Help Plan My Rig

[Llamaduck]

Greetings,

Let me preface this by saying I'm -not- very hardware savvy - most of my computer know-how is software related, and that won't be changing in the near future. This means that things like overclocking and liquid cooled systems are probably out of my depth - if something breaks once I've started using it, fixing it generally means being without my computer while it's away being repaired at high cost - and I'd like to avoid this. With this in mind..

Buying a computer straight off the shelf is a bad idea. I know this. It's cool for writing emails and spreadsheets, but it's not a gaming standard - so for my next computer, I'd like to get something put together. Seeing as how I have no idea what I'm doing (well, very little of one) I'd planned to go to Memory Express (http://www.memoryexpress.com/). Some extensive Googling says they're the best comp shop in my area. But just because I'm paying someone to build a computer for me doesn't mean I trust 'em to get it the way I'll need it - especially given that I wouldn't understand if they used the specs to explain they'd just inserted a hamster wheel in place of a fan.

tl;dr?

I want a rig that'll let me dual box (two) with high graphic settings on on my main toon. I'm thinking three monitors (one for main toon, one for alternate toon, one for non-gaming applications like Skype, wowhead, ect) and don't intend to run more than two toons at once - a single main and alternate. This is largely because I've already got monthly fees from another game, and don't really feel like paying for more than one extra account.

I don't -technically- have a budget, since I'm basically stuck saving up money anyway, so I can save less or more until I get what I need - but I'd love to spend less. Any help would be appreciated.

L+D

[Sajuuk]

What do you have now rig-wise?

[roflstomp]

well i have 3 in mind for you the prices range from 500-1800 all will dual box also how long do u plan on keeping the computer? do you ever plan on boxing more than 2? whats ur actual dollar amount for full rig? do u want mouse keyboard speakers headset moniters also? do u perfer amd or intel? all this is what i would need to know.

the computers i build for me and my friends are always highend and havent had any issues other than i like to over clock personal computer and i crash all the time. also do you have a bass u would like to stay at for spec?

the pc i run there is a $700 equivelint one that will run 10 toons every thing low 5 toons main turned up all but shadow detail 2 toons every thing cranked on both.

[Llamaduck]

Thanks for replies -

@Sajuuk - My current computer is irrelevant, it's a very average run-of-the-mill computer, not even designed for anything, really. I bought it in a hurry when my last computer died of old age, and as a result, didn't pay attention to much outside of price. I figure if I'm gonna have someone build me a computer, I may as well start from the ground up.

@roflstomp -

1 - As long as possible. My current job allows me to save some cash, but not a great deal in a hurry. I couldn't afford to replace it on a whim, so it needs to be able to last, even if not at top end forever.

2 - No, I don't plan on boxing more than two. I'm not attracted to having my own little army so much as I am to having an extra bit of damage or some heals to help make questing / grinding easier. I'll still look for other players and guild mates for most of my interactions in game.

3 - As I mentioned, I'm stuck saving up money anyway, so I might as well save a bit longer and get something better. With that in mind, I don't have a dollar limit, and if I get an outline of what I ought to get, I can plug it into the website and see my ballpark. I do need the whole shebang though, monitor/mouse/speakers/keyboard. My current monitor has lived through three separate towers, and it's getting very old.

4 - I honestly don't have a personal preference, as I mentioned, hardware isn't my forte.

5 - Base as in the minimum I'm looking to spend? From what I've found online in various 'good gaming rig on a budget' articles, $800 - $1000 USD seems like a good window (though, I'm from Canada, so the numbers are a bit different) but then, a lot of those seem to require things like overclocking to be really worth it, which I have zero intention of doing. I'm certainly not looking to spend more than $2000 CAD on the tower itself, and not much more than a few hundred dollars on monitors (more for the main monitor, less for the smaller two. Thinking 17" for the two small monitors - my current monitor is an Acer AL1916W 19" widescreen and I'm thinking a similar size (though, perhaps different brand) for my main.)

I'll worry about things like speakers/mouse/keyboard as a separate expense from the main tower, and likely just get what happens to be on sale at the time. I intend to use a single keyboard/mouse for my boxing, and just use something like Keyclone.

If you need any more information, feel free to ask.

L+D

[roflstomp]

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/3316/rig.png (http://img411.imageshack.us/i/rig.png/)

[roflstomp]

if u would like the links to all that stuff let me know but thats what i came up with

[roflstomp]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371021
forgot the psu lol

[Llamaduck]

Thanks, rofflestomp -

Might I ask why you chose AMD over Intel? I've come across a lot of intel fanboys and girl here, it seems.

The other thing is, I wouldn't know how to get started building my own computer - When the time comes to get my computer built, I intend to use whatever rig I've been outlined here as a guiding point - but looking around on the website of the place I was intending to go, they haven't got some of your suggested items listed at all - which parts of your suggested rig can't be substituted?

This (http://www.memoryexpress.com/SystemConfig/Default.aspx) is the 'build your computer' page of the website for the place I was intending to shop from, if you were curious. I'm not entirely sure if they'd be willing to get items not listed, or even if they could.

L+D

[Sajuuk]

Your current computer is not irrelevant. Depending on what you have you could simply upgrade your graphics card or processor and be just fine.

[roflstomp]

i choose amd for the price and reliablitly as of now its who has more money or wants the other name. amd used to be top gaming till the i7 came out then amd had lost the top gaming pc but they came out with an phenom II x6 that blows intel away. but all the parts can be substitued it was just something i threw together that would work. (its a better pc than mine).


i havent heard of that site that you listed but i only shop from newegg since i only build pcs. if you would like i can look into the site and build you a pc on there tho there going to be more than newegg but they maybe have a costomer service that handles any problems with the pcs they build for you.

wow i have bad spelling sorry about that. but also building a pc is extremely simple and can be walked threw via phone or vent or even the instructions for the motherboard the motherboard is the hardest thing to figure out and usualy google/instructions will tell you what to do.

[mikekim]

I would probably look at a reasonable speed 5850 rather than 2x 250's for gfx, as it will be able to run 3 screens (using eyfinity) and give you better gaming performance than 2x 250's.
it will cost slightly more however, than the 250's.

As for screens the difference in price between a 20 & 22 is negligable, so i would make sure they are all the same size and probably go with something like:

3x IIyama Prolite E2271HDS 22" Widescreen LED Monitor - Black [PLE2271HDS]

if you got the eyfinity route, you will need to ensure that at least one of your monitors has a HDMI or display port connection, as one of the monitors will need to use this (the other two will use DVI)

[Llamaduck]

Thanks for replies,

@roflstomp - The reason I'm using that site is because it's tied to a local shop - that is, I can just walk in there and deal directly with their sales reps, which I'd prefer over a completely online situation.

@Sajuuk - The only reason I say it's irrelevant is because I intend to give my computer to my roommate, which is one of the reasons I'm building a new one. All she does is facebook, so my old machine will be an upgrade from her very old laptop, and she won't notice what it's lacking in gaming capabilities. That aside, the MB in my machine is quite old - HP085Ch I think Belarc says.. so it can't deal with nearly anything useful in terms of graphic cards. I stuck an NVIDIA GeForce 6200 in and counted it a grand ol' upgrade.

L+D