Yes, I want to build a PC, but I need HELP!

[One Two]

Hi all,

I've been looking into buying a pre-built gaming desktop from a reputable manufacturor like Alienware for while, but it has come to my attention that it can be cheaper to buy individual parts and assemble them yourself, providing that you buy from the right places at the right time.

The trouble is, despite having a sub to PC Power Play, and using the good ole' google to find the best system components, i'm still not quite sure what I want to buy, and whether it is compatible.

What I'm asking is whether someone can give me a hand in choosing the best components that will work, are cheap and will improve my gaming performance in games such as (excluding total war games, cos that's too obvious) MW2, Bad Company 2, Just Cause 2 etc... all of which are graphics demanding.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who replies.
Cheers,
One Two

[mrcrusty]

Hi all,

I've been looking into buying a pre-built gaming desktop from a reputable manufacturor like Alienware for while, but it has come to my attention that it can be cheaper to buy individual parts and assemble them yourself, providing that you buy from the right places at the right time.

The trouble is, despite having a sub to PC Power Play, and using the good ole' google to find the best system components, i'm still not quite sure what I want to buy, and whether it is compatible.

What I'm asking is whether someone can give me a hand in choosing the best components that will work, are cheap and will improve my gaming performance in games such as (excluding total war games, cos that's too obvious) MW2, Bad Company 2, Just Cause 2 etc... all of which are graphics demanding.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who replies.
Cheers,
One Two

What resolution will you be planning to play at?

[Capt. Fozdike]

Well with those games you're going to be wanting something pretty meaty. I'd say something like a Phenom or i7 for a cpu, At least 4GB of ram, At least a 5770 as a video card and a 1TB hard drive.

If you give me some more details I can put together a parts list.

[Wheelchair]

AMD Route: $1,249
Intel: $1,495

The difference in performance whole gaming I'd negligable and the difference in CPUs will only be felt in terms of video encoding and rendering.

AMD ROUTE

CPU:AMD Phenom II 955 3.2GHZ Quad (http://ncix.com/products/?sku=47459&...anufacture=AMD) $195

Mobo: MSI 790FX Quadfire Mobo(http://ncix.com/products/?sku=37088&...=MSI/MicroStar) $189

RAM: G.skill 1600mhz Ripjaw 4GB http://ncix.com/products/?sku=42745&...acture=G.Skill $129

INTEL ROUTE

CPU: Intel i7 930 2.7GHz http://ncix.com/products/?sku=50913&...l&promoid=1069 $310

Mobo: EVGA X58 ATX LGA1366 (http://ncix.com/products/index.php?s...A&promoid=1069) $250

RAM: G.skill 1600 6GB http://ncix.com/products/index.php?s...acture=G.Skill $200

BASE PARTS

CASE: NZXT Tempest EVO http://ncix.com/products/?sku=48089&...nufacture=NZXT $139

PSU: Corsair TX750W PSU http://ncix.com/products/?sku=26415&...r&promoid=1069 $100

DVD drive: $18~

CPU Cooling: Corsair H50 Watercooler http://ncix.com/products/?sku=44398&...acture=Corsair $75

HDD: WD Cavier Black 1TB HDD http://ncix.com/products/?sku=50895&...20Digital%20WD $100

Videocard: ATi 5850 1GB GPU http://ncix.com/products/?sku=51934&...anufacture=XFX
$300

[Taiji]

My advice is don't do it because 'it can be cheaper', do it because you want to learn to build and tweak a PC.

Otherwise go for the Alienware option

[Wheelchair]

My advice is don't do it because 'it can be cheaper', do it because you want to learn to build and tweak a PC.

Otherwise go for the Alienware option

IHMO, No. Don't give dell money!

Check my video section for tips on how to build a PC.

www.youtube.com/wheelchairaccessible

[Capt. Fozdike]

All your doing with Alienware is paying for the badge. That's all. Building it yourself gives you more info and allows you to pick what you want for the price you want.

Wheelchair here is the man to talk to about tutorials