Buying Parts For Building a Gaming Desktop

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by Kenthian, Jan 21, 2014.

  1. Kenthian

    Kenthian Private E-2

    This is my first time to build a computer so I want to know if the parts I'm getting are good with each other and could say run battlefield 4 and assassins creed 4 on high or ultra and run a skyrim modded to hell with a good enb. Here's the parts I have selected so far:

    Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133223

    Monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236117

    DVD Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

    Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236244

    Network Adapter: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833106121

    Graphics Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487003

    Sound Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102048

    Power Supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438006

    Keyboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823816015

    Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233545

    Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130692

    CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116901

    CPU Cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103064

    Int. SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820721106

    Thermal Compound: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

    Desk Decoration: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA31Y1919864 (can't resist the Tali man...)

    And also, I'm a little confused on the SSD and HDD deal. I was customizing a pc on maingear to just get some bearings on what I needed and they had a 60gb SSD as a caching drive and a 1T HDD as the main drive. But I also heard that you want SSD as your main because its faster. What is a caching drive and what difference will it make?
     
  2. ChristineBCW

    ChristineBCW Corporal

    IF I was going to approach a large- or unlimited budget PC, I might consider a 2-SSD system.

    For my Boot Drive (Drive C), I'd look at a 120Gb Samsung Evo as the Cheap Option, or Samsung Pro as the expensive option. This would hold my OS and my Program Files.

    Then I'd have a Cache Drive (D: or E:, since optical drives might yield benefits from using the D: designator) with a 60Gb-or-small SSD. I'd buy two of these - identical units. Even a 30Gb would be fine. System Caching NEEDS to be smaller, not larger. But get two identical units so IF and when the first one deteriorates, you've got an exact replica to plug and use all of the same system settings. This should last for years and years.

    Then, I'd have a storage drive bigger than I expected or believed I'd use. If I think 1Tb is huge (and it is), then I'd look at 2Tb. Or 3Tb or 4Tb. Or maybe I'd even consider getting two storage drives, but this depends on the User Behaviors and Disciplines, too. If a User doesn't "flush his toilet" and clean his system, then no hard drive is ever "big enough" - having 4Tb of trash and garbage is even worse to clean up than a 1Tb storage drive.

    But think of a Boot-OS-Program Files drive as a Large, Needfully-Long-Lasting SSD, and then the Cache Drive as a small "temp files" SSD. The Boot Drive requires seldom changes over time - the OS gets updated and fixes, occasionally new programs are loaded. But the Cache Drive is updated constantly by the OS and User Commands.

    A user will also need to learn how Windows can change their Temp File locations to best utilize a separate Cache SSD. If there's no willingness to explore and learn this, then the Cache SSD is a waste.
     
  3. Digerati

    Digerati Major Geek Extraordinaire

    I agree, SSD is the way to go. Remember, you should expect this computer to last for at least 5 years. Spreading the extra costs of SSDs over HDs over 60 months amounts to just a couple $/day for a life time of better performance, less heat generation and less power consumption.

    I have and recommend a good 250/256GB SSD for your C drive to hold your OS and all your applications. Unless you have tons of videos, image files, or songs, 250/256 will be plenty. But if you have mass storage requirements a hybrid hard drive would be good for your secondary storage drive. A hybrid drive uses SSD technologies for the buffer and only cost a tiny bit more than conventional drives (which use standard RAM for their buffers).

    I note you have selected [the most excellent!] i7-4770K full retail version packaged WITH a supplied OEM cooler. Understand, according to both Intel and AMD, when you use an aftermarket cooler with a CPU that came packaged with a cooler, you VOID THE WARRANTY on the CPU!!!! Note this IS stated in the CPU warranty booklets that come with each CPU, or can be viewed online at Intel and AMD. The Intel warranty states the CPU and cooler are packaged, sold and warrantied as "a unit" and as such, requires they both be used together as "a unit". AMD is crystal clear about it,
    FAQ: Is the warranty for my AMD Processor-in-a-Box (PIB) still valid if I use a different heatsink/fan (HSF) other than the one provided in the PIB?
    "No. The limited warranty shall be null and void if the AMD processor which is the subject of the limited warranty is used with any heatsink/fan other than the one provided within the PIB."

    A note to all reading, please note I am just the messenger here, posting the facts that all can verify through the provided links. Many enthusiasts do not care about the warranties and that's fine - as long as everyone understands the consequences.
     

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