My First Gaming PC.

[PsycicSpyFromChina]

Hey Escapists. Long time lurker, 6th time poster.
I'm thinking about getting a new PC primarily for uni work and gaming.

I've dipped my toes into the tranquil pool that is PC gaming in the past, with games such as Battlefield 2 and Left 4 Dead but am primarily a console gamer. Unfortunately my dated laptop isn't quite cutting it any more and was looking for some advice on how I should go about the whole process.

I've been looking at PC's online and have done a little research on PC specs but am still quite a rookie when it comes down to it so I was wondering if someone could help get a general idea on what this pc would be capable of.

Intel Core i5 2320 LGA1155 CPU
Gigabyte GA-Z68M-D2H Z68 MB
4Gb DDR3 1333 Memory 4096Mb
1Tb WD Caviar Green GP
ATI Radeon HD 6790 1Gb VGA
CoolerMaster Gladiator 600 ATX

It's a pre-built bundle type deal for $1,079.00 so I wouldn't imagine that it's very high end. My budget is around the $1000 mark I can go a little higher if needed. It would be great if I could get under $1000 though! (I'm assuming that's wishful thinking?)
I'm looking at playing games such as ArmaII (I've heard it's quite demanding) Battlefield 3, Skyrim etc. I'm not necessarily looking for ultra graphic capabilities, just normal is fine with me, as long as the frame-rate is decent and playable.
I apologise if it seems like I'm hand-balling my homework off to you guys but I've been researching for a while now and I'm actually kind of struggling with making a decision.

Finally, should I consider building my own rig? Even though I'm quite obviously a MASSIVE rookie with this. I've read online that it isn't that difficult to do, but I'm quite intimidated by the thought of putting together my own PC.
If so, are there any beginner-friendly builds out there that I should have a look at?

I apologise for the large post and appreciate your time.
Cheers Guys!

 

[Qitz]

It should be able to run those, granted I'm no expert but glancing over the specs of the games and your system it should do fairly well.

As for beginner-friendly, give this series a look.

 

[Newtonyd]

I'm really no PC expert, so take my advice with a grain of salt, but it seems to me you are being vastly overcharged.

Just as a reference point, I recently bought this PC: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227370

for only 570 dollars. It has a similar graphics card, more RAM, same hard drive space, seemingly same processor, etc.

Unfortunately, the computer also seems to be sold out. Still, I would look for a better deal. Check out the site that I linked you to, Newegg can have some excellent deals with a bit of searching. Also, make sure you get Windows 7 out of the deal.'

You may also attempt to put together your own computer with parts from Newegg. I haven't tried it myself but it is 'supposedly' easy with some tutorials.

*Edit* Also, the computer I bought seems very powerful. I haven't tested it to a great extent, but every game I've played on it so far as reached max or near max graphics without stuttering. This includes Portal 2, for whatever that's worth.

 

[Newtonyd]

Sorry to be a party pooper but the 6770 isn't very powerful and Portal is easy to max out. I have a 5770 which is the same as a 6770 and it struggles with bigger games like Crysis, STALKER and Deus Ex HR at 1920x1080.

If you are running at 1280x1024 it should be fine.

True, but I'm used to playing with slightly lower graphics. My monitor can't reach that much resolution anyway. I figure I'll have to replace it in a couple years. Even still, considering the computer came with Windows as well makes the computer kind of a bargain.

 

[PsycicSpyFromChina]

Snip

I Watched the videos, very insightful. I'm actually now seriously considering ordering the parts and building one myself. Cheers for the link.

Snip

Yeah, I'm not surprised honestly. Those pre-built bundle PC's are generally more expensive. Also it comes with the monitor, speakers, mouse, Windows 7 etc. So that's why I was considering it. But yeah, I'm currently looking for a better deal.

Snip

Oh wow, that's pretty good, especially for that price! Looks like building one is the way to go then. I really appreciate the help with a potential build. Only problem with Newegg is that they don't deliver overseas...
...I probably should have mentioned I live in Australia, Perth Western Australia to be exact.
To my knowledge computer parts are a little more expensive over here.

I've been using this site http://www.netplus.com.au/ for my browsing, they have an office right in my city and the prices seem pretty good.
I've been looking at individual parts for my first build and this is what I had so far.
Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX560 DDR5
Case: CoolerMaster Elite 311 Gloss
Processor: Intel Core i5 2500K Unlocked
Hard Drive: 640Gb Samsung SATA2 HDD 16Mb
Motherboard: Asus P8P67 V3 P67 LGA1155 MB
WiFi: Asus PCE-N15 Wireless 11n
Memory: 2Gb DDR3 1333 Corsair Memory
Monitor: Benq G2025HD 20" Wide 5ms LCD
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
and a Mouse and Keyboard.

All that is setting me back around $1,091.00
I think that the motherboard and processor are compatible (both are "Sandy Bridge")
What do you guys think? I didn't miss out any core components did I? Any thing I should change/upgrade?

 

[Newtonyd]

The only thing I see that stands out as bad is this:

Memory: 2Gb DDR3 1333 Corsair Memory

You'll want at least 4 GB, maybe 8 GB. Luckily memory is pretty cheap on the whole. Also I don't see a power supply listed anywhere.

Otherwise, not sure on the price. It looks reasonable but I'm not the best judge. You might be able to get better prices elsewhere.

If you want to double check, or see what other people are building, check out this forum and post your build there:

http://www.computerforum.com/desktop-computers/

 

[number2301]

At 5ms that screen is a bit slow, try find something at 2ms.

 

[number2301]

At 5ms that screen is a bit slow, try find something at 2ms.

You have to be kidding right?

Most people won't benefit from the 3ms less response time.

I play at 8ms and it causes no issues.

Personally I think 90% of people who "need" 2ms time just want excuses for when they do badly at games.

If you care so much get a CRT and be done with it.

In honesty you're probably right, I just don't see why you'd buy a slower monitor when faster ones are available at pretty much any price point.

 

[TheLastSamurai14]

*Edit* Also, the computer I bought seems very powerful. I haven't tested it to a great extent, but every game I've played on it so far as reached max or near max graphics without stuttering. This includes Portal 2, for whatever that's worth.

Sorry to be a party pooper but the 6770 isn't very powerful and Portal is easy to max out. I have a 5770 which is the same as a 6770 and it struggles with bigger games like Crysis, STALKER and Deus Ex HR at 1920x1080.

If you are running at 1280x1024 it should be fine.

OP, if you're still looking for a video card, I have a 5770 as well, and it runs Skyrim at 1920x1080 and max settings. 30-40 frames per second, to boot. Then again, Skyrim is CPU heavy, so I'd recommend a quad core CPU at 3.0 GHz. You also mentioned BF3, but I've not played it, so I can't give you an accurate prediction as to its performance.

That being said, I can't max out Crysis or Metro 2033 without dipping below 20 frames. Throwing that out there in case it helps you make a decision.

 

[yundex]

Snip

I Watched the videos, very insightful. I'm actually now seriously considering ordering the parts and building one myself. Cheers for the link.

Snip

Yeah, I'm not surprised honestly. Those pre-built bundle PC's are generally more expensive. Also it comes with the monitor, speakers, mouse, Windows 7 etc. So that's why I was considering it. But yeah, I'm currently looking for a better deal.

Snip

Oh wow, that's pretty good, especially for that price! Looks like building one is the way to go then. I really appreciate the help with a potential build. Only problem with Newegg is that they don't deliver overseas...
...I probably should have mentioned I live in Australia, Perth Western Australia to be exact.
To my knowledge computer parts are a little more expensive over here.

I've been using this site http://www.netplus.com.au/ for my browsing, they have an office right in my city and the prices seem pretty good.
I've been looking at individual parts for my first build and this is what I had so far.
Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX560 DDR5
Case: CoolerMaster Elite 311 Gloss
Processor: Intel Core i5 2500K Unlocked
Hard Drive: 640Gb Samsung SATA2 HDD 16Mb
Motherboard: Asus P8P67 V3 P67 LGA1155 MB
WiFi: Asus PCE-N15 Wireless 11n
Memory: 2Gb DDR3 1333 Corsair Memory
Monitor: Benq G2025HD 20" Wide 5ms LCD
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
and a Mouse and Keyboard.

All that is setting me back around $1,091.00
I think that the motherboard and processor are compatible (both are "Sandy Bridge")
What do you guys think? I didn't miss out any core components did I? Any thing I should change/upgrade?

Your monitor isn't even 1080p, that's kind of the whole point of PC gaming. If you don't have a 1080p monitor than you really don't need a card made for 1080p like a 560... Just go for a cheap card like a 285 or something. But really, if you're spending 1000+ on a PC than you MUST get a 1080p monitor. And 4 GB of RAM is the minimum, 6 GB for graphics mods for a few games.

 

[yundex]

Snip

I Watched the videos, very insightful. I'm actually now seriously considering ordering the parts and building one myself. Cheers for the link.

Snip

Yeah, I'm not surprised honestly. Those pre-built bundle PC's are generally more expensive. Also it comes with the monitor, speakers, mouse, Windows 7 etc. So that's why I was considering it. But yeah, I'm currently looking for a better deal.

Snip

Oh wow, that's pretty good, especially for that price! Looks like building one is the way to go then. I really appreciate the help with a potential build. Only problem with Newegg is that they don't deliver overseas...
...I probably should have mentioned I live in Australia, Perth Western Australia to be exact.
To my knowledge computer parts are a little more expensive over here.

I've been using this site http://www.netplus.com.au/ for my browsing, they have an office right in my city and the prices seem pretty good.
I've been looking at individual parts for my first build and this is what I had so far.
Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX560 DDR5
Case: CoolerMaster Elite 311 Gloss
Processor: Intel Core i5 2500K Unlocked
Hard Drive: 640Gb Samsung SATA2 HDD 16Mb
Motherboard: Asus P8P67 V3 P67 LGA1155 MB
WiFi: Asus PCE-N15 Wireless 11n
Memory: 2Gb DDR3 1333 Corsair Memory
Monitor: Benq G2025HD 20" Wide 5ms LCD
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
and a Mouse and Keyboard.

All that is setting me back around $1,091.00
I think that the motherboard and processor are compatible (both are "Sandy Bridge")
What do you guys think? I didn't miss out any core components did I? Any thing I should change/upgrade?

Your monitor isn't even 1080p, that's kind of the whole point of PC gaming. If you don't have a 1080p monitor than you really don't need a card made for 1080p like a 560... Just go for a cheap card like a 285 or something. But really, if you're spending 1000+ on a PC than you MUST get a 1080p monitor. And 4 GB of RAM is the minimum, 6 GB for graphics mods for a few games.

You don't need 1080P. There is nothing wrong with running at a lower res as it lets you run at higher settings/FPS.

Don't try to say a 560 could max out any game on the market at 1280x1024.

6GB of RAM for mods? Care to name some? Apart from X3:Terran Conflict (which used about 3GB) I have yet to play a game which came close to maxing out 4GB of RAM.

1. Higher settings mean little if you aren't running at 1080p. There is no reason NOT to have a 1080p monitor in this day and age when you can get one for $150, only $50 more than the grandma 1280x1024. The kicker? He has a card that runs very well at 1080P. It's also better to run BF3 at 1080p with no AA (because AA worthless at 1080p) high settings than maxing it at 1024, you're losing a ton of screen space and detail.(detail level is subjective, but the fact that you don't need AA is a huge plus.)

2. What game can you not max with a 560?
3. Arma2 mods (the game he wants to play), I may be mistaken on 6gb because I run an i7 board triple channel. Arma modded is the only game I can think of ATM that uses more than 4GB.

Keeping in mind that he's not looking for "ultra" graphic settings, 1080p will look better overall and he can overclock any weakpoint in hardware later. (it's not as hard as it sounds, OP)
Also, the 1080p porn...the 1080p porn!

 

[yundex]

Snip

I Watched the videos, very insightful. I'm actually now seriously considering ordering the parts and building one myself. Cheers for the link.

Snip

Yeah, I'm not surprised honestly. Those pre-built bundle PC's are generally more expensive. Also it comes with the monitor, speakers, mouse, Windows 7 etc. So that's why I was considering it. But yeah, I'm currently looking for a better deal.

Snip

Oh wow, that's pretty good, especially for that price! Looks like building one is the way to go then. I really appreciate the help with a potential build. Only problem with Newegg is that they don't deliver overseas...
...I probably should have mentioned I live in Australia, Perth Western Australia to be exact.
To my knowledge computer parts are a little more expensive over here.

I've been using this site http://www.netplus.com.au/ for my browsing, they have an office right in my city and the prices seem pretty good.
I've been looking at individual parts for my first build and this is what I had so far.
Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX560 DDR5
Case: CoolerMaster Elite 311 Gloss
Processor: Intel Core i5 2500K Unlocked
Hard Drive: 640Gb Samsung SATA2 HDD 16Mb
Motherboard: Asus P8P67 V3 P67 LGA1155 MB
WiFi: Asus PCE-N15 Wireless 11n
Memory: 2Gb DDR3 1333 Corsair Memory
Monitor: Benq G2025HD 20" Wide 5ms LCD
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
and a Mouse and Keyboard.

All that is setting me back around $1,091.00
I think that the motherboard and processor are compatible (both are "Sandy Bridge")
What do you guys think? I didn't miss out any core components did I? Any thing I should change/upgrade?

Your monitor isn't even 1080p, that's kind of the whole point of PC gaming. If you don't have a 1080p monitor than you really don't need a card made for 1080p like a 560... Just go for a cheap card like a 285 or something. But really, if you're spending 1000+ on a PC than you MUST get a 1080p monitor. And 4 GB of RAM is the minimum, 6 GB for graphics mods for a few games.

You don't need 1080P. There is nothing wrong with running at a lower res as it lets you run at higher settings/FPS.

Don't try to say a 560 could max out any game on the market at 1280x1024.

6GB of RAM for mods? Care to name some? Apart from X3:Terran Conflict (which used about 3GB) I have yet to play a game which came close to maxing out 4GB of RAM.

1. Higher settings mean little if you aren't running at 1080p. There is no reason NOT to have a 1080p monitor in this day and age when you can get one for $150, only $50 more than the grandma 1280x1024. The kicker? He has a card that runs very well at 1080P. It's also better to run BF3 at 1080p with no AA (because AA worthless at 1080p) high settings than maxing it at 1024, you're losing a ton of screen space and detail.(detail level is subjective, but the fact that you don't need AA is a huge plus.)

2. What game can you not max with a 560?
3. Arma2 mods (the game he wants to play), I may be mistaken on 6gb because I run an i7 board triple channel. Arma modded is the only game I can think of ATM that uses more than 4GB.

Keeping in mind that he's not looking for "ultra" graphic settings, 1080p will look better overall and he can overclock any weakpoint in hardware later. (it's not as hard as it sounds, OP)
Also, the 1080p porn...the 1080p porn!

AA is worthless at 1080P? Bullshit, I still see fuckloads of jaggies at 1080P. Hey, if you wanna go the whole "PC gamer" bullshit route why not spout that he should be really getting a 16:10 1920x1200 monitor.

2. Metro, Crysis 2, Battlefield 3, Lost planet 2 only gets 80FPS at medium on 1280x1024, F1 2010 only maxes at 1280x1024 and can't at 1080P. I think I've made my point.

3. So buy extra RAM to run 1 game that has to be modded to make use of it? Great reasoning. My statement of getting 4GB of RAM stands.

If you're going to nerd rage this hard at something this petty, i'm not going to debate this much further. The games you listed benchmark around 50+ fps at 1920x1080 high settings non overclocked, and i've played them all except F1. It's overclockable near stock 560 ti cards. And if that game can't nearly max than it's either a driver issue or all of the benchmarks are fake. You DO realize i'm talking about a GTX 560 right? The one he posted in his edited build...?

As for RAM, people generally build PC's around the games they want to play, and in the OP's case, Arma2. Can always upgrade later, RAM is cheap -_-

 

[yundex]

3. Arma2 mods (the game he wants to play), I may be mistaken on 6gb because I run an i7 board triple channel. Arma modded is the only game I can think of ATM that uses more than 4GB.

I've been playing ARMA 2 with mods for years on 4GB of RAM. Never at any point has my computer slowed down because of lack of memory. In fact, I have, to the best of my knowledge, never pushed into virtual memory territory with this computer. 4GB is sufficient for present games and tasks on a dual-channel motherboard.

1. Higher settings mean little if you aren't running at 1080p. There is no reason NOT to have a 1080p monitor in this day and age when you can get one for $150, only $50 more than the grandma 1280x1024. The kicker? He has a card that runs very well at 1080P. It's also better to run BF3 at 1080p with no AA (because AA worthless at 1080p) high settings than maxing it at 1024, you're losing a ton of screen space and detail.(detail level is subjective, but the fact that you don't need AA is a huge plus.)

1080p resolution doesn't have sufficient additional vertical resolution over 1280x1024 to shell out for a new monitor if you already have a monitor. I've rarely wanted for more horizontal resolution, and never when I'm doing anything other than gaming. I don't get everybody's obsession for widescreen resolutions in applications other than television.

I could be wrong on the ram. AFAIK Arma couldn't use more than 4GB without mods due to being 32bit. He was already buying a new monitor, 1080P would have only been around $50 more. I use a monitor like that at work and personally don't see how anyone could play on those. Preferences I suppose, OP seems to have abandoned the thread and so should I