TX_Angel Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 If you'd like a nice gaming machine, without spending a lot of money, and you're a bit handy with opening up a computer, I have a suggestion. It isn't the only way to go, but it is a pretty decent deal these days, but it does require some work on your part: Computer - $430 http://www.amazon.com/M32CD-Desktop-Windows-Keyboard-Mouse/dp/B014QVM2KO/ Power Supply - $38 http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Continuous-Warranty-Supply-100-W1-0500-KR/dp/B00H33SFJU/ Video card - $190 http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Whisper-Graphics-02G-P4-2966-KR/dp/B00SC6HAS4/ SSD - $75 http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-2-5-Inch-Internal-MZ-75E250B-AM/dp/B00OAJ412U/ Swap out the power supply, install the SSD (there is a place in the computer to mount it without removing the existing hard drive, which you'll use as a data storage drive), and install the video card. The SSD comes with data transfer software for free, to clone the HDD to the SSD and make it the boot drive. That system, with those upgrades, will play SWTOR on up to 3 screens at 1080p smoothly or 1 screen at up to 1600p smoothly with no lag (other than your ISP, which is another issue). Total cost - $733 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TX_Angel Posted November 11, 2015 Author Share Posted November 11, 2015 If you don't want to do all that, and frankly it isn't for everyone, then this is another option for a bit more money: http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-G11CD-US009T-Gaming-Desktop-GTX960/dp/B016E80EKW/ That is a nice computer for the money, $850. It has the same CPU, same RAM, it already has the GTX 960 video card. What it is missing is a proper SSD (ignore the hybrid nonsense, that is marketing speak). Spend $75 to put in a Samsung EVO 850 250GB drive and you're at $925. More or less the same computer as above, for $200 more, without having to change out the power supply or add the video card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TX_Angel Posted November 11, 2015 Author Share Posted November 11, 2015 If you're feeling brave, or want to give it a shot and build your own, you can do even better, both in terms of overall value and what you can put in it. Intel Core i5-6500 - $195 http://www.amazon.com/Intel-I5-6500-FC-LGA14C-Processor-BX80662I56500/dp/B0136JON7M/ ASUS H170-Plus D3 motherboard - $95 http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-DDR3-Motherboards-H170-PLUS-D3/dp/B013HHFP66/ Crucial 8GB Memory kit - $42 http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Ballistix-PC3-12800-240-Pin-BLS2K4G3D169DS1J/dp/B00ZRG009S/ Corsair Computer Case - $50 http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Carbide-SPEC-01-Gaming-CC-9011050-WW/dp/B00I6BJATW/ EVGA 500w power supply - $39 http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Continuous-Warranty-Supply-100-W1-0500-KR/dp/B00H33SFJU/ EVGA GTX 960 2GB video card - $190 http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Whisper-Graphics-02G-P4-2966-KR/dp/B00SC6HAS4/ Samsung 250GB SSD - $75 http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-2-5-Inch-Internal-MZ-75E250B-AM/dp/B00OAJ412U/ WD 3TB Hard Drive - $85 http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Caviar-Green-Desktop/dp/B004RORMF6/ Windows 10 Home USB - $109 http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Home-Flash-Drive/dp/B01019T6O0 Total cost - $880 --- So why is that "better" when it costs more and you have to build it and install Windows? Well "better is a relative term, but there are benefits over the prebuilt systems: That is a retail copy of Windows 10, it can be moved to another motherboard or computer, the OEM copies cannot. You can upgrade this computer bit by bit over the years and never worry about losing the Windows 10 licence. This is faster than the prebuilt systems. The CPU is 500 MHz faster, the motherboard is much better overall, both in terms of features and build quality. The case is larger and has room to have enough airflow and cooling to ensure you don't thermal throttle (which happens in the small systems from time to time). You can upgrade this over time, you can customize it how you want, either with a larger SSD or HDD, or no HDD at all. If you have a retail licence to either Windows 7 or 8, in a few weeks Microsoft is going to give you the ability to clean install Windows 10 using that key, so you can save the cost of the Windows 10 licence. --- Finally, one of the biggest benefits is education. If you've never built a computer before, the above would be a good one to start with. Once you learn how it all goes together, you'll find there is less mystery than you thought and it really is pretty easy once you've done it once. For your first time, watch some youtube videos and put aside an afternoon, but honestly it shouldn't take more than 2 hours even for someone newish to build that, the parts just fit together and screw in place. My single suggestion to the above machine is that if you have an extra $100 in your budget, go ahead and get the GTX 970 card if you can, it really is faster than the 960 and you can't spend the difference later: http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Quieter-Graphics-04G-P4-2974-KR/dp/B00NVODXR4/ It also has 4GB of VRAM instead of 2GB, giving you some future proofing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TX_Angel Posted November 11, 2015 Author Share Posted November 11, 2015 Last post: If you'd rather have a laptop than a desktop, this would be a great choice. I own one of these, bought for my kids to replace an i3 machine with built in graphics that couldn't run SWTOR worth a darn: Dell 15.6" Inspiron - $800 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015PYYDMQ Intel i5-6300HQ 2.3 GHz Quad-Core NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M 4GB GDDR5 8 GB DDR3L / 256 GB Solid-State Drive 15.6-Inch FHD IPS, Wide-Angle, Anti Glare Screen A true quad core Skylake CPU, a SSD already built in (and room to add a 2.5" HDD if you want, the SSD is a M2 drive), and a really, really nice IPS screen with good colors. It isn't super light, it doesn't have the best battery life, but I can confirm it runs SWTOR at 1080p at max detail with AA turned on, without an issue. Just be sure to have it plugged in while playing, the 960M GPU sucks down power while gaming, but it is long lasting while using Windows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teclado Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Hopefully that motherboard in the Asus box has a spare PCI-Express slot, and one that is x16 rather than x4 or x8. It makes me super nervous buying something like that, because they don't tell you these kinds of very important details, because most people don't care. I wish they would open up the case and take pictures as well. I would just build your own from scratch. That way you know exactly what you are getting, don't have to deal with bloatware or getting drivers that may not be so readily available (not sure if they give you a CD with sound, chipset, etc. drivers). Plus, I like choosing the case and cooling of CPU, case fans. P.S. Don't cheap out on the power supply! It is the one component in your comp that can single-handedly destroy every other component in your system if it decides to go. Not to mention issues with random reboots due to supply rails struggling to regulate at heavier load currents, or just flat out bad ripple. I would consider a $39 power supply to be cheap when it is only 4.5% of the total cost of the system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ariadnea Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 P.S. Don't cheap out on the power supply! It is the one component in your comp that can single-handedly destroy every other component in your system if it decides to go. Not to mention issues with random reboots due to supply rails struggling to regulate at heavier load currents, or just flat out bad ripple. THIS ^ So much this. Been there, done that. I had a pre-built Dell once, when I was new to gaming and computers. I though I was super cool replacing my own video card. I soon realized my new card needed 2 power connections and I only had one... Well the store had these really great adapters so I could turn 2 unused molex into the right connection for my card. Slick, right? Nope. Next thing I know I'm playing something (can't remember what) and in the game there was this burst of white light, and my PC shut down. ***?! Turn it back on, logged back in tried the quest again, bright light, system shut down. Uh... So I call my friend, who wisely says "replace the power supply, a little more power for the new card and the proper cables." And so I did. And all seemed well for a short time. Until one night I went to turn it on and nothing happened. My new psu was dead. Checked the surge strip, not tripped and the 2 other things plugged into the same strip were fine. WTFx2. So I replaced it yet again. No more problems. EXCEPT for the random occasional BSOD with some of the most random and obscure error codes I have seen to this day. Somewhere along the line that fubared power set up and/or the unexplained sudden death of psu #2 flipped something on its head... Many years and much IT experience later, I'm still paranoid as all hell about power supplies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TX_Angel Posted November 12, 2015 Author Share Posted November 12, 2015 THIS ^ So much this. Been there, done that. I had a pre-built Dell once, when I was new to gaming and computers. I though I was super cool replacing my own video card. I soon realized my new card needed 2 power connections and I only had one... Well the store had these really great adapters so I could turn 2 unused molex into the right connection for my card. Slick, right? Nope. ^ This is quite true... just because the plug fits doesn't mean it should be used... http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html#pciexpress This page has good info on the various cables. If the power supply can provide the power to the molex connectors AND you use a 2 molex to 1 PCI-E adapter AND you use 2 separate molex cables AND you don't use TWO adapters, it should all work. I've done it in the past, but not for a while, at some point I decided the $40 cost of a power supply was minor compared to reducing headaches caused by power adapters and unknown power supplies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TX_Angel Posted November 12, 2015 Author Share Posted November 12, 2015 Many years and much IT experience later, I'm still paranoid as all hell about power supplies. As a side note, much of it has to do with using the right tool for the job and for using quality parts. You often get what you pay for, and that applies to computer cases and computer power supplies as much as anything else. If someone wants a suggestion for a higher end powersupply than I listed above, this one is nice and it is modular, so you only need plug in what you want: http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-SuperNOVA-Modular-Warranty-110-B1-0750-VR/dp/B00K85X23O/ Using el-cheapo parts is like trying to be a car mechanic using $5 tools bought at the dollar store. Yes, you can do it, but lets be honest, you will find your life to be easier to use the good stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TX_Angel Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share Posted November 23, 2015 Bumping for joy (and helpfulness) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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