Gaming PC 5k budget. . . prebuilt or build myself

[audiopanik]

Hello all,

I have a bit of a dilemma at the moment. I will be in the market for a new "high end" gaming PC in the next month or so. I built my current machine which at the time was a beast (a little over a year ago). However when playing games like BF3 I get intermittent graphics / crash issues which after many many hours of research and attempts at fixing I have yet to be able to do so. This has made me think buying a prebuilt system from somewhere like Digital Storm http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadaventum.asp?id=664979) that has been tested for parts compatibility may be the best route.

However, I have not completely thrown out the idea of building a system myself.

That said, with a 5k budget how should I spend my money?

I do not need keyboard, mouse or speakers. And I am still undecided on multiple monitors or a single 30" monitor. I had originally thought about doing 3x 24" (or 27") monitors however I think the bezel overlap would drive me nuts. And unless I am missing something a large LCD TV still isn't a great solution for gaming.

So what say you Tom's crew?! Help me build / buy a kickass new gaming machine!

 

[obsama1]

Bf3 at Ultra on 3 monitors needs like 2-3 680's(Not sure though).

BF3 on Ultra at 1080p with 2 680's gets 100FPS.

 

[hellfire24]

in fact there's no point if 3 680s for a single monitor.for eyefinity,it's good.

 

[obsama1]

For one monitor a single OC'ed 680 will be sufficieent. You only need SLI when you have multiple monitors. However, the OP hasn't chimed in. about whether he wants 3 or 1.

 

[audiopanik]

I have never used an HD TV connected to my computer for games. Is it really a viable option? Does 1080p look comparable to or better than a nice monitor? Currently I am using a Dell UltraSharp 24" monitor which looks pretty amazing.

If an HD TV is similar, the huge screen size would definitely sway my decision that direction.

 

[obsama1]

Gaming with an HD TV and keyboard/mouse just feels weird, but it's a viable option. However, I would pick the 24' monitor. Really it's your choice.

Read this. Very informative:
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/using-hdtv-as-gaming-monitor-good-idea/

 

[mobrocket]

u cant get the same resolution on a big LED HDTV as u can on a monitor

i think u should just spend the 5k on a dirt bike or quad instead
and just keep your old PC

 

[obsama1]

Ummm...Most monitors/TV's are 1080p. Not the same PPI, but at a farther distance(2-3 feet) a HDTV will have the same PPI as a monitor. However, to the OP, if you want a rig that can play BF3 on Ultra at 60FPS, then you can build a rig that does just that for 1K-1.5K! After 1.5K, you get diminishing returns. The performance boost isn't worth the money.

 

[dkcomputer]

However when playing games like BF3 I get intermittent graphics / crash issues

I'm guessing you have ATI graphics?

I have never used an HD TV connected to my computer for games. Is it really a viable option? Does 1080p look comparable to or better than a nice monitor? Currently I am using a Dell UltraSharp 24" monitor which looks pretty amazing.

No, I bought a $2500 samsung 40" tv to use as a monitor and it looks like crap, and I'm no novice I tried adjusting everything. They just aren't made for it. The pixels are too big for starters, along with the auto-correction they try to force on the video feed they get. 24" has been determined to be the ideal size. I use an alienware 120hz 23.6", as do all pro gamers on MLG - theres a very good reason for it.

 

[togan]

audiopanik, Please post current rig specs...if it's only a year old I can't see that much need for improvement on CPU front...but GPU is another story...WHAT ARE YOU WORKING WITH NOW!!!! 😱


togan

 

[obsama1]

If your rig is a year old, then just upgrade the components.

 

[Swolern]

I have never used an HD TV connected to my computer for games. Is it really a viable option? Does 1080p look comparable to or better than a nice monitor? Currently I am using a Dell UltraSharp 24" monitor which looks pretty amazing.

If an HD TV is similar, the huge screen size would definitely sway my decision that direction.

Im using a high end Panasonic VT30 55in 3dtv with my 680SLI gaming setup right now. It has a gaming mode on it that reduced the response time to 2ms so theres no input lag. It is larger than any monitor so of course the pixels will be larger and less pixels per inch, but you also dont sit as close as you do to a monitor. I sit in a gaming chair with built in tray table for mouse/kb or relaxing on couch with a Xbox controller, depending on game. I sit about 4-8 ft away from TV so the resolution looks the same as smaller monitors sitting 1-2 ft away, but its great because it fills my field of view up for more immersion. It is plasma (600Hz)so the motion on it is the best ive seen, so smooth even at very fast turning during gaming, no ghosting(60FPS of course). Viewing angles are no problem with the Panny as in a high end IPS monitor. It is the newer Neo plasmas so i dont have any problems with burn in retention and very bright, but its only for gaming and i have a seperate PC for work/surfing. And my Panny TV has one of the best colour reproduction ive seen with amazing black levels that really give the gaming picture depth and pop.

On a 3d side note the Panny does have built in 3d processor so i can game in 3d @ 1920x1080 60FPS while the HDTV is processing the 3d so there is no hit to my GPU processing power which is amazing(3d usually cuts your framerate in half due to the GPU having to produce each frame twice). The Panny's 3d process is not as good as Nvidias software, but it still looks great. The con is using Nvidia's software 3d gaming maxes out at 720p @60 or 1080p @24 due to HDMI restraints (no DVI input on TV). The TV's built in 3d processor is a post GPU/HDMI process so the 1080p framerate is not limited.

Dell UltraSharps are amazing, and HDTV wouldnt work in a desk setup like a monitor does. You would have to have a different setup to sit farther away from the HDTV. But definitely the huge real estate of a good HDTV is a plus. Be aware some HDTVs has slow response times and u will get input lag, and others have poor motion reproduction, so you must choose wisely if for gaming.

 

[audiopanik]

However when playing games like BF3 I get intermittent graphics / crash issues

I'm guessing you have ATI graphics?

Yes, it's an AMD HD 5870

 

[audiopanik]

Ok so here are the specs of the machine I am planning to replace. And based on some responses maybe I don't need to replace everything.

Case: NZXT Vulcan (at the time I preferred a smaller form factor case, and maybe that's one of my main issues)

Motherboard: Asus Rampage III Gene LGA 1366

Processor: Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core

Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600

Graphics: XFX HD-587X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5870 1GB 256-bit

PSU: Thermaltake Black Widow W0319RU 850W ATX

Cooler: Noctua NH-U12P SE2 120mm SSO CPU Cooler

SSD: OCZ Vertex 2

Monitor: Dell U2410 24" UltraSharp Monitor


I built this machine about a year and a half ago and it has been pretty solid. However, as stated I get random crashes while playing BF3 and I'd like to up either the number of monitors I am using or get one large display as several have suggested in this thread.

I am not opposed to keeping pieces that I already have, however I do have other plans for the machine as is in the event that I build a new system from the ground up.

Thanks again for all the replies.

My next self build journey will likely be much better due to all of the questions I plan to ask here.

-c

 

[boiler1990]

In reality all you need is a newer GPU to keep up in newer games...

 

[mjmjpfaff]

If you can find more u2410's get 2 more for nvidia surround/amd eyefinity if not get 3 u2412m monitors. They will set you back about 1k$ but they are worth it. They also might be cheaper than getting 2 more u2410's

You also may want to get a bigger case and a full size atx motherboard.

To play at that high of a resolution I would get 2 GTX 680's. That should let you run every game at playable FPS.

Lastly, to run that GPU setup I would get a new power supply. The one you have now is OK but Thermaltake does not make very good power supplies.
Here are two good options- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703028 and
http://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-ATX12V-EPS12V-Supply-ST85F-G/dp/B004GGUAT0/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1334026736&sr=1-7

 

[azeem40]

One 680 can play BF3 and Skyrim at 50fps on max settings.

 

[Swolern]

No, I bought a $2500 samsung 40" tv to use as a monitor and it looks like crap, and I'm no novice I tried adjusting everything. They just aren't made for it. The pixels are too big for starters, along with the auto-correction they try to force on the video feed they get. 24" has been determined to be the ideal size. I use an alienware 120hz 23.6", as do all pro gamers on MLG - theres a very good reason for it.

What kind of problems were you getting with the auto-correction? Vsync issues, stuttering? I was thinking about getting a Sammy with their tiny hairline bezels? Also which model, LED? Thanks.

 

[hellfire24]

for gaming
monitor>TV.

 

[obsama1]

A 5870 seems good enough for BF3 on Ultra. Are you sure it's not driver issues? Maybe an update to your drivers will fix the stuttering. If it's not drivers, then I suggest getting a single 680 and an ATX motherboard because a 680 will not fit on a MicroATX motherboard/case Also, a better PSU. Preferably from
Corsair
Seasonic
Antec
XFX

They make good PSU's. The res. of that monitor is 1920x1200, and a 680 will be able to play over 60FPS at that res.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Z82E5CWa95k
^^^
He plays on 1600x900 and gets 130-200FPS, without overclocking. So, you'll definitely get over 60FPS on BF3 with a 680.


Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233
Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188068
GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130768

 

[hellfire24]

corsair,xfx and antec don't manufacture their own psus.they are mostly made by seasonic 😛