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First build and a few questions

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    #2
    Procrastastudy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,224 ✭✭✭Procrastastudy


    You will find if you want two monitors you very quickly want three! Two is fine for desktop work but if you game two monitors are a nightmare. Everything gets messed up by the bezel.

    nVidia Cards are fine for dual monitor set ups but tripple set ups are a nightmare. You need three identicle monitors and two cards. Amazing if you have the dosh and are building from scratch. Otherwise its an AMD card which wont give you quite the same performance but are much better value in this type of set up. Although the 7970 and 670 are battleing it out for top spot (nvidia ahead at the moment) I dont think they have anything to touch the mid-range. Im very open to correction on that with a eboggles table :)

    2nd Gen v 3rd Gen i5s. Basically the 2nd gen is a bit cheaper and runs cooler. Clock for clock 2nd gen is a bit slower but over clocks better. Really there isn't much in it except that 3rd Gen supports PCI-Express 3.0 - not much use at the moment but in the future it will be very useful especially in a xfire or SLI set up.

    Go for a i5-2500K or i5-3570K if you want to overclock - these are the unlocked SKUs

    Also: Dont worry about a sound card - it comes intergrated on to 99% of motherboards.


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    #3
    Eboggles
    Registered Users Posts: 1,600 ✭✭✭Eboggles


    Javier Lemon Shoestring wrote: »
    Hi, I'm looking to build my first proper gaming computer to take up to college with me.
    I have a few questions before launching into this

    A.
    I've noticed most builds posted here don't use Nividia cards is this a user choice or is there a known issue with using them for gaming?

    B.
    Several builds here use Gen 2 I5's is there a reason not to use the newer gen 3 I5's as they seem to be the same price?

    C.
    Do I need to buy a separate wifi card or are they now built into another component?

    1. What is your budget?
    €800-850 max

    2. What will be the main purpose of the computer?
    Gaming and MMO gaming, Watching movies etc

    3. Do you need a copy of Windows?
    No

    4. Can you use any parts from an old computer?
    Nope

    5. Do you need a monitor?
    I need 2 monitors.

    5a. If yes, what size do you need?
    ideally 1920x1080 resolution,
    With a good refresh rate.

    6. Do you need any of these peripherals?
    I may need a new keyboard

    7. Are you willing to try overclocking?
    yes

    8. How can you pay?
    Credit card,paypal,cash

    9. When are you purchasing?
    In the next month

    10. If you need help building it, where are you based?
    Should be ok.

    Case: 4usb 1mic 1 audio 53.70 Euro http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?adp=0&aid=52115&agid=631&apop=2


    PSU: 450watt 41 Euro


    http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=30074&agid=1627


    Motherboard: 90 Euro


    http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=59322&agid=1601


    CPU: Intel I5 3450 176 Euro


    http://www2.hardwareversand.de/Socket+1155/56298/Intel+Core+i5-3450+Box%2C+LGA1155.article


    RAM: 4x2 GB 37 Euro


    http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=44315&agid=1192




    GPU: Nividia GTX 550 TI 108 Euro


    http://www2.hardwareversand.de/1024+MB/46173/ASUS+ENGTX550+Ti+DC+DI+1GD5%2C+1024MB%2C+PCI-Express.article




    Drive 1: 128 GB SSD (boot drive) 72 Euro


    http://www2.hardwareversand.de/Solid-State-Disk/54481/OCZ+Petrol+128GB+SSD+SATA+6Gb%27s.article




    Drive 2: 77Euro

    Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB SATA 3 6GB/s



    Wireless: 15 Euro


    http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=42568&agid=271


    Fan: (blue led fan) 25 Euro


    http://www2.hardwareversand.de/Intel+AMD/49255/ARCTIC+COOLING+Freezer+13+Pro%28Sockel+775+1155+1156+1366+754+939+AM2+AM2+%2B+AM3+AM3%2B+FM1%29.article


    695 Euro So far
    I still need the two monitors and a sound card I believe.


    Would appreciate suggestions on better choices or problems I haven't noticed as I am not that familiar with computer components.

    Get this instead:

    Item|Price
    8GB-Kit G.Skill PC3-10667U CL9|€35.94
    Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 450W|€40.91
    LiteOn iHAS124-19 schwarz SATA|€18.89
    Samsung SSD 830 64GB SATA 6GB's Paper Box|€68.01
    Seagate Barracuda 7200 500GB SATA 6GB's|€60.26
    LogiLink Wireless LAN 300 Mbps PCI Karte 802.11n 2T2R|€14.36
    Intel Core i5-2500K Tray, LGA1155|€189.79
    ASRock Z68 Pro3 Gen3, Sockel 1155, ATX|€85.67
    BitFenix Merc Alpha|€31.57
    MSI R6850-PMD1GD5, 1024MB DDR5, PCI-Express|€120.94
    2 x BenQ G2255|€201.96
    Shipping|€18.99
    Total|€887.29
    GCDLawstudent wrote: »
    I'm very open to correction on that with a eboggles table :)

    I'd like to reply to you, but I'm not sure what you mean :o.

    1080p? GTX 670
    1440p or Multi-Monitor? 7970

    Going by that I'd say a 7970 would be best for two 1080p screens, but I'll have to look it up to be certain.


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    #4
    Procrastastudy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,224 ✭✭✭Procrastastudy


    Just that you know about the whole range of cards where as I only know about the particualar segment I'm looking at. Even at that I'm very AMD skewed because of eyefinity.


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    #5
    Eboggles
    Registered Users Posts: 1,600 ✭✭✭Eboggles


    GCDLawstudent wrote: »
    Just that you know about the whole range of cards where as I only know about the particualar segment I'm looking at. Even at that I'm very AMD skewed because of eyefinity.

    I'm flattered :p.

    Couldn't really see the point in gaming with two screens. You should invest in a 3rd screen and then work up the funds for a 7970, or just use the 1 screen for gaming and grab a GTX 670.


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    #6
    x3vowba0qsek2m
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6 ✭x3vowba0qsek2m


    Would you still recommend the I5-2500k If I was unable to Overclock it?

    Also what is the advantage of the third screen? :confused:
    I'd usually run games in windowed mode covering one screen and then have a movie,browser or chat window open in the second. I'm not looking to pull the screen across two the gap in the middle would drive me nuts.


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    #7
    Eboggles
    Registered Users Posts: 1,600 ✭✭✭Eboggles


    Javier Lemon Shoestring wrote: »
    Would you still recommend the I5-2500k If I was unable to Overclock it?

    Also what is the advantage of the third screen? :confused:
    I'd usually run games in windowed mode covering one screen and then have a movie,browser or chat window open in the second. I'm not looking to pull the screen across two the gap in the middle would drive me nuts.

    I thought you wanted to game with the two screens. If you only want to game on one, the 6850 will be fine.

    Why would you be unable to overclock the 2500k?


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    #8
    Procrastastudy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,224 ✭✭✭Procrastastudy


    Thats grand then don't worry about eyefinity. If you have three screens you have one for looking at and two for peripheral vision. Looks amazing in game like DIRT and Battlefield 3. On three monitors the bezels don't mater as much.

    If you're more grinding away in WoW or EQ2 and want some entertainment then 2 monitors is grand.

    I don't know what the others think but I might drop down the CPU in favour of a better GPU is you're not going to overclock.


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    #9
    x3vowba0qsek2m
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6 ✭x3vowba0qsek2m


    I'm up for trying to overclock it but the room I stay in is usually well above average room temperature so the extra heat might cause problems.

    I may use the build you gave while springing the extra 17e for a 1TB drive.

    What change should I make to the graphics card if I'm only using one screen for gaming and the second for Entertainment?

    Thanks for the help by the way :o


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    #10
    Eboggles
    Registered Users Posts: 1,600 ✭✭✭Eboggles


    Javier Lemon Shoestring wrote: »
    I'm up for trying to overclock it but the room I stay in is usually well above average room temperature so the extra heat might cause problems.

    I may use the build you gave while springing the extra 17e for a 1TB drive.

    What change should I make to the graphics card if I'm only using one screen for gaming and the second for Entertainment?

    Thanks for the help by the way :o

    You don't need to change the graphics card, just use the HD 6850 I mentioned.

    If you need the space then you can get the 1TB drive.

    As for overclocking, It's Ireland :cool:. It doesn't really get warm. I have the i5 2500k at 4.5ghz using an Arctic Cooling Freezer 13. When I run Intel Burn Test the highest temperature I get is 59C!

    EDIT: That said, my case is optimized for cooling, due to the fact I have lots of fans.


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