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Strangelove
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I'll mainly use it for switching around steam and origin, since it messes with big picture mode (origin stays on top after exiting the origin game). and sometimes when the focus on steam is on the steam web browser, pressing the XBox button won't bring up big picture. so I have to move the mouse a bit and click outside. Very minimal use, just alt-tabbing and stuff.

 

Oh.. and also some games have the mouse pointer in the middle even if I started the game using a controller. It doesn't go away unless I move the mouse. It's really annoying.

 

I currently use a wireless mouse, and while that does the job, I need a flat surface so to use it I have to be hunched over to the table from the sofa while looking up at the TV. It makes my head hurt!

 

BTW! Do you ever turn it off?

Edited by eleven
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Some assistance!

 

Since my brother moved out, he left me his desktop. It's served me well, but he's about ready to take it back. That being said, I got enough to make my own rig.

 

I've settled with most of my parts. I'm just uncertain on a casing, PSU capacity(I'm eyeing an 850W), and peripherals. That's where you folks come in.

 

If you've got any suggestions on monitors, keyboards/mice, PSU, and casing, I'd love to hear 'em. It's been quite a while since I've built my last one, so I'm a bit out of my game.

 

Current Specs:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231568

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130787

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167094

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533

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Budget for PSU? Case? Etc? Plan to ever do SLI in the future?

 

I personally would get a PSU/Case combo on Newegg.

 

If I was going all out...I'd maybe get this. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1188523 Granted...I'm not an expert on PSU/Cases...but it looks/sounds nice.

 

The PSU I have is this little guy http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817148040(have had for over 6 months. I don't OC) Has decent reviews...but some may pipe in to tell you to spend a bit more in order to protect all that new hardware. If the PSU goes out...it could take something(s) with it. And Apevia isn't exactly top of the line.

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Between the case, PSU, and peripherals, $700 max. I'd feel better if it were $500 or under, though, but I did set my cap long before I started this rig, so as long as it's within $700, that's fine by me.

 

That's a nice looking case, if a bit flashy, though. I'll see what I can research from it.

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First impressions:

 

It found only 14 of the god knows how many games I've got installed. Several hundred?

 

It's recommending that I turn up the graphics settings on several games that I've already played and adjusted for consistent framerate. Now they're all games I haven't played in a while, so maybe driver updates have improved performance, but it is making me skeptical about how good this really is at determining optimal settings. It will at least be useful as a place to start, I suppose.

 

*Edit* - It would be nice if in the preferences it would let you tell it whether to prioritize framerate or picture quality.

 

*Edit 2* - Although now that I think about it some more, all of the games it wanted me to adjust only had 1 or 2 settings differences, and they were small changes, so I guess it was pretty close to what I'd concluded myself. Except for Skyrim, it wanted me to turn up all the distances and everything. Like double what I had picked.

Edited by TheMightyEthan
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Ok, so I have my new PC hooked up to my TV (720p vizio). Lately I noticed that I am starting to get horizontal lines scrolling up the TV periodically. I assume its my VGA cable that has gone bad, but my computer came with a DVI (?) to VGA kit, so it might be that little thing. At least I hope its that, and not a graphics card issue.

 

Does any one know if I could be right?

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...

I'm either going to buy a decent PC off the shelf, or I'm going to build one (finally).

 

My buddy who has done networking and worked in IT doing PC building/repair stuff recommended this site to me:

 

http://www.logicalincrements.com/

 

So, I'm curious.  Do most PC's that you all have built fall into the Good/Very Good category?  The last time I got into a PC and switched up parts and shit was about 10 years ago... or more.  I'm old. 

 

Quad core seems like a nice thing, but I have heard that dual core is just fine for basic gaming.  And, avoid any gaming card that ends with "50".  Try to get any model with "70" as the last two digits, at least.  Would you guys agree with these assumptions?

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Mine falls into the Great/Superb category. I think my specs are somewhere upthread. But, anyway, it's an i5-2400k, GTX 570 GPU, 1.5 TB Seagate 7200rpm HDD, a $150 ASUS mobo, 8GB corsair RAM, Rosewill case, 650watt Antec PSU (used to have a fancier 750w PSU, but it was faulty), and stock fans. Runs most games like a treat at 1080p. 

 

As to your assumptions, it's better to have a target cost rather than working from common assumptions. I mean, you're not necessarily gonna save money limiting yourself to a dual-core when quad core chips are getting to be so cheap, at least from AMD. As for the GPU version numbers, yeah, I guess any card with a model number that ends lower than "60" is probably not that great, but that doesn't mean everything ending in "60" is good.

 

Gimme your price target and I'll link you to some suggestions on Newegg.

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Yeah, if you can recycle components from your previous build that'll be a real money saver.  I haven't bought a monitor or speakers in years, and it was only on this last upgrade that I had to get a new PSU and case.  My DVD drive is like 8 years old at this point.  Keyboards and mice can similarly last forever.

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@TheRevanchist - http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/387419-31-gaming-upgrade Check out the 'Best Answer'. 

 

ETA: @Atomsk - I think you should be able to connect your computer to the TV for audio, too, so no need for speakers. I already had my speakers when I converted to being a couch PC gamer.

Edited by Mr. GOH!
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  • 1 month later...

I don't know if you guys can find the link through the website, but recently I downloaded the Newegg app to start browsing for components when I'm away from the laptop. There's a category in the app called "Build Your Own..." which I believe shows all the DIY PC combo deals.

 

I don't mean to take much of your precious time, but are any of those combo deals worth it? I'm trying to stay under $1000 for the entire build, and I do have the monitor and mouse already covered. I mean, there's something like this: Here

 

Rosewill cases are on sale with a 20% promo code. I haven't looked at many cases yet, and I've read a few opinions that say Rosewill cases are ugly. The Patriot case recently came out, but with the promo code it still comes out around $64, which seems a bit high for a case. It's also steel rather than "SECC steel" which I've read is better for heat.

 

Any advice would be appreciated!

 

EDIT: I just found the CM Storm Enforcer case. On both Amazon and Newegg it's the same price, and Newegg says it won Tom's Hardware Recommend Buy Award. I would probably get it from Amazon as it has Prime shipping, but given that nothing is going to ship until Tuesday, there's time.

Edited by Atomsk88
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The first thing that jumps out at me about that combo deal you linked is that the graphics card is pretty weak, and since I'm assuming you want it for gaming you'd want something more powerful.

 

I'm looking through the deals and will post if I find something that looks better to me.  Do you already have a keyboard too, or just the mouse? 

 

*Edit* - Also, do you need an OS or do you already have one you can install?

Edited by TheMightyEthan
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Here are a couple that look better to me:

 

This one's mostly the same as the one you picked but has a 660 Ti rather than the 650 Ti, and the 660 is significantly more powerful.

 

This one is just a teensy bit above your price range, but has dual 660 Ti's.  Otherwise it's the same as the first one and the one you picked (with a bigger PSU to handle the graphics cards).

Edited by TheMightyEthan
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