Good Gaming PC?

[Finduszip]

Hi. Just wondered if anyone could give me a hint on a good, reasonable gaming PC. Currently I only have an Acer Travelmate 6292. 1,8 GHz Intel Duo Centrino and Intel graphics. It's good for work, but not as great at games.

 

[bergauk]

The best pc for gaming would be something that you build yourself. It all depends on what kind of gaming that you want to do as well.

 

[edawg456]

The best pc for gaming would be something that you build yourself. It all depends on what kind of gaming that you want to do as well.

Exactly

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

Depends what you want first, laptop or desktop pc.

If you want a desktop pc. Now to run most game in Ultra/high you need at least a GTX560 + i5-2500i processor, 6 giga ram and then whatever you want with it.

The really best gaming pc can cost you more than 10k dollars if you really want something awesome with dual graphic cards, 6 screen and a high frequency I7 processor (not sure really which is the best now, I can't afford that kind of stuff atm ^^).

For example I have an old i7-950i + a HD5870 and I can run most game in high def, really heavy game like Rage I need to use a mix setup but usually it's high settings. On F1 2011 I run on the best resolution possible and it's absolutely stunning.

 

[Casio]

After if you're playing on something bigger than a 40' screen you might need a more powerfull graphic card.

Why?

PS: To the OP, I had a Travelmate 6292, that thing was unbreakable.

 

[Pako]

Why?

I was going to ask the same thing. I've often heard this said before, "If you have a 36" or greater you need a powerful graphic card.....etc." Isn't it pixal/resolution dependent on load/graphic power needed?

For example, 1080p on a 22" is 1920x1080. 1080p on a 60" is still 1920x1080 resolution. The same exact number of pixels are being rendered, creating the exact same load on the GPU.

Thoughts?

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Sounds right.

 

[Casio]

I was going to ask the same thing. I've often heard this said before, "If you have a 36" or greater you need a powerful graphic card.....etc." Isn't it pixal/resolution dependent on load/graphic power needed?

For example, 1080p on a 22" is 1920x1080. 1080p on a 60" is still 1920x1080 resolution. The same exact number of pixels are being rendered, creating the exact same load on the GPU.

Thoughts?

Precisely. You can have a 720P screen 1" or 700ft, still requires the same rendering power.

 

[Azuremen]

Precisely. You can have a 720P screen 1" or 700ft, still requires the same rendering power.

And then you have to consider the 27" panels that are 2560x1600 ish (I can't remember exactly) which would require far more to render than any 40" inch or larger TV display.

 

[Casio]

And then you have to consider the 27" panels that are 2560x1600 ish (I can't remember exactly) which would require far more to render than any 40" inch or larger TV display.

Generally the 27"s are 1440 cause they're 16:9, and the 30"s are 1600 (16:10).

Actually one thing a lot of people don't realise when they go up to a higher res display (Which I'm still weighing up), is how much extra GPU power is required, it usually more than people think. A stanard 1080P display is 2073600 pixels, a 1440P is 36864000 (More than 50% more) and a 1600P is 4096000 pixels, almost double 1080P. Something to consider...

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

It wouldn't be such a problem if we stuck with CRTs.

 

[Casio]

It wouldn't be such a problem if we stuck with CRTs.

The GPU power needed to render an X pixel image is the same for a CRT or LCD.

 

[Pako]

And then you have to consider the 27" panels that are 2560x1600 ish (I can't remember exactly) which would require far more to render than any 40" inch or larger TV display.

My 27" runs native at 2560 x 1440. 👍

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

The GPU power needed to render an X pixel image is the same for a CRT or LCD.

I don't mind knocking down the resolution for gaming. For browsing and general tasks, higher would be nice. With LCDs you only get one resolution for everything.

 

[Casio]

I don't mind knocking down the resolution for gaming. For browsing and general tasks, higher would be nice. With LCDs you only get one resolution for everything.

If you stick to the same aspect ratio then it's not so bad, particularly for gaming. I've read a few people with 1440P monitors who run some games at 1080P and are happy with it, depends how fickle you are.

Though I'm actually amazed at how many people run wrong resolutions on their monitors and don't notice it. Our receptionist has her monitor set to some off ratio blurry mess and she has never said anything yet.

 

[Azuremen]

Though I'm actually amazed at how many people run wrong resolutions on their monitors and don't notice it. Our receptionist has her monitor set to some off ratio blurry mess and she has never said anything yet.

I always fix that when I use other computers. Drives me insane. And then people complain icons are too small and stuff. But how is smaller worse when its sharper and easier to read?

People, srsly.

Seriously.

 

[tlowr4]

^^ Ditto. My uncle uses a 15" Acer laptop, and has the resolution at 1200x720p all the time. It's stretched length ways, since the native resolution is 1200x800 (same resolution as my 13" Lappy), but he says he prefers it. I use it a lot to order products online, and it drives me insane. I have to set it to the native. Can't stand my Start icon looking like a blue oval...

Also, when I'm gaming, I ALWAYS knock back my resolution before my graphics. I see little to no difference between the first one or two settings of resolutions, whatever it may be. It's not until you dice it back to something like 800x600 that I see a difference. Just my personal opinion.

 

[Azuremen]

Also, when I'm gaming, I ALWAYS knock back my resolution before my graphics. I see little to no difference between the first one or two settings of resolutions, whatever it may be. It's not until you dice it back to something like 800x600 that I see a difference. Just my personal opinion.

Anything but a 2 ratio scale of the native is painfully obvious for any application. For gaming, simply look at the fonts and it becomes apparent, as they will be soft and inconsistent in how they appear across the screen due to attempts to scale them unusual pixel counts.

And 800x600? 4:3 in this day and age?

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

I was going to ask the same thing. I've often heard this said before, "If you have a 36" or greater you need a powerful graphic card.....etc." Isn't it pixal/resolution dependent on load/graphic power needed?

For example, 1080p on a 22" is 1920x1080. 1080p on a 60" is still 1920x1080 resolution. The same exact number of pixels are being rendered, creating the exact same load on the GPU.

Thoughts?

Well if you say so then good, I'll edit my post. I honestly just repeat what I've read in magazine. Maybe I didnt understood well and they were talking about higher resolution screen. My bad.

 

[Finduszip]

The best pc for gaming would be something that you build yourself. It all depends on what kind of gaming that you want to do as well.

But im rubbish, so I can't do that.

 

[Finduszip]

Why?

PS: To the OP, I had a Travelmate 6292, that thing was unbreakable.

Yes, I've discovered that. I lost it from the top of that boarding car on a plane, and I just put the battery back in and replaced the space button.

 

[tlowr4]

So you want a pre-built system. That's going to cost a lot more, and won't be as good a quality or last as long as something you've built yourself. It only takes an ask to find out how to do it, there's lots of members here that can give you a step by step on how to build a computer. Let alone the hundreds of videos on YouTube about it. HOWEVER:

If you are too lazy/don't want to build your own system (which is quite fine), we'll look up some stuff. Just answer these questions first.

What's your budget?
Where do you live for site and shipping price wise?
What sites do you like shopping from?
What sort of games are you going to run (MW3, BF3, iRacing etc, so we can get an idea of what graphics card and CPU you need).
What performance are you chasing from your games. (20FPS, 30FPS, 40FPS, 100's of FPS, give us an idea of what you find acceptable playing speed, graphics details etc.)

Also, tell us weather you want the best system for a budget, or to hit certain specs without a budget. Or we could go crazy and build a $10'000 PC for you that'll play all games at max with hundreds of FPS for the next 15 years...

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

But im rubbish, so I can't do that.

Not sure how it works in norway, but here in switzerland or even in france, you can just order the part you want in a computer/multimedia store and they'll make it for you. Like the previous poster said, tell us a bit more about what you want, a good gaming pc is just too wide.

 

[Icarus25]

So you want a pre-built system. That's going to cost a lot more, and won't be as good a quality or last as long as something you've built yourself.

The only true part of that statement is the price being greater. There are PLENTY of boutique builders that can build a system with quality, current parts that are the same ones you could buy individually to build your own. Neither one will last any longer or shorter than the other. You're just going to play a premium to have someone else build it, install an OS and get things running, and update any drivers and software that need it before having it shipped to you.

Or we could go crazy and build a $10'000 PC for you that'll play all games at max with hundreds of FPS for the next 15 years...

That's just not possible. If it were possible, someone somewhere would have an old P2 with PCI graphics running Windows 98 with 256MB of memory that can play Crysis at 1920x1080@60FPS. Even the best parts today can't play the most demanding games at max, at a normal resolution, at hundreds of FPS. At smooth, playable FPS...probably, but not hundreds. Spending $10k to try and get 15 years is stupid, you'd be better off paying $2k every 4 years. You'll have better parts and pay less over 16 years.

 

[bergauk]

But im rubbish, so I can't do that.

It actually isn't too hard. You can pretty much follow any video guide you find out there as long as it's current enough.

And if you need help picking parts out most of us on here know how to build an alright computer. I tend to spec out customer/friends computers with good warranty on parts, nice upgrade paths for the future and just all around niceness. I can also fit a budget if need be.

 

[Sharky.]

But im rubbish, so I can't do that.

Buy parts
Put parts in the only slot they fit in
Turn on


A lot of people seem to think building a computer requires one to be a rocket scientist when in reality it is the complete opposite. The only remotely tricky part is applying thermal paste to your CPU, but considering stock CPU coolers come with thermal paste pre-applied that's a non-event.

 

[tlowr4]

^^ This.

I'm only 14, and I've built over 15 complete systems, and when I started (people in the computer section, nick09 especially, can vouch for this) I knew all of a rat's 🤬. I didn't know what a DIMM was. Only took a few Google searches, a few good conversations to some people, and a ham sandwich, to work it out. The most difficult part is getting your cables to go where you want them to. And if you don't care about that...a monkey could do it.

 

[Azuremen]

But im rubbish, so I can't do that.

Everything is color coded and pinned out so you can't mess it up unless you try. Just apply some common sense about how you handle the parts and ignore some of the other members in here and you'll be fine.

^^ This.

I'm only 14, and I've built over 15 complete systems, and when I started (people in the computer section, nick09 especially, can vouch for this) I knew all of a rat's 🤬. I didn't know what a DIMM was. Only took a few Google searches, a few good conversations to some people, and a ham sandwich, to work it out. The most difficult part is getting your cables to go where you want them to. And if you don't care about that...a monkey could do it.

Nick09 isn't someone I'd want to vouch for me, but okay.

But yes, the kid is right OP, a child can do this and then make attitude filled posts about how many systems he has built.

I'd still suggest listening to the people that have been doing this for years with practical experience and considerations. Or else you'll end up building your first computer on a box and then realizing is a huge pain to then put that into the actual case. Just in case RMA.

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

There's jsut people that dont want to do it, but again for them there's shop building those computers. He ask what a good gaming pc was not how to build a PC from scratch lol

But yeah most people are right it's not more difficult than a lego.

 

[Pako]

Everything is color coded and pinned out so you can't mess it up unless you try. Just apply some common sense about how you handle the parts and ignore some of the other members in here and you'll be fine.




Nick09 isn't someone I'd want to vouch for me, but okay.

But yes, the kid is right OP, a child can do this and then make attitude filled posts about how many systems he has built.

I'd still suggest listening to the people that have been doing this for years with practical experience and considerations. Or else you'll end up building your first computer on a box and then realizing is a huge pain to then put that into the actual case. Just in case RMA.

I would like everyone that owns a computer to build one for themselves at some point in their life. There is a great feeling of accomplishment knowing that you are using something that you have built with your own two hands.

@Finduszip: There are some things that you can get wrong the first time if you're not careful, but if given a little bit of effort, as a collective group I have no doubt we can walk you though the process of your first build. From purchasing to building.

If you want to go that route, what is your Build Budget? How much can you spend on this build and lets find the best bang for your buck! Just a thought.

I disagree with some of the posters above that you can just buy stuff that fits and slap it together. That would not be my first approach to a good build. For example, a lot of the older motherboards required a 4-pin, 12v CPU power supply in addition to the huge 22/24 pin main motherboard power harness from the power supply. I recently built a Z68 board with a 2600k processor and found myself scratching my head with the CPU needed a 8-pin power plug for the CPU. Completely took me by surprise and changed what Power Supply we were going to use as a result. It also pushed back my build a week because of the return and reorder. So, do a little research. This technology is changing so fast, there are new standards coming out all the time.

Some food for thought.