Is this a good gaming PC build?

[tm2dragon]

I'm looking to put together a good gaming PC, and since I know diddly-squat about PCs and their hardware (I swear, I'm TRYING to learn, but I can't find a good guide on WHERE to learn it), I just typed "Gaming PC Build" into google, and this popped up. It's a bit on the pricy side, but looks just about doable for me. I'd just like some imput from some actual techies before I go ahead and spend upwards of $1,500 on a random google click! :P Please note, $1,500 is the absolute MAXIMUM I can reasonably spend. Thanks for any advice you can offer!

 

http://techbuyersguru.com/1500-high-end-gaming-pc-build

[bill8872]

I would say if you have that kind of money give it to me instead.

 

JK

 

Yes I do think it is a great system.

 

I am sure you might be able to find a good system cheaper, but this would should be good for many years.

Edited September 20, 2016 by bill8872

[FMod]

It's not high-end and it's a passable build.

 

However, 8 GB of RAM is currently inadequate, while RAM speed is completely irrelevant unless running integrated graphics. The testing methodology used by the site is flawed, a clean Windows install with nothing but the game running is not how people usually play games. Running out of RAM is very painful performance-wise.

 

With graphics cards, you want high idle temperatures, not low, it's the change in temperature that kills them. Some other nitpicks, basically it's a guide made by the book without considering some real-world implications. Still much better than what you'd get walking up to a store and plopping the money on the counter, of course.

 

 

Also, if $1,500 is your maximum, you'll be disappointed that your link doesn't include the peripherals and especially not a display. These cost money too.

 

The general idea is still to go with 6600K and 1070.

For other parts, I've made some suggestions here to another user:

https://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/4836560-suggested-gaming-pc-for-1200/

Edited September 20, 2016 by FMod

[iXenite]

It's not high-end and it's a passable build.

 

However, 8 GB of RAM is currently inadequate, while RAM speed is completely irrelevant unless running integrated graphics. The testing methodology used by the site is flawed, a clean Windows install with nothing but the game running is not how people usually play games. Running out of RAM is very painful performance-wise.

 

 

Not according to the testing done by Digital Foundry. The faster DDR4 RAM used by the Skylake generation of CPU's have aided in the i3 6100's ability to compete with the i5 2500k, which uses slower DDR3 RAM. A lot of the testing done by Digital Foundry has shown that faster memory is a lot more important than traditional thinking would suggest. For instance, pairing faster memory modules with older CPU chip sets, like the i5 2500k improves overall system performance as well.

 

Digital Foundry Article:

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2015-intel-core-i3-6100-review

[FMod]

The results produced by that test are at odds with the tests done by other websites (e.g. here, also here, and here).

 

You will also notice that the testing done by other websites is much more thorough than just two kits in just two configurations that Digitalfoundry compared. In that more thorough testing, there are select outliers where memory speed above the usual 2400 makes a difference, but in close to all cases it doesn't.

 

Not saying it's fake, but it consists of unusual scenarios either cherry-picked to support a predetermined conclusion, or just unintentionally combines components and settings in an atypical way.

 

Meanwhile, DDR4-2400 costs from $3.87/GB, while the guide's suggested Corsair DDR4-3000 is $4.50/GB for 2x8 kits, or $5.50/GB for 2x4 kits. It's a lot to pay for what is almost all of the time no difference.

 

Having more than 8GB already makes a difference in some games, plus whenever the system has multiple apps running and a game, and it will make more difference as time goes on. And this is the kind of "aaah I'm stuck swapping" kind of difference.

[tm2dragon]

Sadly, my skill is such that I can't follow most of that, but if I'm reading this right, your main worry is that it won't have enough memory space? If that is the case, (again, novice here), I seem to remember from my last attempt at upgrading that memory cards can be easily purchased and installed with minimal effort, and the effect can be stacked by adding more cards. If this is correct (which it probably isn't), does that mean I could simply buy more RAM later, crack open the PC, and install it when I have the funds a few months down the line? That would mean I could go ahead with this build, knowing I can improve it's one main deficit easily enough later?

 

The results produced by that test are at odds with the tests done by other websites (e.g. here, also here, and here).

 

You will also notice that the testing done by other websites is much more thorough than just two kits in just two configurations that Digitalfoundry compared. In that more thorough testing, there are select outliers where memory speed above the usual 2400 makes a difference, but in close to all cases it doesn't.

 

Not saying it's fake, but it consists of unusual scenarios either cherry-picked to support a predetermined conclusion, or just unintentionally combines components and settings in an atypical way.

 

Meanwhile, DDR4-2400 costs from $3.87/GB, while the guide's suggested Corsair DDR4-3000 is $4.50/GB for 2x8 kits, or $5.50/GB for 2x4 kits. It's a lot to pay for what is almost all of the time no difference.

 

Having more than 8GB already makes a difference in some games, plus whenever the system has multiple apps running and a game, and it will make more difference as time goes on. And this is the kind of "aaah I'm stuck swapping" kind of difference.

Edited September 20, 2016 by tm2dragon

[repusDude]

Go to PCPartPicker website, it has people show off their awesome builds and guide for the perfect gaming rig.

 

For $1500,

 

Try to get at least:

Processor: intel i5

RAM: 16GB+

Hard drive : 240GB+ SSD

GPU: 980ti (6GB+)

PSU : 750w

[FMod]

 

Sadly, my skill is such that I can't follow most of that, but if I'm reading this right, your main worry is that it won't have enough memory space? If that is the case, (again, novice here), I seem to remember from my last attempt at upgrading that memory cards can be easily purchased and installed with minimal effort, and the effect can be stacked by adding more cards. If this is correct (which it probably isn't), does that mean I could simply buy more RAM later, crack open the PC, and install it when I have the funds a few months down the line? That would mean I could go ahead with this build, knowing I can improve it's one main deficit easily enough later?

 

RAM is only one of the suggested build's poor decisions. Since you're going the mile of ordering it piecemeal and putting it together yourself already, go the extra yard and optimize your build before ordering it.

 

As said above, the website to do so is pcpartpicker, assuming you're in the US.

 

Does your $1,500 budget include the peripherals and the display, or just the PC box?

[iXenite]

The results produced by that test are at odds with the tests done by other websites (e.g. here, also here, and here).

 

You will also notice that the testing done by other websites is much more thorough than just two kits in just two configurations that Digitalfoundry compared. In that more thorough testing, there are select outliers where memory speed above the usual 2400 makes a difference, but in close to all cases it doesn't.

 

Not saying it's fake, but it consists of unusual scenarios either cherry-picked to support a predetermined conclusion, or just unintentionally combines components and settings in an atypical way.

 

Meanwhile, DDR4-2400 costs from $3.87/GB, while the guide's suggested Corsair DDR4-3000 is $4.50/GB for 2x8 kits, or $5.50/GB for 2x4 kits. It's a lot to pay for what is almost all of the time no difference.

 

Having more than 8GB already makes a difference in some games, plus whenever the system has multiple apps running and a game, and it will make more difference as time goes on. And this is the kind of "aaah I'm stuck swapping" kind of difference.

 

The Hardware Unboxed test did showcase that higher frequency memory did make a difference, but it also showed it depended on the game. Fallout 4 benefits from memory speeds all the way up to 3000MHz, including better frame times. Some games have a drop off though at certain speeds, and don't gain as much from going to higher speeds. Like Black Ops 3 and GTA V topping off at 2400MHz, and frame time differences dropping off around 1866MHz. The primary thing that I got from Digital Foundry's tests are that RAM speeds can be of a lot more benefit than previously thought, especially in CPU bound scenarios, which would be more noticable when viewing the minimum framerate more than the average. Digital Foundry did their test with a Titan X to remove any GPU bottleneck limiting the system (which they do with all of their CPU tests if I'm not mistaken), the last test you showed used a GT 640 so it's probably really flawed from the start. Though, Digital Foundry did also do these tests with a GTX 950 to show what a more budget conscience person would get, which an i3 6100 user is a budget conscious person, and the benefits were the same as when they used the Titan X.

 

But I digress, where Digital Foundry's tests really become important are in regards to older CPU's, like the i5 2500k and more budget oriented CPU's like i3 6100. Both of those CPU chipsets seem to really benefit from the higher RAM speeds, at least a lot more noticeably than their higher end (and modern) counterparts, like the i5 6600k or the i7 6700k. Either way, I'm not really disagreeing with you per se - but I do think it is worth noting that RAM speeds are somewhat important. Perhaps not 3000MHz, but 2400MHz is certainly more favorable in my opinion than 2133MHz with DDR4 memory modules. I wasn't so much commenting on the rig the original poster linked, but more to your comment about RAM speeds. I think discounting RAM speeds entirely at this point seems a bit silly.

[tm2dragon]

 

Â

Sadly, my skill is such that I can't follow most of that, but if I'm reading this right, your main worry is that it won't have enough memory space? Â If that is the case, (again, novice here), I seem to remember from my last attempt at upgrading that memory cards can be easily purchased and installed with minimal effort, and the effect can be stacked by adding more cards. Â If this is correct (which it probably isn't), does that mean I could simply buy more RAM later, crack open the PC, and install it when I have the funds a few months down the line? Â That would mean I could go ahead with this build, knowing I can improve it's one main deficit easily enough later?

Â

RAM is only one of the suggested build's poor decisions. Since you're going the mile of ordering it piecemeal and putting it together yourself already, go the extra yard and optimize your build before ordering it.

Â

As said above, the website to do so is pcpartpicker, assuming you're in the US.

Â

Does your $1,500 budget include the peripherals and the display, or just the PC box?

i have a decent screen, good gaming mouse, usable keyboard, and cheap speakers. Great thing about that stuff is that it can be upgraded any time, even by a guy who doesn't know crap about computers. My only goal here is The PC. :D