Solved » Help Deciding on a tower Pc

[shanefromoz]

» Help Deciding on a tower Pc

Hello,
My son wants to buy a tower pc for gaming like WOW, Sims 4 and other pc games.
I was thinking of buying him the following and was hoping to get some advice if good or not.
Asus Z97 pro(Wifi) http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Z97PRO/
Intel Core i7 -4790 3.6ghz 8mb.
Kingston Hyper X Fury 16g Kit.
Asus GTX660 2G graphics card.
Hoping someone can please give me some honest advice.
Thanks

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Do you have a budget for this?

You don't mention hard drives. You should certainly get an SSD for at least Windows and applications. You can use an ordinary hard drive to store data.

I don't game, but I'd guess gaming types would tell you to emphasize the graphics card. There are several steps above the GTX660 that you could consider, but it may be perfectly fine for the games he intends to play. I have no idea.

What resolution will he use?

An i7-4790 would likely be considered overkill for gaming, but if it's within your budget, knock yourself out.

Likewise with 16 GB of RAM rather than 8.

What case do you have in mind?

What power supply?

I assume overclocking is not on your agenda since you haven't chosen a K series processor. In that case, there's no reason to splurge on a Z97 motherboard.

 

[Boozad]

I'd drop to an i5-4670, get 8GB RAM (you'll get no extra benefit from 16GB for gaming) and put the money saved towards a much better GPU. The 660 is old hat now.

 

[Vistangel]

You don't seem to mention how big your budget is. If he's playing Sims 4 and WOW... they aren't so graphich intense games.

Altough I don't game on PC (I have editing workstation), here's what I recommend:
As for a good budget gaming PC, I'd pick:

- The cheapest asus mobo z97 (z97m-plus, or z97-c for atx) asus and add a wifi card because that's cheaper and you can change it later if needed
- i5 4590k for overclock or i5 4590 for no overclock, i7 is overkill
- For serious gaming I'd get min a gtx 760 OC but more likely a gtx 770 OC is ideal <- GPU is the most important not processor!
- 8gb RAM is enough, get a corsair vengeance, 16gb is most likely overkill
- Idk how many data you have or he wants to store but for budget, I'd go with a 120gb SSD + min 1tb HDD combo, but an 512gb SSD would be the best.
- For PSU Idk what you would like a silent one or something so I can't recommend you. But look out for coil whine. Sadly I have it on my PSU and I'll change asap.

If you don't care about the budget then do what you wanted but keep in mind you didn't pick the best GPU.

 

[whs]

You don't really need an i7. An i5 will do.

I would focus on the graphics card. The GTX 660 is a value card (good value for the money) but not top shelf. There are better options - see here:

PassMark - GeForce GTX 660 - Price performance comparison

 

[Digerati]

i7 is overkill
You don't really need an i7. An i5 will do.
16gb is most likely overkill

When it comes to "gaming rigs", there is no such a thing as "overkill". The fact of the matter is, no one needs a "gaming rig" - just as no one needs a Ferrari or Porsche or Bugatti! You build/buy a monster gaming rig for entertainment (and bragging rights!), not utility.

It all boils down to "bang for your money". An i5 will provide a big bang. For more money, you get a "little more" bang with an i7. So I agree an i5 is fine, but an i7 is still better, and more "fun" - if budget allows.

8Gb of RAM (with a 64-bit OS - which I don't see listed, btw) provides a big bang. While the performance gains between 8 and 16Gb are not huge, there definitely is a "little more" bang, and more "fun" for your money - if budget allows (not to mention less wear and tear on your hard drive - also not listed).

If the budget is limited, I would go for an i5, at least 8Gb of RAM (but 16Gb is better for not much more $$$) and then go for the best graphics card the budget allows.

The PSU is probably the most important purchasing decision, but should only be done AFTER you have chosen your other components, and determined their power requirements. Do not cut corners with a cheap, off-brand PSU. Get a quality 80 PLUS certified to ensure at least an 82% "flat" efficiency rating across "all" realistic loads. I prefer Corsair, Seasonic, and Antec PSUs, but understand achieving a high, flat efficiency requires quality design, quality parts, and quality construction - regardless the brand name stamped on the case.

I don't see a case listed either. The case, along with a good 80 PLUS PSU form the foundation for a good computer set to provide years of support though several upgrades. It is the case's responsibility to protect the innards from kicks and bumps, but also to provide an adequate "flow" of cool air through the case. I like Antec cases.

Hoping someone can please give me some honest advice.

"Honest" advice? Okay. Since I don't see a case, hard drive, or OS in your list, my "honest" fear is you or your son are planning to use the hard drive (with an OS already installed on it) from a different computer with this "new" setup, and the "honest" truth is, that is most likely illegal! This is because the Windows licenses that typically come with computers are "OEM/System Builders" license and as such, they are inextricably tied to the "O"riginal "E"quipment and can NOT under ANY circumstances be transferred to a new computer, or to an "upgraded" motherboard (because a new motherboard is considered a new computer for licensing purposes). And note you agreed to abide by this "term" in the EULA (end-user license agreement) when you (or your son) decided to keep using this copy of Windows with the original computer - and that makes it legally binding.

So, for "honest" advice, plan on buying a new license of Windows with this new hardware too to ensure your son is being a "honest" user!

 

[shanefromoz]

I ended up getting a GTX970 and my son loves it. His gaming has never been so good.

 

[kbrady1979]

Hoping someone can please give me some honest advice.

"Honest" advice? Okay. Since I don't see a case, hard drive, or OS in your list, my "honest" fear is you or your son are planning to use the hard drive (with an OS already installed on it) from a different computer with this "new" setup, and the "honest" truth is, that is most likely illegal! This is because the Windows licenses that typically come with computers are "OEM/System Builders" license and as such, they are inextricably tied to the "O"riginal "E"quipment and can NOT under ANY circumstances be transferred to a new computer, or to an "upgraded" motherboard (because a new motherboard is considered a new computer for licensing purposes). And note you agreed to abide by this "term" in the EULA (end-user license agreement) when you (or your son) decided to keep using this copy of Windows with the original computer - and that makes it legally binding.

So, for "honest" advice, plan on buying a new license of Windows with this new hardware too to ensure your son is being a "honest" user!

Most people don't list a new copy of Windows when wanting advice on hardware.

Also, nice choice on the GPU.....the 970 is a beast

 

[Digerati]

Most people don't list a new copy of Windows when wanting advice on hardware.

That may be true, but without an OS, the hardware is just a big, expensive paperweight. If you want a working computer, you cannot have one without the other. Plus, omitting the OS is often an oversight - not intentional. The decision to go 32-bit or 64-bit is hardware driven - and often misunderstood by many. And sadly, many folks are under the incorrect assumption they can use their old OS licenses - totally unaware that it may be, and likely is illegal - with potentials (though rare, they are very real) for hefty fines and lengthy jail times - per violation.

Most people want to be legal, and not risk the consequences of being ignorant of the laws.

So my goal is to provide the advice people need, not just what they ask for. And besides, many posters don't know what information to provide or what questions to ask. What they do with that information is up to them. But they cannot say they didn't know - and making sure folks know all the facts that affect the hardware decisions they are asking about is our job, right?

So what's the harm?

 

[kbrady1979]

I didn't say there was any harm.........but since this thread is about hardware, it's not a big deal for someone to not list an OS. If they have questions about reusing a HDD in the scenario you described, then by all means....set em straight.

 

[Digerati]

it's not a big deal for someone to not list an OS.

I'm not the one making a big deal out of it. It would have been a comment forgotten if you had not now added 2 more posts on that alone.

Note I first said there was no mention of a power supply and added my concerns on that. Then I said there was no mention of a case and added comments about that. And finally, I added at the end, there was no mention of an OS.

[edit add:]You posted twice to comment about my commenting on OS licensing. I did not mean for it to become the topic of the thread, as I know it is the HW forum. But it is also a common misconception among many users new to doing their own upgrades, that they can use their OEM licenses from their last computer on their new or upgraded computer. But that is a EULA violation and illegal with OEM licenses, by far the most common. I didn't see the harm or problem pointing that out when giving hardware upgrade advice as I think most people want to be "honest" when using their computers too.

If I violated a hardware forum policy, then, I am sorry. I didn't know. [edit]

If they have questions about reusing a HDD in the scenario you described, then by all means....set em straight.

Sorry, but I don't assume anyone knows all the questions to ask when seeking help. Nor do I assume unasked questions mean they know the answers.

@shanefromoz - sorry for the unnecessary OT sidetracks. I only want your son to be legal. Please disregard my comments about Windows licensing if it doesn't apply to you.

 

[kbrady1979]

You didn't violate anything at all. Your first post on the matter was a little preachy......that is all. I was just offering up a reason why one MIGHT not add an OS to a parts list for a build. I think you have made much more of a deal out of this than I have....if we're being honest. The OP has taken care of the problem with a new graphics card and his son is happy. Case closed

 

[shanefromoz]

Yes case closed.
Thanks to all that have assisted me.