|
Hardware & Custom Builds Discussion on Computer Hardware & Custom Builds |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
2013-04-09, 03:26 | #1 |
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 240
Canada
Location: Alberta
|
Choosing between two gaming desktops
Hey guys, right now I'm in the process of deciding which computer to purchase at a decent price. I don't know too much about building my own computer and custom computer companies charge a significant fee for delivering to Canada, so my best option (according to online forums) would be to buy a pre-built gaming PC. So far, I've browsed newegg.ca and tigerdirect.ca, allowing me to some reasonable and budgetable deals.
Newegg.ca Gaming computers Newegg.ca - PCs & Laptops, Desktop PCs, Gaming & Entertainment Tigerdirect.ca Gaming computers: Gaming Computer, Gaming PCs, At TigerDirect.ca I've managed to narrow down my options to these two models, I believe they offer the best value for their price. One is also on sale atm. Overall, I want a gaming computer that has a fast processor, fast RAM, and a decent video card(s) to run most modern games on high(not ultra) settings. |
2013-04-09, 03:42 | #2 |
Retired PR Developer
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,213
United States of America
Location: Oregon
|
Re: Choosing between two gaming desktops
Just remember, what ever you buy today will be obsolete tomorrow. Your best bet is not to buy some uber gaming PC that claims to have all the latest tech, because you're most likely overpaying for it.
Look at the base hardware included, and determine if it is capable of upgrades down the road. In my opinion, the most important part of the PC is the motherboard. Make sure it has a CPU socket type that is still popular, and won't disappear in a few years. Also make sure that it supports enough RAM for future upgrades, even if you think it has enough for now. I have been buying from Tigerdirect almost exclusively for almost 10 years. I very rarely have to order a part from ebay or newegg, such as when Tiger is out of stock and I'm in a hurry to get it. Your Tiger link didn't direct to a specific PC though, just a category. Was there a specific model you had in mind there? What is your "desired" budget, and are there any specifics that you must have? What is the minimum HDD size you need? Does your current monitor support HDMI, or just VGA? Do you require (or desire) any special features like built-in bluetooth, card reader, etc? |
|
|
2013-04-09, 03:55 | #3 | |
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 240
Canada
Location: Alberta
|
Re: Choosing between two gaming desktops
Quote:
Buy the CybertronPC Kombat-X AMD FX w/2x HD6670 CrossFireX at TigerDirect.ca Buy the CybertronPC Assassin AMD FX w/2x HD6570 CrossFireX at TigerDirect.ca I don't desire for anything that is unnessary for quality gaming/entertainment, a HDMI monitor may be a consideration in the future. But right now, I'm look at computers within a price range of $700 to $1100 CDN | |
2013-04-09, 04:34 | #4 |
Retired PR Developer
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,213
United States of America
Location: Oregon
|
Re: Choosing between two gaming desktops
Of those two computers, the first one looks like the better choice. Although the CPU is rated at 3.30 as opposed to the 4.20 in the second PC, the first has 6 cores instead of 4. It's also of a newer series, and both are AM3+ which is good.
The first PC also has maxed RAM (16GB), while the second is still resting on 8GB. Both are using 1600 DDR3, the first just has twice as much of it. Both are also using dual 1GB Xfire cards, but the first model is using a slightly newer series (6670 instead of 6570). Both have roughly the same HDD, onboard 7.1 sound, but the first PC does appear to have a few more ports available. Roughly other features are on par, such as O/S etc. Overall, the first PC (Kombat X) looks like a pretty good system for the price. It's slightly more expensive than the other one, but you get what you pay for due to the increase of RAM and a fewer slightly "newer" parts. It looks like it also has plenty of room for future upgrades, but it'll probably be some time before you need anything anyways. Maybe another HDD for storage, another DVD/BR drive, what ever. But as it sits there, it's fully capable of running games on high settings. |
|
|
2013-04-09, 05:03 | #5 |
Retired PR Developer
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,835
Japan
Location: Tokyo
|
Re: Choosing between two gaming desktops
If it was me, I wouldn't choose either.
I did a quick spec-up of a PC that would destroy those two in terms of performance. The downsides are that I assume the following: You already have a KB/Mouse & don't need a new one You are using a computer currently and thus already have Windows 7, and don't need a new copy. Points to keep in mind why my build is better:
|
2013-04-09, 06:38 | #6 |
Retired PR Developer
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,648
United States of America
|
Re: Choosing between two gaming desktops
I highly suggest browsing the website NCIX.com - Canada's Premier Computer Store - Online PC Discount Store, Buy Computer Accessories
They are based in BC, they have a good reputation, and the prices are quite reasonable for entry level gaming PCs. The better tigerdirect PC costs CA$1170 before shipping, assuming that is your budget, This is close to what you should get: NCIX.com - Canada's Premier Computer Store - Online PC Discount Store, Buy Computer Accessories includes: Win7 headphones speakers CD drive 128gb SSD and a 1TB HDD PROMO: Far Cry 3 & STALKER: Call of PRIPYAT'''' Digital Coupon Codes (If not interesting to you, sell them on EBay for a quick $40) excludes: monitor keyboard mouse all the parts are quite nice, you will get a long life out of this system. Much much better than the tigerdirect and newegg deals. If you skip the speakers and headphones, you can upgrade the HD7850 to the HD7870, for even better performance. |
|
|
2013-04-09, 06:45 | #7 |
Retired PR Developer
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,648
United States of America
|
Re: Choosing between two gaming desktops
NCIX also has many options for Intel CPU based systems:
NCIX.com - Canada's Premier Computer Store - Online PC Discount Store, Buy Computer Accessories I strongly suggest buying a "Vesta" labeled system, Vesta is NCIX in house brand. They pull the parts from their warehouse, build it, test it, pack it and ship it to you. Comes with a 1 year warranty. Here are other AMD systems: NCIX.com - Canada's Premier Computer Store - Online PC Discount Store, Buy Computer Accessories Maybe [R-CON]Psyrus can rebuild his system from NCIX to show you what you have on offer. |
|
|
2013-04-09, 07:12 | #8 |
Retired PR Developer
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,835
Japan
Location: Tokyo
|
Re: Choosing between two gaming desktops
I like the look of those NCIX systems much better, as prebuilt units they offer farrrr more value than the tigerdirect ones previously linked. I would even feel comfortable with the one that LITOralis first posted. I prefer self-built, but as far as prebuilt go, that one was rather decent!
|
2013-04-09, 07:22 | #9 |
Retired PR Developer
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,648
United States of America
|
Re: Choosing between two gaming desktops
NCIX.com - Canada's Premier Computer Store - Online PC Discount Store, Buy Computer Accessories
============================= or this: NCIX.com - Canada's Premier Computer Store - Online PC Discount Store, Buy Computer Accessories This is only CA$1080 and the GTX 660 is twice as fast as the Crossfire HD 6670s in the CybertronPC Kombat X TGM2242G. Video Card Comparison - GPUReview.com That would leave you about $100 to buy a keyboard and mouse and still be at same budget. |
|
|
2013-04-09, 07:25 | #10 |
Retired PR Developer
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,648
United States of America
|
Re: Choosing between two gaming desktops
EDIT:
On this link NCIX.com - Canada's Premier Computer Store - Online PC Discount Store, Buy Computer Accessories I think the GPU won't fit in the case. That GPU, MSI Twin Frozr GTX 660 uses a custom cooler, you need the reference cooler for any GTX 6XX series card to fit in that particular case. |
|
|
Tags |
choosing, desktops, gaming |
|
|