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Building a Computer

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Ocius

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Building a Computer
« on: December 30, 2011, 01:29:59 AM »
I'm planning on replacing this relic I have. I'd like to be able to play Skyrim on ultra settings. So far, I've cooked this up on newegg.com.

Processor: AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban 2.8GHz Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor

Memory: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory

Video Card: SAPPHIRE 100314-3L Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

Motherboard: ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3 AM3 AMD 880G SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda ST3250312AS 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
I would have liked to get a solid state hard drive, but they're just too expensive for my budget.

Case: Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Power Supply: COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus RS500-PCARD3-US 500W ATX12V v2.3 Power Supply

The total for everything is $691.92. It's definitely a budget PC, and if I wanted to spend more money, I'd probably go Intel/Nvidia instead. I've heard AMD is great for gaming though and it's probably more power efficient. Thoughts? I've never built a computer before.
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Lorddave

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2011, 02:50:04 AM »
That power supply seems under powered for that rig. I could be wrong as I haven't looked at the power requirements but 500w does seem low.
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Mr Pseudonym

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2011, 04:01:02 AM »
Skyrim will be outdated soon and so will everything else you are about to buy. I would invest elsewhere.

Also, Ipad.
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Quote from: hallsofvallhalla on July 07, 2010, 01:06:43 PM
Why do we fall back to earth? Because our weight pushes us down, no laws, no gravity pulling us. It is the law of intelligence.
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Blanko

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #3 on: December 30, 2011, 04:02:36 AM »
Quote from: Mr Pseudonym on December 30, 2011, 04:01:02 AM
Skyrim will be outdated soon and so will everything else you are about to buy. I would invest elsewhere.

Also, Ipad.

As in, "iPad is also an example of where not to invest, as it is a useless piece of shit"?
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Thork

Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #4 on: December 30, 2011, 04:19:27 AM »
AMD? Are you Canadian? If not, what the hell are you thinking? Intel gives way more bang for buck right now.

I think 500W will be ample for what its worth. I wouldn't buy a branded PSU for a mid range rig. Save some more pennies. you can't see the stickers when its in the case.
PS - Intel isn't as hungry and doesn't run as hot.
http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp
A site like ^ this can help you calculate what you need if you aren't sure.

Also, you are on an aging relic right? Well surely it has a hard drive and power supply? Use them if you can. The pennies you save may allow you to buy a small SSD hard drive for your operating system so things happen much faster or let you take a nice girl to the pictures.
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Rushy

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #5 on: December 30, 2011, 06:13:54 AM »
I would suggest a 560 Ti instead of a 5870.
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General Disarray

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #6 on: December 30, 2011, 01:12:03 PM »
That looks pretty good, and the processor is the least of your worries. However, if you can salvage your current hard drive, I'd recommend that. Due to the Thailand flood, HDD prices are ridiculous right now. Also,  you are cutting it a bit close on the power supply, I'd go with a 600W just to be safe.
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Quote from: Thork on April 02, 2012, 01:56:05 AM
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Ocius

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #7 on: December 30, 2011, 02:27:41 PM »
Quote from: General Disarray on December 30, 2011, 01:12:03 PM
That looks pretty good, and the processor is the least of your worries. However, if you can salvage your current hard drive, I'd recommend that. Due to the Thailand flood, HDD prices are ridiculous right now. Also,  you are cutting it a bit close on the power supply, I'd go with a 600W just to be safe.

Yea, I didn't think of re-using my old hard drive, except it's only 80 GB. I'll probably just do that and get a 600W PSU. Methinks the processor will perform just as well as the i5 for what I'm going to be doing.
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General Disarray

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #8 on: December 30, 2011, 02:50:34 PM »
Yeah skyrim is a small game. You could also scale back on the ram a bit, RAM speed has the smallest effect on your performance.

Also everything you have is upgradable, in case you get more cash later.

I saw a 550W OCZ psu for $40 after rebate on there.

Do you live near a microcenter? They usually have good mobo+cpu combo deals.
« Last Edit: December 30, 2011, 02:55:13 PM by General Disarray »
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Quote from: Thork on April 02, 2012, 01:56:05 AM
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Areweonfiya

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #9 on: December 30, 2011, 06:15:07 PM »
If you're going for AMD you should get a 955  3.2 GHz. Hexa cores are a waste of money.
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General Disarray

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #10 on: December 30, 2011, 06:51:48 PM »
You've got a point, games don't really use more than 2-4 cores anyway. That would use less power too.

Or look into a A8-3870k, it would require a different motherboard, but same price range.
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Quote from: Thork on April 02, 2012, 01:56:05 AM
You don't want to make an enemy of me. I'm very powerful.
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Mr Pseudonym

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #11 on: December 30, 2011, 10:48:40 PM »
Or look into an Ipad.  Or even better, Ipad 2.
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Quote from: hallsofvallhalla on July 07, 2010, 01:06:43 PM
Why do we fall back to earth? Because our weight pushes us down, no laws, no gravity pulling us. It is the law of intelligence.
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General Disarray

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #12 on: December 30, 2011, 10:55:09 PM »
See if you like this.

It's most of your earlier build but with a Llano processor (essentially a more efficient Phenom II with an integrated GPU) and compatible board for around the same price. Also, the PSU I was talking about, and the RAM has a 20% discount promo code. I've heard these processors and the integrated graphics can overclock pretty high if you're into that sort of thing, and you are supposed to be able to add the integrated's power to your separate graphics card for added performance.
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Quote from: Thork on April 02, 2012, 01:56:05 AM
You don't want to make an enemy of me. I'm very powerful.
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Ocius

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #13 on: December 30, 2011, 11:39:18 PM »
Quote from: General Disarray on December 30, 2011, 10:55:09 PM
See if you like this.

It's most of your earlier build but with a Llano processor (essentially a more efficient Phenom II with an integrated GPU) and compatible board for around the same price. Also, the PSU I was talking about, and the RAM has a 20% discount promo code. I've heard these processors and the integrated graphics can overclock pretty high if you're into that sort of thing, and you are supposed to be able to add the integrated's power to your separate graphics card for added performance.

Hmm that looks pretty good too. I think my friend has me convinced to get an i5 now though :/
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General Disarray

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #14 on: December 31, 2011, 12:05:21 AM »
Intel is definitely better, if you don't mind spending the extra money for it. But honestly, most modern games are not limited by the processor as much as the graphics card. I'd put the extra into that if I were you.
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Quote from: Thork on April 02, 2012, 01:56:05 AM
You don't want to make an enemy of me. I'm very powerful.
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Mugthulhu

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #15 on: December 31, 2011, 01:26:05 AM »
I doubt you need 8 gigs of RAM, but seeing as it's not up to me..
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Blanko

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #16 on: December 31, 2011, 02:26:52 AM »
Quote from: General Disarray on December 31, 2011, 12:05:21 AM
Intel is definitely better, if you don't mind spending the extra money for it. But honestly, most modern games are not limited by the processor as much as the graphics card. I'd put the extra into that if I were you.

Well, Skyrim in particular is limited by the processor as it draws shadows on the CPU instead of the GPU (shitty porting).

So, seeing as Andrew is upgrading for Skyrim first and foremost, the processor isn't something to skimp on.
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markjo

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #17 on: December 31, 2011, 08:18:44 AM »
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Science is what happens when preconception meets verification.
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Mugthulhu

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #18 on: December 31, 2011, 08:22:39 AM »
What would he do with those?
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markjo

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #19 on: December 31, 2011, 08:37:39 AM »
Make his own Beowulf Cluster, of course.
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Science is what happens when preconception meets verification.
Quote from: Robosteve
Besides, perhaps FET is a conspiracy too.
Quote from: bullhorn
It is just the way it is, you understanding it doesn't concern me.
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Thork

Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #20 on: January 01, 2012, 04:23:15 AM »
Quote from: markjo on December 31, 2011, 08:18:44 AM
Bah.  For the same price you could get a few dozen of these:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57349222-76/raspberry-pi-$25-pc-on-course-for-january-arrival/

Being January 1st, they are now auctioning the first 10 Raspberry Pi computers. For a $35 computer, they sure are expensive.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180786734741?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649#ht_500wt_1413
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Mugthulhu

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #21 on: January 01, 2012, 04:48:21 AM »
Quote from: markjo on December 31, 2011, 08:37:39 AM
Make his own Beowulf Cluster, of course.
What would he do with that?
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Parsifal

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #22 on: January 01, 2012, 04:55:32 AM »
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Ocius

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #23 on: January 01, 2012, 05:08:24 AM »
Quote from: markjo on December 31, 2011, 08:18:44 AM
Bah.  For the same price you could get a few dozen of these:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57349222-76/raspberry-pi-$25-pc-on-course-for-january-arrival/

If you can make me a $25 computer than can play Skyrim on ultra settings, then I'd be in your debt.
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Rushy

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #24 on: January 01, 2012, 10:10:58 AM »
Quote from: Thork on January 01, 2012, 04:23:15 AM
Quote from: markjo on December 31, 2011, 08:18:44 AM
Bah.  For the same price you could get a few dozen of these:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57349222-76/raspberry-pi-$25-pc-on-course-for-january-arrival/

Being January 1st, they are now auctioning the first 10 Raspberry Pi computers. For a $35 computer, they sure are expensive.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180786734741?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649#ht_500wt_1413

Quote
#10 of a limited series of 10

Limited edition collectors are such silly people.
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Mugthulhu

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #25 on: January 01, 2012, 02:03:40 PM »
I'm happy that Andrew is getting a computer to play Skyrim on instead of being a console fag.
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Ocius

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #26 on: January 01, 2012, 03:38:48 PM »
Quote from: Mugthulhu on January 01, 2012, 02:03:40 PM
I'm happy that Andrew is getting a computer to play Skyrim on instead of being a console fag.

I had an Xbox, but it red ring-ed so many times it just wasn't worth it anymore. And yea, depending on your build, it will have a higher framerate/graphics than Xbox. I noticed on consoles that it drops to like 20 FPS in certain areas and on my friend's computer it hardly ever goes below about 40 FPS. A majority of the time it stays at 60 FPS.
« Last Edit: January 01, 2012, 03:41:57 PM by Andrew »
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Blanko

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #27 on: January 01, 2012, 03:58:56 PM »
Quote from: Andrew on January 01, 2012, 03:38:48 PM
Quote from: Mugthulhu on January 01, 2012, 02:03:40 PM
I'm happy that Andrew is getting a computer to play Skyrim on instead of being a console fag.

I had an Xbox, but it red ring-ed so many times it just wasn't worth it anymore. And yea, depending on your build, it will have a higher framerate/graphics than Xbox. I noticed on consoles that it drops to like 20 FPS in certain areas and on my friend's computer it hardly ever goes below about 40 FPS. A majority of the time it stays at 60 FPS.

Even my shit rig gets constant 50-60 FPS on 1080p and near-ultra settings, and what you're planning to buy is a lot better than what I have.
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Mugthulhu

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #28 on: January 02, 2012, 05:00:46 AM »
Blanko has a shit rig. I haven't come up with an appropriate term for mine. I get 15-20 FPS at places where snow is falling, and sometimes way worse depending on how much stuff is going on on the screen. Indoors I generally get around 45, depending on what's going on of course. It was a lot better at the start of the game though.
I thought my computer was shit, but apparently it's way worse than that, seeing as how I run it in 1152x864 with the graphics settings otherwise set almost to max, and I get way worse performance than Blanko.
For all I know, this is worse performance than what you get on a console, but I take shitty performance over using a gamepad in a FPS game any day.
« Last Edit: January 02, 2012, 05:09:29 AM by Mugthulhu »
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Blanko

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Re: Building a Computer
« Reply #29 on: January 02, 2012, 10:19:14 AM »
I'm now getting 70-80 FPS outdoors with the TESV Acceleration Layer. Works like a charm.

Mugsy might wanna try that out.

Also, when I say "shit", I mean "lower mid-range". Specifically, GTX 460 + Core2Duo E8500 @ 3.16GHz + 4GB RAM.
« Last Edit: January 02, 2012, 10:22:10 AM by Blanko »
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