we're building Mike a gaming PC (recycled thread)

[marurun]

The problem with adding a graphics card to an existing pre-built commercial system is that those systems typically have a power supply just big enough to support them. So if he does add a graphics card, he'll need to look carefully at power requirements.

[noiseredux]

Very good point maru. I went thru that w my last (read: final) prebuilt.

Considering he hates win8, a new budget build seems to make more sense.

[mjmjr25]

I'm very much Grumpy Old Man when it comes to Win8 - that is a deal breaker for me. Even turning off the pc requires extra steps not there before. I know the Win+D trick and it helps a little, but I hate the corners, I hate the new control panel, I just loathe everything about it and i'm not on a PC enough to "get used" to it. What I want with a PC is pick up and go gaming - I really won't use it for anything else. Mild internet use, maybe, but it's really just for gaming.

[flex wood]

Mike are you updated to 8.1? With 8.1 you can just right click the button on the bottom left and power off just like in win 7. 8 would actually be great for gaming since you could just fill the start screen with steam/origin/uplay, your browser, any other random programs and games you would use that don't use steam or one of the other services.

So what do you guys think we should shoot for in Mike's gaming build? I'd say an i5, r9 270 or green equivalent and a 450 watt PSU. I would also like to say I think we should for sure put a ssd in it just to give it that extra speed.

[noiseredux]

I still think any os should just auto boot to steam big pic mode so it feels more like a console to mike.

[isiolia]

So what do you guys think we should shoot for in Mike's gaming build? I'd say an i5, r9 270 or green equivalent and a 450 watt PSU. I would also like to say I think we should for sure put a ssd in it just to give it that extra speed.

I think a soft budget and/or list of parts being included so far would be important in looking at that. Those would be nice parts to include (I'd probably go a little bigger on the PSU), but they're more in line with a $750-800 build.

[isiolia]

Steam game streaming is out of beta if that might change the strategy.

[noiseredux]

I think for mike it would change nothing. Adding a 2nd pc to turn on and network would scare him. His gaming pc setup needs to remain as simple as turning on a box and picking up a controller, else he will get scared off.

Unrelated, im interested in messing w the streaming stuff in my house though!

[noiseredux]

Ok, Ultra is 2 months away on Steam. Let's get the ball rolling on Mike's build. Who's def got what parts? They can come to me if y'all want me to build.

also, thread renamed.

[flex wood]

Can't we wait until I rebuild? I got nothin right now but I will when I do get around to rebuilding but that isn't going to be until August when the case I want releases, the corsair air 240, (it looks like a microwave.)

Edit actually I have two broken computers that I might be able to salvage some stuff from but I have no clue how they are broken so that might take some time to diagnose but it'll be a fun learning experience at least.