• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

  • CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.
Jan 4, 2004
2,432
333
✟26,699.00
Faith
Other Religion
Slightly off topic, but seeing as this is a singles forum.. it must be filled with nerds. :p

I kid, I kid.

I'll be building my first computer from scratch. I'd like it to be a gaming machine, something that could run the new stuff like Age of Conan. Looking to make it as cheap as possible--no frills, just a solid machine for the pwning of noobs.

Those of you who are tech-savvy.. What would you recommend for parts/specs/basic computer building tips?

Thanks!
 

JonMiller

Senior Veteran
Jun 6, 2007
7,165
195
✟38,331.00
Faith
SDA
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Others
Slightly off topic, but seeing as this is a singles forum.. it must be filled with nerds. :p

I kid, I kid.

I'll be building my first computer from scratch. I'd like it to be a gaming machine, something that could run the new stuff like Age of Conan. Looking to make it as cheap as possible--no frills, just a solid machine for the pwning of noobs.

Those of you who are tech-savvy.. What would you recommend for parts/specs/basic computer building tips?

Thanks!

My computer is too old for Age of Conan, and I have wanted a new computer for a year (at least) but I keep delaying (I really can't afford it).

I generally get everything from Newegg, but I don't know about other countries.

For motherboard, I would recommend Asus. I think that currently Intel is much better than AMD. Both machines I have built have been AMD so I am not an intel fanboi saying this. 6 or so months ago I would recommend an 8800 (nvidia), but now there are soem decent ATI offerings as well (3850, I think).

It have often (although I have heard they aren't as good now) checked out Tom's Hardware for reviews and discussions. Also, at least for now you don't really need a quadcore. I would probably get one because I like lots of processes, but while more cores is definitely very nice, if you are someone who keeps your processes down and closes things when you aren't using them a dualcore should be enough. Generally there is a sweet spot where you get a good deal, and everything better than that it just better quality of the same chips and overclocked.

My last computer I got a Raptor (10k drive) and to be honest, it probably isn't necessary. You probably do want a large cache though, but it probably is one of the less important things.

MACs are pretty good machines, but the iMacs are meant to be a bit cheaper then ultimate gaming, and the PowerMacs are meant for nonGamers. This means that at least a few months ago, none of them had a really great video card which is crucial for gaming machines.

Jon Miller
 
Upvote 0

JonMiller

Senior Veteran
Jun 6, 2007
7,165
195
✟38,331.00
Faith
SDA
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Others
That would end up cheaper than just building from the bottom up?

You have to be careful that they didn't skimp on the motherboard and powersupply. And you can build your own for very cheap.

You probably don't really need any more then 2 GB for RAM right now, and you could probably go with a processor for as low as 160$ or so. It is video card that you want to go for one of the best on (probably ~200$) and those require good powersupplies.

JM
 
Upvote 0

AirForceTeacher

King of the Wicker People
Feb 23, 2004
10,371
558
The south
✟43,117.00
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
You have to be careful that they didn't skimp on the motherboard and powersupply. And you can build your own for very cheap.

You probably don't really need any more then 2 GB for RAM right now, and you could probably go with a processor for as low as 160$ or so. It is video card that you want to go for one of the best on (probably ~200$) and those require good powersupplies.

JM

I am not a gamer, so I will defer to smarter folk.
 
Upvote 0

Sketcher

Born Imperishable
Feb 23, 2004
39,055
9,493
✟430,613.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
What's your price range?

I'd probably recommend a Core 2 Duo E8xx0 series CPU, a P35-based motherboard, 4 gigs of RAM, and a Geforce 9600GT or a Radeon HD 3870. Any SATA based hard drive will do you, you've got a better idea of your storage needs than I do.

But if you give me a specific price range, I can be probably give you better and more specific recommendations. Also, are you going to be using your old monitor, keyboard, and mouse?
 
Upvote 0

kingoffools13

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2007
3,122
244
PA
✟34,791.00
Country
United States
Faith
Charismatic
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Others
April 2008 Maximum PC did an article on building a 1500 dollar no compromise gaming rig

http://dl.maximumpc.com/Archives/MPC0408-web.pdf

I don't know what your price range is, but if you are wise and a little tech savvy you can build it for even a little less.

K
O
f
 
Upvote 0

Sketcher

Born Imperishable
Feb 23, 2004
39,055
9,493
✟430,613.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
OK, here's a wish list of parts that should work together. Some of them are on sale, even.

It's $884 plus shipping, altogether. (Gotta add Windows in, that's what put it over the top). Here it is, do you already have a DVD burner or anything else you can use with it? If we're going to cut this down, let's do so intelligently.

Here's an illustrated system building guide from Corsair. It's about a year old, so the hardware is a little bit dated, and it covers overclocking, which I do not recommend for a first build.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

Luther073082

κύριε ἐλέησον χριστὲ ἐλέησον
Apr 1, 2007
19,202
841
43
New Carlisle, IN
✟46,336.00
Faith
Lutheran
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
I only have a somewhat basic understanding of hardware.

Although I will tell you this, if you instead of buying the top of the line stuff go for something thats one step below top of the line you will save a ton of money.

I think a top of the line gaming machine when I was having one built for me at a local computer place (built for free BTW) would have cost me about $1,600, but a machine with everying just one step below top of the line was $750.
 
Upvote 0

deliciousBass

Contributor
Oct 1, 2006
8,639
687
DC Metro
✟42,200.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Single
I only have a somewhat basic understanding of hardware.

Although I will tell you this, if you instead of buying the top of the line stuff go for something thats one step below top of the line you will save a ton of money.

I think a top of the line gaming machine when I was having one built for me at a local computer place (built for free BTW) would have cost me about $1,600, but a machine with everying just one step below top of the line was $750.
This is true. You will be forced to pay 100% more for a boost of only 10-25% in performance if you go for the best stuff.
 
Upvote 0

kingoffools13

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2007
3,122
244
PA
✟34,791.00
Country
United States
Faith
Charismatic
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Others
OK, here's a wish list of parts that should work together. Some of them are on sale, even.

It's $884 plus shipping, altogether. (Gotta add Windows in, that's what put it over the top). Here it is, do you already have a DVD burner or anything else you can use with it? If we're going to cut this down, let's do so intelligently.

Here's an illustrated system building guide from Corsair. It's about a year old, so the hardware is a little bit dated, and it covers overclocking, which I do not recommend for a first build.

looks like a variant of the list i linked to

K
O
f
 
Upvote 0

Sketcher

Born Imperishable
Feb 23, 2004
39,055
9,493
✟430,613.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
looks like a variant of the list i linked to
To be honest, I didn't even look at it. Looks like a good DIY guide, though. The one thing I would add to it is use an anti-static wrist wrap attached to a grounded object.
 
Upvote 0