As was foretold, we've added advertisements to the forums! If you have questions, or if you encounter any bugs, please visit this thread: https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/240191/forum-advertisement-faq-and-reports-thread/
We're funding a new Acquisitions Incorporated series on Kickstarter right now! Check it out at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pennyarcade/acquisitions-incorporated-the-series-2

Computer Build Thead: AMD joins NVidia, Intel in confusing name club

1151618202166

Posts

  • psyck0psyck0 Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Could someone please explain what, exactly, Ion 2 graphics are? Compared to say a Radeon card?

    psyck0 on
    Play Smash Bros 3DS with me! 4399-1034-5444
    steam_sig.png
  • ImprovoloneImprovolone Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    How do I learn how to fuck around in BIOS to optimize my new pc?

    Improvolone on
    Voice actor for hire. My time is free if your project is!
  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu PIGEON Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    How do I learn how to fuck around in BIOS to optimize my new pc?

    There's typically not anything you need to fiddle with unless you're overclocking.

    TychoCelchuuu on
  • ScosglenScosglen Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    If your system is properly recognizing your CPU and Memory, and they're running at spec, then yeah, leaving everything on automatic/default is fine.

    Scosglen on
  • lionheart_mlionheart_m Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Hmm...I should've posted this on the build thread but oh well. Basically I was wondering what performance (30 fps or more at a decent widescreen resolution) will the recommended Starcraft 2 settings give me:
    Windows Vista/Windows 7 Dual Core 2.4Ghz Processor
    2 GB RAM
    512 MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX or ATI Radeon HD 3870 or better

    As a bonus, how do the recent PC games run on this thing? How will WoW run?

    lionheart_m on
    3DS: 5069-4122-2826 / WiiU: Lionheart-m / PSN: lionheart_m / Steam: lionheart_jg
  • kleinfehnkleinfehn Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Hmm...I should've posted this on the build thread but oh well. Basically I was wondering what performance (30 fps or more at a decent widescreen resolution) will the recommended Starcraft 2 settings give me:
    Windows Vista/Windows 7 Dual Core 2.4Ghz Processor
    2 GB RAM
    512 MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX or ATI Radeon HD 3870 or better

    As a bonus, how do the recent PC games run on this thing? How will WoW run?

    It will probably give you almost all high settings, and it should be able to run most modern games at medium settings at a decent resolution.

    kleinfehn on
  • Captain VashCaptain Vash Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    kleinfehn wrote: »
    Hmm...I should've posted this on the build thread but oh well. Basically I was wondering what performance (30 fps or more at a decent widescreen resolution) will the recommended Starcraft 2 settings give me:
    Windows Vista/Windows 7 Dual Core 2.4Ghz Processor
    2 GB RAM
    512 MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX or ATI Radeon HD 3870 or better

    As a bonus, how do the recent PC games run on this thing? How will WoW run?

    It will probably give you almost all high settings, and it should be able to run most modern games at medium settings at a decent resolution.

    that is simlair too, but less than, my room mate's set up and he gets less than stellar wow performance. He has to turn all graphics options off to raid at a reasonable frame rate.

    Captain Vash on
    twitterforweb.Stuckens.1,1,500,f4f4f4,0,c4c4c4,000000.png
  • TwistedJesterTwistedJester Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    So I'm looking to get a new Nvidia card (my HD4870 gives me a blue screen blaming atikmpag.sys half the time I watch a video and I've tried everything to fix it). I'm very tempted to get a GTX 460 but I'm afraid that after I buy one the next gen of Nvidia cards will be announced.

    Has there been any word on when the next Nvidia cards might be released?

    TwistedJester on
  • DehumanizedDehumanized Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    They typically don't make an announcement until they're ready to ship something -- wouldn't want to sabotage their current sales unless they've got something really, really great on their hands.

    I wouldn't be surprised if we see more GF104 Fermi options available in the next 2 months, though.

    Dehumanized on
  • musanmanmusanman Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    So SC2 comes out next week, and it's time to upgrade. I can run the game in all min setttings on my current rig...and that's poorly. I think it's about time to upgrade, and I'm pretty much going to start over on my new pc.

    I started flipping through my micro center catalog and got a little overwhelmed. Do I need DDR3? Are graphics cards that support DD3 backwards compatible etc. I'm way out of the loop and I'm not sure what the last gen pc stuff is and what the trash is. I figure $700 can get me pretty much everything I need, and here is the list:

    processor
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072R&Tpk=e5200%20processor

    motherboard
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131399

    graphics card
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130531

    ram
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227362&cm_re=OCZ2G10664GK-_-20-227-362-_-Product

    power supply & case
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.432096

    hard drive
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148397

    dvd
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

    monitor
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824116406


    Total Cost:
    Processor and RAM (from a buddy): $100
    Motherboard: $59.99
    Case & PSU: $94.98
    graphics: $94.99 - 35.00 mail in
    hard drive: $34.99
    dvd: $17.99

    monitor $139.99


    As to not be a total mooch I'm going to start going through newegg and piecing this together, and basically want your help telling me why I'm a jackass and what I should have done.

    musanman on
    sic2sig.jpg
  • Just_Bri_ThanksJust_Bri_Thanks Seething with rage from a handbasket.Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited July 2010
    So I have a ASUS P5QPL-AM here, and I am looking to get an Intel Core 2 Quad for it. HAs any one heard of any lemons out there, or is there a 'best fit' for this before I buy? Thanks in advance.

    Just_Bri_Thanks on
    ...and when you are done with that; take a folding
    chair to Creation and then suplex the Void.
  • JasconiusJasconius sword criminal mad onlineRegistered User regular
    edited July 2010
    You probably already realize this but that's a pretty lame monitor.

    You probably don't want to hear this but for that money you are better off with a console... I mean really, how many games these days come out for the PC but not a console? Except certain RPG's and MMO's... most of which take more horsepower than that.

    You're basing your build on an open box E5200... that's rough seas right there.

    Jasconius on
  • WearingglassesWearingglasses Of the friendly neighborhood variety Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    He said he's prepping for Starcraft 2, dude. He can't buy a console for that.

    EDIT:
    I'm also canvassing for a new desktop by the end of this year, and I'm visiting tom's hardware for recommendations.

    Best Graphics Cards For The Money: July 2010
    http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-radeon-hd-geforce-gtx,2676.html
    Best Gaming CPUs For The Money: July 2010
    http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-cpu-core-i5-athlon-ii,2675.html

    And they had this:
    http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cpu-gpu-overclock,2659.html

    Hope any of this helps.

    Wearingglasses on
  • musanmanmusanman Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Jasc: worthless post, did you read any of what I wrote?

    Wearing: The tomshardware $500 build looks pretty similar to what I have here.That athlon chip and the e5200 seem to be about the same time frame. Really for $500 I'm feeling pretty good.

    musanman on
    sic2sig.jpg
  • Michael HMichael H Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    That looks like a solid budget build. I wouldn't worry too much about DDR2/DDR3 RAM unless you're planning on going above 4 GB in the future. The price of DDR2 is only going to go up from here. The merits of having more than 4 GB have been hotly debated; I've never found myself needing more. (And, more importantly, don't see myself needing more in the near future. And let's keep that in mind: with a budget build, you're not going to be "future proofing" yourself. You're building for the now and for the short term (next couple of years.))

    A dual-core for a budget gaming build (I like AMD but that's a personal thing and pretty transparent to the user) is perfect, adding more/less to the video card is where you'll get the most bang for your buck, I believe. That card with that rebate is hard to argue with. The power supply is more than beefy enough and 80+ certified, so that doesn't suck.

    If you end up wanting to get a new processor instead of your friends, AMD has a lot of great stuff in the $50-$75 range.

    Michael H on
  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu PIGEON Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    That looks pretty good. When building an entire PC from scratch and starting with nothing I prefer to save up and buy nicer, future-proof stuff (in this case you'd want a better mobo and DDR3) but for a budget computer that you need right now that looks fine. It'll run SC2, at least.

    TychoCelchuuu on
  • IoloIolo iolo Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Interesting NewEgg Shell Shocker this afternoon: the seemingly well regarded Thermaltake Armor+MX VH8000BWS Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case for $90 (free shipping) minus another $40 in MIR.

    Iolo on
    Lt. Iolo's First Day
    Steam profile.
    Getting started with BATTLETECH: Part 1 / Part 2
  • MugsleyMugsley DelawareRegistered User regular
    edited July 2010
    kleinfehn wrote: »
    Hmm...I should've posted this on the build thread but oh well. Basically I was wondering what performance (30 fps or more at a decent widescreen resolution) will the recommended Starcraft 2 settings give me:
    Windows Vista/Windows 7 Dual Core 2.4Ghz Processor
    2 GB RAM
    512 MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX or ATI Radeon HD 3870 or better

    As a bonus, how do the recent PC games run on this thing? How will WoW run?

    It will probably give you almost all high settings, and it should be able to run most modern games at medium settings at a decent resolution.

    that is simlair too, but less than, my room mate's set up and he gets less than stellar wow performance. He has to turn all graphics options off to raid at a reasonable frame rate.

    More system RAM would likely help that situation. His card could be overheating as well.

    Mugsley on
  • Monkey Ball WarriorMonkey Ball Warrior A collection of mediocre hats Seattle, WARegistered User regular
    edited July 2010
    psyck0 wrote: »
    Could someone please explain what, exactly, Ion 2 graphics are? Compared to say a Radeon card?

    Ion2 is an chipset for Atoms made by NVidia that has way better graphics / H.264 acceleration than the standard Intel chipset. It's still not very good, but it's probably the best graphics you would want to attach to such a terrible processor.

    Monkey Ball Warrior on
    "I resent the entire notion of a body as an ante and then raise you a generalized dissatisfaction with physicality itself" -- Tycho
  • musanmanmusanman Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    That looks pretty good. When building an entire PC from scratch and starting with nothing I prefer to save up and buy nicer, future-proof stuff (in this case you'd want a better mobo and DDR3) but for a budget computer that you need right now that looks fine. It'll run SC2, at least.

    usually I'm in the save up camp, but I don't want to wait a year to play sc2 without being miserable :lol:

    musanman on
    sic2sig.jpg
  • Jimmy MarkuJimmy Marku LondonRegistered User regular
    edited July 2010
    I have an Ion 1 netbook and it can run HL2 at 30fps on low settings. The major benefit is that it can play 720p videos smoothly, unlike most netbooks.

    I believe the Ion 2 has pretty similar performance.

    Jimmy Marku on
  • JasconiusJasconius sword criminal mad onlineRegistered User regular
    edited July 2010
    musanman wrote: »
    Jasc: worthless post, did you read any of what I wrote?

    Well I told you your monitor is garbage, and it is. For 30 dollars more you could get a dell refurb that is twice as good and backed by a solid warranty.

    Jasconius on
  • BarrakkethBarrakketh Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Jasconius wrote: »
    musanman wrote: »
    Jasc: worthless post, did you read any of what I wrote?

    Well I told you your monitor is garbage, and it is. For 30 dollars more you could get a dell refurb that is twice as good and backed by a solid warranty.
    I think what he said went over your head again. He's upgrading because of SC2. SC2 is on the PC, therefore your advice that he is better off with a console is invalid.

    Barrakketh on
    Rollers are red, chargers are blue....omae wa mou shindeiru
  • musanmanmusanman Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Jasconius wrote: »
    musanman wrote: »
    Jasc: worthless post, did you read any of what I wrote?

    Well I told you your monitor is garbage, and it is. For 30 dollars more you could get a dell refurb that is twice as good and backed by a solid warranty.

    Hey that is something I will look into! I'm not sure why you have to be a silly goose to provide any sort of useful information. I went ahead and bought the mobo and case/psu combo. The monitor will probably be the last purchase as I have a big ass old one that will suffice, perhaps I will just hold off on that.

    musanman on
    sic2sig.jpg
  • WearingglassesWearingglasses Of the friendly neighborhood variety Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Speaking of building game PCs, I'm also planning to get one to replace my aging laptop, by the end of this year. Since I'd like to future proof my next PC, but I don't have any MUST-HAVE titles to play right now, I figure I can get the Intel Core i3 as a processor, get 4 gigs of RAM, then get an entry level video card, like the Radeon 5570. I'd then replace the graphics card with a better one next year if needed.

    How's that plan sound?

    Wearingglasses on
  • WearingglassesWearingglasses Of the friendly neighborhood variety Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    His spec has 4Gb worth of RAM though.

    But your Case+PSU combo does win by a good margin.

    Wearingglasses on
  • Andrew RyanAndrew Ryan Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Size isn't everything..

    Andrew Ryan on
    Mbt2W.gifbLHcF.gifMbt2W.gifbLHcF.gif
    naknaknaknaknak
  • ButtcleftButtcleft Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    PSU is the one thing you dont go cheap on.

    Going on the cheap means inferior components, and when it comes to the one thing in your PC that can take everything else down with it if it dies, Its not worth the risk.

    And everything that I recall abou Rosewill is that they are the bottom of the low quality barrel

    Buttcleft on
  • Michael HMichael H Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Buttcleft wrote: »
    PSU is the one thing you dont go cheap on.

    Going on the cheap means inferior components, and when it comes to the one thing in your PC that can take everything else down with it if it dies, Its not worth the risk.

    And everything that I recall abou Rosewill is that they are the bottom of the low quality barrel

    It's Newegg's "house brand", which means it's purchased from all over the place. I have a Rosewill case and I love it.

    Michael H on
  • musanmanmusanman Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Buttcleft wrote: »
    PSU is the one thing you dont go cheap on.

    Going on the cheap means inferior components, and when it comes to the one thing in your PC that can take everything else down with it if it dies, Its not worth the risk.

    And everything that I recall abou Rosewill is that they are the bottom of the low quality barrel

    Have been burned twice by PSUs, don't mind a little extra for a brand I've had luck with.

    I think you might have a slightly better system, but I'd like more ram and a better PSU so it'd probably add $100. That game can be played forever, unlike my budget :lol:

    musanman on
    sic2sig.jpg
  • Andrew RyanAndrew Ryan Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Buttcleft wrote: »
    And everything that I recall abou Rosewill is that they are the bottom of the low quality barrel

    No, you're thinking of Logisys

    I'm really pretty sick of PSU paranoia.
    People think they need around 1.5-3x more wattage than they do, and they think anything under 90$ will explode the instant they get it home.

    There's nothing wrong with Rosewill, I've got one in my home PC which has been running absolutely fine for 2 years.

    Honestly the machine I spec'd can easily get by with just 500w, probably 450w even. The important thing is to know what you're paying for.

    Andrew Ryan on
    Mbt2W.gifbLHcF.gifMbt2W.gifbLHcF.gif
    naknaknaknaknak
  • ButtcleftButtcleft Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Buttcleft wrote: »
    And everything that I recall abou Rosewill is that they are the bottom of the low quality barrel

    No, you're thinking of Logisys

    I'm really pretty sick of PSU paranoia.
    People think they need around 1.5-3x more wattage than they do, and they think anything under 90$ will explode the instant they get it home.

    There's nothing wrong with Rosewill, I've got one in my home PC which has been running absolutely fine for 2 years.

    Honestly the machine I spec'd can easily get by with just 500w, probably 450w even. The important thing is to know what you're paying for.

    The paranoia is well founded if you've ever had to buy your computer all over again because you skimped on the PSU and had it kill everything because it was a cheap POS made with inferior materials.

    Buttcleft on
  • Andrew RyanAndrew Ryan Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Speaking as a builder of at least 10-15 computers using Rosewill PSUs never to excede 50$ in price I can say this has never happened to me once.

    Andrew Ryan on
    Mbt2W.gifbLHcF.gifMbt2W.gifbLHcF.gif
    naknaknaknaknak
  • WearingglassesWearingglasses Of the friendly neighborhood variety Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Guys,

    How long do you think the i3 core can stay... un-obsolete? Same with the Radeon 5570.

    Wearingglasses on
  • spookymuffinspookymuffin ( ° ʖ ° ) Puyallup WA Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    So I get back home, go to turn my computer on, and nothing happens. The red LED on my mobo is still lit up, as it does when it's off, but the machine won't power on. To me, it seems like a power supply or a motherboard issue. Am I right?

    spookymuffin on
    PSN: MegaSpooky // 3DS: 3797-6276-7138
    Wii U NNID: MegaSpooky
  • Andrew RyanAndrew Ryan Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Typical shelf life is 2 years. Coresponding to moore's law.

    Andrew Ryan on
    Mbt2W.gifbLHcF.gifMbt2W.gifbLHcF.gif
    naknaknaknaknak
  • kleinfehnkleinfehn Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    So I finally built my computer and all I can say is wow. I don't think I can ever go back to playing on low settings again. L4D on 15 fps is just not fun. My computer isn't top of the line by any means but it will do everything I need. Radeon 4650 with 4gb of ram and a amd 620 x4 processor for specs. Thanks for educating me penny arcade.

    kleinfehn on
  • Captain VashCaptain Vash Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    I need a card capable of 1080p video output, as cheap as possible, with as little heat/energy consumption as possible.

    edit: need to be ati

    Any suggestions / clear winners in this category??

    Captain Vash on
    twitterforweb.Stuckens.1,1,500,f4f4f4,0,c4c4c4,000000.png
  • Just_Bri_ThanksJust_Bri_Thanks Seething with rage from a handbasket.Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited July 2010
    So I have a ASUS P5QPL-AM here, and I am looking to get an Intel Core 2 Quad for it. HAs any one heard of any lemons out there, or is there a 'best fit' for this before I buy? Thanks in advance.

    I don't like quoting myself, but I think I got lost in there. Sorry. There are about 50 different compatible processors for this motherboard, and I am wondering if anyone heard anything about a bad apple in the bunch of them, of if I get one I like am I wasting money on marketing bells and whistles or buying something solid and oh god I am so lost after far too many years having not built a computer.

    Just_Bri_Thanks on
    ...and when you are done with that; take a folding
    chair to Creation and then suplex the Void.
This discussion has been closed.