Looking into getting a new computer

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Tami

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I'm not going to lie and say I know a whole lot about something I really don't. I don't know specifics, I'm a simple minded fool who doesn't care if the rig looks fancy and flashy with lights and a light-up keyboard and 4k quad monitors or whatever. I just care that the computer runs well and has a good amount of space. I'd prefer a laptop (mine's done me well, but isn't keeping up with "next-gen titles" so well anymore) but can and most likely will settle for a Desktop. I don't really bring my laptop with me anywhere anymore. I don't actually care for playing games at 1080p. There are some games I'd like to play at 1080p and would like to have a 1080p monitor, but when I play a game I'm perfectly fine with playing it at 720p. I want a computer that can run the most prestigious (or shittily optimized like dead rising 3) games on mid-to-high settings at 720p, running at least 60fps. I have no idea how to build a computer, though, and that's most likely something I really won't be able to do.

TnB is filled with people who know a lot about these kinds of things, but at the same time people who only pretend to know a lot about these kind of things. I'm looking for advice and direction for where to go and what to get that's an affordable rig that fits my tastes. I don't need the latest and greatest (especially since I don't plan on playing at 4K or even 1080p, aside from maybe CS:GO or other games that don't require a good computer at all). So those $1k graphics cards are way out of the picture. Not interested in those at all. 720p at ~60fps on mid-to-high settings. How much would something like that cost me, what're some good suggestions?
 
Building a computer is very easy and is comparable to putting together one of those lego builds with the instructions. I know plenty of people who've built computers with no previous knowledge and can say the first time I built one I had no idea how to. If you follow a simple you-tube guide and check the manual for where to plug things in, you won't fuck things up. You could also get someone to help from TnB, like from skype.

Regardless, what's your price point?
 
$430 and under. Like I said above, it doesn't need to come with a monitor/keyboard+mouse. I'd get more bang for my buck if it didn't have additional things like that, anyhow.

What my current laptop has;

Manufacturer Dell Inc.
Model Inspiron M5110
Total amount of system memory 6.00 GB RAM
System type 64-bit operating system
Number of processor cores 4
Total size of hard disk(s) 684 GB
Disk partition (C:) 122 GB Free (684 GB Total)
Display adapter type AMD Radeon(TM) HD 6620G
Total available graphics memory 4083 MB
Dedicated graphics memory 1536 MB
Dedicated system memory 0 MB
Shared system memory 2547 MB
Display adapter driver version 14.301.1001.0
Primary monitor resolution 1366x768
DirectX version DirectX 10 -- this makes no sense, reading it, since I've been playing Shadow Of Mordor on DX11 with AMD Dual Graph
Processor AMD A8-3520M APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics, 1600 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)

What Steam says, since that was plucked from various places and slapped together.

Code:
Processor Information:
    Vendor:  AuthenticAMD
    CPU Family:  0x12
    CPU Model:  0x1
    CPU Stepping:  0x0
    CPU Type:  0x0
    Speed:  1597 Mhz
    4 logical processors
    4 physical processors
    HyperThreading:  Unsupported
    FCMOV:  Supported
    SSE2:  Supported
    SSE3:  Supported
    SSSE3:  Unsupported
    SSE4a:  Supported
    SSE41:  Unsupported
    SSE42:  Unsupported
    
Network Information:
    Network Speed:  
    
Operating System Version:
    Windows 7 (64 bit)
    NTFS:  Supported
    Crypto Provider Codes:  Supported 311 0x0 0x0 0x0
    
Video Card:
    Driver:  AMD Radeon HD 6620G

    DirectX Driver Name:  aticfx32.dll
    Driver Version:  14.301.1001.0
    DirectX Driver Version:  8.17.10.1315
    Driver Date: 15 Sept 2014
    OpenGL Version: 4.4
    Desktop Color Depth: 32 bits per pixel
    Monitor Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
    DirectX Card: AMD Radeon HD 6620G
    VendorID:  0x1002
    DeviceID:  0x9641
    Number of Monitors:  1
    Number of Logical Video Cards:  1
    Crossfire Detected (2 GPUs)
    Primary Display Resolution:  1366 x 768
    Desktop Resolution: 1366 x 768
    Primary Display Size: 18.98" x 10.67"  (21.73" diag)
                                            48.2cm x 27.1cm  (55.2cm diag)
    Primary Bus Type Not Detected
    Primary VRAM: 512 MB
    Supported MSAA Modes:  2x 4x 8x 
Memory:
    RAM:  5607 Mb
 
like negative said, it's essentially like putting lego together, infact it's easier because you're physically unable to place things in incorrectly without excessive force. do some research first before buying a prebuilt, then come back and say you don't know how to build your own pc.

regardless ive heard this is good: www.amazon.com/Dell-i3646-1000BLK-Inspiron-Desktop/dp/B00KE80VV6

JC Heavy said:
It's like you didn't even read.

cute
 
I tried finding a decent desktop with a GPU but at that price you're going to have difficulty finding one worth it, atleast pre-made. ibuypower seemed promising enough, http://www.ibuypower.com/Store/ASUS-M11AD but that matters how willing you are to cough up more money. Though that does come with a monitor.
 
Yeh you need a GPU with those desktops if you're gonna be able to play anything with decent settings, especially the new games coming out. Their cost varies but I'd suggest you get a decent AMD card with at least 2GB memory.
 
Hoplite said:
like negative said, it's essentially like putting lego together, infact it's easier because you're physically unable to place things in incorrectly without excessive force. do some research first before buying a prebuilt, then come back and say you don't know how to build your own pc.

regardless ive heard this is good: www.amazon.com/Dell-i3646-1000BLK-Inspiron-Desktop/dp/B00KE80VV6



cute

plus any half decent computer shop will look over your build and double check its compatibility
 
Building a computer just isn't up my alley. I've seen other people do it, I've tried to read a little into it, it's just not something I'm willing to give a go.

Also no one really commented on the computer Helios suggested, which is the one I'm looking into so far. That fits my budget perfectly and I don't have to build anything. The only person to comment on the computer, though, isn't even related to TnB in any way. Opinions on his opinion?

The build the OP listed on amazon is actually a really good deal. To build it in equivalent parts, you'd have a hard time. I made a quick build with the same CPU, quantity of RAM, drive size and OS and came out about $15 over. I could go cheaper, but then I'd start sacrificing quality. It also looks like that machine has an additional discrete GPU but it doesn't say what it is.

It'd be a good deal if you had nothing and you just needed something quick.

BUT, it wouldn't be that much better than your current machine and it wouldn't do what you wanted really. I would save up at least $600-700 to build a good game rig that will last awhile.
 
You can build a better computer for the same price, one with a graphics card which does alot of work when it comes to video games. You could easily run with 500 Gigs of storage and 4 gigs of ram, if you want to save money. It's ridiculous how expensive DDR3 is atm.

Regardless, it'll probably do the job. I'm not sure if there are any pre-builts with a GPU, which as I said is a pretty key component to decent performance.
 
According to the other guy there's apparently a "discrete GPU," though it doesn't say what it specifically is. I do know pre-builts can come with a GPU since my laptop has a GPU. I'm assuming since it's a computer fully utilizing AMD technology it's going to have the same Dual Graphics option.

Thanks though, Negative.
 
"It'd be a good deal if you had nothing and you just needed something quick.

BUT, it wouldn't be that much better than your current machine and it wouldn't do what you wanted really. I would save up at least $600-700 to build a good game rig that will last awhile."

listen to your friend
 
If building a PC is so damn hard for you, Helios and I can walk you through the process. What with my actually knowing things and Helios' pretending to learn how to be some not-cool computer administrator.
 
Alright, maybe I'll give it a go. I don't even know where to start looking for parts or what parts to look for, though, so that's a good start.

fuck you

fuck
 
Tami said:
Alright, maybe I'll give it a go. I don't even know where to start looking for parts or what parts to look for, though, so that's a good start.

fuck you

fuck
Newegg & amazon are pretty good.
 
Picking the parts is probably the hardest part but luckily other people can easily do that for you. Also I thought the computer you listed just had on-board graphics which is never good but maybe I misread.
 
Just get an alienware computer, if you are too lazy to build one even, I heard they they cost alot (afuckinglot) but run games quite decently. That's what I heard atleast.

Here is one of their 'gaming' laptops if you want to take a look.

http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-18/pd.aspx
 
Th3 R3ap3r IX said:
If building a PC is so damn hard for you, Helios and I can walk you through the process. What with my actually knowing things and Helios' pretending to learn how to be some not-cool computer administrator.
fuck you

you'll need to get on camera if it ever happens

:^)

Negative said:
Picking the parts is probably the hardest part but luckily other people can easily do that for you. Also I thought the computer you listed just had on-board graphics which is never good but maybe I misread.

i'm pretty sure most mobos have integrated graphics nowadays anyway, mine does.

besides that, yeah, these guys have pretty much said all the shit you need, and a toolkit.

the bright side of constructing your own computer, too, is you can probably install your smaller 2.5 inch laptop hard drive into the build with an adaptor to save losing any data
otherwise you can probably settle with installing the OS fresh on a 1TB drive and transfer all your important data/games through one of these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/StarTech-...ve-Adapter-Cable-w-UASP-SATA-to-/381004604387

the question here is: are you willing to open up your laptop and take it out to do that

Just get an alienware computer, if you are too lazy to build one even, I heard they they cost alot (afuckinglot) but run games quite decently. That's what I heard atleast.

alienware are horribly overpriced because of all their edgy LEDs and only manage to make up for it by being generally mediocre in terms of kit. it's cheaper to buy parts and construct your own or just pick another manufacturer altogether
 
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