Llydia

Check Tom's Hardware for the Graphics Card Hierarchy. They also have a review for various GeForce GTX 460 worth examining.

I personally went with a MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC card, the next "bin" up in the Graphics Card Hierarchy, because it managed to get multiple recommendation spots in TR's March 2011 system guide and around the CoH forums.


Further thoughts: Be aware that the -M in the ASUS motherboard indicates it is a microATX, as the 9.6" x 9.6" size reveals. This is NOT the same ASUS P8P67 PRO that won the Tech Report Editor’s Choice Award. (It almost had me fooled, too.)

Stick with memory in sets of 2 sticks for the first mobo, sets of 3 sticks for the second mobo. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the way to check is by how many memory slots are available and what channels are supported (double channel vs triple channel) in the memory section of the product's Details tab.

Hiroko,

My own recent experience for asking a similar question on these boards led to them talking me into a DIY (Do It Yourself) build.

If you don't want to spend weeks to learn all the computer parts (okay, it may not take weeks, I'm a slow learner) in order to make an informed decision, walk into a B&M physical store and ask a clerk there to help you buy a new pre-built computer to fit your needs.



If you want to go the education route, there are two preliminary steps:

1) First, read Father_Xmas's guide to picking computer components. Bookmark it, you'll be referring to it a lot.

2) Then copy/paste Hyperstrike's questions into a post in this thread and fill out the answers as completely as possible.



Good luck!
~Yydr

Right, sorry to confuse.

I have a link in my off-line notes to a current B3 version at another vendor, but it is out of stock there too. So for now I'm using that bookmark to the old listing to help make sure I look for the right ASUS motherboard model to show up again on Newegg.

Hazzah! I have a computer! Well, as soon as the parts are in stock, ordered, shipped, delivered, and assembled. But still!



Here it is...

Processor/CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K
- CPU cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus
- CPU compound: Arctic Silver 5
Motherboard: ASUS P8P67 PRO (B3)
- Sound Card: (integrated into Motherboard)
- Network Card: (integrated into Motherboard)
Memory: G.SKILL F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL
Video Card: MSI GeForce N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC
SSD: Crucial RealSSD C300 64GB
Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 1TB
Optical Drive: ASUS DRW-24B1ST
Power Supply: CORSAIR HX750W
Case: CORSAIR 600T

Monitor: (reuse) HP w2408 24" widescreen LCD Monitor - resolution 1920 x 1200
- Speakers: (reuse - integrated into Monitor)
Keyboard: (reuse) USB wireless HP model # KG-0636
Mouse: (reuse) USB wireless HP model # MG-0637T
External Hard Drive: (reuse) Maxtor OneTouch4 750 GB

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM



Unless a problem with COMPATIBILITY is pointed out to me, I am perfectly happy with the capacity of all the individual components.



Thank you, everyone, for sharing your time, knowledge, expertise, opinions, and patience to guide me towards a final decision. You have no idea how immensely it has helped! Getting to this point on my own would have been, in a word, impossible.

Thank you.

Thank you for your thoughts! I really appreciate that everyone is actively helping.



For the SSD, you raise good points fallnz and Hyperstrike. As Dissolution mentioned, I will only be using it for Windows 7 and City Of Heroes (Live). 64GB is plenty for that.

I'll keep an eye on my habits. If I find myself unable to resist adding more and getting towards 90% usage, I'll invest in a second larger drive.

I don't doubt that there is going to be a SSD revolution soon, Father_Xmas, probably because of the Sandy Bridge. However I'm ready to finalize my decisions now. At this point the only thing I'm willing to wait on is the motherboard. I look forward to a SSD with jaw-dropping ability whenever I do shop for that second SSD.



For the case, it looks like votes are tilted towards the Corsair 600T. Dissolution encourages Corsair 600T. Even Father_Xmas likes the Corsair 600T over the COOLER MASTER CM 690 II Advanced. It is nice to see that Ironblade is happy with the Antec 900, which reinforces the Newegg.com votes.

You have a good point about sound, Dissolution. Especially as the front of the Corsair 600T is a large honeycomb vent which will not block internal noise. As far as I know all the components are quiet and the case itself generates no noticable ruckus.

So unless anyone has specific cons against the Corsair 600T, I will indulge in it as it best matches my preferences.

Thank you again!

Bravo! Well done, Golden_Girl!

It reminds me of an in-character view like the Stan and Lou interactions.

Look forward to the CoV / GR versions if you decide to make them!

And finally... a case! Unless I really missing something obvious they are basically about being big enough for the components with good air flow for cooling. Otherwise choices are personal style.



The current components that need to fit inside are...

Processor/CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K
CPU cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus
Motherboard: ASUS P8P67 PRO (B3)
Sound Card: (integrated into Motherboard)
Network Card: (integrated into Motherboard)
Memory: G.SKILL F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL
Video Card: MSI GeForce N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC
SSD: Crucial RealSSD C300 64GB
Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 1TB
Optical Drive: ASUS DRW-24B1ST
Power Supply: CORSAIR HX750W



The choices for a case were narrowed down to three.

In third place is Antec 900. Its main attractors are four cooling fans and all the hugely favorable reviews. Over 4300 happy customers says a lot. Downsides: No air filters; smallest of the three at 18.40" x 8.10" x 19.40".

I confess, the Corsair 600T is VERY appealing, even with the higher price tag. I'm a neat-freak, so all that cable organizing is attractive. I expect the 23.30" x 10.40" x 20.00" size is plenty of room for everything, maybe even a touch too much. And four USB 2.0 up front next to an audio out? Yes, please! I can gladly use all those so I don't have to swap out mobile peripherals. The Tech Report Editor's Choice doesn't hurt, either.

However... once the case is closed on a COOLER MASTER CM 690 II Advanced, I probably wouldn't care about what the inside looked like. I can live with only two USB 2.0 ports up front. But is 20.80" x 8.40" x 20.10" big enough for the large MSI GeForce N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC and COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus on the ASUS P8P67 PRO (B3) as well as all the cabling to still allow healthy airflow?



I'm stuck. (Surprise, surprise.) Especially between the Corsair 600T and COOLER MASTER CM 690 II Advanced.

Any pros, cons, and/or opinions on these three cases?

Your guidance on this last decision would be very appreciated!

Om-Nom-Nom. The forums eat at least one post/PM a day. Thus why Notepad get such heavy use. Then when the written thoughts go *POOF*, a quick copy-paste gets me on my way again. Thank you very much for writing it out again in novice-speak, Father_Xmas!

Ah, knowing it was a comparison between boards makes much more sense now. Side note: Found a 1394 port on my current computer, so I know what that is now though I can't remember the last time I had something which used that kind of connector. Thank you very much for your thoughts.

When I first started, I wanted something I could go get from Costco that night or the be-all-end-all of mid-priced computers if DIY. Then I scaled back to what would work good now. I think I've ended up at a comfortable midpoint between the two.

And yes, I looked long and hard at the MSI P67A-GD65 (B3) as a larger alternative to the MSI H67MA-E35 (B3) for easier DIY. Especially as (at the time) it was in stock. What tipped the balance was that the technical reviews said it was pretty much like the Asus P8P67 PRO (B3), but Asus did everything a bit better. For me, that was enough to choose Asus over MSI, even though it means another wait for parts to come back in stock.

On the calculator I must have double-entered info. Thanks for taking the time to correct my math. I had almost talked myself into a 850W. Now I'm happier with my selection of the abundant 750W (and its 7-year warranty).

A huge THANK YOU for the memory catch. After looking through the G.SKILL DDR3-1600, I corrected my selection to the G.SKILL F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL.

Thank you, Hyperstrike. I especially kept an eye out on the fan mm size thanks to your heads-up.



PSU = Math time. I started by manually looking up the power usage of the individual parts (with lots of referencing to Tech Report)...

Processor/CPU: Intel Core i5-2500 (95W-133W)
CPU cooler: COOLER MASTER RR-B10-212P-G1 (????W)
Motherboard: Asus P8P67 PRO (B3) (77W-226W)
Memory: Kingston 8GB DDR3-1333 (NA)
Video Card: GeForce N560GTX-TI (113W-303W)
SSD: Crucial RealSSD C300 64GB (0.7W-1.6W)
Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 1TB (5.2W-7.5W)
Optical Drive: ASUS DRW-24B1ST (???W)

... put me in the 300Wmin-675Wmax ballpark.

Next went to the eXtreme Power Supply Calculator Lite as recommended by Father_Xmas. Filling in the options as best I could, it recommended 525W.

Something 750W sounds good with plenty of wiggle room. Time for reviews from AnandTech and Tech Report.



I strongly considered Father_Xmas' Antec TP-750.

However the CORSAIR HX750W has my vote, for its Silver certification and Editor's Choice award.

Any others specific PSU I had better consider (or re-consider) before locking in my choice of CORSAIR HX750W?

Thank you for the motherboard thoughts and reminder to get a big enough case, Dissolution!



After re-reading the Tech Report conclusions, going to go with the Asus P8P67 PRO... as soon as it is in stock again, of course.

Next up... power supply.

Thank you so much, newchemicals. The graphics card not fitting was a big worry.

Okay, avoid H67 motherboards because they are too small. Back to looking at P67 options!

Anyone have a good web article I could review? I'll try re-reading the P67 roundup at tom's hardware, but the conclusions page didn't have a clear favorite, and the rest was pretty over my head.

Thank you so very much for your reply, Father_Xmas! Good to know the price is correct for its features. Now to figure out if the features are enough for what I need.



First, more terminology I needed to look up. (Yes, I am that much a beginner.)

Okay, let's see...

No CrossfireX/SLi - That's okay, I will only be using the one GeForce N560GTX-TI graphics card.

No unlocked Sandy Bridge CPUs - Which translates to overclocking, right? Great! Exactly what I wanted! If not, would someone please point me to a webpage I can learn about what locked vs unlocked CPUs are?

No IEEE 1394 - Google makes this sound like something used for TV Tuner cards and the like, correct? If so, I'm good. If not, I might be in trouble because I do like watching lots of online/streamed movies...

No eSATA - Google says this is an external SATA unavailable? I'm okay with that, as long as it can support the internal SSD, HD, and DVD drives.

Only two sticks of memory - Limited, but not a deal-breaker.

Only 4 USB 2.0 ports - Only four in the back is limiting, but again not a deal-breaker.

No extra SATA III ports - Like the eSATA, I'm okay without extras as long as it can support the three SSD, HD, and DVD internal drives.,,



Which... is all secondary if a Micro-ATX board translates to a too-cramped motherboard like you say, Hyperstrike.

But you think the board could still work, Father_Xmas? Even with the large GeForce GTX 560 Ti? And if SATA ports are blocked by the GPU, does that mean the SATA III/Sata 6BG SSD, the SATA 3GB HD, and/or the SATA DVD drives will not be able to connect to their correct slots on the motherboard?

My apologies for the continued questions, but I'm so confused!

Thank you very much for the confirmation, Dissolution!

And thank you, TargetOne, for taking the time to describe your current system and what you would do differently. From your choices it reassures that I am still in the right ballpark on trying to figure out the components for a new system.



I've been researching drives, and am currently leaning towards:

SSD: Crucial RealSSD C300 64GB (plenty of room for Windows 7 64-bit and City Of Heroes)
Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 1TB (many, many times larger than my current memory usage)
Optical Drive: ASUS DRW-24B1ST (just fine for a CD/DVD player and the occasional backup disk)

Any opinions or suggestions for or against these three?



*** I especially need some help from those who know how to translate all the numbers and features of motherboards to guide my decision of a motherboard, please! I would really, really hate to get good parts only to have them be incompatible or perform poorly because of the motherboard.

Would the MSI H67MA-E35 (B3) fits the requirements for the above three drives plus the Core i5-2400 CPU and GeForce GTX 560 Ti?

I am concerned that the MSI H67MA-E35 (B3) motherboard is either not compatible or not strong enough because the $99.99 price seems too low.

Thank you for the thoughts on the CPU, Hyperstrike. Sadly there is not a Microcenter around my location. I triple-checked. Pity.



If the Core i5-2500 is a small speed bump for non-overclockers like myself, then the Core i5-2500 it is! (Yes, I got talked into it.)

Next, the Sandy Bridge CPU requires a LGA-1155 motherboard equipped with a 6-series chipset. If I read the guides correctly, the difference between P67 and H67 is the H67 does support processor graphics and only a single x16 slot but no processor overclocking - which seems to line up with my needs so far. I think the MSI H67MA-E35 (B3) fits the requirements for the Core i5-2400 and GeForce GTX 560 Ti, right? Or have I got myself turned around and need to be evaluating P67 options instead?

Also, would the COOLER MASTER RR-B10-212P-G1 CPU cooler from Father_Xmas's $1350 Rig be an ideal match for the Core i5-2400? It looked like it from the description and the huge number of positive reviews.

Thank you everyone for continuing to help me nail down this critical area of CPU/motherboard! I appreciate it so much!
~Yydr

Congratulations on have a long-lived computer, TargetOne.

What components did you use in your new system built mid-2010? If you had held out to build your new computer until today what, if any, parts would be different?

No offense taken, HotFlash. I think, I really hope, it was mostly non-ideal setups without exploring upgrades. (This time I'm pretty sure the growing errors are system-wide, or I might explore upgrades instead of new.) The only time before now I tried to do a "custom build" was ages ago when a local store had a program on-site to pick your requirements (how much RAM, what size HD, etc), and I just selected what sounded good without knowing a thing about the individual parts. That's why I'm putting in so much effort this time as I'm aiming for smooth compatibility. So much so that I've started dreaming about computer stats, even though I still am the ignorant novice. If it lasts just three years, then I'll need to look at my user habits. If it lasts longer, then I'll know for certain my problem was bad planning. That is why I am so very grateful for all the help on these forums. I couldn't imagine better knowledge and patience than everyone here!

newchemicals and Father_Xmas, a big Thank You for the articles! That was exactly what I needed to convince myself and start narrowing down a CPU. I get the message "Sandy Bridge is the best in its class" loud and clear.

Currently the i5-2400 looks the most appealing. But I still don't understand most of the numbers to feel confident. Without overclocking the out-of-box settings would the i5-2500 or i5-2500X maybe be a better match for the GeForce GTX 560 Ti graphics card and City Of Heroes Ultra mode? Or is that more of a motherboard issue?

You make some very good points about the two video cards, Hyperstrike. Thank you for caring enough to take the time and put all that information up for evaluation!

And thank you, newchemicals, for the reference. Fingers crossed that the Sandy Bridge chips are actually ready to go.



Any further info on the Sandy Bridge chips? I really want to be talked into them, but so far the only articles I've found have talked about specs, not actual side-by-side comparisons with AMD and other competition in the same price range. Has anyone on the forums actually used them yet and can vouch for their fast processing?

Okay, that was funny! Thank you for today's laugh, Steelclaw.

Hail, gurus and fellow seekers!

Thank you, BlackArua, I will probably be in that ballpark of your comp by the end and it lets me know I'm headed in the right direction. And you, too, Rhysem, as it helps me feel better about not maxing out everything I can right this minute in favor of a more frequent upgrade.

newchemicals, do you have a link to news of the fixed Sandy Boards? I haven't seen anything about that.



New Computer, Part 3 - Motherboard & CPU

So far what I have decided on for a new custom-build computer is...



Motherboard:
Processor/CPU:
CPU cooler:
Memory: Kingston 8GB DDR3-1333 (( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820139075 ))
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 560 Ti OC (( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127565 ))
Hard Drive:
Sound Card:
Optical Drive:
Power Supply:
Case:

Monitor: (reuse) HP w2408 24" widescreen LCD Monitor - resolution 1920 x 1200
Speakers: (reuse - integrated into Monitor)
Keyboard: (reuse) USB wireless HP model # KG-0636
Mouse: (reuse) USB wireless HP model # MG-0637T
External Hard Drive: (reuse) Maxtor OneTouch4 750 GB

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM (( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116754 ))



Still a lot to decide. This part is especially where I need everyone's help. Pretty please!



Next up is the all-important Mother Board and CPU, areas where my tech knowledge is virtually zero and the articles look Greek to me.

It is clear that the hot topic is "Sandy Bridge", but those are apparently broke for now. newchemicals said they are repaired, but I haven't found a news announcement on that yet. Either way, are they really the be-all-end-all of chip sets? They seem like first-generation of their kind. And I've even seen some articles/videos that show AMD is equal/better, but for all I know those reports have been skewed by game settings. Does anyone actual own a Sandy Bridge chipset and can vouch for its super status?

Based on Tech Report's review (which seems to be the ballpark system I'm aiming for at this time), the suggestion by Father_Xmas of AMD, and BlackArua's post if I understood correctly, an alternative looks like

Motherboard: Asus M4A87TD EVO (( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131647 ))
Processor/CPU: AMD Phenom II X6 1090T BE (( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103849 ))



I tried to do a Power Search for a CPU Cooler on newegg.com, but they all looked the same. What CPU Cooler, if any, would be most compatible and effective, up to a $35 limit, for the AMD? For a Sandy Bridge?

*** As far as you know, would either/both motherboards, processor/CPUs, memory, and monitor combination optimize the City Of Heroes game with the GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1GB graphics card?



Side thought: Would a second GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1GB help run City Of Heroes significantly better on this configuration? Would a second GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1GB card even be possible? I'm getting the impression that dual-graphics-card are the realm of $3k-$7k overkill boxes way beyond what I am looking for. More, Rhysem, Hyperstrike, and Father_Xmas have dismissed SLi/dual graphics cards as unneeded, the latter's guide to computer components even says that AMD/Intel chipsets and dual nvidia graphics cards are incompatible for SLi anyway.



Thank you so much for helping me along! I cannot express enough how much it means to not be working this out alone.

~Yydr

Wow, thank you Hyperstrike, you gave me a lot to think about.

I've been learning more about the Ultra Mode settings in re-reading je_saist's guide (for the fifth time in two weeks). From the screenshots and info there, it looks like maxing out all the settings is not needed, or even desired.

Mostly I wanted to be able to crank up all the settings without stretching the system because, in theory, then the system would hold up better and longer to the future City Of Hero graphic updates.

But I've come to the conclusion that if I can even get a computer to last three years I'll be lucky. That's how old my last computer was, and, now that I really think about it, the average life span of those before it, too.

So instead of building a leave-everything-in-the-dust computer, I think I'll be a touch more reserved and aim for a box in the ballpark of $1200 US, using the remainder towards another box in three years.

For the next three years the MSI GeForce GTX 560 Ti OC 1GB will be my choice. (Yes, it is partly because if I start second guessing that decision now, I'll be lucky to have a new computer by 2012.)

Enough rambling!

Thank you again, everyone! I'm going to combine these new thoughts with what I looked up last night and next tackle the motherboard/CPU.

I humbly request your further input, especially as I'm treading deep water without swimming lessons on this next part. Will you please continue guiding me with your wisdom?

You've heard it before, but not enough: You are marvelous, Father_Xmas.

Thank you for putting it in terms and numbers a non-tech can follow, and writing it out twice (performance order and long-hand explanation) to be sure it was understood.

If the only concern is making sure the card gets enough power, I can do that. The GTX 560Ti it is.

Thank you!!

A lot of responses already! I am very encouraged.

Thank you nytflyr, for a ballpark to look at. It helped to know what system components you decided on. I hope you'll share how the system actually runs (and if Cyberpowerpc.com used any "equal" parts like Dissolution warned) after you have it running for a week or so.

Gangrel_EU, thank you very much for the advice. As I'm leaning towards getting 8 GB RAM, it seems that getting Windows 7 64bit OS Home edition (which will not be used for business purposes, so Pro edition would be excessive for me) will clearly be what I need instead of the 32bit. I probably would have missed that without your advice.

And Father_Xmas, thanks is not enough for your help here and in the other forum threads. My initial research was mostly based on your posts in the CoH Technical forum. I'm even encouraged to try for a custom build, though I would find someone locally (no shortage of people I trust for this) to do the actual assembly.

And thank you for the extra reminder on choosing a good power supply, Father_Xmas. I've had to replace half a box when upgrading a graphics card before because the corresponding power supply wouldn't fit in the old box (thus my only requirement being that the complete system last 4-5 years, as when I replace one part I tend to have to replace half of the others). Is it bad for a system to have too much amp/watt, or is the only concern for a power supply in making sure it is big enough at the minimum?

With all your recommendations, I read about a dozen more articles on Newegg and TechReport and bit-tech. Now my head is swimming with information that is badly getting jumbled up. Some areas I think I understand better now, thank you very much. But for actually deciding what to buy... I'm further away than before.



I still need help, please!



Because running City Of Heroes on high screen resolution with Ultra settings will be my biggest workout for a new computer, I think focusing on a graphics card and building the computer to support the card would be best.

I've narrowed it down to one of these three at this point as nvidia is my preference:

MSI GeForce GTX 560 Ti OC
EVGA GeForce GTX 470
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 460 1GB

These are all easily within my price range.

On the CoH forum threads I've read, GTX 560 Ti seems to be the highest praised. My only concern is that it comes pre-overclocked, and anything with the word overclock has me inherently intimidated. Will I have to know anything to make sure I don't burn out the card? Or can I treat it like any other non-overclocked graphics card?

GTX 470 was a comparable tier, according to tom's hardware, so that's the only reason it is a second choice.

I'm also looking at GTX 460 because of Tech Report's article calling it a happy medium which makes me think this card may actually be better than the GTX 560 Ti and GTX 470 because Tech Report presents it as the de-bulged version that does fundamentally better at being a graphics card. Is it?

Assuming I can afford the hardware (CPU, cooling, etc) to support all of these cards, which would be best for optimizing the City Of Heroes Ultra mode experience? Are the next two tiers (GTX 570 and GTX 580) magnificently better for playing City Of Heroes so that I need to look at them again?

Thank you so much for the continued help!!
~Yydr

Put into Hyperstrike's format:

1) What will you primarily be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Primary - City Of Heroes MMO and forums
Other primary - movies/music on DVD/iTunes, web browsing through Firefox, and misc file composing in Notepad, Word, Excel, and Paint.

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
Cost is a final deciding factor. I've seen [ULR="http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showpost.php?p=3495202&postcount=9"]Father Xmas say[/URL] "For $2K (assuming US $) you can build a tiny god of a gaming PC." I think whatever I need for CoH and iTunes will be much less expensive than that. But let's say $2000 US limit: including taxes, OS/software, shipping, etc, everything between now and using the new computer.

3) Where do you live? This is important as it affects what vendors you may buy from and how much shipping costs might be.
MST, USA

4) Are you planning to buy or build?
I would prefer buying a pre-build system if there is one for my needs, but am not opposed to building.

5) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need. If you're unsure what exactly you need, say so.
The box and all its innards. I'm weak on knowing what goes on "under the hood", thus my pleas for help.

6) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
If anything is reused, it would only be the monitor, keyboard, mouse, powerstrip, external hard drive, and router/network hardware. Looking to replace the entire box.

7) Will you be overclocking?
Not intentionally.

8) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
Current monitor: HP w2408 24" widescreen LCD Monitor - resolution 1920 x 1200
Current keyboard: USB wireless HP model # KG-0636
Current mouse: USB wireless HP model # MG-0637T
Might replace the monitor/keyboard/mouse if a better one comes with a pre-build system, or new ones would be needed to better sync with the box.

9) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Would like to be logged in and playing CoH on the new box before April, please.

10) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? etc.
I have no idea... help!

11) Any specific must-have features? Must be able to max out Ultra-Mode? Must have 6+GB of RAM? Must have an SSD? etc.
"Must-have" is something that will last 4-5 years with no more normal work than dusting it out a couple times a year.
Preferences would be CoH maxed out Ultra mode at 25+ FPS on Freedom.
Further preferences would be a desktop, Windows 7 32-bit OS Home Edition, at least 600 GB hard drive, with DVD-R or DVD-RW drive.
Less pressing preferences would be at least eight USB ports, two of which accessible from the front with a front audio-out port for headphones.
RAM would be whatever would max the potential of the system, but I don't know what that number would be. Nor do I understand what the other questions are.

12) Are there any vendors/brands you'd specifically prefer to use?
I'm partial towards nvidia cards.

13) Are there any vendors/brands you'd specifically prefer to avoid?
Dell. Sorry, too many bad experiences.
Don't use TV/cable/etc, and would rather not have such related hardware/software cluttering up the system. Neither am I intending to use Photoshop or any video editing programs.

14) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit? (Note: If your current OS came with your computer, odds are that it is NOT transferable.)
I can arrange to get Windows 7 32-bit OS Home Edition, anti-virus, etc software separately; and probably will need them as the previous computer software was pre-installed/upgraded.

Hello, forum gurus and fellow info seekers!

I humbly plead your assistance.

My current computer is rapidly dying. Sadly the time has come for a new desktop.

Since I am only a simple computer user, after a week of searching I got overwhelmed by all the knowledge needed to select a compatible, healthy computer.

Another desktop with Window 7 32-bit is highly preferred. Possibly a new monitor, if my current one would not play nice with a new system. I'm happy with the wireless keyboard/mouse currently used, but again would be willing to replace/upgrade if they were in conflict with the new system.

I would like to have one bought and up and running before April, but can wait a bit if what would work best will be out on the market in the next few weeks. Though, really, I think whatever is one or two steps below the very top will be more than sufficient.

The City Of Heroes MMO and forums are half the reason I have a computer. Currently not playing or intending to play any other computer/MMO games, as I happily have my latest veteran badge Resolute (75 months) and looking to double that investment. As long as looking for a new computer, I'd like one that would be able to run City Of Heroes in windowed mode with the Ultra setting maxed out and never notice lag on Freedom short of a RWZ raid. Is such a thing possible? If I am understanding it correctly, je_saist'S Ultra Mode guide implies maxed Ultra Mode with 25-30 FPS is doable with the right video card.

I'm partial towards nvidia, even with the problems of overheating. From what I've read on the forums threads (and what I've understood of their links to buyer guides) so far, it sounds like a GTX 570 would be too much unless using a 30" monitor (which I'm not opposed to), and otherwise look at a system built around a GTX 560 Ti. The only reason I'm not set and sure about the GTX 560 Ti is it comes pre-overclocked, and if that requires special monitoring/knowledge/usage then it would be beyond my keen.

Otherwise I use a computer for enjoying movies/music on DVDs, CDs, YouTube, iTunes, etc. Other misc activities are browsing the internet with Firefox, composing files in Notepad, Word, and Excel, plus tweaking pictures in Paint. I tend to have ten+ windows open at a time for multi-tasking and cross-referencing (aka scatterbrain), but I prefer only one large screen over a dual monitors setup. I do store lots of files, so at least a 600 GB hard drive would be desired. A DVD-R or DVD-RW drive as a double-backup to my external hard drive would be nice. (Not planning to participate in Blu-Ray.) Sound/speakers is almost a non-issue, as 99% of the time I wear headphones for RL reasons.

I am not interested in Photoshop, any video editing, or similar advanced skills. My only 'talent' in such areas is appreciation, and I am satisfied with that. As stated before I don't do overclocking, as I have only learned enough to know I don't know enough and better not do it.

* deep breath *

So, would I be able to find such a system pre-boxed in a place like Costco, Best Buy, or their peers? If so, which one(s) would be the best choice to last 4-5 years without upgrading bits and pieces, which is my only "must have" requirement? Or will I need to start planning out a custom-build desktop? Cost will be a final deciding factor, not an initial limiter. Currently residing in MST, USA.

Thank you very, very much for taking the time to read through all this and for any help, advice, opinions, and/or feedback you offer!

~Yydr

I was surprised when as recently as January "Miss Bee Havior" was available on Freedom.

And only a couple months before that "A New Day" was snagged, again on Freedom, which gives me endless giggles with the NPC dialogue.