Building A Custom PC Question v2

[b0bby]

As similar to jono 0101 I'm in need of hardware recommendations on a new system. I can build, config, troubleshoot everything just fine but I've been out of the loop as far as hardware is concerned. My last build was an htpc when bluray drives were the new hotness. Now it seems the new hotness is SSD's and unlocking cores.

What I need is a pc that can play world of warcraft really well. Immediately one would think oh thats easy the game doesn't require much. I'll go ahead and put an end to that and say it does need quite the juice to run well. There is quite a difference when soloing and getting 60fps to when you are in a 25 person raid with sprites flying everywhere and shadows galore at 15fps. I would love something to be at +100fps normally and atleast 60fps in 25 man raids. Also when the new expansion coming out and gfx engine being upgraded things will look better and be more gfx intensive.

What I have already:
monitors (1680x1050)
keyboard
mouse
speakers
OS
bd drive
plenty of storage, i dont need a 1TB system drive, only plan on installing OS + core apps (MS suite, Photoshop, powerdvd, etc) + WoW + 1-2 other games

What I need:
processor
mobo
ram
video card(s) - open to sli/xfire
system hdd/ssd
psu

i'm open to all brands and any suggestions. i've given myself a 1k budget but would like to go as low as possible considering its just the tower and guts. thanks in advance!

[kpkelley]

You say monitors. Does the video card need to support multiple monitors with a technology like ATI's Eyefinity or NVIDIA's Vision Surround?

[bad_code]

How similar are the graphics and the requirements compared to Lord Of the Rings Online? I built a computer for my brother to play LOR Online last year. He kept telling me the graphics were more intense than UT3 but he was wrong.

Raids with lots of people has a greater effect or is more greatly effected by your internet bandwidth as well as all the others participating.

[b0bby]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

You say monitors. Does the video card need to support multiple monitors with a technology like ATI's Eyefinity or NVIDIA's Vision Surround?

I said monitors out of instinct because I have several and didn't think of the hidden meaning. I don't need multiple monitor support.

Originally Posted by bad_code

How similar are the graphics and the requirements compared to Lord Of the Rings Online? I built a computer for my brother to play LOR Online last year. He kept telling me the graphics were more intense than UT3 but he was wrong.

Raids with lots of people has a greater effect or is more greatly effected by your internet bandwidth as well as all the others participating.

Does he play LOTRO on max settings? My current specs are 2.2ghz duo core, 4gb ram, ati hd2600xt passive cooled (I play on the htpc I mentioned in the OP). I have settings at the medium, vsync off. I can get like 120fps with vsync off in certain areas of the game where theres not alot going on naturally yielding the high fps. In high populated areas and raids it drops dramatically down to 20-25fps due to tons of players around me, tons of animations, bandwidth probably.

Whatever the reason is I'd like to get rid of it. It's alot harder than it sounds I think. Right now I'm gimping details and such in order to get better fps. What I want is to run max detail settings and be at a good fps range when in a high populated situation. My idea of good fps range with vsync off is 60-100fps.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by b0bby

Does he play LOTRO on max settings? My current specs are 2.2ghz duo core, 4gb ram, ati hd2600xt passive cooled (I play on the htpc I mentioned in the OP). I have settings at the medium, vsync off. I can get like 120fps with vsync off in certain areas of the game where theres not alot going on naturally yielding the high fps. In high populated areas and raids it drops dramatically down to 20-25fps due to tons of players around me, tons of animations, bandwidth probably.

I just did a quick google and if you want to play that game a 5770 will smoke it.

[BLindsay]

i happen to play wow myself and one thing ive learned is that its not very gpu dependant. My Ati 4870 went out for RMA and i was stuck using a 9500GS and in very few situations there was a noticeable difference. untill i got the cash for my dual 5850's im using a 5670 which is plenty for the game. Noticed faar more difference getting a better cpu/more ram and SSD for uber load times

[b0bby]

Any of you guys got lucky with getting a processor with an unlockable core? I've read some on it and it sounds very interesting. I can definitely live without it.

I guess my new refined needs for recommendations are:

quad core or higher processor
quality mobo
4-6GB of quality ram
SSD
quality quiet PSU
5770 or higher video card

The new WoW expansion is going into beta within the month so i'll wait for more details on the graphical demands of it. My main area of concern is finding a processor that is rated well in bang for the money. There's so many quad cores, duo unlocked to quads, quads unlocked to 6, and 6 cores these days its hard to narrow it down with so many choices. Along with picking the right processor please recommend a good mobo to with it. Thanks!

EDIT: oh I forgot to mention I would like the video card or mobo to support 7.1 DTS MA/TrueHD if possible. I have a BD drive I'll use with this as a backup bluray player. Does this vastly limit my choices?

[BLindsay]

Originally Posted by b0bby

Any of you guys got lucky with getting a processor with an unlockable core? I've read some on it and it sounds very interesting. I can definitely live without it.

I guess my new refined needs for recommendations are:

quad core or higher processor
quality mobo
4-6GB of quality ram
SSD
quality quiet PSU
5770 or higher video card

The new WoW expansion is going into beta within the month so i'll wait for more details on the graphical demands of it. My main area of concern is finding a processor that is rated well in bang for the money. There's so many quad cores, duo unlocked to quads, quads unlocked to 6, and 6 cores these days its hard to narrow it down with so many choices. Along with picking the right processor please recommend a good mobo to with it. Thanks!

EDIT: oh I forgot to mention I would like the video card or mobo to support 7.1 DTS MA/TrueHD if possible. I have a BD drive I'll use with this as a backup bluray player. Does this vastly limit my choices?

Could so something along the lines of
Core i7 920
Asus P6T
6GB DDR3 (triple channel)
Intel X25-M (80 or 160GB)
Corsair 750W PSU
And the 5770 would meet your audio requirement.

I build a computer for a friend a little bit ago for wow actually which ended up being
Core i5 750 (Quad)
4GB RAM
Asus board (dont remember which exactly offhand)
and the 5770

and that runs wow great so if you went with the above setup it would be pretty awesome

[tootall82103]

Originally Posted by b0bby

As similar to jono 0101 I'm in need of hardware recommendations on a new system. I can build, config, troubleshoot everything just fine but I've been out of the loop as far as hardware is concerned. My last build was an htpc when bluray drives were the new hotness. Now it seems the new hotness is SSD's and unlocking cores.

What I need is a pc that can play world of warcraft really well. Immediately one would think oh thats easy the game doesn't require much. I'll go ahead and put an end to that and say it does need quite the juice to run well. There is quite a difference when soloing and getting 60fps to when you are in a 25 person raid with sprites flying everywhere and shadows galore at 15fps. I would love something to be at +100fps normally and atleast 60fps in 25 man raids. Also when the new expansion coming out and gfx engine being upgraded things will look better and be more gfx intensive.

What I have already:
monitors (1680x1050)
keyboard
mouse
speakers
OS
bd drive
plenty of storage, i dont need a 1TB system drive, only plan on installing OS + core apps (MS suite, Photoshop, powerdvd, etc) + WoW + 1-2 other games

What I need:
processor
mobo
ram
video card(s) - open to sli/xfire
system hdd/ssd
psu

i'm open to all brands and any suggestions. i've given myself a 1k budget but would like to go as low as possible considering its just the tower and guts. thanks in advance!

I love building computers. I have pictures of mine in my gallery I built in 2007. Only had a CPU and GPU upgrade since.

CPU- (Will last you a good while)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-225-_-Product

Mobo- (important you get sata3 and usb3 for the future)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-641-_-Product

Ram- (I love Mushkin)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820226028

GPU- (ATI 5770 will destroy WoW, nice cooler!)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-490-_-Product

HDD- (I'd personally hold off on an SSD until the prices drop more)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820167016
**This will put you over 1k, I'd use what you have already and save up.

PSU- (Corsair is the best IMO)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139012


Without an SSD you're at $980 in the newegg cart with a badass rig of quality components! I don't see an SSD being worth the prices to have a bit skimpier load times. If you want a good hard drive get a Western Digital Black or Samsung Spinpoint and give the SSDs another year to drop in prices.

[b0bby]

Originally Posted by tootall82103

I love building computers. I have pictures of mine in my gallery I built in 2007. Only had a CPU and GPU upgrade since.

CPU- (Will last you a good while)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-225-_-Product

Mobo- (important you get sata3 and usb3 for the future)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-641-_-Product

Ram- (I love Mushkin)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820226028

GPU- (ATI 5770 will destroy WoW, nice cooler!)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-490-_-Product

HDD- (I'd personally hold off on an SSD until the prices drop more)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820167016
**This will put you over 1k, I'd use what you have already and save up.

PSU- (Corsair is the best IMO)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139012


Without an SSD you're at $980 in the newegg cart with a badass rig of quality components! I don't see an SSD being worth the prices to have a bit skimpier load times. If you want a good hard drive get a Western Digital Black or Samsung Spinpoint and give the SSDs another year to drop in prices.

If I hold off on SSD because of prices, would my other option be those fast Raptor drives? I only need 40-80GB because again I don't plan on installing anything other than core apps.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by b0bby

If I hold off on SSD because of prices, would my other option be those fast Raptor drives? I only need 40-80GB because again I don't plan on installing anything other than core apps.

Then Buy the 40gb ssd but make sure you only want to do core items. The intel version is like 129.99-150 and the 150gb Raptor is 149 (on amazon).

[b0bby]

Originally Posted by supersix4

Then Buy the 40gb ssd but make sure you only want to do core items. The intel version is like 129.99-150 and the 150gb Raptor is 149 (on amazon).

i think wow takes up 16gb, then ms suite, adobe reader, flash plugins, google chrome, photoshop, powerdvd, burning programs, antivirus/ccleaner are all i have on my current pc. i hope 40gb is big enough. is there an affordable 80gb version?

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by b0bby

i think wow takes up 16gb, then ms suite, adobe reader, flash plugins, google chrome, photoshop, powerdvd, burning programs, antivirus/ccleaner are all i have on my current pc. i hope 40gb is big enough. is there an affordable 80gb version?

I mean the Intel 80 GB X25M is 214.99 on amazon, and the same on newegg (they do have OEM versions for 204, but I wouldn't get that since you need the 3.5'' adaptor.)

225 on tigerdirect

That looks like the best you can do for the intel is the 214.99 on amazon.


There are some 60's that aren't intel brand that are sub 170 (I'd buy from amazon if it was possible I'll list them below)
- Corsair Reactor Series CSSD-R60GB2-BRKT 2.5" 60GB USB 2.0 & SATAII Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) $164.99 newegg

-OCZ Agility Series OCZSSD2-1AGT60G 2.5" 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) $159.00 newegg

I've had personal experience with the intel x25 series so I would always recommend that, but I'm not the one spending money am I

[tootall82103]

Originally Posted by b0bby

If I hold off on SSD because of prices, would my other option be those fast Raptor drives? I only need 40-80GB because again I don't plan on installing anything other than core apps.

I'd get a Western Digital Black 500gb. It's more space than what you need but the performance between it and the Raptors aren't that great. Plus you have the extra space if you ever need it.

[BLindsay]

Originally Posted by tootall82103

I'd get a Western Digital Black 500gb. It's more space than what you need but the performance between it and the Raptors aren't that great. Plus you have the extra space if you ever need it.

Depends on the raptor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-555-_-Product

but honestly if the OP is interested in WoW and specifically load times, my SSD's made a huuuuge difference in load times. there pretty much isnt any lol

[tootall82103]

Originally Posted by BLindsay

Depends on the raptor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-555-_-Product

but honestly if the OP is interested in WoW and specifically load times, my SSD's made a huuuuge difference in load times. there pretty much isnt any lol

The WD Blacks move data about as fast as the Raptors. The access times are what are shorter. Having a Raptor or an SSD vs your basic 7200rpm hard drive will give you faster loading times for games and applications. You may get a couple (maybe) more FPS in games. You just have to decide if shelling out a couple hundred bucks for a raptor or SSD is worth not waiting as long, though the waits have never been that long anyways.

My PC****
I actually need to take an updated picture as I put a GT240 in for dedicated Physx / HDMI out to a TV.

It's old but I can get a couple more years out of it except for a GPU upgrade in another year or so.

Antec P182 Case
Corsair HX-620 PSU
Asus P5E X38 Mobo
Intel Q9550 @ 2.83GHz w/ Tuniq Tower 120
4x2GB Mushkin DDR2 800 Ram
MSI GTX 275 and Asus GT240 GPU
2x500GB Western Digital SE16 HDD
Sound Blaster X-Fi Gamer Sound Card
2x Lite-On DVD burners.