PC Build Advice/Review Thread

[chiyio]

You're going to need to reinstall WIN7, just fyi so you can get it downloaded in advance if you don't have the install media.

[Buffy]

You're going to need to reinstall WIN7, just fyi so you can get it downloaded in advance if you don't have the install media.

Not strictly true. I have swapped hard drives that have win 7 on them to entirely new pcs and windows will boot and install drivers out of the base windows package. I've also had it not work and get stuck in startup repair.

Having said THAT, Chiyio is correct. You really need to re-install windows once the new PC is assembled. The way Windows does the registry entries affects how it boots and operates.

Taking an existing hard drive and installing it in a new machine and expecting Windows 7 to boot is risky at best and downright stupid at worst.

[Buffy]

Yes, that is my plan. Edit - Thanks, Buffy. Still curious though, is the GTX 750 Ti good bang for your buck? I was actually looking at the exact same one in your link. And lastly, is the i5 2500k Sandy Bridge still holding strong? I remember a few years ago it was incredibly good, or so I was told. How does it stack up against some of the new i5 CPUs?

Some people in this thread know video cards better than I, I tend to be a generation or two behind because I refuse to pay the premium to be an early adopter or on the bleeding edge. Having said that, most GPUs that come out these days are so powerful that games take 2-3 years to be able to fully utilize their abilities. The 750 Ti is a perfectly reasonable card when operating on a budget and should handle almost anything you throw at it for the next 2-3 years unless you play something super new.

What's true for GPUs is also mostly true for processors like Sandy Bridge. Cutting edge technology is so far ahead of the programming in terms of capability it takes several years for games and programs to really utilize them well. This might even be more true for processors than GPUs because writing code for a multi-core processor and telling the program how to break the threads up and utilize the cores properly is difficult and time consuming. Many games never bother quite frankly. As such, a processor like the one in that link is going to be able to play anything current and should be fine for the next couple years. For new processors you're paying for that newer technology. In my experience, the best *value* for computer parts is found 1-2 generations behind the current release version.

[chiyio]

Taking an existing hard drive and installing it in a new machine and expecting Windows 7 to boot is risky at best and downright stupid at worst.

Especially going from a laptop -> desktop, if he tries to use that install he's going to have a bad time.

Would be interesting to see if it would boot just for kicks, but I'd never actually try and use it.

[Patriarch]

I have already formatted the drives, I just meant that I wont need thr additional expense of buying an OS

[Khajit]

Considering getting my first tablet.
From what I've seen I like the transformer series but I'm unsure if I should get a cheaper model instead since it's mostly for basic stuff like browsing, pictures(might start drawing for fun or just basic editing), watching movies/anime, and maybe a little XI at a decent resolution that doesn't look like it's on an atari.
I'm also considering waiting until black friday but a family member is coming very soon to my country which means I can probably ignore an approximately 30% customs tax by having him bring it in so I'm thinking it's better to get the thing now instead of later.
Anything better in the $500-$800 range or general advice/recommendations?

[Hiryo]

Not exactly a build question, but sorta related:
Is anyone able to recommend (free/virusfree)software for cloning your HDD? I am changing to a SSD for the first time and just need an idiot-proof program to make the SSD the new default boot drive/partition/w.e. Bonus points if I can use the HDD for storage :x

[Buffy]

Any reason you aren't just doing a clean install?

[Kalmado]

Not exactly a build question, but sorta related:
Is anyone able to recommend (free/virusfree)software for cloning your HDD? I am changing to a SSD for the first time and just need an idiot-proof program to make the SSD the new default boot drive/partition/w.e. Bonus points if I can use the HDD for storage

I recently tried this and still ended up doing the fresh install. Once you have installed the OS to the SSD reboot and go into BIOS. From there is where you will want to change the boot order and make the SSD the default. After that, erase the OS from the HDD and at that point you could clone the HDD to the SSD to move all files. I used Seagate's tool. http://www.seagate.com/support/downloads/discwizard/ I hope this helps.

[Hiryo]

Thanks guys,

Any reason you aren't just doing a clean install?

No disc drive on this machine and I couldnt remember how to install the OS without the disc lol.

[Obiron]

No disc drive on this machine and I couldnt remember how to install the OS without the disc lol.

If that's the only hold-up, I would recommend a clean install. It's very simple, and you avoid any potential complications that might come from transferring drives.

This isn't exactly the method I use, because the last time I did it I didn't know anything about the Microsoft tool, but it's one of the first articles that came up with Google. If you have any specific questions, myself or others here have done it enough I think we could get you through it.
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/window...dows-7-usb.htm

Edit: This all assumes you can get your hands on an ISO since you don't have a disc drive, but that's also fairly simple. I think with a valid key Microsoft will even let you download an ISO from their site.
Edit 2: Here are links to all the Windows 7 ISOs from Microsoft (through Digital River, which is legit). You don't need your key to download, just to activate it. http://www.techverse.net/download-wi...icial-servers/

[Elizara]

Considering FF XIII is 60 gigs (GEH!) I may have to start saving for a bigger hdd. I got a tera with my new pc, but if new games are that big a space hogs, I am going to need more space.

Any tips on what to get to supplement my tera? I'm thinking 2 gigs or bigger. Pref brand wise b/c they tend to be solid is Seagate or WD (Unless WD dropped the ball on tera + hdds...). I don't like hdds that'll crap out on me too soon.

[Prothescar]

WD caviar branded HDDs are still some of the best on the market, caviar blacks in particular being great. that said, 60GB is an outlier. XIII has a lot of presumably uncompressed, hi-res FMVs which eat a ton of space. Wouldn't be shocked to find out they take up 40GB or more.

[Elizara]

I wouldn't be either but if that's most modern games, I still go /wince /wince I need more space GEH! Especially if there's other Steam games that eat up that much space..

Thanks tho Prothescar. ^^

[Slott]

Hey guys - looking for advice on a new graphics card. I've been using a Nvidia gtx 480, and it's starting to crap out on me (I keep getting a black screen, followed by windows saying it recovered from a graphics card crash or something)

Anyway, I was looking into a gtx 970 - but I'm hearing mixed reviews about them. Anything from loud audible noise to cheap components and whatnot. Anyway - does anyone have a recommendation? Brand included - I've typically liked EVGA in the past, but the 970 reviews are pretty mixed with them. Thanks. Looking to spend 350 or less.

[lathia]

I've been reading that Gigabyte is the way to go. If you don't care about 0db fans, I'd go for that. Only con I've read is the length. I got one myself on the way tomorrow and I know technology is not perfect, but I won't be upset if I get coil whine (too much).

[Adajer]

Hey guys - looking for advice on a new graphics card. I've been using a Nvidia gtx 480, and it's starting to crap out on me (I keep getting a black screen, followed by windows saying it recovered from a graphics card crash or something)

Anyway, I was looking into a gtx 970 - but I'm hearing mixed reviews about them. Anything from loud audible noise to cheap components and whatnot. Anyway - does anyone have a recommendation? Brand included - I've typically liked EVGA in the past, but the 970 reviews are pretty mixed with them. Thanks. Looking to spend 350 or less.

I have always hated EVGA. EVGA has a lot of fanboys. They make cheap shit cards imo. Now that my bias is out of the way.

I have been a big MSI Twin Frozr guy. I'd always recommend either MSI, ASUS, or Gigabyte cards.

If you are going to get a 970, get a Gigabyte Windforce cooler model.

I personally own the Gigabyte 970 Windforce and it is best cooler I have ever had. It runs at 63c max, normally 59-61c. Super quiet, and has a really good OC built in. It destroys the Twin Frozr.

[Gregor999]

What's the most important hardware for FFXI? Did anyone notice a big improvement with an SSD?

[Isiolia]

What's the most important hardware for FFXI? Did anyone notice a big improvement with an SSD?

I didn't see a big improvement with XI when I shifted it over to an SSD. Biggest issue there seems to be the server bandwidth, or lack thereof. Normally, an MMO would benefit from one, and it probably does...it just doesn't fix the "run halfway across Adoulin before inventory can be used" issues XI has these days.

XI is often considered to be more CPU bound, which is partly true, but it does benefit from a moderately competent card that doesn't have driver issues with the game.

[Mrbeansman]

Complete noob at picking parts looking to finally drop the money on a gaming rig.

Here's what I got so far. Looking to run games at 60 FPS on max specs.
http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/

Also I've never assembled before Is it really just "Inserting fragile part y into slot x" like I have heard from some other places.

Looking to add more later on when I get more cash.