Guru3D PC Buyers Guide Winter 2012
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CronoGraal
highly recommend this site for monitor reviews and guidance
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/
that is, until the guru's get an inhouse monitor testing crew 😀
deefop
David
David
David
deefop
I guess my point is, if you're trying to build a PC that's going to last years and not have issues playing any game at high resolutions then it doesn't qualify as a budget PC.
When people come to me or others for help on ESEA or whatever forum to build a cheap PC we look for budget parts that will get the job done, and provide at least some upgrading power for the future.
The parts in that budget build would probably easily run you 600 or 700$ and the reality is that a lot of people want to play games but dont want to spend that kind of money.
If you're building the system to NOT have to sacrifice on any IQ settings than how can it be considered a budget system? The definition of building within a budget(any budget, whether it's 300$ or 3000$) means you have to constrain yourself.
If you define the build by it's actual performance then the budget is no longer your limiting factor, you've substituted that out for performance being the limiting factor and then you've stated that you want no limits on performance, which means you have no limiting factor!
If I built my computer that way I would have 2 660TI's in SLI and I'd run everything maxed out.
deefop
SoloCreep
People want to know how low they can go PC built for games that are recently released, not games from 5-10 years ago. This guide seems just fine for a budget PC that can play some oldies but goodies and some of todays titles. Thats what people want. They want to play the newer, cooler, more popular games and some people want to do it on a budget. What some of you are recommending just isnt possible at 30fps.
deefop
mohiuddin
Totally agree with @deefop .
Every point/logic of his posts in this thread is not only valid but also worthy enough to be considered in any future gaming-guide article.
Low-budget portion in this guide is just not right.
I would rather put these on the low-budget section>>
1. Amd fx6300 /fx4170
2. Cooler master hyper 212+ cpu cooler
3. 6850hd/7770hd graphics card
naike
PhazeDelta1
naike
Well, a computer for 350€ plays all the games with console quality, so if someone wants to get into PC gaming but is on a budget I see nothing wrong, all the deals are on the PC anyway.
I don't get why people always tell not to "half ass" a gaming machine, people half ass all the time unless they are building the best possible everything.
Like, I've been doing fine with my photo/video editing on this machine, and it's a super half assed productivity configuration, I'm happy with it.
IPlayNaked
I tend to agree that the low-end computer is tending pretty hard toward the mid-range.
Cut the 8GB down to 4GB. Cut the 128GB SSD down to a 1TB HDD. No need for a CPU cooler on a non-OC'd machine, cut that out. Finally, an i3 is probably just an ok choice. Move it down to a Phenom II or something else. Anyway, point is, money could be saved on the CPU/Motherboard side without giving up a lot.
This computer could perform almost the same at a lower price. Just the definitive ones I suggest would probably cut off almost 200 dollars. Or, if you wanted to maintain that price target, you could get a better GPU, which would make gaming better anyway.
Also, why doesn't it include the cost of Windows? No one's gaming on Linux. With the cost of Windows, shipping/tax, you're looking at a price dangerously close to 1000 USD for a "budget" computer. That's all wrong.
Agonist
Reading all this, David you are completely utterly missing his point.
smashly
Thanks for the buying guide.
Low End guide does need some amendments imho
+1 for GA-Z77MX-D3H mobo
I use the Non TH version, supports Sli/Crossfire and it's been the best bang for little bucks board I've ever had.
CPU cooler definitely should of listed CM Hyper 212 Evo.
Even on a non oc cpu it's cheap enough price, runs cooler then a reference cooler and best of all it'll be silent in comparison to reference cooler.
Due to it's low price to me would be justified even on a low end build.
Memory maybe add G.Skill Ares range of memory.
As it's Low profile heat spreaders and low price make it excellent value for money.
As for the video card I think 7850/7870 is more mid range card.
Low end build I be more inclined 7770 card.
Maybe if the guide was written by using ranges then hard set low/med/high, then it would be more agreeable.
eg: Low End, Low to Med, Med to High, High End
This way it's a little more flexible as to what hardware fits into.
A lot of pc hardware now days borders in between the lines of Low/Med and Med/High
Trying to class some products as hard set Low/Med/High and opinions really start to conflict.
Veeshush
http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/far_cry_3_graphics_performance_review_benchmark,7.html
I don't know if I'd lose sleep over just having a top end AMD that places itself still in the top 10 in most benches I see on this site. But then again, I'd buy/build a new machine with upgrade potential and I have no idea if AMD will actually make up the difference anytime soon.
SSDs are nice and I'd want one just so I'd never have to defrag again/maybe speed up virus scans, and probably one day I'll get a nice one, but exactly that. I don't get the whole "look how fast my PC loads!" fetishism. Mine boots and as it does I get my coffee, which I'd do SSD or not.
dood u ned 3 monitorz and the 3d sTEROOOOOSCOOPE and if anythin is over 3 yearz old it's a motherfu~ pentium II grandpa email reading crapbox! But yeah, there's stuff that's really nice to have and then there's what you need, and you got it right.
My guide: Buy a damn good motherboard, a good PSU and a case you like and everything will revolve around those choices. Then you can do what I try to do and just slowly upgrade everything else to the max the motherboard will let you.
That's how I was feeling. I thought the low end was fairly high end too. Very surprised not a single AMD cpu was recommended. Pill Monster
I'm surprised the 680 was recommended over the 670 given the similar performance and big difference in price....