Starting build a Gaming Computer

[Marick]

Hello all,
I have been trying to do my own research through several different sources. Fact is I just don't have the tech. knowledge. After browsing several sites I feel comfortable with putting my future gaming experience in your hands.

I put this thread here because; I know several people that have built their rig and then the monitor. Only to say several months later they wished they had upgraded their monitor.

I will be doing it backwards. I want to research price and order the monitor. Then build the rig to suit.'

I want the Monitor to be glorious. no less than 30'. I originally wanted to go 42" or larger but I was told that I will never get the quality out of 42' HDTV that I can get with a smaller monitor regardless of how many sli 88 ultra's I run (please confirm?)

My price range is around $1500-$4,000. for the monitor.

I need to be able to run my comp for days at a time. MMORPG's... UT and anything that will be out in the near future. I also want to be able to play my 360,cable HD,PC, and DvD's while still getting the crisp picture that I would get from a 24' crt. (is this even possible)

I plan to build this computer step by step that is the reason for the new thread. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Please keep in mind my low tech knowledge though.


The budget for the computer is around 4k+monitor.

[carl33p]

Welcome to TechIMO.

You have quite a HUGE budget. Which will be fun.
You will want a 1080p HDTV. Something like this Samsung LNS4695D. There are a few members here who are well versed with the high end LCDs; so I'll let them make specific recommendations.

Newegg is the best place to order parts from in the US. So if you end up building your PC, newegg is your best online retailer.

[nemowolf]

If you have that much of a budget I would consider finding a local contractor to build you something. It sounds like you have enough to throw around that you can manage some kinda service contract to boot.

[KarmaKiller]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemowolf

If you have that much of a budget I would consider finding a local contractor to build you something. It sounds like you have enough to throw around that you can manage some kinda service contract to boot.

Nah, forget that, most of the fun is in building. Plus, you learn some too, never a bad deal IMO...


Here's a list of what I would go with.
First - If you want a "true" monitor for the pc, then this is the biggest that is made AFAIK.

Side note : the only problem I have with LCD's myself, is they cannot produce the "pure black" that a plasma can produce. Now don't get me wrong, LCD's have brilliant displays, but I prefer a Plasma myself.
But, the downsides to Plasma's, at least the biggest IMO, would be they're lifespan. LCD's are rated to last longer then Plasma's.

After all that said, if I could get the monitor setup of my dreams, (at least in your price range ) I would go for a multi monitor setup. It makes the actual size of your monitor a little smaller, but you get to run twice as many things at once. DVD in on screen, Web in the other. Or chat in one, game in the other..
For a setup like that, I would pick up a couple of these. They're absolutely beautiful monitors. Quality, Picture ,Color, Brightness, Size, everything about this monitor I love...
And, it would save you alot of money, that you can put towards the machine running the displays ..




Oh, and

[nemowolf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarmaKiller

Nah, forget that, most of the fun is in building. Plus, you learn some too, never a bad deal IMO...


Here's a list of what I would go with.
First - If you want a "true" monitor for the pc, then this is the biggest that is made AFAIK.

Side note : the only problem I have with LCD's myself, is they cannot produce the "pure black" that a plasma can produce. Now don't get me wrong, LCD's have brilliant displays, but I prefer a Plasma myself.
But, the downsides to Plasma's, at least the biggest IMO, would be they're lifespan. LCD's are rated to last longer then Plasma's.

After all that said, if I could get the monitor setup of my dreams, (at least in your price range ) I would go for a multi monitor setup. It makes the actual size of your monitor a little smaller, but you get to run twice as many things at once. DVD in on screen, Web in the other. Or chat in one, game in the other..
For a setup like that, I would pick up a couple of these. They're absolutely beautiful monitors. Quality, Picture ,Color, Brightness, Size, everything about this monitor I love...
And, it would save you alot of money, that you can put towards the machine running the displays ..




Oh, and

QFT, thinking about it now, i would sink my money on a plasma over an LCD for the same exact reason. Dont get us wrong when we say shorter life span. Some Plasma's have been working fine for over the "Expected" life span because it depends on use and the settings you use. Be smart about it and you can well exceed the expected life span.

I love the look and quality of the Samsungs but contrary to what one of the comments on the page say, Dell has actually typically outperformed every single manufacturer of LCD's. They have much higher quality consistancy then Samsung has which has been reported with their ABC version conflicts.

I would recommend this http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...4&sku=222-7315

[KarmaKiller]

http://www.9xmedia.com/


It's something else to consider..

[EXreaction]

That 46" Samsung LCD sucks as far as monitors go. The resolution level is terrible.

This one is far better, but it is a 30" LCD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824001098
It has a native resolution of 2560 x 1600.

I would like to know just how far you plan on sitting away from this monitor. If you are not more than a few feet away you will not want something huge.

[carl33p]

A computer moniter would NOT satisfy all his needs!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marick

I also want to be able to play my 360,cable HD,PC, and DvD's while still getting the crisp picture that I would get from a 24' crt. (is this even possible)

A 1080p HDTV fits the bill. 1920 x 1080 should be more than enough.

Marick if you DO plan on building it, heres a list of neccesary parts:
Computer Case - An ATX Mid Tower is the "norm"
Power Supply (PSU)
Processor (CPU)
Motherboard (Mobo)
Graphics/Video Card (GPU)
Memory (Ram)
Hard Drive SATA
Optical Drive (DVD Burner) SATA
Operating System (Windows XP/Vista)

A Core 2 Quad Core processor
DDR2 Memory (Ram).
A PCI-E x 16 Video Card. 8800Ultra
LGA775 Motherboard

[EXreaction]

Ya, then you would want a 1080P native LCD.

What size of monitor are you looking for? How far back are you going to be sitting?

After we figure out the monitor I will look for pc parts.

One thing I will strongly recommend against is SLI. Even though you have as much money as you do to put into it, SLI is a waste of money. Most of the time the framerate increase with SLI is minimal, and as often as you get a good increase in a game there will be another that gets less of a framerate with SLI.

Instead of SLI you would want to get a single card, the best one out right now (or close to it), and then when the next generation of cards gets released you will take that money you saved from not getting SLI and be able to buy a single card that is faster in everything than your SLI setup would otherwise be.

[Marick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by EXreaction

That 46" Samsung LCD sucks as far as monitors go. The resolution level is terrible.

This one is far better, but it is a 30" LCD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824001098
It has a native resolution of 2560 x 1600.

I would like to know just how far you plan on sitting away from this monitor. If you are not more than a few feet away you will not want something huge.

This is one of the monitors on my list of possibilities.