Computer Builds Thread...please provide feedback!!

[PC Ops]

@ original topic starting question.

I'd be a frequent visitor if a builders section would arise @ TN

I'm kinda an AMD man. Good performance/ price balance. So for a processor any Phenom II x4 / x6 will do. A black edition to fire things up some more.

Also, for a videocard, take a look at the Radeon 5770 series (not sure if the 6770 is out yet...). They've had a huge succes with the 4770 series. The X770 series is an 'in between' model; it's faster than the mainstream cards but can't keep up with it's big brothers (i.e. the 5870). Nevertheless most games can be played on high settings without any problems. They can also be setup in crossfire. Main difference with it's big bro's is the memory bandwidth. The (i.e. again) 5870 has 256mbit mem bandwidth, the 5770 has 128 mbit bandwidth. At first (when the 4770 series was launched) critics thought performance would drop drastically by halving the memory bandwidth but the use of gddr5 compensates big time. Later most critics were blown away by it.
My first choice, unless the client has unlimited resources ofcourse
Then I'd still hang on to amd, but more the high end cards then.

My 2 cents.

+1 for a builders section Good suggestion!

 

[totalPCTechs]

@ original topic starting question.

I'd be a frequent visitor if a builders section would arise @ TN

I'm kinda an AMD man. Good performance/ price balance. So for a processor any Phenom II x4 / x6 will do. A black edition to fire things up some more.

Also, for a videocard, take a look at the Radeon 5770 series (not sure if the 6770 is out yet...). They've had a huge succes with the 4770 series. The X770 series is an 'in between' model; it's faster than the mainstream cards but can't keep up with it's big brothers (i.e. the 5870). Nevertheless most games can be played on high settings without any problems. They can also be setup in crossfire. Main difference with it's big bro's is the memory bandwidth. The (i.e. again) 5870 has 256mbit mem bandwidth, the 5770 has 128 mbit bandwidth. At first (when the 4770 series was launched) critics thought performance would drop drastically by halving the memory bandwidth but the use of gddr5 compensates big time. Later most critics were blown away by it.
My first choice, unless the client has unlimited resources ofcourse
Then I'd still hang on to amd, but more the high end cards then.

My 2 cents.

+1 for a builders section Good suggestion!

The video card advice is a strong point. Alot of people think a higher number is usually better, when in fact its not. The reason i put GTX 460 on that build was to see if anyone would reply to tell me a lower card could handle those 2 games perfectly fine, even though its a awesome card imo. For instance i have a 8800gt in my computer and it can handle those 2 games without a problem. In world of warcraft i was getting 60fps. The 9800gt is basically a re-brand of the 8800gt. Even though some of us consider ourselves very knowledgeable about computers there's still the fact that we cannot stay on top of everything.

 

[Kitten Kong]

There is a common misconception for gaming machines that EVERYTHING needs to be top of the line. That's simply not true. The important part is to plug up the most common bottlenecks, which are the GPU, and Storage Drive. Most middle-of-the-road CPUs can easily handle gaming, and any modest amount of RAM can handle it too. My 4ish year old Quad-Core, 2GB, 7800GS handles Cataclysm without issue. When I built it, it was easily less than $500.

I agree wholeheartly with what you say here, the point I was trying to get across to the OP was the client had a max of $700 to spend. The costings shown came (at the time to $570. Add $100 for win 7, another 14 for the dvdrw), meaning the OP would earn $20 tops, for putting together that spec machine; and loading windows.

There was no mention of gross profit on the parts purchased, and I personally thought that the $700 mentioned was too low.

Therefore needed cheaper parts, to sustain a decent margin. Which it looks like has now been done.

When I mentioned top notch parts, what I meant, was a damn good card, and a decent amount of ram, ie 4gb+. Adding a E5200 to the mix, would mean the beast would fly.

 

[SnoSalmon]

...what would you do to cut costs and still be able to provide a good build

I tend to focus on quality over cost.
Sure my PC's are a little higher than the standard department store PCs, but I'm finding my machines with a 3-year warranty and all set up with an antivirus and Windows registered/activated pays off over and above a 'cash and carry' style PC from big stores, where the user is left to set up their own AV etc. They typically call me anyway to do this, so they aren't saving at all, and end up with a machine with a one-year warranty and crappy support.

I purchase my PC's pre-built from a wholesaler, and customize them as required before ordering (eg change that I5-670 to an I7-860 and some more RAM thanks) as quoted for the client. The PC arrives, I activate windows and install all security patches, then either Security essentials for the home crowd, or Avast Pro for business, add my markup, and out the door it goes. Minimal time on my behalf, and the PC's are all consistently the same. (same chassis etc)

Also, people who look for the cheapest deal will not have any loyalty the next time they need something. They will go wherever the cheapest deal is, instead of coming back to you.

 

[ATTech]

I agree wholeheartly with what you say here, the point I was trying to get across to the OP was the client had a max of $700 to spend. The costings shown came (at the time to $570. Add $100 for win 7, another 14 for the dvdrw), meaning the OP would earn $20 tops, for putting together that spec machine; and loading windows.

There was no mention of gross profit on the parts purchased, and I personally thought that the $700 mentioned was too low.

Therefore needed cheaper parts, to sustain a decent margin. Which it looks like has now been done.

When I mentioned top notch parts, what I meant, was a damn good card, and a decent amount of ram, ie 4gb+. Adding a E5200 to the mix, would mean the beast would fly.

I wasn't referring to profit margin or what the OP had posted. I was posting with regards to this part of your post:

The costing you have in this, I would put at a med range home use pc, not a gaming rig.

Therefore, my gaming rings start at £700+ ($1000)

... which essentially says you can't build a gaming rig for under $1000. My point is that you can if you focus your efforts (money) on the proper parts.

 

[Kitten Kong]

My point is that you can if you focus your efforts (money) on the proper parts.

True, I get where your coming from. It's just that I like to put in a very nice card, usually costing in the region of £200+, together with top quality crucial /ocz ram. These can cost a great deal of money, but yes if I lowered my specs of parts, I can easily bring down the cost of a gaming rig.

 

[xxsilk109xx]

I like using QUALITY brand parts with long warranties when I build computers. I tell this to my customer, that I can save them X amount of dollars, but it will have a 12 mo. warranty, or they can spend Y and get a 60 mo. warranty...

This lets them know that:
1. You care about what they get and are not just out to make a buck.
2. You deal less with warranty work
3. You have less hardware failures
4. USUALLY the tech support/warranty departments at more name brand companies have better warranty service..So you dont wait 3 months for them to RMA your motherboard etc..

 

[Vicenarian]

Dual xeons
Nvidia GT 480 x 2 in SLi
12 GB DDR3
120 GB SSD x 2 in Raid
1200W PSU

done

 

[SnoSalmon]

Dual xeons
Nvidia GT 480 x 2 in SLi
12 GB DDR3
120 GB SSD x 2 in Raid
1200W PSU

done

Why only 2 480's?
Besides, the 580's are out now anyway so old tech tbh...

 

[totalPCTechs]

Can't help but love it when ppl don't actually read the thread

 

[PC Ops]

Dual xeons
Nvidia GT 480 x 2 in SLi
12 GB DDR3
120 GB SSD x 2 in Raid
1200W PSU

done

I'm affraid the budget just got torched... lol

 

[jwarren]

I think he was under the impression there was a $700 ceiling per section of the build lol

 

[JosephLeo]

Well this should be fun. Let's see what I can build you for under $700.00

• Case: Foxconn TLA-436-2CA400 w/ 300W Power Supply
• Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-H55M-S2V Micro-ATX motherboard
• CPU: intel Core i5 750 2.66GHz Quad Core
• GPU: HIS H577FK1GD Radeon HD 5770 1GB
• Memory: GeIL 2x 4GB DDR3 1333MHz
• Disk Drive: Samsung SATA DVD Burner w/ LightScribe
• Hard Drive: Western Digital 500GB Caviar Blue WD5000AAKS
• OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 32-Bit

Total (at time of writing): $697.92

I might have skimmed a little too low on the case/power supply combo. But in return I got you a fairly powerful CPU (an intel i5 quad core). You can swap out the CPU and Motherboard with an AMD alternative and get a better Case and PSU.

 

[ATTech]

Well this should be fun. Let's see what I can build you for under $700.00

• Case: Foxconn TLA-436-2CA400 w/ 300W Power Supply
• Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-H55M-S2V Micro-ATX motherboard
• CPU: intel Core i5 750 2.66GHz Quad Core
• GPU: HIS H577FK1GD Radeon HD 5770 1GB
• Memory: GeIL 2x 4GB DDR3 1333MHz
• Disk Drive: Samsung SATA DVD Burner w/ LightScribe
• Hard Drive: Western Digital 500GB Caviar Blue WD5000AAKS
• OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 32-Bit

Total (at time of writing): $697.92

I might have skimmed a little too low on the case/power supply combo. But in return I got you a fairly powerful CPU (an intel i5 quad core). You can swap out the CPU and Motherboard with an AMD alternative and get a better Case and PSU.

Switch the i5 for an i3 or a Core 2 and use the money saved to upgrade to a SSD. That processor is overkill; the hard drive will easily be the bottleneck. I'm running 4 year old set-up with a Core 2 and my bottleneck is easily my 500GB drive.