Help self building a computer?

[lula_x]

Hello Everyone,

I'm relatively new to this site, but I have had a good look around and I was wondering if anyone is able to offer me some help?

So I currently have an old PC that is on its way out. I am looking to buy a new a new PC - mainly so I can play the Sims 3 to the best of its ability!

After reading various threads it seems a PC would be better than a laptop, and it seems that buying a self-built PC is better? I've never done this before, so I was wondering if anyone can advise me what the pefect self built PC would be, as I quite like this option? I have read the sticky thread about building a computer, however I am not the most computer savy person so any help/advise would be brilliant. Can anyone advise the best websites to buy this from? (I have looked at one or two but found selecting the right computer & parts confusing!)

I basically want to be able to play Sims 3 on high quality, with good perfermance. I want to be able to install whatever expansion packs, stuff packs and CC that takes my fancy! (I have always been deprived of this option due to PC!) I am based in the UK.

Any feedback greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance :D

[littlesunshine123xx]

This website is great, sells basically everything and its the cheapest i've found. http://www.cclonline.com/

If you have a little look at the thread I have open might help as tbh I was not the most computer savvy person either and if you scroll down a bit in the thread there is some useful links and information about parts.

I am looking to replace some parts in my old pc but beside the harddrive and the actual case everything else is being replaced with top of the range stuff which means I can run the sims 3 smoothly and on high graphics.

http://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=448340 - heres the thread.

[ellacharmed]

- Budget?
- Sims 3 is the most intensive thing you'd be using on this PC?
- What parts, if any are you recycling from the old PC? Monitor, keyboard, mouse, optical & hard drives? If yes, then we need specs of the old PC: Game Help:System Specs. Or nothing at all?
- What monitor size would you be playing on? What resolution?

Read through the stickies and as many threads on here (and the Archive) to get started on your research. Most of the same questions I've answered repeatedly.
Once you come back with some links of the specs you'd like to have on your new PC, or if you have more questions, then I can give my opinions on the suitability of the rig and answer specific questions you have on that configuration.

But I'm against putting together a specs list when you have no idea what goes with what, and then place the blame on me/us when things go wrong. Hope you guys understand this.
So do your reading, and research then come back with a specs list (like in this post (http://modthesims.info/showpost.php?p=2191351&postcount=9)), answers to the above questions, and we'll talk. :)

[lula_x]

Thank you littlesunshine123xx for your post :)

ellacharm3d, thank you also for your post :)
- Budget wise about £600 if possible
- Yes sims 3 is the most intensive thing that the PC would be used for.

Specs of my old PC
Microsoft Windows XP
Version 2002
CPU 2.80GHz
1.00 GB of RAM
- the system is built into/below the screen so I doubt very much that it could be upgraded


I apprciate why you wouldn't want to provide spec list, and your right I don't have any idea about what goes with what! I have done some research (however this has been very limited due to the time I've had recently) so as yet I havn't managed to have a go at self building a computer. However I did come across this pre-built 'gaming' computer, which I woud appreciate feedback on? Specs below:

Processor

Description Intel Core i5 2500K Processor
Architecture Features 32nm
Cache 6MB
Clockspeed 3.3GHz
Manufacturer Intel
Supports Virtualisation Yes
No. of Cores 4

Memory

Description 2 x 4GB DDR3 1333Mhz Memory
Speed 1333Mhz

Harddrive

Description 2 x 500GB 6Gb/s Hard Drive
Interface SATA

Case

Description Novatech ATX Gaming Case
Colour Black & Silver
Dimensions 200(w) x 440(d) x 430(h)mm
Drive Bays 3 1/2" 6
Drive Bays 5 1/4" 4

Optical Drives

Description 22x DVD Writer
Interface SATA

Graphics

Description Novatech Radeon 6770 1GB Graphics Card

Power Supply

Description Novatech PowerStation Gaming 500W Silent Modular PSU
Wattage / Rating 500W

Motherboard

Description Intel H67 Chipset Motherboard
Form Factor Micro ATX (9.6" x 8.8")
CPU Support Intel Sandybridge processors, Socket LGA1155
Chipset Intel H67
Audio 5.1 channel HDA
IO 1 x PS/2 keyboard port
1 x VGA port
1 x DVI port
1 x Audio jack supports 3 jacks
1 x RJ45 LAN port
6 x USB 2.0 ports
LAN Gigabit Lan
USB 6
RAID RAID 0, 1, 5, 10; Intel Matrix storage technology
SATA Ports 4
PCI 2
PCI-EX 1 x PCIe2.0 x16
1 x PCIe x1
Memory Slots 4
Max Memory Capacity 16GB

Any good?

Thank you in advance. :)

[ellacharmed]

Putting together your own selfbuild is very satisfying. Don't let me scare you off or be too intimidated to try, we all have to start somewhere. :)

Can the component be swap out for your own choices, or they must be Novatech's? I've never heard of their PSU - performance & reliability. Is the motherboard their brand, too?

What I sometimes do is to use the pre-built list from others and buy the components myself and then put it together.

[lula_x]

Thank you for the help. Due to time, I have decided to buy a pre-built computer for the time being, and only attempt to create a self-built computer when I am able to carry out the relevant research.

So, I have a few questions and computer specs I would love some feedback on?

Is a pre-built computer going to be able to handle my wants for the Sims?
Should I be looking at 'gaming' computers? Are they the best pre-built computers for games like the Sim?

Lastly would it be possible to provide me with some feedback on the below pre-built gaming computer specs?

Computer specs 1:

Processor
Description :
AMD Phenom II X6 1090T
Cache :
3MB
Clockspeed :
3.2Ghz
Manufacturer :
AMD
No. of Cores :
6
Memory
Description :
2 X 2GB DDR3 1333Mhz Memory
Speed :
1333Mhz
Harddrive
Description :
1TB 3.5" 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
Interface :
SATA
Case
Description :
Novatech ATX Gaming Case
Dimensions :
200(w) x 440(d) x 430(h)mm
Drive Bays 3 1/2" :
6
Drive Bays 5 1/4" :
4
Optical Drives
Description :
22x DVD Writer
Interface :
SATA
Graphics
Description :
Novatech Radeon 6770 1GB Graphics Card
Power Supply
Description :
Novatech PowerStation Gaming 600W silent Modular PSU
Wattage / Rating :
600W
Motherboard
Description :
AMD 880G Chipset Motherboard
Form Factor :
Micro ATX ( 9.6" x 9.6")
CPU Support :
AMD Phenom II processor, Socket AM3
Chipset :
AMD 880G + SB710
Audio :
7.1 channel HD Audio
LAN :
Gigabit LAN
Socket Type :
Socket AM3
USB :
6
E-SATA :
1
RAID :
RAID 0, 1, 10
SATA Ports :
5
IDE Ports :
0
PCI :
2
PCI-EX :
1 x PCIe 2.0 x16
1 x PCIe 2.0 x1
Max FSB :
Dual channel DDR3 1600(oc)/1333/1066
Memory Slots :
4
Max Memory Capacity :
16GB

Computer specs 2
Processor
Description :
Intel Core i5 2500K Processor
Architecture Features :
32nm
Cache :
6MB
Clockspeed :
3.3GHz
Manufacturer :
Intel
Supports Virtualisation :
Yes
No. of Cores :
4
Memory
Description :
2 X 4GB DDR3 1333Mhz Memory
Speed :
1333Mhz
Harddrive
Description :
2 X 500GB 6Gb/s Hard Drive
Interface :
SATA
Case
Description :
Novatech ATX Gaming Case
Colour :
Black & Silver
Dimensions :
200(w) x 440(d) x 430(h)mm
Drive Bays 3 1/2" :
6
Drive Bays 5 1/4" :
4
Optical Drives
Description :
22x DVD Writer
Interface :
SATA
Graphics
Description :
Novatech Radeon 6770 1GB Graphics Card
Power Supply
Description :
Novatech PowerStation Gaming 500W Silent Modular PSU
Wattage / Rating :
500W
Motherboard
Description :
Intel H67 Chipset Motherboard
Form Factor :
Micro ATX
CPU Support :
Socket LGA1155
Chipset :
Intel H67 Chipset
Audio :
7.1 channel HDA
IO :
1 x PS/2 keyboard port
1 x VGA port
1 x DVI port
1 x HDMI port
1 x Audio jack supports 6 jacks
1 x RJ45 LAN port
6 x USB 2.0 ports
2 x USB 3.0 ports
LAN :
Gigabit Lan
Socket Type :
LGA 1155
USB :
6 x USB 2.0 ports
2 x USB 3.0 ports
RAID :
RAID 0, 1, 0, 1.5
SATA Ports :
4 x SATA II
2 x SATA III
PCI :
2
PCI-EX :
1 x PCIe2.0 x16
1 x PCIe
Max FSB :
Dual channel DDR3 1333/1066
Memory Slots :
4
Max Memory Capacity :
32GB


They are both from the Nova tech website?

Any help would be great

thank you :)

[ellacharmed]

Based on Novatech's site, their Home PCs don't have dedicated graphics cards, so you definitely need their Gaming range.

The AMD box is older (last 2 generations in fact iirc, but still viable) so upgrade path is going to be relatively more limited than the Intel box, a few years down the road.
The AMD processor has more cores. But their clockspeed is usually lower than stated. source (http://cpubenchmark.net/cpu_lookup.php?cpu=AMD+Phenom+II+X6+1090T)
The Intel box has more RAM (6GB), while AMD has 4GB.
Intel motherboard and chipset being newer, you have USB 3.0 ports while AMD has none.
Intel's has 2 500GB which I think is better for average users than a huge honking 1TB HDD, especially if you keep it as a single 1TB partition. Something goes wrong, you need to backup your stuff to be able to fit whole 1TB space.
The Radeon HD requires min of 450W, so if you attached a lot of USB peripherals that draws power, that might be a concern.

Are they comparable and if you put together the same shopping list on newegg.com or ncix.com? Granted they'll charge a bit for assembly and shipping is different, but on average is Novatech's Pre-Builds competitive price-wise? I'm really bad and $$$ conversions, so...
You know, you can also take pre-built specs from a website, tech forum, etc and put it together yourself. Not doing research and not knowing what you put inside the box now just means you may regret things later when you do learn about stuff. ;)

On the whole though, those specs look alright for Sims. For the packs we have now, at least. I cannot guarantee for future packs, as it seems Pets has a higher GPU requirements it seems (which is totally expected, kinda).

But with not knowing the cost (and comparison with US pricing), I cannot really say if either is a good bargain. :)
I mean, you still need to know if they charge you a fair price for an item that is deemed last generation, right?

[lula_x]

:) Thanks for your help ellacharm3d, and the feedback on the Pre-buildt PC's.

Your right, I should spend the time researching now and getting the best PC I can for my money now, instead of buying a machine that is just 'ok' for my what I want.

I guess before it came down to being impatient, lazy and finding it all a bit overwhelming!!

My budget is £400-£600. Will I be able to build a good 'simming' PC for this money?

I am going to have a look at specs now. :) Can you advise some good brands of parts that I should look at first? I have looked on the archived thread, but there was a lot listed so wondered if there was any that you would recommed for this PC?

thank you in advance :)

[KhaineGB]

So I know this is my first post, but I'm in the UK so I figured I'd try and offer some advice. :)

Getting a "good" gaming computer on your budget will be difficult. I also don't know what parts you intend to keep from the old computer. Right now I'm assuming you'll have a Keyboard/Mouse/Monitor to use, and basically just need a new tower. Having said that... here's a few items I picked out.

Intel Core i5 2310 CPU, Quad Core, 2.9Ghz (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/intel-core-i5-2310-s-1155-sandy-bridge-quad-290ghz-6mb-cache-hd2000-igp-850mhz-29x-95w-retail) - £142.98
Gigabyte GA-H61M motherboard (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigabyte-ga-h61m-s2-b3-intel-h61-s-1155-ddr3-sata-ii-3gb-s-pcie-20-%28x16%29-vga-on-board-micro-atx) - £43.93
Corsair DDR3-1333 RAM, 4GB (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/4gb-%282x2gb%29-corsair-ddr3-xms3-classic-pc3-10666-%281333%29-non-ecc-unbuffered-cas-9-9-9-24-150v) - £23.28
Palit GTX 550 Ti GFX Card (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/1gb-palit-xpertvision-gtx-550-ti-4100mhz-gddr5-gpu-900mhz-shader-1800mhz-192-cores-hdmi) - £111.06
Samsung 500GB, 7200rpm drive (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/500gb-samsung-spinpoint-f3-hd502hj-sata-3gb-s-7200rpm-16mb-cache-89ms-ncq) - £31.43 (item is on pre-order atm, I recommend 2 of these)
Coolermaster Elite 330 Case (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/coolermaster-elite-330-black-silver-midi-tower-case-w-o-psu) - £28.78 (as a note, I use this case on our spare gaming PC... it is AWESOME!)
XFX 550W PSU (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/550w-psu-xfx-core-edition-p1-550s-xxb9-85-eff-80-plus-bronze-sli-crossfire-eps-12v-quiet-fan-atx) - £49.91 (XFX are a very good make)

Total: £462.80 (inc VAT)

That system should run The Sims 3 fine. You may need a new copy of Windows, and there's some extra money to play with in-case you want a new monitor or the like. :)

EDIT: If you don't need a new copy of Windows, or monitor or anything like that, you've got an extra £140-ish left. So you can always swap the 4GB of RAM for 8GB, or put a better GFX card in the computer.