PC Build Advice/Review Thread

[Artemicon]

Whats this recommended version of Windows 7? I sure could use one.

[chiyio]

Whats this recommended version of Windows 7? I sure could use one.

http://forums.mydigitallife.info/thr...s-7-Repository

should be everything you need there.

[Kirbyprime]

Could someone give me some help with my build?

http://secure.newegg.ca/WishList/Pub...umber=17241689

I would rather it be cheaper if possible. I will most likely be using NCIX as opposed to Newegg and just price matching though.

I'll be using Win8 on it and probably installing via usb so didn't bother with a DVD drive.

[Cantih]

A noctua for the i5 might be a bit overkill, especially without a pair of badass video cards to try and match it, but I don't know how far you plan to overclock. But otherwise seems good.

[Kirbyprime]

I've changed the sink to a Cooler Master Hyper 212. TBH I choose the Noctua for the low noise emissions more than anything else, so if I can go with something cheaper without losing that I'll do so.

http://secure.newegg.ca/WishList/Pub...umber=17241689

While I'm not against overclocking, I wasn't really planning to since I've never done so before. If there are anything that should be changed with that in mind that would help too.

[Cantih]

The Noctua is very quiet and it's very cool, that's why it has that pricetag, you're buying the the top end of everything. There are plenty of other coolers that are just frosty or just quiet, and cost less for it, (such as the EVO).
The only other component that has an overclocking premium is the motherboard, anything $150 and up is engineered for it, and that's the reason for the cost. The trouble is, reviews generally don't bother with the sub $100 range, so you can't really find info on their quality and reliability, so if you try to save money there, you're taking a gamble, one I wouldn't take.

So you're good.

Oh, and Chiyio, you should scuttle that link, breaks BG rules, why we were being oblique about it.

[Conrad]

I've changed the sink to a Cooler Master Hyper 212. TBH I choose the Noctua for the low noise emissions more than anything else, so if I can go with something cheaper without losing that I'll do so.

http://secure.newegg.ca/WishList/Pub...umber=17241689

While I'm not against overclocking, I wasn't really planning to since I've never done so before. If there are anything that should be changed with that in mind that would help too.

Do you have a Microcenter near you? Their bundle cpu/mobos are way cheaper than newegg -- there's one here that's about $20 more, and you get both. (I'm just assuming that those are CAD prices on your wish list, and that they don't mark it up any more compared to USD.)

I would downgrade the video card a little and overclock it. Here's the one I just bought, though I got it at Microcenter for about $30 less. You probably don't need to overclock this one to have similar performance: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16814130910

You can definitely go cheaper on the RAM for the same performance. These are a few dollars cheaper.

I'm by no means an expert on these, this stuff is all simply fresh in my mind. Good luck to you.

[Cantih]

Well, I solved my fan question. I installed the ASUS AI tool and it has the manual fan control stuff, got it to max out and become just barely audible.

New issue popped up though. A couple times my computers just gone blackscreen, and then it's booting up from the start. But it goes to bios. After powering down and turning it on again, then it tries to safe mode boot Windows.
It just happened again, but this time a message popped out of the right hand corner from this Intel RST thinger. I don't remember the exact words, but the gist of it, that's corroborated by the EFI graphical boot order, is that my HDD suddenly thinks it doesn't exist for a while.

Any assistance? Should I ask in random question?

[Tokitoki]

I'm looking for some advice regarding the new AMD A10 chipsets. My current build is 4 years old and I'm looking to upgrade it, but I'm not sure if I want to spend the money on the 4th gen i7 series. This is the Newegg A10 Bundle I've looked at. Doing a bit of searching around the net, the newegg deal seems to be a good deal. As a whole package with the same items minus the power supply from Microcenter I'd already be paying $422 with tax (at least I'm lucky one is nearby).

My current build from memory is (at work currently):
Phenom II X3 2.8GHz
ASUS HD4870 Dark Knight 1GB
OCZ 6GB (2x3GB) RAM
ASUS M4A78 Mobo
Rosewill 600W Power Supply
Thermaltake Case - Large fan on top, two smaller fans on back

My questions would be
1. Would gaming performance be bottlenecked by my GPU? It was a good buy when I got it, and still has decent memory compared to some newer models. Not sure if I'll upgrade right now if it will be a huge loss.
2. I would assume I would need the larger power supply, but want confirmation as my current one has zero issues and is a whisper.
3. I had not planned on overclocking anything, but would a separate CPU heatsink/fan be recommended? I have never used one before because I do not overclock and figured it was just more noise.
4. Is it worth spending some money on the 3rd gen Intels and trying to overclock? Would that be recommended for someone who has not done so before?
4. Is there a different or better recommendation from the people who know more than myself about this stuff?

Thank you in advance.

[chiyio]

Oh, and Chiyio, you should scuttle that link, breaks BG rules, why we were being oblique about it.

You'd have to point out what rule that would be, I see nothing there against the rules.

[Tokitoki]

You'd have to point out what rule that would be, I see nothing there against the rules.

Why we can't post links to music, movies, etc.

Check that thread. Sonomaa's post explains everything. Cannot post links on the board. They can be PM'd though.

I don't see what the problem with taking it down is and why you have to challenge them.

[chiyio]

Why we can't post links to music, movies, etc.

Check that thread. Sonomaa's post explains everything. Cannot post links on the board. They can be PM'd though.

I don't see what the problem with taking it down is and why you have to challenge them.

Because I didn't post any links to any music, movies, software, etc. I posted a link to a website. You guys just want to thread nanny. I'm more than happy to give some cares if a mod asks.

I don't think you understand what a direct download link is if you think that's what I posted, heh. Did you even read that thread you posted, it has NOTHING to do with my link.

[Not Kuno]

Thinking about getting a camera. I didn't feel like making a new thread for this and didn't really know where to put it so I'll ask here.

Any kind I can get for someone who doesn't really give a shit that is pretty cheap but also not a piece of crap? I don't know enough about cameras to tell what matters and what doesn't regarding camera information.

[Diomer]

Not sure if this is the best place to put this, but my current graphics card (AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series) is burning out and I'm looking for a replacement card that is AT LEAST equal to and hopefully better in the $200-$350 range. Only other requirement is that it actually fits in my PC Thanks for the help!

[Cantih]

Going by Toms http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...ew,3107-7.html
Anything Radeon HD 7700 series (or GTX 650) and up fits your performance requirements. The article also has recommendations by pricepoint if you jump back a few pages.

Keep in mind, Nvidia is launching the 760 in a week, so you should at least wait until then, after some reviews come in.

As for fitting in your system, newegg lists card dimensions on a products details tab, so just measure the space in your case.

[Don Katsu]

This is the best deal I have seen so far for video cards..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131478

The fan kind of sucks though, so you might be better off going with the Sapphire 7870XT

[Weltall]

Could someone give me some help with my build?

http://secure.newegg.ca/WishList/Pub...umber=17241689

I would rather it be cheaper if possible. I will most likely be using NCIX as opposed to Newegg and just price matching though.

I'll be using Win8 on it and probably installing via usb so didn't bother with a DVD drive.

I would change the 250GB SSD into 2 128GB SSDs. You could either raid or go with 1 for OS, 1 for games, and use your non-SSD for data storage.

[Adajer]

Going by Toms http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...ew,3107-7.html
Anything Radeon HD 7700 series (or GTX 650) and up fits your performance requirements. The article also has recommendations by pricepoint if you jump back a few pages.

Keep in mind, Nvidia is launching the 760 in a week, so you should at least wait until then, after some reviews come in.

As for fitting in your system, newegg lists card dimensions on a products details tab, so just measure the space in your case.

I used to trust Tomshardware. There recent reviews have caused me to not trust them anymore. I believe they are being bribed by AMD to give them favorable reviews. All there reviews for all cards in general show WAY less fps than what everyone else gets from games and myself. And they always have AMD cards beating Nvidia in about everything, which is not always the case.

[Meresgi]

I used to trust Tomshardware. There recent reviews have caused me to not trust them anymore. I believe they are being bribed by AMD to give them favorable reviews. All there reviews for all cards in general show WAY less fps than what everyone else gets from games and myself. And they always have AMD cards beating Nvidia in about everything, which is not always the case.

Currently I would go with AMD just due to the package deal lol, you can't really beat almost $200+ in free games and a decent card on top of all that.

[Howie Roary]

looking to get a super budget laptop/maybe tablet for school $300 to $400 range. I've given up on anything with a video card that could handle Diablo 3 or Borderlands 2 since that's probably unrealistic given my price range.

here's what I've looked at:

http://tech.woot.com/offers/asus-15-...e-i5-laptop-23

Spoiler: show

http://tech.woot.com/offers/dell-ins...i3-ultrabook-2

Spoiler: show

or this tablet w/keyboard, http://moofi.woot.com/offers/asus-10...ith-keyboard-1

Spoiler: show

found a great deal on newegg, or at least good savings, but out of my range:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16834215300

any suggestions? I'm mainly looking for something to type with but coming from a desktop that can handle D3, BL2 and whatever I throw at it, I feel like I want a competent machine if possible