best gaming computer on a budget 2013 image
Khargoshan
Hi,
While I haven't done this before, but with an average understanding of computer peripherals and some help with figuring out hardware, I wish to assemble a desktop PC on a budget of â¹ 50,000-55,000 (Approx. $ 797-877) that will be used for illustration and graphic design. I'm in close proximity of Lamington Road, Mumbai, so sourcing parts should not be a problem.
It would help if you could also suggest a pen-tablet (stylus) for mid to professional level use. I've checked out Wacom & iBall websites for their pen-tablets but cannot decide between the two. How do they compare? Should I compromise somewhere in the budget of the PC build, ditch iBall, and invest in a Wacom model?
Web browsing, Skype/Hangouts telephony, word processing and number crunching, not-so-hardcore gaming are other tasks I'll be using the PC for.
As of 2013, what config. works best for the above purposes?
Answer
This all depends.
If you spoke with a representative from Apple computers, they would insist that you needed one of their products, and most likely the most expensive product they could get you to purchase.
If you spoke to a Linux Aficionado, I'm sure the conversation would quickly devolve into a discussion about which distro of Linux they believed would be best for you, and how you would have to get the free software they believed would be best for you... which wouldn't be what you initially asked them.
In General... the Optimized build for what you describe doesn't really exist. Oh, there are some things you could look for, but even with the budget constraints that you list, it really is all about what you want to buy. Let me explain.
You want to use it for Illustration and Graphic design. You don't even know what pen-tablet you want to use yet. You've only LOOKED at them... you haven't said anything about getting your hands on one... and that is a recipe for disaster. Why? Because you come across like you would purchase the one that got the highest recommendation, and that has NOTHING to do with whether or not *you* will actually like it. If this machine is going to be used to build and work on a career, and that graphics tablet is going to be your bread-and-butter interface to the machine... you had better damn well get your hands on as many different tablets before you purchase one... or start buying different ones so you will have multiples to play with and find the right one. I'll come back to this.
Web browsing. Well, you can do that on a netbook. Don't need much machine there. Come on... you suggest this as part of the criteria, and honestly, you make most of our brains hurt. Why? ANY computer with a connection to the internet can browse the web. You can browse the web with your phone... does that make your phone a viable candidate for taking the place of the machine you want to build?
Skype/Hangouts telephony. So... you need speakers, a mic, and a web cam. Combine that with web browsing, and I think the newest iPod Touch fits your requirements. Oh wait... Word Processing, "number crunching" and not-so-hardcore gaming. Yep. You can do those things as well with an iPod Touch. And yes, you can download one of many apps in the iTunes store that will allow you to draw on the screen of the iPod Touch.
Yes... I realize you were *thinking* of something more powerful than a portable media player you carry in your pocket. Get a Samsung Galaxy phone then. Ok. But seriously now.
I doubt you have seen my point... which is that what you WANT and what you DESCRIBE are two different things.
You need a large monitor. Maybe even two monitors. That way, you can have one dedicated to whatever program you are drawing with, and one for surfing, chatting, etc. These monitors should have a refresh rate of not less than 2ms if you want to do any kind of FPS gaming at all. You say Not-So-hardcore gaming... but we both know that if you don't actually detail the specific games you intend to play, that your phrasing of Not-So-hardcore actually means nothing. I'd also say that you want at least 24" widescreen monitors.
So... what about the rest of the computer? Well... not much really. If we completely ignore your reference to gaming, then you don't need all that much in the Processor department... maybe a quad core 1.8ghz processor http://ark.intel.com/products/72055/ that will Turbo to 2.7ghz. Ok... I suggested that processor because I was thinking of your gaming needs. Unfortunately, you could eat up most of your budget on just that processor AND a motherboard for it... so maybe you should just stick to either a newer core i3 low end processor... or find yourself a nice AMD to stick with. For example, a few years back I found myself a sweet deal on a new machine with cheap parts, but a screaming AMD 1100T (3.3ghz six core, that will turbo to 3.8ghz) at the heart, for only $300 total.
You'll need lots of Ram, especially if you are dealing with RAW images of any size... so when spec'ing motherboards, look to ones that allow you to use at least 16GB. And yes... when you are looking at RAM modules themselves, you will be tempted to buy the most expensive and fastest... only *you* aren't going to need the fastest RAM possible for that motherboard. If you were to play hardcore games, then yes. If you were to be editing HD video for television commercials, then yes. Otherwise, for your needs, static images and illustration, bulk is more important than speed. For what you say you are going to do, you wouldn't see the difference between PC3-6400 and PC3-17000.
Storage. aka.... Hard Drives. The more the Merrier. Heck, you can walk into retail stores and get 3TB for $119 now... and that's not even the cheapest.
Video. Well... you imply that gaming isn't a huge deal, so you don't really need fast/best. You just need good multi-monitor support. NVidia GT640 or a Radeon 6670... although almost all of the 6670's only come with one DVI output... you'd want a card with two DVI connections, even if one is DVI-A and the other is DVI-D
However... once you start pricing out all of that, you find your budget is out the window. So what to do?
Well, you start at places similar to this... that offer deals similar to this. http://www.ascendtech.us/amd-fx-6100-6-core-computer-system_i_dtwfx61004gb1tb.aspx?agent=pricewatch If you want to be able to upgrade to 16gb, then upgrade THAT system with the next motherboard choice (the Ecs A960M-M2 for another $5.99). Not a great motherboard BUT it will allow you to use two 8GB DDR3 memory modules... and those two upgrades (motherboard and memory) bring the total for that machine to $477. You wouldn't want to upgrade the video card at that company (for the $117 they want for the older, low end nVidia G210, you could easily get a much better GT640 somewhere else... for less).
That leave about a third of your budget to get two good 2ms 24" monitors, and your graphics tablet.
You have a lot of research and shopping in your future. Good Luck.
This all depends.
If you spoke with a representative from Apple computers, they would insist that you needed one of their products, and most likely the most expensive product they could get you to purchase.
If you spoke to a Linux Aficionado, I'm sure the conversation would quickly devolve into a discussion about which distro of Linux they believed would be best for you, and how you would have to get the free software they believed would be best for you... which wouldn't be what you initially asked them.
In General... the Optimized build for what you describe doesn't really exist. Oh, there are some things you could look for, but even with the budget constraints that you list, it really is all about what you want to buy. Let me explain.
You want to use it for Illustration and Graphic design. You don't even know what pen-tablet you want to use yet. You've only LOOKED at them... you haven't said anything about getting your hands on one... and that is a recipe for disaster. Why? Because you come across like you would purchase the one that got the highest recommendation, and that has NOTHING to do with whether or not *you* will actually like it. If this machine is going to be used to build and work on a career, and that graphics tablet is going to be your bread-and-butter interface to the machine... you had better damn well get your hands on as many different tablets before you purchase one... or start buying different ones so you will have multiples to play with and find the right one. I'll come back to this.
Web browsing. Well, you can do that on a netbook. Don't need much machine there. Come on... you suggest this as part of the criteria, and honestly, you make most of our brains hurt. Why? ANY computer with a connection to the internet can browse the web. You can browse the web with your phone... does that make your phone a viable candidate for taking the place of the machine you want to build?
Skype/Hangouts telephony. So... you need speakers, a mic, and a web cam. Combine that with web browsing, and I think the newest iPod Touch fits your requirements. Oh wait... Word Processing, "number crunching" and not-so-hardcore gaming. Yep. You can do those things as well with an iPod Touch. And yes, you can download one of many apps in the iTunes store that will allow you to draw on the screen of the iPod Touch.
Yes... I realize you were *thinking* of something more powerful than a portable media player you carry in your pocket. Get a Samsung Galaxy phone then. Ok. But seriously now.
I doubt you have seen my point... which is that what you WANT and what you DESCRIBE are two different things.
You need a large monitor. Maybe even two monitors. That way, you can have one dedicated to whatever program you are drawing with, and one for surfing, chatting, etc. These monitors should have a refresh rate of not less than 2ms if you want to do any kind of FPS gaming at all. You say Not-So-hardcore gaming... but we both know that if you don't actually detail the specific games you intend to play, that your phrasing of Not-So-hardcore actually means nothing. I'd also say that you want at least 24" widescreen monitors.
So... what about the rest of the computer? Well... not much really. If we completely ignore your reference to gaming, then you don't need all that much in the Processor department... maybe a quad core 1.8ghz processor http://ark.intel.com/products/72055/ that will Turbo to 2.7ghz. Ok... I suggested that processor because I was thinking of your gaming needs. Unfortunately, you could eat up most of your budget on just that processor AND a motherboard for it... so maybe you should just stick to either a newer core i3 low end processor... or find yourself a nice AMD to stick with. For example, a few years back I found myself a sweet deal on a new machine with cheap parts, but a screaming AMD 1100T (3.3ghz six core, that will turbo to 3.8ghz) at the heart, for only $300 total.
You'll need lots of Ram, especially if you are dealing with RAW images of any size... so when spec'ing motherboards, look to ones that allow you to use at least 16GB. And yes... when you are looking at RAM modules themselves, you will be tempted to buy the most expensive and fastest... only *you* aren't going to need the fastest RAM possible for that motherboard. If you were to play hardcore games, then yes. If you were to be editing HD video for television commercials, then yes. Otherwise, for your needs, static images and illustration, bulk is more important than speed. For what you say you are going to do, you wouldn't see the difference between PC3-6400 and PC3-17000.
Storage. aka.... Hard Drives. The more the Merrier. Heck, you can walk into retail stores and get 3TB for $119 now... and that's not even the cheapest.
Video. Well... you imply that gaming isn't a huge deal, so you don't really need fast/best. You just need good multi-monitor support. NVidia GT640 or a Radeon 6670... although almost all of the 6670's only come with one DVI output... you'd want a card with two DVI connections, even if one is DVI-A and the other is DVI-D
However... once you start pricing out all of that, you find your budget is out the window. So what to do?
Well, you start at places similar to this... that offer deals similar to this. http://www.ascendtech.us/amd-fx-6100-6-core-computer-system_i_dtwfx61004gb1tb.aspx?agent=pricewatch If you want to be able to upgrade to 16gb, then upgrade THAT system with the next motherboard choice (the Ecs A960M-M2 for another $5.99). Not a great motherboard BUT it will allow you to use two 8GB DDR3 memory modules... and those two upgrades (motherboard and memory) bring the total for that machine to $477. You wouldn't want to upgrade the video card at that company (for the $117 they want for the older, low end nVidia G210, you could easily get a much better GT640 somewhere else... for less).
That leave about a third of your budget to get two good 2ms 24" monitors, and your graphics tablet.
You have a lot of research and shopping in your future. Good Luck.
can you design a computer build that meets my specifications?
Mary
a build that can play all games on at least medium settings and is quick for video editing and just overall fast in most tasks. Around $600 can go a bit over thanks.
Answer
$600 is a very tight budget when it comes to building PCs. It says you will allow yourself to go a little over and if that's the case I can give you the prototype to the absolute best bang for your buck sub $700 gaming PC.
Case: NZXT Source 210 ELITE ($49.99)
CPU: i3 3225 ($134.12)
MOBO: Gigabyte 1155 B75 ($72.99)
RAM: 8GB Corsair Vengeance ($63.75)
GPU: EVGA GTX 660 2GB ($209.99)
PSU: Corsair CX600 ($57.99)
HDD: 2TB Seagate Barracuda ($87.64)
OD: Asus 25xDVD-RW DVD Burner ($21.75)
Total Price (as of 6/9/2013 on Amazon.com):
$698.22
$600 is a very tight budget when it comes to building PCs. It says you will allow yourself to go a little over and if that's the case I can give you the prototype to the absolute best bang for your buck sub $700 gaming PC.
Case: NZXT Source 210 ELITE ($49.99)
CPU: i3 3225 ($134.12)
MOBO: Gigabyte 1155 B75 ($72.99)
RAM: 8GB Corsair Vengeance ($63.75)
GPU: EVGA GTX 660 2GB ($209.99)
PSU: Corsair CX600 ($57.99)
HDD: 2TB Seagate Barracuda ($87.64)
OD: Asus 25xDVD-RW DVD Burner ($21.75)
Total Price (as of 6/9/2013 on Amazon.com):
$698.22
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