In the market for a new PC
By
Father Xmas,
Posted on: 2011-12-05 11:11 in ALL ACCESS Gameplay Technical Issues Bugs
Speaking as a DIY builder of computers, keep in mind any boutique builder has to make a profit for their time. Most of the mass market builders (Dell, HP, gateway, acer etc) don't make gaming machines.
You could try looking at cyberpower pc for a custom rig. I'm sure hyperstrike has serveral listed there. (personally, I don't like the parts that cyberpower pc uses but I'm pretty picky)
Your budget is at least realistic, but you won't "max" out UM for $1000 but you will have something that will play the game with most of the bells and whistles at a close to "max" setting.
H: Blaster 50, Defender 50, Tank 50, Scrapper 50, Controller 50, PB 50, WS 50
V: Brute 50, Corruptor 50, MM 50, Dominator 50, Stalker 50, AW 50, AS 50
Top 4: Controller, Brute, Scrapper, Corruptor
Bottom 4: (Peacebringer) way below everything else, Mastermind, Dominator, Blaster
CoH in WQHD
I don't mind CyberPowerPC's select of parts. I do mind some of their default choices and their "acme" power supply. Also I noticed while investigating for someone that prices at CyberPowerPC can vary by a noticeable bit depending on which of their dozen or so configurators you start with.
It should be noted that hard drive prices have gone up through the roof due to the flooding in Thailand (something like 55% of Western Digital's hard drives are made there). The $45, 500GB drive that I use in my low end build has gone from $40 in August to $115 today. The 1TB drive that I had used in my high end rig has gone from $90 to $250.
Father Xmas - Level 50 Ice/Ice Tanker - Victory
$725 and $1350 parts lists --- My guide to computer components
Tempus unum hominem manet
I'm coming in just above your budget here but.
http://www.ibuypower.com/Store/Intel...urator/w/95426
Start on their Intel Z68 configurator.
Change the CPU to i5 2500K
Leave memory as is (Free upgrade from 4GB to 8GB)
Bump power supply to 650W
Bump video card to nVidia GTX560 Ti 2GB (Free upgrade from a 1GB card).
Head on to the next tab and add Windows 7 Home Premium (Unless any software you're using REQUIRES Win7 Pro).
About $1210 shipped with a 3 year warranty.
I know it's a bit outside your budget. But that cost is primarily the OS and shipping. The fact that hard drives have nearly doubled in price doesn't help either. If you already own a copy of Windows 7 and aren't squeamish about installing, you can cut out about $110. The shipping's unavoidable.
Clicking on the linked image above will take you off the City of Heroes site. However, the guides will be linked back here.
Would be worth checking the GIS forums as well - I'm a few years out of touch but iirc ArcInfo had major problems with NVidia GPUs
If that is now resolved then the NVidia GPUs tend to have better drivers for CoH although 11.9 is pretty good for AMD GPUs.
Mind of Gaia lvl 50 Defiant's first Mind/Storm 'troller.
Deadly Doc 50 Dark/Dark Corr
and lots more on Pinnacle,Union and Defiant
Quote:
Currently nVidia is the less-probelmatic platform for CoH. About the only time the drivers have real problems is when the underlying system can't keep the GPU supplied with data (the "timeout" error that some people have been having).
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Originally Posted by Gaia
Would be worth checking the GIS forums as well - I'm a few years out of touch but iirc ArcInfo had major problems with NVidia GPUs
If that is now resolved then the NVidia GPUs tend to have better drivers for CoH although 11.9 is pretty good for AMD GPUs. |
Clicking on the linked image above will take you off the City of Heroes site. However, the guides will be linked back here.
Quote:
Cool, thanks a ton, Hyper. That's not too far above my price range, so I'm OK with that. It looks like, when I click on that link, all the options you mentioned are already chosen. Is that correct? (Just want to double check before I pull the trigger)
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Originally Posted by Hyperstrike
I'm coming in just above your budget here but.
http://www.ibuypower.com/Store/Intel...urator/w/95426 Start on their Intel Z68 configurator. Change the CPU to i5 2500K Leave memory as is (Free upgrade from 4GB to 8GB) Bump power supply to 650W Bump video card to nVidia GTX560 Ti 2GB (Free upgrade from a 1GB card). Head on to the next tab and add Windows 7 Home Premium (Unless any software you're using REQUIRES Win7 Pro). About $1210 shipped with a 3 year warranty. I know it's a bit outside your budget. But that cost is primarily the OS and shipping. The fact that hard drives have nearly doubled in price doesn't help either. If you already own a copy of Windows 7 and aren't squeamish about installing, you can cut out about $110. The shipping's unavoidable. |
Quote:
Yep. I'd go and make sure on each of the tabs just to be safe. But once you've eyeballed it, if you wanna pull the trigger, BANG BANG!|
Originally Posted by StormDevil
Cool, thanks a ton, Hyper. That's not too far above my price range, so I'm OK with that. It looks like, when I click on that link, all the options you mentioned are already chosen. Is that correct? (Just want to double check before I pull the trigger)
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Note that this machine doesn't come with a monitor or speakers. If you were planning to recycle from your current machine for those, all's good.
And enjoy that 2GB 560Ti. It should rock in CoH.
Clicking on the linked image above will take you off the City of Heroes site. However, the guides will be linked back here.
Done and done!
(I ended up splurging on a new monitor, actually)
Quote:
NICE!|
Originally Posted by StormDevil
Done and done!
(I ended up splurging on a new monitor, actually) |
Let me know how that system works once you get it. I'm always interested in people's feedback from different vendors.
Clicking on the linked image above will take you off the City of Heroes site. However, the guides will be linked back here.
Haven't received it yet, but I'm quite pleased with the service so far. They've been emailing me daily updates--sometimes two a day--as my build progresses through the process. At this point, it's at the "final burn-in" stage (installation of Windows and last bit of quality control), and then after that, it should be on its way. Very happy that it looks to arrive before/right around Christmas, as that means it will show up just about when I get my new speakers (Audioengine 2's), and I'll get a few weeks of playtime in before my Spring semester starts.
Way back in the first week of September, rolling blackouts (fallout from Irene; I live in upstate NY) wrecked my PC. I'm finally at a point now where I'd like to replace it. I pasted Hyperstrike's mini-FAQ below, and answered the questions to the best of my (limited) technical knowledge, but I'm sure there will still be some back-and-forthing since I'm a bit of a luddite. Anywho:
1) What will you primarily be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
***Gaming and browsing, though I'll likely need to be able to run ArcGIS (Geographic Information Systems) for some of my urban planning classes/work.
2) What's your budget? (Real Dollars) Are tax and shipping included? This is important as it allows people trying to help you to suggest things appropriate to your budget.
***I'd like to stay below $1000, but I'm fine with anything up to that limit.
3) Where do you live? This is important as it affects what vendors you may buy from and how much shipping costs might be.
***Upstate NY, US of A.
4) Are you planning to buy or build?
***I would prefer to just buy, outright, as I only really have experience with swapping out a graphics cards.
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.
***Well, I want to buy, so...is "everything" valid in that sense? Actually, I'm just switching out the CPU, so keyboard, mouse, speakers, monitor, I'm fine on all of those.
6) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
***...hm, I'll have to check on that.
7) Will you be overclocking?
***I don't think so?
8) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
***I'll have to check on this one, too. I'm also open to switching/upgrading my monitor, if that helps.
9) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
***ASAP
10) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? etc.
***Oh lord, I have no idea.
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.
***I would like to be able to max out Ultra-Mode...the rest is negotiable.
12) Are there any vendors/brands you'd specifically prefer to use?
***Nope.
13) Are there any vendors/brands you'd specifically prefer to avoid?
***Nope.
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.)
***Mine came with my computer, so probably not.