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computer gaming question - 9/8/2014 12:46:54 PM   
defiantbadgirl


Posts: 2988
Joined: 11/14/2005
Status: offline 		Sir and I have decided to buy a desktop we can play games on but don't have several grand to spend. Is a 3rd generation i7 with a 2 gig ATI graphics card (7850+), 8 gb RAM, 240gb SSD, 1tb hard drive sufficient to run most games? Or is a 3rd generation i7 too old?

< Message edited by defiantbadgirl -- 9/8/2014 12:49:49 PM >

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RE: computer gaming question - 9/8/2014 6:09:08 PM   
SWDesertDom


Posts: 231
Joined: 4/5/2012
Status: offline 		Buy a core i5, and put the difference towards a better graphics card.

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RE: computer gaming question - 9/8/2014 8:22:37 PM   
Gauge


Posts: 5689
Joined: 6/17/2005
Status: offline 		The i5 is sufficient to run most games. Get the best graphics card that you can afford, the best CPU cooling you can afford, and the best case you can afford.

I would also buy a 128 SSD and put the operating system on that and dedicate the 240 SSD for your game installations. Dedicating the operating system to an SSD gives you many advantages, you can also install any programs on the main OS drive that you want to launch quickly. The other SSD being dedicated to gaming will cut your loading times significantly. Use the 1TB for storage and for programs that you don't care if they load quickly. If you are going to build the system, that is truly the gamers dream because there is no bloatware that comes with the system.

I tell most people that if you plan for expansion, then your system will be relevant for a longer period of time.

< Message edited by Gauge -- 9/8/2014 8:23:51 PM >

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RE: computer gaming question - 9/9/2014 2:44:06 AM   
LetstalkboutRAP3


Posts: 49
Joined: 9/30/2013
Status: offline 		Those look like decent build specs. I would agree with the motion to downgrade the I7 to an I5, for most uses, games included, they are effectively the same chip. Assuming you aren't overclocking, or buying used, get the 4th generation I5. It has additional instructions, and executes more instructions per clock than it's architectural predecessors. Models to look at are 4570, 4590, 4670, 4690. Whichever you can get the best deal on. If you are overclocking you will need a chip with a model number ending in K. For example, I5 4690k. This isn't necessary though, any 2nd generation or later I5 processor will be sufficient for gaming for several years.

Doesn't make any sense to put a 240 gig SSD and a 120 gig SSD in the same system. Put the OS and more demanding more frequently played games on the SSD, and use the HD for storage of music, video, pictures and less demanding less frequently played games. I'd get a Samsung or Crucial SSD though, and I think they come in 250 gig and 256 gig capacities, respectively. Those are very reliable SSD manufacturers, most of the SSDs on the market are substantially less reliable.

Consider getting an Nvidia graphics card, rather than AMD. AMD offers good bang for your buck and excellent compute performance (using the graphics card for non graphics processing), but comparable Nvida cards will provide a better gaming experience overall. This is due to their more mature drivers. GTX 660 would be a good choice, should perform as well or better than Radeon 7850.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007709%20600364399&IsNodeId=1&name=GeForce%20GTX%20660

Either the EVGA Superclocked or the PNY at the top of that list are good reliable cards. I'd get the EVGA.

If you can spend a little bit extra, get a GTX 760. Much better performance, and it isn't much more expensive. Again, EVGA is the best in the business. Especially the superclocked models.


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RE: computer gaming question - 9/9/2014 3:41:10 AM   
freedomdwarf1


Posts: 6845
Joined: 10/23/2012
Status: offline 		I looked at a lot of specs for a gaming machine and I strongly disagree that an I5 can hold a candle to an I7.
They most certainly are not 'effectively the same chip'.

I agree with something like a nVidia 760 rather than any AMD offering.
Why? because nVidia have their drivers nicely bundled and they don't often need anything else. AMD seem to want to install umpteen drivers as well as some 'Catalyst' software and other such rubbish.
Also, I agree with having a 'k' processor for the ability of it being unlocked.


Here's what I recently put together for a friend -
Intel Core i7-4770K Haswell 3.5GHz Quad-Core CPU (OEM)
MSI Z87-GD65-GAMING 4x DDR3 Slots Intel Z87 Express ATX Motherboard Socket 1150
4GB Corsair DDR3 Vengeance Jet Black, PC3-12800 (1600), Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS, Ram
Corsair Hydro Series H80 Liquid CPU Cooler 2x120mm Silent Fans Intel LGA 115x/13
2TB Seagate Desktop SSHD, 3.5" 7200RPM, 64Mb Cache <8ms NCQ OEM
MSI Nvidia GTX 760 OC Edition 2GB DDR5 PCI-E Graphics Card
1000W SILENT SATA PCIE ATX PC POWER SUPPLY PSU 2x6 pins PCIE
USB Wired Optical Game Gaming Mouse PC 6 Buttons Adjustable 1200 DPI Black
LiteOn IHAS124-14 24x SATA Internal DVD-RW / DVD-RAM Drive
Sumvision Gaming keyboard
The whole kit & caboodle cost just under £1,000. Considering he spent over £100 just on the case, it was a bargain - and fun to build.

I would have liked to have SSD's but reading around the net, they still have a high failure rate and are terribly expensive; so we opted for a hybrid SSHD instead as he doesn't have the need for 'instant' startup and most of his gameplay is online anyway.
Also spent a good solid week researching CPU's and the i7-4770k is barely a smidge more than the best i5 and out-performs it squarely on just about every test. So no, I would not compromise the i7 for an i5 of any flavour.
As for cooling, I've had my H80 for 5 years and for the money, I think they are brilliant compared to over-sized air-coolers that risk snapping the CPU mount off the motherboard (yes, I've seen that happen once before).

When he runs his 'Feed the Beast' (minecraft?) gaming, he pretty much splats over everyone else when it come to framerate (over 1000) and building worlds etc. He also plays some Kobal Space Program stuff???[don't ask me, I don't have a fucking clue]
All I know is, he is well pleased and so is anyone else when he tells them his specs.


ETA: I wish I lived in the US - many bits out there are cheaper than they are over here.


< Message edited by freedomdwarf1 -- 9/9/2014 3:42:43 AM >

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RE: computer gaming question - 9/9/2014 5:40:02 AM   
AKinkCounselor


Posts: 53
Joined: 8/12/2014
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl

Sir and I have decided to buy a desktop we can play games on but don't have several grand to spend. Is a 3rd generation i7 with a 2 gig ATI graphics card (7850+), 8 gb RAM, 240gb SSD, 1tb hard drive sufficient to run most games? Or is a 3rd generation i7 too old?


To actually answer what you asked instead of going off on a little bit of geek spec porn...

It sounds like that has been built to be a gaming machine, 8gb and SSD with an i7 (even last generation) it is going to be a pretty good machine that will be more than capable of playing 95% of current games.

You don't need to do bleeding edge with computers any more, yesterday's latest and greatest are still damn quick machines.

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These are my opinions (and half thoughts) opinions that I have worked hard to form. They are mine. You shouldn't trust them, you should get your own.

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RE: computer gaming question - 9/9/2014 8:26:46 AM   
LetstalkboutRAP3


Posts: 49
Joined: 9/30/2013
Status: offline 		They are effectively the same chip for gaming purposes. They have the exact same instruction set, same number of cores; they are literally cut from the same silicon, the exact same size, same number of transistors. i7 has hyperthreading, extra cache, and is clocked .1GHZ higher than it's little brother i5. All of that is either irrelevant or nearly irrelevant for a gaming rig. Certainly not worth an extra hundred bucks. I don't consider k models worth the hassle or the extra price. 3rd and 4th generation i5/7 chips do not overclock very well, they have heat issues over spec.

Samsung SSDs are far more reliable than mechanical hard drives, with the possible exception of enterprise class hard drives. Any Samsung 8x0 series SSD is an excellent purchase. Samsung 840 EVO comes in a 250 gig capacity, is priced very competitively with similar capacity drives, offers excellent performance, and has been on the market long enough to establish a reputation for reliability.

Hybrid drives are a horrible purchase. 2 potential points of failure on the same unit. The only reason to get one, would be for a mini-itx build, where you only have room for one 3.5 inch drive.

The users at any computer/gamer forum will confirm all of this.

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RE: computer gaming question - 9/9/2014 9:24:17 AM   
defiantbadgirl


Posts: 2988
Joined: 11/14/2005
Status: offline 		To everyone who replied, thanks for the helpful advice. We will keep it in mind for the desktop we are purchasing as well as for future upgrades.

_____________________________


Only in the United States is the health of the people secondary to making money. If this is what "capitalism" is about, I'll take socialism any day of the week.


Collared by MartinSpankalot May 13 2008

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RE: computer gaming question - 9/9/2014 7:02:07 PM   
MasterG2kTR


Posts: 6677
Joined: 8/7/2004
From: Wisconsin
Status: offline 		don't overlook getting a decent motherboard and power supply too

faster ram is a good investment too..... couple months ago I built a new system

3rd gen i7
ASUS Z87-A mobo
16 gb 2400 mHz ram
GTX650 2gb graphics card
CoolerMaster HAF 912 case
Corsair 750 watt power supply
thermaltake cpu cooler with dual 120mm fans
microsoft sidewinder gaming kb
Razer death adder mouse

It rocks!!.....run games on the highest res in every category and all run smooth

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