Computer Questions Not Worth Their Own Thread II

[caketastydelish]

Ha, those reddit comments are funny. ATX motherboard with slots you'll never use, overpowered video card, complaining about 3.5 GB of RAM on the 970, too big PSU....typical! Anyway, I put a 1TB SSD in your build because you had a $1000 budget. You'll enjoy your new computer so I don't want to ruin your day but if you were willing to use a tiny SSD with a big platter drive (ew) and spend less than $1000 you could have built something off what I spec'd out for you for about $800. I probably could spec out a good gaming machine for even cheaper if I knew you had a Microcenter near by. If you're gaming at 1080p, you have a lot of options.

Also the thing about the Microcenter is they get you in the store for the great deal on the processor and then walk you around the store with their clipboard checklist and sell you not so great components. You have a Z97 board and a K processor and it sounds like you don't know about overclocking, and overclocking provides a questionable value proposition anyways, which is why I usually recommend that folks just buy a cheaper H or B variant mobo and a non K processor.

A 970 or a 390 is not going to push new "AAA" games at 4K. Nothing really is, right now, at adequate frame rates.

So there is no advantage to the components I bought at all? I mean, it's not too late to return them...

If overclocking is a bad idea then I guess I got an overclocked processor for nothing. As long as I can overclock without damaging the computer and it makes *some* difference (even if we're only talking about the speed it loads stuff) then I'd be game for it.

As far as I can see it sounds like the only advantage of buying more expensive components than was necessary is that it will future-proof the build for a few years. Which would not be bad, because it's going to be quite some time before I want to spend anywhere remotely near this much on a computer again. Probably 3 years minimum.

edit: I plan on eventually buying an Oculus-Rift for gaming. As far as I can tell my computer meets all the recommended requirements for it. Although overclocking my improve it.

 

[cardgame]

There's nothing wrong with overclocking, just make sure you know what you're doing.

You also don't particularly need to, but in a few years overclocking can keep you at pace with newer processors. For example the i5-2500K from three generations ago is still very good when overclocked.

 

[illram]

So there is no advantage to the components I bought at all? I mean, it's not too late to return them...

If overclocking is a bad idea then I guess I got an overclocked processor for nothing. As long as I can overclock without damaging the computer and it makes *some* difference (even if we're only talking about the speed it loads stuff) then I'd be game for it.

As far as I can see it sounds like the only advantage of buying more expensive components than was necessary is that it will future-proof the build for a few years. Which would not be bad, because it's going to be quite some time before I want to spend anywhere remotely near this much on a computer again. Probably 3 years minimum.

edit: I plan on eventually buying an Oculus-Rift for gaming. As far as I can tell my computer meets all the recommended requirements for it. Although overclocking my improve it.

Your PSU is overkill. That's the only real glaring issue. Redditors recommended it to you because they also recommended the power hungry 390. Overclocking isn't a "bad idea," it's just something you should learn how to do properly before embarking on that path, and I am always reluctant to recommend to people to try it out their first time building a PC. But more power to you! Learn how to do it, it will be useful knowledge to have if you want to continue tinkering with hardware and building PC's in the future.

So my advice would be stick with what you got, and learn how to overclock. Doing it right will take a while to learn how to do properly (and yes there is some risk when overclocking, although it is waaay easier these days) but you will extract the full value from your machine.

It's premature to say what will run Oculus at decent settings, given it isn't out yet and it will be different for each game.

 

[caketastydelish]

Will do. I'm studying for the Comp TIA A+ certification exam and right now I'd consider myself to have 10 times more book knowledge than hands on knowledge. Hopefully building my own computer (ans setting up the OS, etc) will help me with that situation.

From how you all described, sounds like overclocking wouldn't be necessary at first, but I might want to start doing it 2 years down the road to compensate for more powerful new technology.

As for the Oculus rift: Considering how much I spent for my computer (you said the parts are "overpowered") if this machine isn't strong enough to handle the Oculus Rift, then I'm guessing the vast majority of people will not afford it at all. The Playstation 4 (nowhere near as powerful as my machine) is even going to get Virtual Reality gaming. If my (brand new) machine that cost $1100 (and 50 dollars more than that before the rebate) can't handle the Oculus Rift then it is only for the rich/money haters. Especially when you have to dish out another $600 just for the Rift itself. Lol

 

[cardgame]

PS4 will not get VR, that's canned until PS5 because of the 4's lack of power. Rift's minimum recommendation right now is the R9 290, which is about the same as a 970 (like ~5% lower)

 

[caketastydelish]

Yeah, when an $1100 computer (not even including the price of the monitor, OS, keyboard or mouse etc) BARELY meets the recommended requirements of it, that really says something...

I will probably wait a while before I get one. I want to make sure the thing won't be a flop, which I'm skeptical that it won't. They are relying on this "if people will just try it they'll LOVE it" philosophy, which sometimes works but usually doesn't.

 

[Zelig]

"Barely" isn't super meaningful though... one of the key drivers for the requirements is single-thread performance, and you max that out with a $500 CPU, so it's not like a $10k computer would be any better. (In fact, would probably be worse, since at $10k you're probably looking at something like a 12-core Mac Pro where you lose a bunch of single-thread performance over an i7-6700K.)

PS4/XB1 are also crippled in that regard with very weak single-thread performance. (Not that it's generally a problem, devs for those system are aware of it, and code appropriately.)

 

[Atticus]

Cake: If you want to overclock and tinker with the hardware, try it out first with some old machines. You can pretty much pick them up from trashcans and assemble working computers, not perhaps for gaming, but for text editing, internet browsing and such.

 

[caketastydelish]

I may overclock at a later date, but not for now. I'm going to do a lot of research before that happens.

Anyway. Which monitor should I buy? I'm looking for something that costs no more than $150 (american dollars). Should be IPC. Definitely at least 60 Hz. However if I can get one that is 120 Hz (that is still within my price range) I would get that instead. Supposing my computer can handle games at 120 Hz on maxed out settings while still loading the games reasonably fast. And of course, 1920 108P monitor.

 

[cardgame]

23-24" is the sweet spot. Don't get 21" too small, 27" too large 1080p won't look that sharp. Look for something with a good base that won't wobble when you type or other nonsense. Very distracting. VESA mounts are a nice bonus so you can set it up on a separate stand, or wall mount, or arm swing mount etc. if you want to.

 

[illram]

There is the Dell S2415H, 24" IPS 1080p monitor for $169.99. It is well reviewed. Amazon says there is a "new model" on the page for this monitor, and it is $20 cheaper, but I can't tell you how good it is. Both are IPS and 60hz. Dell monitors are usually quality.

Going above 60hz you should up your budget.

 

[caketastydelish]

Thanks for the advice guys. I talked some with Zelig and it turns out I should up my budget to get what would be best for my needs, and also I shouldn't worry about IPC as a gamer.

It's not important about upping my budget because I realized an obvious solution that I wasn't considering: just sell my laptop to one of my friends. I bought the laptop a year ago and it cost around $750. It has some physical damage so I'd drop the price down to 350. I know what you're thinking: keep the laptop so you can take it places.

But I never take my laptop anywhere as it is because I've never felt the need. I'll eventually pick up a tablet if push comes to shove.

I'm deciding between these two monitors: 1 2

Note that both of those monitors are compatible with Nvidia g-sync, and that isn't by accident. Zelig told me my build is G-sync compatible. Which means if I don't get a G-sync monitor my components won't even get used to the full potential.

That would leave with some money left over, if you include the money I'd make by selling the laptop (combined with the money I already have). Although I want a pimped out keyboard/mouse anyway...

 

[illram]

Get the Asus.

 

[caketastydelish]

Neither of them say Asus. One is AOC and the other is Acer. By the way I found out I can get the Acer one refurbished for a price of $284. Meaning unless the other one is seriously better I would probably go with that, just to save cash.

http://acerrecertified.com/XB240HABPR

 

[cardgame]

I would recommend an ultrawide monitor (29", not 25"). They're totally boss. And G-sync is overpriced as hell.

 

[caketastydelish]

Not to sound rude, but isn't this the same guy who told me 23', 24' inches are the best and 27' is too big? http://acerrecertified.com/XB240HABPR that monitor is 24' and it only costs $284. A 29' inch ultrawide won't be any cheaper (and would only be more expensive) as far as I can tell.

 

[cardgame]

yeah, but it's still the same vertical height as a 23" monitor. You just get extra horizontal space. 21:9 is the same ratio film is shot in, so you can watch them at natural stretch, full screen, no black bars. Theatrical. And beautiful.

But looking at that link of yours, it does look very nice. One caveat though, you won't be able to drive most AAA games to an actual 144hz, even with a 980ti.

 

[caketastydelish]

yeah, but it's still the same vertical height as a 23" monitor. You just get extra horizontal space. 21:9 is the same ratio film is shot in, so you can watch them at natural stretch, full screen, no black bars. Theatrical. And beautiful.

But looking at that link of yours, it does look very nice. One caveat though, you won't be able to drive most AAA games to an actual 144hz, even with a 980ti.

My understanding is with the specs of my computer I wouldn't be able to play AAA games on 144hz regardless of the monitor. Although if I'm wrong about that, I'd be willing to buy a more expensive monitor. If I am correct I can play AAA games between 100-120hz and anything older (from xbox 360/ps3 era and below) easily at 144hz.

The only thing I'm trying to find out is if that website I linked is legit or not... it says 'official' but I have no way of knowing if it's truly officially associated with Acer and it's not just a scam site. At that price it seems too good to be true...

edit: it also mentions it's refurbished. Should I be concerned?

 

[cardgame]

What drives your frame rate is the GPU almost exclusively, the monitor just gives you headroom (so you won't see 75fps on 60hz monitor, and 144hz monitor is kinda overkill if you can only push 75fps).

You could also go cheap and pick up something for ~$130.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009V8F700/?tag=pcpapi-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0148NNKTC/ref=psdc_1292115011_t1_B009V8F700

this is the model I picked up for $130, from newegg

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/acer-h6...D=1&siteID=8BacdVP0GFs-AF0PmBXKmFzRuPb0X7xzFQ

basically all the same, 1080p, 4-5ms, IPS, 23", narrow bezels, etc.

This is the one I'm using right now, and love. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VBNQJKU/?tag=pcpapi-20

Personally I would spring for a more expensive monitor, dunno about legitimacy of your website but the monitor does look nice, and 144hz + IPS is a rare thing.

 

[caketastydelish]

Just so we're clear. When you say "you can't play AAA games at 144hz" this is because of the specs of my computer itself, not that monitor I would buy?

What is the max Hz I could run on AAA games with my tech specs? https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/413p6e/build_readycomplete_one_question_should_i/

And yes, I will probably overclock. I already bought a bigger fan (see the Hyper 12 Evo) to replace the standard CPU fan and that CPU is indeed overclockable... I would overclock it if would make a difference.