Been about 4 years since I last upgraded my machine. I don't follow any of the hardware trends until it comes time for me to actually upgrade and then I do furious research. But this time around I'm a little lazy so hoping you guys can give me the quick lowdown on what's new, what's worth it and what's not. It will be mainly for gaming PC with a lot of storage for my movies and sometimes Photoshop. Money is not a big issue but I don't want to go crazy with $2000 SSD drives, etc. I'm good if it's around $3k overall. This is just for the PC only, don't need monitor or peripherals. Thanks ahead of time.
Holy ****. If your budget is $3000 you are going to have one beast of a PC. I highly suggest this subreddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc They know what they are talking about; at least most of them do. Here's a really good website for parts: http://www.logicalincrements.com/ http://choosemypc.net/build/?budget=2500&oc=false&options=od,os Here's a GENERIC build for $2500 not including rebates. Gives you a good idea of what you should expect from a build with a budget that high. Oh yeah, no matter what anyone tells you DO NOT PURCHASE AN AMD CPU or a RADEON GPU.
i made a similar thread few months back....i love the PC so far. came out to about $1500 that was with a monitor as well. might check it out. lots of helpful posts http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=247623
I wouldn't spend 3k on a machine. The hardware today already handles anything games can throw out. You would be paying for something you won't even be using. A 1000-1500 machine is a far better idea and I doubt you would even notice the difference.
You might find this useful: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pc-system-build-value-compared,3859.html
I'm not saying I have to build a $3000 machine. But generally in the past that's the price I've paid for a machine that keeps me happy for 3-4 years. I haven't kept up with anything recently so I don't even know what a Titan is.
Unless you're trying to build a baby super computer, $1,500 will net you a very good pc. I7 4th gen, 16gb ram, 290x, 256 gb ssd for O/S and programs, 2tb hhd for files, 700+ watt p/s.
I went gaming laptop and haven't looked back. Alienware M18x. I love it and I can actually move it around. I know, can't upgrade components (video card), but it hasn't been an issue for me after two years. I have 32gb Ram and it runs Photoshop like a champ.
I already got a gaming laptop that I really like. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834131270 But I still find myself on my main machine much more due to dual monitor etc.
I've been forgetting to post my rig of my first ever build. Like maybe two years ago, I built a 3.65GHz i7, 32Gb of RAM machine. I promised pictures. I have failed you, brothers. Is that how much your pr0n is valued? *I'll take ONE COPY.*
A few DO's and DO NOT's CPU: DO go with an Intel. DO NOT over think it. and i5 is plenty and an i7 is NOT that much better. That extra $100.00 for an i7 can go towards something more useful that will enhance your experience... like an improved video card or monitor or SSD. Motherboard: This is where you want the latest and greatest. Research chipsets and make sure you get the most future proof one. Your motherboard will be your bottle neck. Memory: Its not that hard to get right. 16 gigs is more than plenty. Video Card: This is where your money will go. No need to overspend on the latest and greatest video card. Look at the 350-450 range. Get one with 4Gb of memory. You dont need a 600-800 card as you can run dual/quad cards later down the road as you need to expand. Storage: No doubt go with an SSD. Just keep in mind SSD prices are coming down rapidly. You may want to consider an SSD for primary and a hybrid as secondary. Monitor: This is where I would spend a little more. You can have the most powerful gaming rig but a crappy monitor will ruin the experience. Get a good case, water cooling system, and power supply. Overall, dont waste money on the latest and greatest.
I can see where the ppl say $1500 is enough are coming from. Like you OP: I don't keep up with new hardware until I want to buy. But I know I could spend $3k easy, without throwing a bunch on an SSD. the key imo, is to get the best motherboard, and everything upgraded to as little sound as possible. Make the machine silent, e.g., top of the line power supply. I've never subscribed to getting the best CPU. But at $3k, why not. After that: If I were you, I'd throw most of my money at video cards alone, or several. Think about a video-capture card, too, if you're into that capturing TV.
http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=255727 if you need a top of line processor on the cheap. check this thread.
