Hi all - new to the forum and just beginning to explore, so please bear with me as I slowly consume all the stickies/posts/etc. Feel free to redirect me or tell me to search if I have questions already answered elsewhere.
My goal here is to introduce myself and and have a thread where I can get y'all's advice, organize my own thoughts, and both capture and have people follow along as I make decisions on the build (or just be able to go back and check my own work later on).
Back story:
Last time I built a desktop was around 2000 and it was a basic budget build I was taking to college to do college-y things on. Since then it's been a revolving door of store-bough basic desktops/laptops and Dell fleet laptops from work. Fanciest things I have now are a years-old Surface Pro 4 that works fine for web browsing, paying bills, and Zoom calls; and an aging PS4 and Switch for living room or on-the-road gaming.
Today:
I'd like to build or buy a dedicated gaming PC. I have a dedicated space in my house for it and don't need it to do anything other than gaming (maybe some simple travel video editing, whenever travel is possible again, but nothing fancy as what we do now is handled fine - if slowly - by the Surface). I'd expect most of the games to be sims - looking at iRacing and trying to get ready for the new MS Flight Simulator when it comes out. I'd also like to start getting into VR so would like something optimized for the sims but ready to handle VR well, also.
Keep in mind I'm starting from nothing. I have a power plug, and ethernet jack, and an empty patch of floor. Everything will need to be bought or built - PC, monitors, desk, chair, audio, keyboard/mouse, controllers, etc.
Buy vs. Build:
Honestly still deciding. I know I can get more out of a build, am a quick learner, and have friends with experience who are willing to help in exchange for beer. But - I also am not immune to the idea of just paying someone to give me a complete package I just need to plug in and turn on, as well as the warranty/support that would come along with a prebuilt, or a custom build from Digital Storm or something similar.
I copy/pasted the build advice template before - but almost everything other than purpose and budget will be TBD to start. I'll come back to this post and update as things get nailed down along the way.
Happy to hear any initial thoughts, advice, go-read-this-website-first, whatever. Otherwise I'll keep coming back with more specific questions as I have them. Thanks for reading!
--- Build notes below to be updated periodically ---
Approximate Purchase Date: Summer 2020
Budget Range: $5,000 USD** all-in (includes all peripherals including monitors; does not include software)
**This is a starting point budget based on very initial research. There is some flexibility here.
Budget philosophy: I'm willing to pay a premium for good products, and want to get something that performs well and will have reasonable longevity. But budget is not unlimited and I don't spend just for the sake of spending. I don't need the latest/greatest version of whatever component unless having the latest/greatest is what meets the need.
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Sim Gaming > VR Gaming >>>>>>> Light video editing
Are you buying a monitor: Yes - likely ultrawide or potentially multiple for sim rig setup
Parts to Upgrade: New build from scratch
Do you need to buy OS: Yes
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: None specific - prefer authorized resellers only (Amazon, B&H, etc.). No eBay/craigslist.
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Parts Preferences: TBD
Overclocking: Maybe/TBD - still researching
SLI or Crossfire: I need to look up what this means lol
Your Monitor Resolution: TBD - likely looking to ultrawide or multi-screen for simulator setup
Additional Comments: See intro at top.
Key games: iRacing, Forza, MS Flight Simulator
Don't need bling - black box in a corner is just fine if it performs well
No size constraints (within reason) - I have plenty of room for setup
And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: See intro - new build.
My goal here is to introduce myself and and have a thread where I can get y'all's advice, organize my own thoughts, and both capture and have people follow along as I make decisions on the build (or just be able to go back and check my own work later on).
Back story:
Last time I built a desktop was around 2000 and it was a basic budget build I was taking to college to do college-y things on. Since then it's been a revolving door of store-bough basic desktops/laptops and Dell fleet laptops from work. Fanciest things I have now are a years-old Surface Pro 4 that works fine for web browsing, paying bills, and Zoom calls; and an aging PS4 and Switch for living room or on-the-road gaming.
Today:
I'd like to build or buy a dedicated gaming PC. I have a dedicated space in my house for it and don't need it to do anything other than gaming (maybe some simple travel video editing, whenever travel is possible again, but nothing fancy as what we do now is handled fine - if slowly - by the Surface). I'd expect most of the games to be sims - looking at iRacing and trying to get ready for the new MS Flight Simulator when it comes out. I'd also like to start getting into VR so would like something optimized for the sims but ready to handle VR well, also.
Keep in mind I'm starting from nothing. I have a power plug, and ethernet jack, and an empty patch of floor. Everything will need to be bought or built - PC, monitors, desk, chair, audio, keyboard/mouse, controllers, etc.
Buy vs. Build:
Honestly still deciding. I know I can get more out of a build, am a quick learner, and have friends with experience who are willing to help in exchange for beer. But - I also am not immune to the idea of just paying someone to give me a complete package I just need to plug in and turn on, as well as the warranty/support that would come along with a prebuilt, or a custom build from Digital Storm or something similar.
I copy/pasted the build advice template before - but almost everything other than purpose and budget will be TBD to start. I'll come back to this post and update as things get nailed down along the way.
Happy to hear any initial thoughts, advice, go-read-this-website-first, whatever. Otherwise I'll keep coming back with more specific questions as I have them. Thanks for reading!
--- Build notes below to be updated periodically ---
Approximate Purchase Date: Summer 2020
Budget Range: $5,000 USD** all-in (includes all peripherals including monitors; does not include software)
**This is a starting point budget based on very initial research. There is some flexibility here.
Budget philosophy: I'm willing to pay a premium for good products, and want to get something that performs well and will have reasonable longevity. But budget is not unlimited and I don't spend just for the sake of spending. I don't need the latest/greatest version of whatever component unless having the latest/greatest is what meets the need.
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Sim Gaming > VR Gaming >>>>>>> Light video editing
Are you buying a monitor: Yes - likely ultrawide or potentially multiple for sim rig setup
Parts to Upgrade: New build from scratch
Do you need to buy OS: Yes
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: None specific - prefer authorized resellers only (Amazon, B&H, etc.). No eBay/craigslist.
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Parts Preferences: TBD
Overclocking: Maybe/TBD - still researching
SLI or Crossfire: I need to look up what this means lol
Your Monitor Resolution: TBD - likely looking to ultrawide or multi-screen for simulator setup
Additional Comments: See intro at top.
Key games: iRacing, Forza, MS Flight Simulator
Don't need bling - black box in a corner is just fine if it performs well
No size constraints (within reason) - I have plenty of room for setup
And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: See intro - new build.
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