Need a new rig

[oboe]

Here's an entry level gaming build from a site called pcpartpicker.com, for under $500, though it doesn't include a DVD drive or Windows. 

https://pcpartpicker.com/guide/tXNnTW/entry-level-gaming-build

The graphics card is a GTX 1050Ti, which should handle AH OK.

[mikeWe9a]

The only peripheral I would absolutely need is a monitor, though I might upgrade sticks somewhere down the line, but that's another thread...


And I haven't done anything like building my own computer before. What's compatibility like? Say I go for a GTX1610, but want to jump up to an I7, or go with an AMD. All still compatible? Or do they like to use proprietary connections?

If you are building a new PC, then no, there are no compatibility issues in using an nVidia or AMD graphics card with either Intel or AMD processors.  Both graphics cards would use the same PCI-E slot on the motherboard.  The only thing to check would be to make sure that the power supply can handle the required power, and that it has the correct connections/cables, as the graphics card will likely have a separate power connection directly from the power supply.  A modular power supply will have extra power connectors allowing you to ensure you have the correct setup for your card.

If you are upgrading, then in addition to the power issue above, switching from one graphics card type (AMD to nVidia or vice versa) will require you to completely uninstall the drivers from the previous card, as leftover drivers from the other type will often cause problems when using the new card.  Changing out the CPU for a more powerful version won't matter to the graphics cards as far as compatibility goes, although there may be some driver updates required for the new CPU.  If the CPU requires a new motherboard, then essentially you are building a brand new system, and a clean install of windows is probably the way to go.

Mike

[Bizman]

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/ is a good site for planning, they have a built-in compatibility checking system.

[FBKampfer]

Here's an entry level gaming build from a site called pcpartpicker.com, for under $500, though it doesn't include a DVD drive or Windows. 

https://pcpartpicker.com/guide/tXNnTW/entry-level-gaming-build

The graphics card is a GTX 1050Ti, which should handle AH OK.

I really like the looks of this. Good starting point with plenty of room to upgrade, from what I can find.

Skuzzy, any idea how well the GTX 1050 will handle AH3 eye candy?

[DaddyAce]

Kampfer answering that question depends on how much monitor you're trying to run....eg resolution and refresh rate.

[Skuzzy]

At 1920x1080 (standard HD resolution) the 1050 will, probably, need some tweaking of the graphic details to be able to handle a lot of action in your view.

[alskahawk]

 Here is what I use for my rig. It's pretty much a budget rig that I have had for 4 years or so. If you start with a good solid motherboard you can keep for a long time and upgrade as you need to. My motto with computers is keep it simple. My setup could probably be built for around $6-700 today.

CPU; 8370 AMD   Not faster than Intel, but it gets the job done at half the price. ($140)
        8350 AMD  (alternate)
HD; SSD. 120GB (one of the first gen SSDs) New 250 GBs are less than $80
       7200 RPM HD Cheap but much slower
Motherboard; Gigabyte 990 FXA 3        (they are currently at about $110)
Memory; 16 GB 1600mhz DDR3 (Recommend 8 GB)
Video; GTX 970 (Probably going to upgrade soon to a 1060) I get 60 ish FR with the highest settings with some glitching.
OS Windows 10 (got win 10 free download last year)
PSU Corsair 750 Watt Highly recommend modular or semi modular.
Case; Roswell full tower. Highly recommend full tower if you have the space and you work on your own computer.

[asterix]

Video; GTX 970 (Probably going to upgrade soon to a 1060) I get 60 ish FR with the highest settings with some glitching.

Is that really that much of an upgrade (picked some random cards):
https://www.game-debate.com/gpu/index.php?gid=3681&gid2=2438&compare=Nvidia%20GeForce%20GTX%201060%20MSI%20Gaming%206GB-vs-Nvidia%20GeForce%20GTX%20970%204GB

[save]

Agreed , next step would be a 1080 or equivalent.

GTX 970  handles AH3 just fine.

I run AH3 in 1920*1080 with a GTX780 card and always have 70 fps (overclocked my monitor) , no shadows and only one step environmental , and no post-lighting on.

Cliffs of Dover struggles over towns so I tweaked it to keep frames @ 70fps.

[yipi]

I have built a few computers using their recommendations and it worked out really well. This is an easy build and it will play Aces High great. Windows 10 is around a 100 dollors so you have to add that in. A DVD drive is really cheap about 25 dollors. It recommends what drive to get on the website. So your total would be around 600 dollors. This is a no Technical built just put the parts together and turn on the computer with windows DVD in it and it will prompt you on what to do

http://www.build-gaming-computers.com/gaming-desktop-computer.html

Best Budget Gaming Desktop Computer Build: August 2017

(Top Performance & Reliability Under $500)


PART
MODEL
PRICE*
Graphics
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB OC
$155
Processor
Intel Pentium G4560 3.50 GHz
$75
Motherboard
MSI B250M Pro-VD (mATX, DDR4, USB 3.1)
$66
RAM
Crucial 8GB (DDR4, 1 x 8GB, 2400 MHz)
$63
HDD
WD Blue 1TB (7200 RPM)
$48
Power Supply
EVGA B1 500 Watts (80+ Bronze)
$40
Case
Cooler Master N200 Mini Tower
$45


$492

*All prices listed were correct at the time of writing but may fluctuate from day to day.



Expected Performance:
1080p (1920 x 1080):
Smooth
1440p (2560 x 1440):
Playable/Average
4K (3840 × 2160):
Unplayable

The above is the expected average performance of this build for each main resolution in modern, graphically-demanding games on max settings.

[Bizman]

Yipi, that looks quite nice for the price. Also, the link you provided seems to have easy reading information about parts in general and how they affect the system.

There's one thing in that build that I quite can't understand: Why cripple the dual channel memory system by using one single RAM stick?

Saving $6 can't be the reason, or can it? Let's think about psychological pricing where $492 sounds like "a little over $400" whereas $499 is well known to be read as "roughly $500". So despite it's only about $6, it sounds like $100.

[Skuzzy]

One stick of system RAM is going to cripple the system performance.

[FBKampfer]

What do you mean one "stick" of ram? Is the physical partitioning of RAM important? I thought it was simply overall storage capacity.

[Skuzzy]

The memory controller of the CPU can access multiple physical sticks of memory faster than it can access one physical stick of memory which speeds up system performance for everything.

It is always better to have two physical sticks of RAM, than one, where dual channel memory access is available.

I can go into the specific details, if you like.  It involves all the memory timings and how the system can access one stick of RAM when the other is still in its wait state.

[Bizman]

What do you mean one "stick" of ram? Is the physical partitioning of RAM important? I thought it was simply overall storage capacity.

That's what I was talking about, too. There's two slots for RAM, but in the list there's only one stick. And the motherboard has the dual channel feature.

Basically it means that the computer can read one slot and write to another at the same time if both slots are populated. That literally doubles the amount of simultaneous memory actions. To further emphasize the importance of RAM: That's where all your programs actually run. The hard disk is mainly a storage for passive stuff. After loading the program code from the hard disk to RAM, most everything happens between the processor, the video card and RAM.