PC build thread

[marurun]

Even some of the NewEgg combos. I have to look at the manufacturers involved. A combo might sound great until you take a closer look at the parts and realize one of them just isn't as compelling as the other one. That and the combos are usually just 2 or 3 items. You used to be able to barebones almost an entire package, though I guess the same parts issue existed there as well. I never actually bought a barebones before. I just don't know how much research I really care to do this time around. But I still don't want a shitty PC.

[noiseredux]

This is why I like to pick each piece myself.

[Cronozilla]

You always have to research the components you're looking at buying.

[noiseredux]

You always have to research the components you're looking at buying.

word. I stick to a strict "an upgrade has to be an UPGRADE" ethos. I want to feel like every component I have is something I selected for a specific reason now.

[marurun]

I know, but it's just so much work... Logical Increments has helped some, but too many of these things are geared toward overclockers, and I have 0 desire to overclock. It always goes badly for me, and I rarely get gains worth the effort.

[Cronozilla]

It's not too bad, dude. Also there's this thread here with plenty of people whom chart these waters frequently to help you out and guide you down paths you should be taking. It cuts out a shit load of time being wasted on researching components.

[marurun]

I'm whiny because I'm trying not to commit. I hate spending big chunks of money and over-researching stuff before I do it (even though that's my general modus operandi).

[noiseredux]

I get that. I'm not telling you to spend a bunch of money, but I am saying you should get components that fulfill your need. Don't just buy a combo cuz it's easy. You'll be bummed if you spent any money and found out it isn't doing what you wanted. If you let me know your budget and what you want from it (IE: I know you don't care about OC'ing, but what games are you looking to run), I'd be glad to recommend you a list of parts that could meet your goal.

[marurun]

*sniffle* You guys are alright, y'know that? You guys are alright...

I've been looking over the Logical Increments lists, and I think I'm going to shoot for the $1000 (maybe a hair over) category. I'm not that interested in a buff mobo. Just needs to be durable and get the job done. Power supply is VERY important to me. They've always been the weak link in previous builds until my latest (that has been running peacefully for 5 years). Noise (not you, dude) is usually an issue as well, so I have to be very picky about cooling options. I hate having a jet engine PC (but a PC Engine is just fine) Lastly, but certainly not least, I've typically gone with AMD/ATI cards, but I'm wondering if, despite Nvidia's questionable and more closed behavior, if their latest batch of cards aren't a better bet.

Having a PC that successfully survived 5 years has also meant I'm rusty on brands.

[Ziggy]

Noise (not you, dude) is usually an issue as well, so I have to be very picky about cooling options. I hate having a jet engine PC (but a PC Engine is just fine)

Noise is less of an issue these days. Just be sure to get a motherboard that makes it easy to throttle fan speed (which should be ANY decent mobo).

For example, my Biostar mobo x58 (how ever many years ago that was) came with software that communicates with the BIOS. It'll report fan speeds and temperatures. It throttles the fans, and spins them up only if the temperature rises. I HATE jet engine fans. The same program also allows for OC option, BIOS updates, and other such crap I never use. It minimizes to a system tray icon so I never even know it's there.

For my Mom's desktop, which is newer, the Biostar mobo automatically throttles the fan speed without the need to install a program. IIRC, a lot of newer mobos do this as well.

There's third party programs you can get that'll do the same thing, but, I simply wouldn't get a mobo that didn't have such capability built into it.

Since you don't care about overclocking, just keep the stock HSF for the CPU. It'll be sufficient for cooling, and when it's not spinning at full speed you'll barely be able to hear it.

As for case fans, it all depends on the case you get. I love my Cooler Master case but the fans that came with it sucked. The fans that'll come with most cases suck. I'm a little bit of a nut with PC fans so I always search for fans that can move the most amount of air with the least amount of noise.



Might be a little pricey, but I don't regret that purchase one bit. It's quiet and moves a lot of air. I haven't had it long, but I would expect it to last a long while. I plan to buy another (80mm version) to replace the front fan in my desktop.

As for video card fan noise, I have no clue. I never had a super high end card. As I said earlier, I'm still rocking my 9800 GT which is super quiet (you can't hear it over the CPU and case fans).