Hello, need help on a pc please.

[JackerJackJack]

Hello everyone,

I've recently decided that I want to go into pc gaming and decided to get myself a low budget "rig", so a buddy of mine suggested I got to evetech since they are really well known and have decent rigs for low value. I've come across two computers that are noteworthy in my opinion and will provide the links below.

The first one is:
http://www.evetech.co.za/Computer-syste ... pc-86.aspx

I have selected two extra options here, I took a wireless network card and selected a better graphics card, the AMD Radeon HD6670 1GB GDDR5.

The second and last one is:
http://www.evetech.co.za/Computer-syste ... c-327.aspx

the only extra I added was the wireless card and by then I already overshot my budget by R200.

I'm not sure if this information will be helpful but I'm not going to use an hdmi monitor since my friend already had a spare monitor for me and it uses this blue cable that has screws so it won't be for hd gaming. I guess I'm basicly here to ask in your honest opinion which one is the best option for gaming.

Thanks in advance

JackerJackJack

[StarBound]

The more expensive one is the better one (one with the geforce and amd fx chip).

If you really want a low budget rig I think a few of us might be able to slap you a list of components together. But you will need to be familiar with building a PC or you might want to use a site/supplier that builds them to.

[JackerJackJack]

I think I have a friend that can help me out if I provide him a few beers XD. If you could provide a list of components it would be greatly appreciated.

[StarBound]

Firstly I need a budget, the closest location (eg cape town or jhb) so I can look at the 2 different sites. Then do you need a screen, mouse and keyboard and box ect? Must it be a full system? Also I know you said it is not a hd gaming box but what would you like to see? If say you want it to play at 720p (1280x720) with 30fps and medium ect.

I just need to know where you would not be saticefied.

[JackerJackJack]

Okay I'll try and give you as much information as I can, so I'm on a really tight budget* of about R7500 maximum, I live about 35km from Durban, don't need a screen as a can get one from a friend, I have a basic keyboard but no mouse, I do need a box as I have none myself (friend also has a normal box, I guess you could say and office box?, that I might swindle him out off.). As for actual performance I couldn't say, I'm not sure what an acceptable frame rate should be as I always did my gaming* on a console. but "720p (1280x720) with 30fps and medium" should do I guess. Main games I'm looking to play are League of Legends, DOTA 2, and I heard of an Elder Scrolls mmorpg that seems rather fun.

EDIT: I guess I should add that I need a wifi-card as I have wireless internet in my home.

[StarBound]

Software - Windows 8 is cheaper for obvious reasons. I would still recommend Windows 7 but ultimately the choice is yours.
Windows 8 64bit - http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?ma ... ts_id=7860
Windows 7 64-bit home premium - http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?ma ... ts_id=2349

R1000 vs R1200 so we say you have R6300 left for the system:

Intel system:
CPU - i3 3.2ghz - R1300 - http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?ma ... ts_id=8901
Mobo - MSI B75 - R900 - http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?ma ... ts_id=9044
PSU - Corsair 650W - R650 - http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?ma ... ts_id=9120
GPU - geforce 650 - R1550 - http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?ma ... ts_id=7748
Ram - 4GB Corsair - R400 - http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?ma ... cts_id=216
HDD - 1TB - R750 - http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?ma ... ts_id=1282
Case - CM 311 mid tower - R400 - http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?ma ... ts_id=1669
DVD drive - R200 - http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?ma ... ts_id=6521
Mouse - R100 - http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?ma ... ts_id=5614

I wanted to recommend a R2600 card but sadly your budget fell a ways off.
If you manage to get somehow get the money then I highly recommend the msi 660 - http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?ma ... ts_id=9061
Also since you need wireless I suggest Dlink DAP1360 set up as a repeater - http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?ma ... ts_id=2977 - R450

[StarBound]

For the AMD system just change the CPU/Ram/Mobo

CPU - AMD FM2 A10-5800K - R1600 - http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?ma ... ts_id=7856
RAM - 8GB corsair - R1050 - http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?ma ... cts_id=265
MOBO - MSI A75MA - R700 - http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?ma ... ts_id=9055

If you plan on getting a proper graphics card later I would recommend getting the AMD system purely since the CPU has Radeon graphics on-die. It is nothing fancy but it is better than the intel counter-part. However if you can afford a better graphics card then the intel system is the better one to look at.

[JackerJackJack]

Oh wow, thank you so much, I could never have found these two systems on my own, I will decide on the next few days which system will be better for my gaming/pocket, however I'm sure my gamer side will go for the better system . I will keep you posted on further development. Once again I cannot thank you enough.

[JackerJackJack]

Oh wow, thank you so much, I could never have found these two systems on my own, I will decide on the next few days which system will be better for my gaming/pocket, however I'm sure my gamer side will go for the better system . I will keep you posted on further development. Once again I cannot thank you enough.

I promised an update and here it is. Got my pc and played a few games and I have to say it's quite nice. There is one strange thing going on with the temperature of the cpu.
As you guys can see I tried a lot of programs and it shows that the computer is running idle at 40c, which in my opinion is really hot, my friend on the other hand says the sensor must be wrong and doesn't show correct temperature values. So I want to hear opinions from you guys.

[Stuart]

40deg isn't bad for an idle temp. Admittedly, it's been pretty chilly recently, but still.

[JackerJackJack]

I'll try running a game as see what temps I get then.

Edit: One of the programs just recorded 74c as the highest temp and runs around 57-60c, should I be worried?

[StarBound]

Air cooler right? I wont worry yet but since it is winter the summer might be problematic.

You can oft for a closed loop water cooler like the corsair H-80. Should keep you at a 60C under load. For now, keep monitoring. The case I recommended was based on your budget so maybe see if you cant first add a front and back fan. Should bring down your max by 10C approx with proper air flow.

Let me know how your games are running. Really interested in the results.

[Stuart]

I'll try running a game as see what temps I get then.

Edit: One of the programs just recorded 74c as the highest temp and runs around 57-60c, should I be worried?

The AMD website states 74deg as the max safe temp, so I'd watch it.

[JackerJackJack]

Strange enough it's only cpu that's running hot and the rest of the system seems fine. I've been playing CoD Modern Warfare 1 at max and the temp goes to about 68c. Will extra case fans reduce the temp of the cpu as well?

[StarBound]

Well I assume your using the on chip graphics which means that is where the game is being calculated. Can you tell me do you have a fan at the front of your pc? and one at the back?

If so then you might want to invest in a water cooler a bit later on. Something like
http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?ma ... 9c0c17227b

If you dont have a front and rear fan then getting 2 120mm fans should do a semi decent job. Are you sure your thermal paste is set and your fan is properly fitted?

[JackerJackJack]

I actually bought a gtx 650, not sure if I'm using that though...is there somewhere I can check too see what I'm using?

Also I just have 1 case fan at the back which came with the case when I bought it. As for the thermal paste stuff I assume it would be the grey stuff on the bottom of the cpu fan? I remember when my friend installed the cpu and fan that he fitted everything correctly (from what I could tell from the manual and paperwork I took a look at.) Could it be that the paste didn't apply properly?

[StarBound]

yeah a fan in front should bring down your temp a bit.

Easy, is your screen plugged into your graphics card or your motherboard? I think you might be using the graphics card then. Out of curiosity why did you go with the amd system if you managed to get a graphics card?

[JackerJackJack]

I'm using graphics card then.

The reason why I went with the AMD system is that my friend said that it would be better. He directed me to a site called http://www.cpubenchmark.net/ that shows which cpu's/gpu's are better and based on that I went for the AMD system.

[JackerJackJack]

Edit: Sorry, this was a double post.

[Cataclysm_ZA]

Idling at 40° C for an A10-5800K at stock is normal and especially good for the kind of weather Durban and the surrounding areas normally has. You can get this down by turning off the onboard GPU in the BIOS. I don't where it is in MSI's EUFI setup, but it is there. You can also undervolt the chip, but for the things you're currently doing (gaming, media, web surfing) that's actually a bit extreme.

If you really are worried about it, you can look at getting a better CPU cooler a little later on. But as far as I can see, the temps you're getting are completely normal.