Cameron
Answer
As you're probably noticing anything specifically labeled as a gaming computer tends to have a ridiculous price tag attached to it. Systems like Dell's Alienware are often going to be double what a traditional computer costs. The cheapest gaming computer I bought already built is one where I picked a very cheap model and had the hardware hand selected to meet my needs. Nearly all companies give you the option to select a computer and upgrade the processor etc. Always remember that a fancy case does not make a great gaming computer. In fact much of the time people are really paying for more of the case and the name than the actual hardware. This is why building a computer or selecting the parts and having one constructed for you is quite a bit less expensive.
Your next best option if you don't want to spend the time consulting someone on what specs are the best to have is to just shop for one of the new Ultrabooks. This is a new genre of computers that Intel hatched that are portable but meet a very strict set of specs which are much more performance based. Computers like the Macbook Air fall in this category which can handle gaming online very well but still are priced at around a grand or less.
The final option you may want to consider is a refurbished computer. Many start to cringe when they hear the word refurbished but the thing is that nearly every major manufacturer now offers the same warranty as a new computer. The discounts can be pretty substantial and with a solid 1 to 3 year warranty you can't go wrong. Just ideally stick with one of the main outlets and not a fly by night company that isn't affiliated with the manufacturer. They generally don't have the latest testing and certification equipment as well as don't have the best warranties.
As you're probably noticing anything specifically labeled as a gaming computer tends to have a ridiculous price tag attached to it. Systems like Dell's Alienware are often going to be double what a traditional computer costs. The cheapest gaming computer I bought already built is one where I picked a very cheap model and had the hardware hand selected to meet my needs. Nearly all companies give you the option to select a computer and upgrade the processor etc. Always remember that a fancy case does not make a great gaming computer. In fact much of the time people are really paying for more of the case and the name than the actual hardware. This is why building a computer or selecting the parts and having one constructed for you is quite a bit less expensive.
Your next best option if you don't want to spend the time consulting someone on what specs are the best to have is to just shop for one of the new Ultrabooks. This is a new genre of computers that Intel hatched that are portable but meet a very strict set of specs which are much more performance based. Computers like the Macbook Air fall in this category which can handle gaming online very well but still are priced at around a grand or less.
The final option you may want to consider is a refurbished computer. Many start to cringe when they hear the word refurbished but the thing is that nearly every major manufacturer now offers the same warranty as a new computer. The discounts can be pretty substantial and with a solid 1 to 3 year warranty you can't go wrong. Just ideally stick with one of the main outlets and not a fly by night company that isn't affiliated with the manufacturer. They generally don't have the latest testing and certification equipment as well as don't have the best warranties.
Gaming computer build?
Patrick
Hi, I'm building a computer that will be essentially used for gaming.
This is what I have so far:
Case: Aerocool USB3.0 Black Hawk Case No PSU: http://www.cplonline.com.au/online-shop?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_default.tpl&product_id=4835&category_id=217
Power supply: Coolermaster 725W eXtreme Power Plus II RS-725-PCAR: http://www.cplonline.com.au/online-shop?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_default.tpl&product_id=10572&category_id=250
CPU: Intel Core i7 3770K 3.5GHz LGA1155: http://www.cplonline.com.au/online-shop/cpus/intel-cpus?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_default.tpl&product_id=9307&category_id=133
Heat-sink/CPU fan: Coolermaster X6 CPU Cooler socket 2011: http://www.cplonline.com.au/online-shop?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_default.tpl&product_id=10493&category_id=579
Motherboard: ASUS Crosshair V Formula Mainboard: http://www.cplonline.com.au/online-shop/motherboard?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_default.tpl&product_id=7094&category_id=240
Graphics card: EVGA GeForce GTX680 2GB: http://www.cplonline.com.au/online-shop?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_default.tpl&product_id=9117&category_id=344
RAM: Corsair 4GB Single 1333Mhz DDR3 CMV4GX3M1A1333C9 (two of those): http://www.cplonline.com.au/online-shop?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_default.tpl&product_id=8225&category_id=283
Hard drive: Seagate 500GB ST500DM002: http://www.cplonline.com.au/online-shop/hard-drives?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_default.tpl&product_id=5432&category_id=229
Disk drive: Pioneer DVR-220LBKS DVD-RW SATA: http://www.cplonline.com.au/online-shop?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_default.tpl&product_id=10489&category_id=745
Monitor: Samsung 22" S22A450 5ms LED: http://www.cplonline.com.au/online-shop?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_default.tpl&product_id=7067&category_id=238
Will this be a good build and if not can someone please help me fix what i've done wrong because I'm not very good at this.
Thanks
What do you mean by an SSD? As I said I'm not very good at this, sorry
Answer
Processor and motherboard are incompatible; look for LGA 1155 Z77 motherboards like this one:
http://www.cplonline.com.au/online-shop?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_default.tpl&product_id=11257&category_id=447
If this is just for gaming, just go for an i5-3570k, it won't make a difference at all in games. Put more money towards a better hard drive.
Get this heatsink fan instead, it's a heck of a lot better and it's quiet:
http://www.cplonline.com.au/online-shop?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_default.tpl&product_id=5300&category_id=227
Also get this power supply instead, you don't really need 700+W for a single GTX 680 and the only good power supply line that Cooler Master has is the Silent Pro series.
http://www.cplonline.com.au/online-shop?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_default.tpl&product_id=7760&category_id=250
I can't find a decent hard drive on that site, so here's a decent one on a different Australian website:
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=19747
Processor and motherboard are incompatible; look for LGA 1155 Z77 motherboards like this one:
http://www.cplonline.com.au/online-shop?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_default.tpl&product_id=11257&category_id=447
If this is just for gaming, just go for an i5-3570k, it won't make a difference at all in games. Put more money towards a better hard drive.
Get this heatsink fan instead, it's a heck of a lot better and it's quiet:
http://www.cplonline.com.au/online-shop?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_default.tpl&product_id=5300&category_id=227
Also get this power supply instead, you don't really need 700+W for a single GTX 680 and the only good power supply line that Cooler Master has is the Silent Pro series.
http://www.cplonline.com.au/online-shop?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_default.tpl&product_id=7760&category_id=250
I can't find a decent hard drive on that site, so here's a decent one on a different Australian website:
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=19747
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