (activates on steam)

http://www.gamefly.com/Download-Spec-Ops-The-Line/5004056?adtrackingid=cmju029

Alpha Protocol for $3 (steam activated - Use voucher code GMG20-PJFEW-Y16HK to save an additional 20%)
http://www.greenmangaming.com/s/us/en/pc/games/rpgs/alpha-protocol/

Binary Domain $5 (steam activated - Use voucher code GMG20-PJFEW-Y16HK to save an additional 20%)
http://www.greenmangaming.com/s/us/en/pc/games/action/binary-domain/

And Portal 2 is $5 on steam today.