Prebuilt from LanSlide Gaming

[skibum5767]

Hello everyone, I am new to building PC but have a lot of experience making them work =) . I recently just became interested in having a dedicated "Gaming" pc for home use, while I can use my dual booted MacBook pro, for my everyday use. It seems that there is a lot of work involved in order to build a custom pc and quite honestly, even though I have read some of the threads, I don't know where to start. Technology changes literally everyday and one day a particular part of the build will be a high end component, only to be replaced the next day by another brand or sub category of the same product.

I thought in my case, it might be easier to build a "custom" pre built. I found a site offering some pretty small form gaming rigs. Here is the link to the computer I was looking into.

http://www.lanslidepcs.com/ go to intel> mini tower> "Armageddon extreme power" build

Is this a good Idea? Or, am I just getting "Taken".

If you have other suggestions or some complete build plans which are better in your opinion for around the same price, please let me know! (I have built computers from scratch in the past .. I just wasn't the person to spec out and order the parts)


Thanks in advance!

 

[kajabla]

We can't see that build. It depends on the cookies from your computer.
Fill this out: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice
I'll throw a list together once we've got a budget and the other info straightened out.
See the rest of these guides for easy questions along the way: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/288241-31-buyer-guides-troubleshooting-tips

 

[skibum5767]

Approximate Purchase Date: near future a week to a month

Budget Range: around $1500 possibly up to $2000 if it is really necessary. Keeping price down without sacrificing quality is always an issue =)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, blu ray movies, genreal usage... although I already have a perfectly capable macbook pro for the last part.

Parts Not Required: I have a usb keyboard and wireless mouse but I am not against buying a "gaming" mouse and keyboard

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg, amazon, Prebuilt sites????

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: I've heard that intel builds have an edge over amd so I would prob. stick with that. Suggestions?

Overclocking: Maybe... I don't really know what I am doing in that arena.

SLI or Crossfire: I have a basic understanding of this, but not sure if it is something I should/need to look into.

Monitor Resolution: good question.... I need suggestions for a monitor as well so that might dictate this answer.

Additional Comments: I want to be able to play current games at max settings and future releases at at-least a high setting, max would be nice but we can't always have our cake and eat it too ( I realize that goal is only attainable for the near future as well, more likely than not more than 2-3 years)... I prefere a more portable build as well and prefer interesting cases as apposed to a straight black box.

 

[skibum5767]

Hey everyone! So i looked at some recommended reading and started specking out a similar build to the $2,000 build here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/332962-31-recommended-builds-price


What is your opinion of this set up??

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/aAI5

What would you change? Also I need help with a case and a monitor. This has got to be a better solution than the prebuilt I posted first post correct?


Thanks everyone. I am a total noob at part specing =)

 

[kajabla]

Oh, that's much better. Yep, didn't quite get around to posting a build quite similar to this one.
-You could get a far cheaper CPU cooler. A $35 Hyper 212 EVO would be fine.
-Mobo's also too expensive. Go for a $130 ASRock Z77 Extreme4.
-A good 650W PSU is plenty for two 670s. This NZXT will be fine: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817116014

 

[kajabla]

I'm just going to ask you to read my above post and follow all the suggestions instead of none of them. Also, you definitely don't need more than 8gb of RAM.
Oh, didn't notice you picked the bad 670. You definitely don't need 4gb of VRAM. Get the 2gb. SLI is good.

 

[skibum5767]

I'm just going to ask you to read my above post and follow all the suggestions instead of none of them. Also, you definitely don't need more than 8gb of RAM.
Oh, didn't notice you picked the bad 670. You definitely don't need 4gb of VRAM. Get the 2gb. SLI is good.

Sorry, better now? =)

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/aFfg

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($33.50 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($189.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($77.98 @ NCIX US)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($109.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Hard Drive: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($417.55 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($417.55 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: NZXT 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VG236H 120Hz 23.0" Monitor ($338.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $1955.51


The only question on the Mobo between yours and mine is i like the though of having the 3d possibly. Is the z77 extreme 4 able to do 3d? with this monitor:

Asus VG236H 23" 2ms 1920x1080 Full HD HDMI multimedia Height & Swivel Adjustable WideScreen LCD 120Hz 3D Monitor w/nVidia 3D Vision Kit hard bundle http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236092

 

[kajabla]

Yes, it can do 3D. 3D doesn't depend on the motherboard, just on the graphics card and monitor. This is looking good.

 

[skibum5767]

Yes, it can do 3D. 3D doesn't depend on the motherboard, just on the graphics card and monitor. This is looking good.

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($33.50 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($129.37 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($77.98 @ NCIX US)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($109.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Hard Drive: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($417.55 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($417.55 @ Newegg)
Case: BitFenix Colossus Venom Edition ATX Full Tower Case ($175.50 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: NZXT 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG WH12LS39 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($86.23 @ Amazon)
Total: $1817.64

Wonderful! Thank You for all your help. You have been more than informative!


What do you think about the case? (I like it aesthetically..which apparently is hard for me haha) but I mean features, airflow ect..


Also, Since I am new to SLI can you point me in the right direction for learning how to set it up correctly? I did a quick search but there seems to be a ton of different information on setting up sli.

Also, i feel like I am getting close to ordering. Is all of this compatible? From my research it is. Only real thing left is a 3d capable monitor

Once again, Thank you very much Kajabla!

 

[kajabla]

Just install Windows on the SSD. Start with only it connected to avoid confusion. Once you start adding stuff (like media) that you want to live on the HDD, get it connected and deal with stuff like setting it as the location of your iTunes library.

SLI is very easy. Get your GPUs in their slots with their power connecters in, stick the SLI bridge on and download the normal 670 graphics driver. You may just get a notification about SLI at that point; otherwise you can turn SLI on in the Nvidia Control Panel.
Source: http://www.nvidia.com/object/slizone_howtobuild_1.html
Page 3 doesn't work, so you have to skip directly to 4.

 

[skibum5767]

Just install Windows on the SSD. Start with only it connected to avoid confusion. Once you start adding stuff (like media) that you want to live on the HDD, get it connected and deal with stuff like setting it as the location of your iTunes library.

SLI is very easy. Get your GPUs in their slots with their power connecters in, stick the SLI bridge on and download the normal 670 graphics driver. You may just get a notification about SLI at that point; otherwise you can turn SLI on in the Nvidia Control Panel.
Source: http://www.nvidia.com/object/slizone_howtobuild_1.html
Page 3 doesn't work, so you have to skip directly to 4.

Sorry, I edited above your reply I didn't see it and wanted to update the build since I added a case and such!

 

[kajabla]

That case will be fine. So will just about anything above $60. Get the one you like best. If you like this one, go for it.
That Blu-Ray drive is overpriced. Here are some options:
-Cheaper writer, $70: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136250
-Much cheaper one that can't burn BDs, $50: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106374

 

[skibum5767]

Last question! Can you recommend a wireless card? =)

 

[kajabla]

You've found the one place I can't help you. I have zero experience there. What I do know is that wired internet is preferable. I hated it when my old computer's downloads stopped cold whenever someone turned on the microwave. I ran a 100-foot Ethernet cable around the perimeter of my apartment when I put my current build together, and now everything is sunshine and happiness. If that doesn't sound totally ridiculous, go for it.

 

[skibum5767]

Best answer selected by skibum5767.