Computer for gaming

[delakroix]

Hi people,

Need your expert opinion. I'm trying to build a DIY gaming comp. Nothing too high-end. Budget say $600 - $800 (exclud OS and monitor).

Any suggestions for parts, and any shops to recommend? I DIY-ed my previous one with PC Themes, but it gave me a lot of problems with overheating very very soon, so not keen on them.

Cheers!

 

[nippp0n]

Overheating issue is something that got to do with your hardware right? What does it got to do with the shop? Care to explain?

 

[deepblue_82]

yea.. pct has a good repor...
please share what happen or happening to ur pc...

 

[tony_ong]

Over heating should ur rig not properly ventilated ba

 

[delakroix]

New Comp

Ok, to be fair, staff at PCT are very nice people.

It's just that a few months after I bought the comp, it began to shutdown suddenly, after I played fps games for, say, an hour.

I constantly cleared dust and all, which helped resolve the problem sometimes.

I recently discovered that the problem could be due to the lack of thermal paste between the processor chip and the heatsink, which I followed instructions duely and cleaned and applied new paste.

This was good for about 3 months. Then the computer refused to turn on gradually (ie, switch is on, fan is on, lights on, but nothing on monitor). If you reset it a few times, sometimes it turns on.

After a while, it just refuses to turn on no matter how many times you reset it. And no, it's not a problem with the monitor. Cos you can see the monitor is fine, but it's just not receiving anything from the CPU.

I got tired of trying to troubleshoot it constantly, so decided to get a new one. It's been giving me problems from Day 1, and everytime I called and want to bring it into PCT, they wanted to charge me $30. So not so keen on them anymore. I know most shops charges a repair/diagnosis fee, but just unhappy that it's so problematic from Day 1.

 

[WatCult]

Ok, to be fair, staff at PCT are very nice people.

It's just that a few months after I bought the comp, it began to shutdown suddenly, after I played fps games for, say, an hour.

I constantly cleared dust and all, which helped resolve the problem sometimes.

I recently discovered that the problem could be due to the lack of thermal paste between the processor chip and the heatsink, which I followed instructions duely and cleaned and applied new paste.

This was good for about 3 months. Then the computer refused to turn on gradually (ie, switch is on, fan is on, lights on, but nothing on monitor). If you reset it a few times, sometimes it turns on.

After a while, it just refuses to turn on no matter how many times you reset it. And no, it's not a problem with the monitor. Cos you can see the monitor is fine, but it's just not receiving anything from the CPU.

I got tired of trying to troubleshoot it constantly, so decided to get a new one. It's been giving me problems from Day 1, and everytime I called and want to bring it into PCT, they wanted to charge me $30. So not so keen on them anymore. I know most shops charges a repair/diagnosis fee, but just unhappy that it's so problematic from Day 1.

This looks like a problem with your graphic card. Might want to check on that.

 

[Artermiz]

it not the setting up problem but hardware problem.
have you rma the parts u think is causing the problem.

 

[delakroix]

New Comp

Thanks guys. Appreciate your comments.

Well, I think it might be easier to get a new one. Any recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[nippp0n]

I'm not trying to defend the shop or anything. But it is quite obvious that there is a problem with one of your rig component and not a shop problem.

Mind if you state your current CPU specs to see if there is anything worth reusing? How old is your previous rig?

 

[MoneyHoney]

if u really want to build a new 1, it would help to list down specs of ur previous com, so that we can see if any parts can be salvaged or not.

additionally, with budget 800-900, i got a feeling the new com u build might not be that much better than ur old com, well of course it depends on the specs of ur old pc.

 

[delakroix]

Hi people,

Below are the specs for my comp:

AMD X3 440 CPU
MSI 770-G 45 Mainboard
Kingston DDR3 PC1066/1333Mhz 2GB
500GB Sata WD HDD
MSI 1 GB R5770 DDR5 PCI-E
Cooler Master 550W Extreme

I bought it in 10 Apr 2010. Sian. So it's past the 3 year mark and the warranty for most of the parts have lapsed.

Any advice?

Thanks!

 

[nippp0n]

Hi people,

Below are the specs for my comp:

AMD X3 440 CPU
MSI 770-G 45 Mainboard
Kingston DDR3 PC1066/1333Mhz 2GB
500GB Sata WD HDD
MSI 1 GB R5770 DDR5 PCI-E
Cooler Master 550W Extreme

I bought it in 10 Apr 2010. Sian. So it's past the 3 year mark and the warranty for most of the parts have lapsed.

Any advice?

Thanks!

You can still reuse your hdd. As for the rest of setup, can considering selling it in the garage corner.

CPU & Mobo: i5-3450 & Asrock B75M-DGS @ $300
Ram: Kingston 1600mhz value ram 8GB @ ~$72
ODD: Reuse?
HDD: Reuse
GPU: Powercolor 7870 Myst @ $311
Case: Asgard Misgard II @ $87
PSU: FSP Raider 550W @ $78

Total: $848
Buy and build at Tradepac.

If you are worried about overheating, this chassis has quite a number of fan slots, you can buy a few GT fans to cool your rig.

 

[delakroix]

Thanks Nippon! Anyone else has any other advice for a DIY comp?

 

[Felfirez]

Hi people,

Below are the specs for my comp:

AMD X3 440 CPU
MSI 770-G 45 Mainboard
Kingston DDR3 PC1066/1333Mhz 2GB
500GB Sata WD HDD
MSI 1 GB R5770 DDR5 PCI-E
Cooler Master 550W Extreme

I bought it in 10 Apr 2010. Sian. So it's past the 3 year mark and the warranty for most of the parts have lapsed.

Any advice?

Thanks!

Most likely motherboard or PSU issue. But then again you've been using it for 3 years if you said that the problem arises since day one. Isn't that quite extreme that for 3 long years you didn't do anything about it? Further more I won't reuse your HDD since you've said your com has been abruptedly shutdown for the pass 3 years.

For nippon's build, to lower the price down you might wanna take a look at powercolor's hd7850 1GB.

 

[delakroix]

Well, ok so it's as below. Do you guys recommend going into the PC shop and ask them to further recommend and change any of the below parts? Just worried I might get ripped off.

What shops would you recommend me to go? I'm guessing PC Themes or Fuwell?

Thanks!


CPU & Mobo: i5-3450 & Asrock B75M-DGS @ $300
Ram: Kingston 1600mhz value ram 8GB @ ~$72
ODD: Reuse?
HDD: Reuse
GPU: Powercolor 7870 Myst @ $311 or powercolor's hd7850 1GB
Case: Asgard Misgard II @ $87
PSU: FSP Raider 550W @ $78

Total: $848
Buy and build at Tradepac.

 

[m3 th3 last]

Thanks Nippon! Anyone else has any other advice for a DIY comp?

Dont worry nippon give good recommendation around here.

My advice would be to look for nigel, or goes by the nick "gs" around here, he has a repair shop at sls and properly he could offer you the going price around. On top of that his cable installation/management is very good, so as that it don't get in the way of the air ventilation.

However if you can afford to wait for 3 more month, next generation of CPU from Intel codename haswell will be out. So do consider that.

 

[rampage_111]

Dont worry nippon give good recommendation around here.

My advice would be to look for nigel, or goes by the nick "gs" around here, he has a repair shop at sls and properly he could offer you the going price around. On top of that his cable installation/management is very good, so as that it don't get in the way of the air ventilation.

However if you can afford to wait for 3 more month, next generation of CPU from Intel codename haswell will be out. So do consider that.

i second that nigel really nice guy, and his cable management: bo wei gong!

 

[nippp0n]

Well, ok so it's as below. Do you guys recommend going into the PC shop and ask them to further recommend and change any of the below parts? Just worried I might get ripped off.

What shops would you recommend me to go? I'm guessing PC Themes or Fuwell?

Thanks!


CPU & Mobo: i5-3450 & Asrock B75M-DGS @ $300
Ram: Kingston 1600mhz value ram 8GB @ ~$72
ODD: Reuse?
HDD: Reuse
GPU: Powercolor 7870 Myst @ $311 or powercolor's hd7850 1GB
Case: Asgard Misgard II @ $87
PSU: FSP Raider 550W @ $78

Total: $848
Buy and build at Tradepac.

If you are going to Fuwell, it will costs at least an additional $50 on top of that price.

 

[delakroix]

Budget FPS Gaming Rig

Hi guys,

Just wondering if the below specs recommended by one of the bros here is suitable for FPS gaming, ie, Bioshock Infinite, Mass Effect, or future FPS games? If not any other recommendation? Target to keep below $800. No OS needed. Can recommend HD?

Thanks!

CPU & Mobo: i5-3450 & Asrock B75M-DGS @ $300
Ram: Kingston 1600mhz value ram 8GB @ ~$72
GPU: Powercolor 7870 Myst @ $311 or powercolor's hd7850 1GB
Case: Asgard Misgard II @ $87
PSU: FSP Raider 550W @ $78

Thanks!

 

[nippp0n]

CPU & Mobo: i5-3450 & Asrock B75M-DGS @ $300
Ram: Kingston 1600mhz value ram 8GB @ ~$72
GPU: Powercolor 7850 PCS @ $249
HDD: Hitachi Deskstar 500GB @ $60
Case: Sharkoon T5 @ $63
PSU: FSP Hexa 500W @ $58

Total: $802
Buy and build at Tradepac. Try to bargain a bit more and pay full in cash, should be able to get it below $800.