[MEGATHREAD] Personal Computer - Updated builds thanks to Logical Increments

[Cut Glass]

So my hard drive has making high pitched squealing noises so Western Digital is going to send me a replacement then I send the old one back. How would I move all the contents from my old one to my new one with it still thinking it's the same drive, I have multiple programs installed in the drive. (Not my Boot Drive)

[Ad Bot]

[Cut Glass]

i have a Dell Precision m6300 and this keeps happening, apparently, while Source games are running (but it might just happen at any time):

second image follows first image after a black screen
some programs don't work properly afterwards - Chrome won't redisplay pages until i restart Windows Explorer
also, it doesn't happen too often
[img width=600 ]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/97311769/untitledab.png[/img]

why?

Welcome to AMD, stuff. Also the reason I switched to NVIDIA.

[beachbum111111]

Welcome to AMD, stuff. Also the reason I switched to NVIDIA.

Its funny because its his nVidia GPU that stopped working

[Tokthree]

i have a Dell Precision m6300 and this keeps happening, apparently, while Source games are running (but it might just happen at any time):

second image follows first image after a black screen
some programs don't work properly afterwards - Chrome won't redisplay pages until i restart Windows Explorer
also, it doesn't happen too often


why?

Usually when graphics drivers stop working and are automatically restarted it's a problem with the installation of said drivers. I'd reinstall them and see if the problem persists

[Victor Von Doom]

How well could a eyefinity radeon hd 7570 run games like tf2, vindictus and League of Legends?

[Cut Glass]

Its funny because its his nVidia GPU that stopped working

WELL THEN.

[Clone v.117]

So I need a new computer as my butt-tier toshiba laptop is so incredibly terrible I cant stand looking at it any more.
So yeah I'm figuring to build my own for the price reasons and all that but basically I just don't know very much about computer hardware.
Just a few quick Qs:
1. Say I had a budget of $800, would I be able to build a relatively fast (not really asking for much compared to my current laptop) computer that can run relatively demanding games (eg Skyrim (I know it's not much compared to other games but its an example mk) on high graphics with minimal to no lag?
2. How complicated is putting a computer together? Of course if I'm in the midst of making it I would look up guides and whatnot but is it more or less put the different pieces in their areas in the case and connect it all up? Because that sounds like it would be far too simple to be true.

[Tokthree]

Because that sounds like it would be far too simple to be true.

It really is that simple.

Get all your parts on the table, open up the case and put it on it's side, put all the motherboard spacers in the listed holes for your motherboard size, put the CPU on the motherboard, put the rear-IO plate in the cutout on the back of the case, put the motherboard in the case on the spacers rear-IO first then do either the middle screw first or the top left screw, do the rest of the screws and then mount the CPU cooler.

That's the hardest part, everything else is just putting stuff in and connecting cables.

[fawkes..]

1. Say I had a budget of $800, would I be able to build a relatively fast (not really asking for much compared to my current laptop) computer that can run relatively demanding games (eg Skyrim (I know it's not much compared to other games but its an example mk) on high graphics with minimal to no lag?

You're talking Australian Dollars here, right? In that case $800 should be enough to get you what you want

2. How complicated is putting a computer together? Of course if I'm in the midst of making it I would look up guides and whatnot but is it more or less put the different pieces in their areas in the case and connect it all up? Because that sounds like it would be far too simple to be true.

It really is that easy, set aside some time you know won't be interrupted and go for it.

[Clone v.117]

Wow I had imagined it would be a lot more technical than that, so yippie computer building~

You're talking Australian Dollars here, right? In that case $800 should be enough to get you what you want

Would the $800 example in the op be a good computer for me to build? Or do you think there would be any better builds/parts I could use that improve on it?
I don't really know anything about compatible parts or anything...

I just had a quick look and a lot of people are recommending getting a getforce gtx 660ti 2gb card instead of the Radeon HD 7870, would it be a better choice and compatable with the rest of the $800 model? If so could someone please find me a link to one, I'm looking at 6 and all I can make out are jumbles of capital and lower case letters :/

Also just noticed the $800 example in op prices add up to just over $900...

[Flush535]

Exactly that, ye.

If it's for a source game like TF2 try using hldj. If it's for something else I don't know.

[snot2]

Is it true than when you order a CPU the heatsink is already on the CPU with the thermal paste already applied?

mine came in a box where the cpu and fan were individually boxed and had to get the paste seperatly

[Doomonkey]

Does anybody know a utility that tells you what make and model your motherboard is without opening up your case?

[Pikmin]

Does anybody know a utility that tells you what make and model your motherboard is without opening up your case?

Piriform Speccy I think
or just quit being a pusillanimous individual and open up your computer

[Alyx Vance]

mine came in a box where the cpu and fan were individually boxed and had to get the paste seperatly

Err...
Well, then when I order my parts I'll just have to hope that paste comes with it. If paste doesn't come with it than I'll order some paste.