Guild Wars 2

Hi all, I’ve decided (impulsively after several crashes) to get a new computer, and I like to have GW2 run nicely on it with better than minimal setting (what I have now), not being computer savvy I’ve been heavily relying on Part II from this post (thank you kirito):

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/tech/FAQ-Frequently-Asked-Questions-Compilation/

So this is the computer I end up looking at:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229481R

So for the price and the specs, is this a good computer?

Thank you for any input! :D

While u may not be tech savy, building ur own computer is much more beneficial and cheaper/higher quality.
The price and specs of the one u linked are pritty good, BUT i beleve its openbox(hence the price) and it doesnt give details on the motherboard or PSU.
Check out some online videos such as:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bUghCx9iso
and see if ur willing to build it urself.
There will be other videos available ofc, but this is just the 1st one i found on google.

If ur not going ot build it urself then do try find somewhere that gives u options within the computer ur buying. The fully prebuilt models like the one u listed generaly have corners cut somehwere to reduce build cost whislt still charging a premium. Common cuts are the the motherboard and PSU, 2 things that can usualy be slipped by the less tech savy customer, but are very important components.

EDIT: one final thing, the sweetspot for price:performance is around the $1000 mark for self built computers.

Solar is correct. I would also highly recommend staying with Intel/nVidia and avoiding AMD.

that computer is soo over priced for whats in it.

You can and should build your own. The 2 Main things to look for are a Z87 1150 Socket Motherboard, and the i5-4670K. Both will run about 420~ and be about 75% of the total cost of the PC.

Next will be a simple case, and a Power supply. The Power supply needs to be atleast 600W incase you decide to over clock your PC to get the most out of it.

Memory is not expensive anymore, I would suggest 8GB (2×4GB Kit) CL9 DDR3 1333Mhz, Runs for 56~

Then comes your Hard disk. You can get a inexpensive HDD for about 50 bucks that has anywhere from 1TB of storage to 2.5TB of storage (depending on HDD Class, connection type, IE SataIII, and Platter Density). If you want more performance you can get a 120G SSD for about 100 Bucks now. But that 120G of storage will go fast, so I always suggest pairing the SSD with a HDD for additional storage (Video/Music/…ect).

Your video card can be anything that is a Class 2 or above (Medium+). I would suggest a HD7790, as they are about 100 Bucks if you look around and do extremely well with this game. You can spend more or less depending on other GPU options you are looking for. The Nvidia vs AMD battle is NOT like the Intel vs AMD battle. Some have better luck with AMD over Nvidia(myself) and vise versa. Either way you go for the Graphics Card will have the same or near same results. But, I would not spend more then 150 on a GPU for this game, as the Game runs 80% on CPU power alone.

Then you have your OS and Optical Drive. You will need an OS, you can get Win8 for 119 on newegg, if you buy Hardware you can get a Win8 OEM install for about 80 (you have to look for the OEM system builder deals, usually teamed with Motherboard purchases). If you already have a RETAIL version of Windows you can reuse it. If your Version is OEM you cannot, as its tied to the hardware that it came with (IE motherboard). The Optical Drive is 100% optial IMHO. You can install Win7Win8 via USB now as long as you have another PC to build the Install Stick with, and almost everything is streamed or downloaded for applications now. So you can save 30-120(DVD vs BluRay) by not buying one.

When it all said and done, with discounts and such, you should be looking at the above system for UNDER 700 shipped. And its alot better then what you originally Linked.

I paid $500 to build my computer last year and it runs GW2 at +60fps except in zerg vs zerg and such.

I had never built a computer before, but it was easy and fun – I really recommend it.

If you don’t want to I would highly recommend becoming friends with someone who will help you do it so that you can save money and get better performance.

To be honest... you guys lost me when you start throwing out parts names, so that reaffirmed staying away from buying the parts on my own...

I’m looking at this instead:

http://www.ibuypower.com/Store/Holiday-Paladin-Speical

Any advice? :/

Yanslana.5982:

To be honest… you guys lost me when you start throwing out parts names, so that reaffirmed staying away from buying the parts on my own…

I’m looking at this instead:

http://www.ibuypower.com/Store/Holiday-Paladin-Speical

Any advice? :/

In that case I would hit up a local PC shop and give them the parts lists from here and say ‘build me this’ and I would not pay more then 125 for the assembly + Basic Windows install.

+1

Put it this way, the rig I have now (in today’s money) is about 3K UK money (3 years old now and still going strong – apart from a GPU replacement).

You do pay a premium for having your rig built for you where you just pick the parts from a PC building firm. That’s why mine cost what it did; and, for me, well…. I just don’t have the nous to buy the parts and do some DIY. Each to their own!

ibuypower and their sister site(s) or whatever are pretty notorious for taking advantage of people who don’t know what parts they’re selecting – lots of low quality PSUs that were never going to be able to handle what was hooked up to them.

The PSU is, in my opinion, the most important part of your system. If it dies it can take everything with it. You want a high-quality PSU that will be as safe as possible with quality parts and that will support what you want to hook up to it and have the quality materials to have the best chance of not taking everything with it if it fails.

I would highly recommend NOT going with their “standard” option if you do go with them. Research the PSU a little and make sure you are picking one that is not going to crash and burn. If anything, that is the one part you really need to pay attention to – that is so often overlooked because people get caught up on making sure the CPU and GPU are “good enough”.

I knew nothing about any of this before I built my own PC. I started to research and it took me a month or so to learn what I needed to know. If you are curious and willing to read a little it is not impossible.

sirsquishy.8531:

that computer is soo over priced for whats in it.

I’m sorry I had to stop reading the thread here and respond to this.

The linked computer is so UNDERPRICED compared to what it would be brand new and of the same parts. Sure it’s not an overclockable processor but if OP is not going to be doing that, then there’s no harm. It comes with the best selling GPU, a higher end i5 haswell and a 2 TB hard drive

I actually dare you to build something of the same performing specs for less.
Operating system included with purchase.

As far as I’m concerned, I would buy this PC because I don’t find any potentially bad pieces of hardware in it.

Not to mention, the low price on this unit, OP could buy an SSD if they so wanted to and pair it up with the HDD.

sirsquishy.8531:

You can and should build your own. The 2 Main things to look for are a Z87 1150 Socket Motherboard, and the i5-4670K. Both will run about 420~ and be about 75% of the total cost of the PC.

Why are you overspending on a mobo by so much? At most mobo+CPU+212 EVO should be $400 all together.

Also, TC, that prebuilt really isn’t a bad deal at all.

@Avelos
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2mxLs

Comparable, and new.

You ALWAYS get a better computer for a lower price if you build it yourself. Its not hard at all. Watch videos on youtube. You can build a rig in an hour.

Fermi.2409:

@Avelos
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2mxLs

Comparable, and new.

I will applaud you for that. Only real difference I’m seeing though is a 1 TB instead of 2 TB but this is comparing new to open box

Fermi.2409:

sirsquishy.8531:

You can and should build your own. The 2 Main things to look for are a Z87 1150 Socket Motherboard, and the i5-4670K. Both will run about 420~ and be about 75% of the total cost of the PC.

Why are you overspending on a mobo by so much? At most mobo+CPU+212 EVO should be $400 all together.

Also, TC, that prebuilt really isn’t a bad deal at all.

@Avelos
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2mxLs

Comparable, and new.

K series on the CPU or not. I feel that a Socket 1150, on a Z series board is future proofing a new build ‘today’. Since Gen4 was just released, we will get 1-2 more gens on this socket before Intel releases a new socket Platform. That is better then the older 1155 socket that isn’t getting any new CPU upgrades (AFAIK) for that platform. The Z87 (or whatever chipset that enables OverClocking) will let the buyer today pickup a K unlocked CPU down the road for a better upgrade. This is Especially true as prices drop.

I only also recommended the 4670K because I personally experienced the upgrade to it, and IMHO its worth every penny you throw at it. Budget or not.

So take it to leave it, that is why I say that.

No, going with a 4670k really is the best way to spend your money atm for sure. But why are you pretty much recommending that people spend $200 on a mobo? A decent Z87 board is only around $130-140.

Fermi.2409:

No, going with a 4670k really is the best way to spend your money atm for sure. But why are you pretty much recommending that people spend $200 on a mobo? A decent Z87 board is only around $130-140.

I did not recommend any motherboard, just the Z87 Chipset…..

You said that a 4670k+mobo would run around $420. The CPU is only $220, so the mobo must be $200, unless you’re including some higher end air cooler in the $420.

Fermi.2409:

You said that a 4670k+mobo would run around $420. The CPU is only $220, so the mobo must be $200, unless you’re including some higher end air cooler in the $420.

That was a generalization. That is what I paid for my CPU+MB+Cooler. And its a good price to aim for (Taxes, Shipping…ect). If they can get it for less then they will be like ‘oh it wasn’t 420 it was 398’…But I think you get the drift here.

And we all know that the Stock Cooler is not that good for the K series when pushing the OC (Full load 80C with AS7). I had to get a new cooler so that my 4.6Ghz under full load was under 70C’s. So yea, I did account for that.