OS Steam and Computer Gaming Thread

[Phobia]

Re: OS Steam and Computer Gaming Thread

I have decided on this GTX 560 Ti
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814500231



$250 with mail in rebate Plus Battlefield 3. So basically the card for 200 plus the game.

[WTF]

Re: OS Steam and Computer Gaming Thread

Very good choice. You'll love it. Very slick looking, very slick performing.

[Phobia]

Re: OS Steam and Computer Gaming Thread

Very good choice. You'll love it. Very slick looking, very slick performing.

Oooohhhh yeeeeaaaaaa

[CaptainZombie]

Re: OS Steam and Computer Gaming Thread

This 560 completely rocks, I put it through its paces on a few titles last night and my jaw dropped. I tried the demo for Just Cause 2 and couldn't believe how good it looked vs. trying it with my GTS 250.

I d/l NBA 2K12 overnight, so I'll be checking that out today. The real test, to try and run Crysis at higher settings which on my previous card would only run on Medium.

I see Phobia and WTF you guys were recommending ASRock mobo's, but reading many user reviews on Newegg, these boards are getting blasted too with DOA's and other various issues. How are the Intel branded and Gigabyte boards?

[WTF]

Re: OS Steam and Computer Gaming Thread

Candy, you going for an Intel build or AMD? First things first . And what type of a budget for the MOBO are you looking at? I'll find you one

Z68 Board for Intel i3/i5/i7

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157271

$121, not bad at all for such a full featured board. I had this exact one, and it's an amazing board . Extremely easy to "build" using this board.

Also had:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157281

$129 for a full featured core unlocking AMD board. Had this paired with a Zosma 960T (unlocked to 6 core), GREAT setup too. Handles hex core processors as well.

[Phobia]

Re: OS Steam and Computer Gaming Thread

Its also worth noting, all products will feature "bad reviews" of some sort. Also products arriving dead is just nature of the beast when it comes to building PCs. There are so many factors into this, so that is why it is great to do business with a company with a good return swap policy such as Newegg. I have dealt with my share of DOA products. Ship it back and wait for the new. It is not common but for sure something that can happen.

So with that said, look at the percentage of 5 stars, 4 stars then 1 stars. If your 1 star percentages are climbing up equal to around the 4 star mark then you want to review the product more. You want to look for a product with not only good user reviews but also what the pros say, so google reviews on the item.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: OS Steam and Computer Gaming Thread

Candy, you going for an Intel build or AMD? First things first . And what type of a budget for the MOBO are you looking at? I'll find you one

Z68 Board for Intel i3/i5/i7

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157271

$121, not bad at all for such a full featured board. I had this exact one, and it's an amazing board . Extremely easy to "build" using this board.

Also had:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157281

$129 for a full featured core unlocking AMD board. Had this paired with a Zosma 960T (unlocked to 6 core), GREAT setup too. Handles hex core processors as well.

I'm going with an Intel build for sure, for gaming I had heard that AMD is not as good. I'm going back and forth between the i3 and i5, but it seems like the i5 is probably the route to take.

I would even be open to getting a m-ATX board too as long as it has some decent features. I doubt I'm going to go SLI at all considering that then I'll need to water cool it. Having one PCI-e slot is ok.

Its also worth noting, all products will feature "bad reviews" of some sort. Also products arriving dead is just nature of the beast when it comes to building PCs. There are so many factors into this, so that is why it is great to do business with a company with a good return swap policy such as Newegg. I have dealt with my share of DOA products. Ship it back and wait for the new. It is not common but for sure something that can happen.

So with that said, look at the percentage of 5 stars, 4 stars then 1 stars. If your 1 star percentages are climbing up equal to around the 4 star mark then you want to review the product more. You want to look for a product with not only good user reviews but also what the pros say, so google reviews on the item.

Thanks for your thoughts on this, some of the boards I was looking there was way more negative than anything positive.

[trobinson97]

Re: OS Steam and Computer Gaming Thread

Great thread. But who's Candy? Is Captain Zombie the poster formerly known as the other Candyman?

[CaptainZombie]

Re: OS Steam and Computer Gaming Thread

Great thread. But who's Candy? Is Captain Zombie the poster formerly known as the other Candyman?

Yes, I am the original Candyman, gearsx8, Metropolis, and many million more name changes over the last almost 10 years. LOL!

[CaptainZombie]

Re: OS Steam and Computer Gaming Thread

I hit up Microcenter today, they had a deal where if you buy any i5 2500K CPU and above (paid $179), you can add a Z68 mobo from a list for $54. I picked up the ASRock Z68 Pro3-M Socket 1155 Z68 mATX. Granted it's not a full ATX mobo, don't plan to SLI and this thing goes up to 32gb RAM. I added Kingston 8gb DDR3 1333 RAM and also bought a Seagate 500gb HDD.

What sucks was having to reinstall Windows and all my applications, games, etc. Still trying to reinstall everything, the worst part of new builds.

Should I of gone with PC-1600?

Steam had Bulletstorm for $5 yesterday.

[Sandman42]

Re: OS Steam and Computer Gaming Thread

The good thing about my build was that I used an SSD as my main drive and used my 1TB HDD from my old PC which had all my existing games and music on it, so all I had to do was install Windows 7. Definitely made the hassle a lot easier.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: OS Steam and Computer Gaming Thread

Should I of gone with PC-1600?

Steam had Bulletstorm for $5 yesterday.

Unless you an overclocker, it don't make a difference. Just remember from here on out, you have to buy the same speed of RAM you already have in your PC. But more then likely you won't be adding any more RAM since 8gb is plenty, unless you planning on doing a lot of animations or super heavy rendering projects, then yeah you would want to add more RAM.

[Phobia]

Re: OS Steam and Computer Gaming Thread

The good thing about my build was that I used an SSD as my main drive and used my 1TB HDD from my old PC which had all my existing games and music on it, so all I had to do was install Windows 7. Definitely made the hassle a lot easier.

How you like the SSD Sand?

I plan on doing a similar setup on my next build, install OS on primary HD then install all programs and games on external HD for ease of "zeroing" out. I tend to reinstall windows about once every two years. A system runs soooo much better on a fresh install.

On topic: I played a bunch of Mafia 2 on PC this weekend, lil Left 4 Dead 2, and almost got into some ARMA 2. MAN!!!!!! It is good to be back fully on PC. Graphics can't be touched on a PC!

Left 4 Dead 2



ARMA 2




Lets just say consoles are missing out

[Phobia]

Re: OS Steam and Computer Gaming Thread

WTF, you said you keep your wireless keyboard and mouse in the pocket of your recliner. Can you tell me what kinda of wireless keyboard and mouse you use?

Reason I am asking is I am in the process of looking. I am getting my PC "living room" rig ready and I have read some things on wireless technology that has me concerned slightly. They said the older tech resulted in a obvious delay when operation a mouse for the signal to be sent and returned which made gaming with these more difficult.

Now I have read the improvements in the wireless technology is making this no longer a issue. But I am still trying to find a reasonable price pair (keyboard & mouse) that does not break the bank and still operates great.

I have read about the wireless "Mamba" that it has no delay and is just like a wired mouse. But this thing is over a 100 bucks

[Sandman42]

Re: OS Steam and Computer Gaming Thread

How you like the SSD Sand?

I think its great. I just have the OS and most of the main programs I use daily on it like Chrome, ITunes, and Steam. Boot takes about 8 seconds, and that's from as soon a I turn the PC on, post and all. I see the biggest improvement with Itunes though, as it always felt clunky on my PC before, but on the SSD it opens instantly, rather than not opening for 7-10 seconds.

Thinking back I wish I spent some more and got a bigger SSD (maybe 80 GB). The one I have now is 50 and its just enough for the OS, my core apps, and maybe 1 game depending on its size. So I occasionally have to do some tinkering with install files if I want to play one game off an SSD. I haven't tried it yet but I've read load times with Skyrim installed on an SSD are pretty much nonexistant.