The Computer Megathread

[Ethan]

Do you mean I should buy an SSD, AND a Sata III SSD? You worded it in a strange way. I don't think that's what you meant, unless you want me to replace my HD somehow.

No.
Get the SpinPoint 1TB HDD, then get a 64GB or so SSD.
I meant just try get a Sata III one. (sata 3)

[Ad Bot]

[Squideey]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441

This one is only $15 than the one I was originally considering. Plus it's Sata III.

[Jubel]

Needs more soundcards

[mp7964]

I'm working for my Dad, cleaning out the garage and doing some work in the kitchen of his resteraunt, to work up 400 bucks for that smexy lookin one in the OP.

Wish me luck ;)

[Teneksi]

Needs more soundcards

Usually integrated on the motherboard.

[Sulfate]

Usually integrated on the motherboard.

pretty sure he means good ones

for 5.1/7.1 surround and other stuff you can't do without a real soundcard lol

[Ethan]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441

This one is only $15 than the one I was originally considering. Plus it's Sata III.

That, or the one I suggested on the last page:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227725

Needs more soundcards

They are integrated nowadays. No point getting one unless you want to make music.

pretty sure he means good ones

for 5.1/7.1 surround and other stuff you can't do without a real soundcard lol

Yes you can.
My realtek integrated sound has 7.1 surround and beyond, plus all the features you could ever need.

[Teneksi]

I bought this desktop, a Gateway DX4831-03, about a year and a half ago. It has an i5 650 3.2GHz quad, 8 GB RAM, and a GeForce GT 220. Would it be viable and effective to replace the GPU with this? I've never built or upgraded a computer before.

http://www.hwcompare.com/11027/geforce-gt-220-gddr3-vs-geforce-gtx-560/


I would really love to be able to do this at higher than 8 FPS.


Edit: I notice that the power supply's wattage is 300W while the card requires 450W or more. Could that be replaced as well?

[Kingdaro]

This happens to me all the time.

I know right, sucks you can't find stuff to be mad about.

[DontCare4Free]

Overclocking increases the clock speed of components. Commonly overclocked things are the CPU (where it affects the speed, say if you buy a CPU that is 3GHz stock, you can overclock to 3.4GHz or something), RAM (same scenario, turn DDR3-1333 into DDR3-1600 or similar) or GPU (clock speed, shader speed, vram speed etc. This is probably the easiest component to overclock)

Would it be possible to overclock two DDR3-1333 sticks so I could use them together with two DDR3-1600 sticks?
(This is, of course, because I have two unused sticks already.)

[Ethan]

I bought this desktop, a Gateway DX4831-03, about a year and a half ago. It has an i5 650 3.2GHz quad, 8 GB RAM, and a GeForce GT 220. Would it be viable and effective to replace the GPU with this? I've never built or upgraded a computer before.

http://www.hwcompare.com/11027/geforce-gt-220-gddr3-vs-geforce-gtx-560/


I would really love to be able to do this at higher than 8 FPS.


Edit: I notice that the power supply's wattage is 300W while the card requires 450W or more. Could that be replaced as well?

You will definitely need a new power supply.
One of these, based on your budget, however I have ordered them pretty much worst to best, but all are good quality:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171038
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171039
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022

It'd be well worth spending the extra for the OCZ modular 80+.

Graphics cards:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125383
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150521
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125401

560Ti > 6870 > 560.
Despite the 6870 being more powerful, the 560 non-ti and 6870 are on par cost wise.

Look up some benchmarks comparing these 3 cards.

You'll find that the 560Ti is indeed more powerful than the 6870, however it's not worth the cost difference. Up to you though.

If you decide to go with the 6870, and have $10 to spare, go for this instead:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127545

[Ethan]

Would it be possible to overclock two DDR3-1333 sticks so I could use them together with two DDR3-1600 sticks?
(This is, of course, because I have two unused sticks already.)

What speed do your RAM DIMM slots run at?
If they are limited to DDR3-1333, when you put in faster RAM it will automatically downclock.
If it is DDR3-1600 or above, then hope that you have a motherboard that will support RAM overclocking. It's not uncommon though.
Just go in and set the speed, but make sure it's stable.

[DontCare4Free]

What speed do your RAM DIMM slots run at?
If they are limited to DDR3-1333, when you put in faster RAM it will automatically downclock.
If it is DDR3-1600 or above, then hope that you have a motherboard that will support RAM overclocking. It's not uncommon though.
Just go in and set the speed, but make sure it's stable.

It seems like it runs on a max of DDR3-1600 per default, but can overclock up to DDR3-2200.

[Freeze]

How good is a radeon hd 6770?

[Flush535]

How do you tell how good a graphics card is? Is the higher the number better?