Desktop Computer Buying Discussion - Page 4 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

ScaryBob · 2011-11-26, 01:42 PM

These days I would spend a little extra for a 120GB SSD drive and either leave out or scrounge a conventional drive until prices come down. A 120GB SSD and networked NAS is a decent option. (A wired gigabit NAS can work as well as a local drive for many things.) There are some pretty good deals on SSD drives and video cards this week. (Check the NCIX sale.)

recneps77 · 2011-11-26, 03:45 PM

Yes, this HDD price spike will do wonders for the market.
Many people are making the jump to SSD because the price differential is no longer astronomical. This in turn means higher volumes and prices (should) come down faster.

I would say get the smallest/cheapest HDD until prices start to come down again. No sense spending extra now when that same money down the road will give 2-4x more value.

das75 · 2011-11-26, 08:37 PM

so I'm understanding from here a i5 2500 is suitable for a gaming PC (don't need to go for the i7)?

recneps77 · 2011-11-26, 09:02 PM

Depends on the games you want to play. Today's CPUs are often more than capable, it's the GPU that mostly determines performance.

willise · 2011-11-27, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by das75

so I'm understanding from here a i5 2500 is suitable for a gaming PC (don't need to go for the i7)?

I would go for the i5 2500K instead of the 2500.

The only difference from the i7 I saw was the number of threads. i7 has 8 and the i5 has 4, I think. Plus the 2500K is unlocked.

das75 · 2011-12-04, 02:00 PM

when looking for entry gaming PC with the i5 2500K see often matched with a Radeon 5770. Seems a older card a little off the $200 price range recommended here (and the CPU/GPU costing about the same rule).

Is the 5770 still considered okay or should I be looking for something else?

DJDiggler · 2011-12-04, 03:42 PM

Das75, I would definitly get a more powerfull GPU... you will find yourself upset you cheaped out on the most critical component for gaming... the rest of the computer can be a powerhouse but with a mid of the line gpu youll have to use lower graphics settings for games, while someone who has a "slower" computer but good gpu can enjoy al the eye candy new games offer. It sucks thinking you built this awsome gaming machine only to load up your favorite new game and get choppy gameplay, (trust me I made this mistake)! If your even thinking of spending much more and getting an i7, dont and put the money toward a good 200-250 graphics card.

Also, for anyone in the retail industry check out the intel Retailedge program! I just bought an i7 2700k for $150 inc shipping! Thats a $350+ cpu! The retailedge is only open to people who can provide a paystub for aproved retailers of intel products... you have to do a bunch of quizes and learning activities on the site,only takes a hour or two, but its well worth it!

Classof83 · 2011-12-05, 01:27 PM

I thought about water cooling for my recent build, but I decided not to get it. I guess I wasn't comfortable in mixing liquid with electronic parts that close in case something did leak!

But instead, I loaded up my Zalman MS1000-HS2 case with fans. Including the fans on the RAM, video cards and capture cards, there are 13 in total inside the case! Luckily the motherboard comes with an intelligent fan software program that adjusts the speeds of the fans based on processor (Intel 980x EE) load, so the PC only sounds like a jet is taking off when I'm rendering intensive HD video projects (that have multiple audio / video layers) in Sony Vegas.

das75 · 2011-12-09, 08:41 AM

if never going 6 monitors (and really was only planning on one) worth getting a Radeon 6950 over the 6870?

recneps77 · 2011-12-09, 04:25 PM

Depends how much performance you want/future-proof ability.
If you have the extra money, I'd go for it anyway as it means you'll get better performance now and perhaps have longer usable life at your desired minimum performance level.
Otherwise, get one that meets your needs now, and save for an upgrade down the line. (or even crossfire when prices drop on the identical card)

Khorn · 2012-06-07, 12:45 PM

I'm looking for a good custom computer building shop preferably in (but not limited to) the North York area of Toronto. Any recommendations would help.

NeilN · 2012-06-07, 04:34 PM

I've used Signa computers before and they did a good job. Yonge Street, south of York Mills.

Bplayer · 2012-06-08, 08:10 AM

My last two custom desktops were from Canada Computers on Yonge Street south of Steeles. You can spec out the system from components listed on their website and take it in for the build or do it yourself.

NeilN · 2013-01-12, 03:41 PM

Comments on this configuration?

Bitfenix Prodigy mITX MINI-ITX Tower Case
ASUS PH877-I Mobo
Seasonic X-460FLII ATX 12V 24PIN 460W PSU
Intel Core i5 3470 Quad Core Processor CPU
Corsair Vengeance CML16GX3M2A1600C10 Low Profile 16GB RAM
Sapphire Flex Radeon HD6450 Video Card
Crucial M4 CT256M4SSD2CCA 2.5in 256GB SATA3 MLC SSD
Western Digital WD Caviar Green 3TB SATA3 x 2 HD
LG CH12LS28 12X Blu-Ray Reader & Lightscribe DVD Writer Optical

Used for development work and media streaming. Not a lot of gaming and no FPS games (mostly Civ and the new SimCity when it comes out). Has to drive 2 DVI monitors and run a couple virtual machines (thus the 16 GB of RAM).

2011-11-26, 01:42 PM	#46
ScaryBob Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Dandelion City Posts: 7,133	These days I would spend a little extra for a 120GB SSD drive and either leave out or scrounge a conventional drive until prices come down. A 120GB SSD and networked NAS is a decent option. (A wired gigabit NAS can work as well as a local drive for many things.) There are some pretty good deals on SSD drives and video cards this week. (Check the NCIX sale.) __________________ At 20 I had a good mind. At 40 I had money. At 60 I've lost my mind and my money. Oh, to be 20 again. --Scary

2011-12-04, 03:42 PM	#52
DJDiggler Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Leduc, AB Posts: 1,102	Das75, I would definitly get a more powerfull GPU... you will find yourself upset you cheaped out on the most critical component for gaming... the rest of the computer can be a powerhouse but with a mid of the line gpu youll have to use lower graphics settings for games, while someone who has a "slower" computer but good gpu can enjoy al the eye candy new games offer. It sucks thinking you built this awsome gaming machine only to load up your favorite new game and get choppy gameplay, (trust me I made this mistake)! If your even thinking of spending much more and getting an i7, dont and put the money toward a good 200-250 graphics card. Also, for anyone in the retail industry check out the intel Retailedge program! I just bought an i7 2700k for $150 inc shipping! Thats a $350+ cpu! The retailedge is only open to people who can provide a paystub for aproved retailers of intel products... you have to do a bunch of quizes and learning activities on the site,only takes a hour or two, but its well worth it! __________________ Epson EX71, Tosh HD-A2, Denon AVR590, Athena P4100, Infinity P362,C250,P162. RCA L42WD22, Pio VSX1016, Athena LS50

2011-12-09, 08:41 AM	#54
das75 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Edmonton Posts: 459	another GPU question if never going 6 monitors (and really was only planning on one) worth getting a Radeon 6950 over the 6870?

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2011-11-26, 03:45 PM	#47
recneps77 Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Whitby Posts: 2,815	Yes, this HDD price spike will do wonders for the market. Many people are making the jump to SSD because the price differential is no longer astronomical. This in turn means higher volumes and prices (should) come down faster. I would say get the smallest/cheapest HDD until prices start to come down again. No sense spending extra now when that same money down the road will give 2-4x more value.

2011-11-26, 08:37 PM	#48
das75 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Edmonton Posts: 459	so I'm understanding from here a i5 2500 is suitable for a gaming PC (don't need to go for the i7)?

2011-11-26, 09:02 PM	#49
recneps77 Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Whitby Posts: 2,815	Depends on the games you want to play. Today's CPUs are often more than capable, it's the GPU that mostly determines performance.

2011-12-04, 02:00 PM	#51
das75 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Edmonton Posts: 459	when looking for entry gaming PC with the i5 2500K see often matched with a Radeon 5770. Seems a older card a little off the $200 price range recommended here (and the CPU/GPU costing about the same rule). Is the 5770 still considered okay or should I be looking for something else?

2011-12-05, 01:27 PM	#53
Classof83 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 882	I thought about water cooling for my recent build, but I decided not to get it. I guess I wasn't comfortable in mixing liquid with electronic parts that close in case something did leak! But instead, I loaded up my Zalman MS1000-HS2 case with fans. Including the fans on the RAM, video cards and capture cards, there are 13 in total inside the case! Luckily the motherboard comes with an intelligent fan software program that adjusts the speeds of the fans based on processor (Intel 980x EE) load, so the PC only sounds like a jet is taking off when I'm rendering intensive HD video projects (that have multiple audio / video layers) in Sony Vegas.

2011-12-09, 04:25 PM	#55
recneps77 Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Whitby Posts: 2,815	Depends how much performance you want/future-proof ability. If you have the extra money, I'd go for it anyway as it means you'll get better performance now and perhaps have longer usable life at your desired minimum performance level. Otherwise, get one that meets your needs now, and save for an upgrade down the line. (or even crossfire when prices drop on the identical card)

2012-06-07, 12:45 PM	#56
Khorn Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: North York (West Lansing), Toronto Posts: 1,082	I'm looking for a good custom computer building shop preferably in (but not limited to) the North York area of Toronto. Any recommendations would help.

2012-06-07, 04:34 PM	#57
NeilN Veteran Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: North York Posts: 1,614	I've used Signa computers before and they did a good job. Yonge Street, south of York Mills.

2012-06-08, 08:10 AM	#58
Bplayer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Thornhill Posts: 640	My last two custom desktops were from Canada Computers on Yonge Street south of Steeles. You can spec out the system from components listed on their website and take it in for the build or do it yourself.

2013-01-12, 03:41 PM	#59
NeilN Veteran Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: North York Posts: 1,614	Comments on this configuration? Bitfenix Prodigy mITX MINI-ITX Tower Case ASUS PH877-I Mobo Seasonic X-460FLII ATX 12V 24PIN 460W PSU Intel Core i5 3470 Quad Core Processor CPU Corsair Vengeance CML16GX3M2A1600C10 Low Profile 16GB RAM Sapphire Flex Radeon HD6450 Video Card Crucial M4 CT256M4SSD2CCA 2.5in 256GB SATA3 MLC SSD Western Digital WD Caviar Green 3TB SATA3 x 2 HD LG CH12LS28 12X Blu-Ray Reader & Lightscribe DVD Writer Optical Used for development work and media streaming. Not a lot of gaming and no FPS games (mostly Civ and the new SimCity when it comes out). Has to drive 2 DVI monitors and run a couple virtual machines (thus the 16 GB of RAM).