Anyone want to help me buy a Computer?

[jakeguy9]

Hello, good people of the internet. I would like to purchase a new computer (The family laptop isn't doing it for me). Unfortunately, I know absolutely nothing about how computers physically work. Seriously, nothing. Dual core? Quadruple core? What's a core, and why do I need four of them? How do you tell if one graphics card is better than another? Etc Etc. I work under the assumption that the computer tower is powered by rainbows and fairy dust.

Anyways, I need help. Here are some details and specifications.

Budget: Between $1500 and $2000

Usage: I plan on using this computer mostly for gaming (Diablo 3, Minecraft, Probably a few other Steam Games), Surfing the internets, and making flash animations with Flash Proffesional. Because of this, I don't need the greatest computer out there, just as long as it will run newer games like Diablo 3 smoothly, and has decent memory.

I don't have a credit card or anything, so buying one online may be tough. I would prefer to buy either a pre-assembled computer, or all the parts I need + instruction manual from a physical store, like Best Buy or Radioshack. I live in Saskatchewan, Canada, so that sort of limits store availability.

TL;DR: I want to buy a computer, for less than $2000, that will run newer games like Diablo 3 smoothly, and I need to know specifically what to buy and where to buy it.

Thank you, and I eagerly await your response

P.S. I'll be running Windows, probably Windows 7. I had a Mac before, and it really doesn't work for me.

 

[Keoul]

Uh where do you live? general country wise, it'll help figuring out what currency n such.
or could offer a computer that costs $100,000,000
only later to explain I'm in japan and that's in yen

 

[Mayhaps]

Build one.
I'm sure you have friends/family that can help you order stuff of the web if you can't find them in the store.

The motherboard comes with a picture that tells you where to place everything, if you're unsure how to do certain things, like placing the heat sink or something, there are millions of videos on youtube.

For picking parts, you could look at pre-built stuff to find one in a good price-range and simply buy the parts instead.

If you don't want to do that here's on outline of building a computer that will work. (I don't specifically recommend or denounce these picks, or this site)

Say you start with the motherboard, you pick this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128512
You check the details page:
CPU Socket Type: LGA 1155

Expansion Slots
PCI Express 2.0 x16: 2 (x16, x8)

Memory
Number of Memory Slots: 4×240pin
Memory Standard: DDR3 2133/1866/1600/1333/1066
Maximum Memory: Supported: 32GB

Onboard Audio
Audio Chipset: Realtek ALC889

Physical Spec
Form Factor: ATX
Dimensions: 12.0" x 9.6"
Power Pin: 24 Pin

You pick a CPU, which needs to be using LGA 1155
Lets say this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
you note that: Heatsink and Fan included. and the power consumption: 95W


Next, you'll need a graphics card, you don't really have to worry here but still check that it uses a supported PCI (PCI express x16 or x8)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102983
Here's what matters: Minimum of a 500 Watt power supply.
Also note: Card Dimensions: 10.24" x 4.45" x 1.38"


Moving on, you'll need some RAM, 240pin DDR3 RAM to be specific.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314
Not much to it, you probably won't need more than 8, but it's dirt cheap.

Next, you need a cd (and other discs) drive and a hard drive, not much to it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136246
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697

You note that there's an integrated audio card, so I wouldn't bother getting one unless you plan to do something extraordinary.

Now you're almost done, you need a Power Supply that can power your computer, a quick over-look and you wager maybe you should get a 700W supply or higher, if you wish to add more parts on a later date.
Say you pick this one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021

Now all you have to do is buy a case to store this bad-ass. Most of the time a mid-tower is what you should be looking at. Simply look at the dimensions and make sure everything will fit. It should be an ATX (See motherboard info)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352014


I haven't heard of incompatible monitors and keyboards, maybe apple products...

And a side note: You might want to buy one or two additional fans, but it shouldn't be a problem to pick them yourself if you got this far.


Building a computer is fun! Don't pay someone else to do it for you!

Edit:
As to finding what is better, usually the numbers indicate what's better and worse. (Higher is better) A 3.5 Ghz processor is better than the 3.3 one. In Graphics, they usually have a series of various power, price rises with the product name number.
And stick to famous quality brands.

 

[Mayhaps]

snip

Swing and a miss.

The OP will never need 750 watts, that is beyond overkill especially as many GPUs are so efficient these days. Hell, the 7850 only uses 1 6 pin power connector.

As to finding what is better, usually the numbers indicate what's better and worse. (Higher is better) A 3.5 Ghz processor is better than the 3.3 one. In Graphics, they usually have a series of various power, price rises with the product name number.
And stick to famous quality brands.

Nope, by that logic Bulldozer would be better than Sandy Bridge.

I know my post is a long one, but please don't skip sentences if you want to comment on its accuracy.
if you wish to add more parts on a later date.
usually the numbers indicate what's better and worse.
You found one exception, good job. Even though that doesn't make my claim wrong.
Take a look at a series of something (GPUs or processors for example) and you'll find that a 6770 is worse than the 6950 (I pulled those numbers out of my ass btw)

 

[Mayhaps]

I know my post is a long one, but please don't skip sentences if you want to comment on its accuracy.
if you wish to add more parts on a later date.
usually the numbers indicate what's better and worse.
You found one exception, good job. Even though that doesn't make my claim wrong.
Take a look at a series of something (GPUs or processors for example) and you'll find that a 6770 is worse than the 6950 (I pulled those numbers out of my ass btw)

I never disagreed with the GPU advice.

I still wouldn't give that advice on the CPU. It might work as a general rule for 1 brand/CPU type but it's too vague for a non-tech person.

What do you think about what I said about the PSU? You sort of ignored that.

I simply added up the numbers and added some wiggle room, if you say that the minimum expressed in details is not true, I'll have to take your word for it. I never checked my own computers power consumption because I've always had more than enough (and I'm not paying the bills).

How low would you go?

 

[Evil Smurf]

I suggest having a linux partition. Nearly all the software you can get for it is free

 

[applesandoranges]

edit

 

[jakeguy9]

Hmmm... Well, I'm heading to Regina this weekend to look around, so would most of the parts you've suggested (or similar ones) generally be available in retail stores as well as online, or just online? And another question I should probably ask...

The Recomended Requirements for Diablo 3 are:
Intel® Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or AMD Athlon? 64 X2 5600+ 2.8 GHz
NVIDIA® GeForce® 260 or ATI Radeon? HD 4870 or better

Just how good are these? I know Blizzard games are designed to run on pretty much anything, but are these recommended requirements to run it smoothly, or recommended to run it on High Quality, with all effects, no local-side graphic lag, etc?

I guess a better question would what does the scale of computer awesomeness look like, with the cheapest, least powerful computer currently for sale in stores being a 1, and the most pimped out monster custom-made computer ever being 100? Where do most pre-bought computers fit in? 10? 50? 75?

Well, looking back on this post I suppose I've just asked about 3 seperate long-winded questions, but whatever. SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE!! I HUNGER FOR INFORMATION!!

 

[jakeguy9]

Well, I went ahead and bought myself a pretty good computer, so thanks for the advice and stuff, and also disregard the post immediately above. Thanks for your help!