GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)
in Desktops ·
Either new or used.
What kind of specs are you running?
What kind of specs are you running?
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Build suggestions for around $1,200?
in Desktops ·
I think one stick of fast RAM is fine enough.
GPU issue or motherboard connector problem?
in Desktops ·
See if you can snag a motherboard and an i7 processor combo (maybe an i7 2600, 2600K, 3770, 3770K, Xeon 1245, or Xeon 1245 V2)
for maybe $1000-$400. It depends on what kind of board and CPU you land. If you flip your current setup for a couple hundred bucks, you've got a pretty decent upgrade path without having to ditch your RAM.
Finding those specific boards is a pain and they're overpriced, but you could try hunting one down like the guy above suggested.
for maybe $1000-$400. It depends on what kind of board and CPU you land. If you flip your current setup for a couple hundred bucks, you've got a pretty decent upgrade path without having to ditch your RAM.
Finding those specific boards is a pain and they're overpriced, but you could try hunting one down like the guy above suggested.
Used PC builds: What are they worth?
in Desktops ·
The RX580 8GB sits right in the same ballpark as the GTX1060. The only real edge is that the RX supports Freesync if you're running a monitor that handles it, so that's a minor perk. Performance-wise, they're basically neck and neck, depending on which game you're playing.
And whether it's worth it? That all comes down to the price tag...
And whether it's worth it? That all comes down to the price tag...
Used PC builds: What are they worth?
in Desktops ·
Timothy Kim60 said:Nah.
First off, it's totally unbalanced (two RX580s paired with an entry-level Pentium). Second, that was probably a former mining rig. You're better off buying something new for that kind of money.
But look, there are two RX580s in there. Sell one for at least $500. With that cash, just grab an i7 7700 or something similar and you'll have a pretty solid rig for the price.
Though, the selection of used CPUs on that socket is pretty slim right now.
🤔🤔🤔
Check this out instead:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/i5...listing-25619537
GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)
in Desktops ·
Timothy Kim60 said:Doesn't fit. He's on the 1150 socket, strictly 4xxx series.
Dammit, I messed up.
Saw the Pentium G3258 and somehow thought we were talking Ivy Bridge—so the 2000 and 3000 series.
I always screw up these Pentiums.
G3258 is 4th Gen (Haswell, same as i7 4770) dual core
G4400 is 6th Gen (Skylake, same as i7 6700) dual core
G4560 is 7th Gen (Kaby Lake, same as i7 7700) dual core
i5 8250U is 8th Gen (Kaby Lake, same as i7 7700) quad core
i7 7800X is ? Gen (Skylake, same as i7 6700) hexa core
Intel and their naming schemes... 😵😵😵
GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)
in Desktops ·
Yeah, CPU prices on that platform are dirt cheap right now, especially since a new Ryzen 2200G is sitting around $110.
Pentiums and i3s from that era are basically pocket change. I'd say an i5 should be around $167 (or a Xeon 1240), while an i7 3770—which is essentially the same as a Xeon 1245v2—should go for $750-$333.
If you're planning on sticking with that platform, an i7 or its Xeon equivalent is a solid move.
You could also snag a Sandy Bridge i7 (i7 2600) for less cash; most motherboards will support it, and the performance is pretty much on par with the i7 3770.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=i7+2600
Just one thing: if you grab an i7, specifically that i7 2600, make sure it comes with its own cooler (most do). Your old Pentium cooler isn't going to cut it.
Pentiums and i3s from that era are basically pocket change. I'd say an i5 should be around $167 (or a Xeon 1240), while an i7 3770—which is essentially the same as a Xeon 1245v2—should go for $750-$333.
If you're planning on sticking with that platform, an i7 or its Xeon equivalent is a solid move.
You could also snag a Sandy Bridge i7 (i7 2600) for less cash; most motherboards will support it, and the performance is pretty much on par with the i7 3770.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=i7+2600
Just one thing: if you grab an i7, specifically that i7 2600, make sure it comes with its own cooler (most do). Your old Pentium cooler isn't going to cut it.
GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)
in Desktops ·
He says used gear is an option. A GTX970 or something similar would fit right in, especially since prices are dropping lately.
Just watch out when buying cards like the GTX970—they might have been chewed up by crypto mining.
You need to set a budget first. For under $333, you could grab something like a GTX770. It won't be a massive leap over what you had, but it'll push World of Tanks.
If you look on $333, there are plenty of other paths, but it's impossible to give specifics without knowing your limit.
As for the CPU... I used to run an i3 3220, which is pretty similar to your Pentium, but it has Hyperthreading, making it a lot more capable. Once I upgraded to a Xeon 1245v2 (i7 3770), my FPS in World of Tanks jumped from 50-70 to well over 100 (paired with an RX580).
Look, your Pentium is going to bottleneck even something like a GTX1050Ti in World of Tanks. If I were you, I'd aim for one of these setups:
1) Upgrade the CPU to an i5 or i7—they're cheap for your platform right now—plus a better GPU.
2) Upgrade the CPU to an i5 or i7 and pair it with a used card under $333 that can handle World of Tanks decently.
I wouldn't bother upgrading the GPU without beefing up the processor first. Buying a used i7 is cheap right now, whereas GPUs stay expensive and age fast. An i7 upgrade will actually outlast the GPU in terms of generations.
Unless you're planning to swap out the entire platform, I wouldn't waste money on a GPU higher than $333 while stuck with that Pentium. It’s just not enough for World of Tanks anymore, even if the rest of your setup is decent.
Just watch out when buying cards like the GTX970—they might have been chewed up by crypto mining.
You need to set a budget first. For under $333, you could grab something like a GTX770. It won't be a massive leap over what you had, but it'll push World of Tanks.
If you look on $333, there are plenty of other paths, but it's impossible to give specifics without knowing your limit.
As for the CPU... I used to run an i3 3220, which is pretty similar to your Pentium, but it has Hyperthreading, making it a lot more capable. Once I upgraded to a Xeon 1245v2 (i7 3770), my FPS in World of Tanks jumped from 50-70 to well over 100 (paired with an RX580).
Look, your Pentium is going to bottleneck even something like a GTX1050Ti in World of Tanks. If I were you, I'd aim for one of these setups:
1) Upgrade the CPU to an i5 or i7—they're cheap for your platform right now—plus a better GPU.
2) Upgrade the CPU to an i5 or i7 and pair it with a used card under $333 that can handle World of Tanks decently.
I wouldn't bother upgrading the GPU without beefing up the processor first. Buying a used i7 is cheap right now, whereas GPUs stay expensive and age fast. An i7 upgrade will actually outlast the GPU in terms of generations.
Unless you're planning to swap out the entire platform, I wouldn't waste money on a GPU higher than $333 while stuck with that Pentium. It’s just not enough for World of Tanks anymore, even if the rest of your setup is decent.
Used PC builds: What are they worth?
in Desktops ·
Samuel Castillo49 said:Why on earth are you pricing an RX 580 that high? You can pick up newer, better models with a full 3-year warranty for $280-$$967—and even then, that's pushing it. That card is worth maybe $600 at best. An SSD is about $130-$$50, and the motherboard is $233.
Assuming we're talking about two cards here (since it says x2)
GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)
in Desktops ·
Adam Moore3 said:Umm, "normal" prices? CLICK
I don't get why anyone would drop $180 on a Radeon RX 570, regardless of how cheap it looks compared to those insane prices from a few months back.
Because a Radeon RX 570 with a 3-year warranty is a better buy than the cheapest GeForce GTX 1060 3GB ITX with a 2-year warranty (the one you linked).
There isn't a third option in this price range.
Best PC build for $650?
in Desktops ·
2200g is a solid budget pick. It lags behind the i3 8100 in gaming, but for everything else? Not much of a difference.
If you're sticking to that budget, the 2400g is also on the table. It’s a 4-core/8-thread chip—basically acts like one of those locked i7s from a few years back.
It isn't quite the "budget king" like the 2200g (which goes for $250 😉), but it’s a great all-rounder. You get graphics comparable to a modern entry-level card, and having four cores with eight threads makes it snappy for most tasks. A Six Core processor would only really matter if you're grinding through heavy CPU stuff like video rendering.
Personally, I'd lean toward AMD—either the 2200g, 2400g, or 2600. The AM4 platform is mature now; they've ironed out the kinks, and it'll support at least one more generation of CPUs. So, if you grab a 2200g for $250 or a 2400g for roughly $400, you can easily swap in a newer 7nm chip (8-core or better) in a year or two, or maybe just pick up a used Ryzen 7 2700 (8-core/16 thread).
My move? I'd go with a 2200g or 2400g plus a 500GB SSD.
That being said, if you just want a set-it-and-forget-it build, the i5 8400 is perfectly fine. You won't regret picking it up.
If you're sticking to that budget, the 2400g is also on the table. It’s a 4-core/8-thread chip—basically acts like one of those locked i7s from a few years back.
It isn't quite the "budget king" like the 2200g (which goes for $250 😉), but it’s a great all-rounder. You get graphics comparable to a modern entry-level card, and having four cores with eight threads makes it snappy for most tasks. A Six Core processor would only really matter if you're grinding through heavy CPU stuff like video rendering.
Personally, I'd lean toward AMD—either the 2200g, 2400g, or 2600. The AM4 platform is mature now; they've ironed out the kinks, and it'll support at least one more generation of CPUs. So, if you grab a 2200g for $250 or a 2400g for roughly $400, you can easily swap in a newer 7nm chip (8-core or better) in a year or two, or maybe just pick up a used Ryzen 7 2700 (8-core/16 thread).
My move? I'd go with a 2200g or 2400g plus a 500GB SSD.
That being said, if you just want a set-it-and-forget-it build, the i5 8400 is perfectly fine. You won't regret picking it up.
Deals, Discounts, and Best PC Component Buys & Builds
in Desktops ·
Yeah, doesn't make much of a difference. The mobile app at nabave.net glitched out, so it didn't pull up any shops.
You often see those bottom-dollar prices coming from those sketchy overseas sites (like ipon?), but honestly, Amazon is way more reliable than them.
This is a killer price for a 500GB Samsung 870 EVO.👍👍
You often see those bottom-dollar prices coming from those sketchy overseas sites (like ipon?), but honestly, Amazon is way more reliable than them.
This is a killer price for a 500GB Samsung 870 EVO.👍👍
Monitor won't display anything (urgent)
in Hardware ·
Post a picture of that monitor cable and show me which ports you actually tried plugging it into from that shot.
The ones right above the blue USB ports, or these down here on the graphics card?
The ones right above the blue USB ports, or these down here on the graphics card?
Best PC build for photo editing?
in Desktops ·
Look, you don't need a powerhouse GPU just to edit photos.
In my opinion, an NVIDIA GT 1030 would be perfectly fine.
But, if you're dead set on getting a dedicated graphics card, I’d suggest going with an AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or 2600. You get 6 cores and 12 threads, plus the AM4 platform gives you actual room to upgrade later. Compare that to the Intel Core i5-8400, which is just 6 cores/6 threads. It's decent enough, and having integrated graphics is a plus, but for real productivity, AMD wins here—plus, the current Intel platform is a total dead end.
So, my advice? Either go with an AMD Ryzen 5 1600/2600 paired with an NVIDIA GT 1030 or a GTX 1050
or
just stick with the Intel Core i5-8400 and skip the extra GPU.
Regarding the power supply: whether you pick Intel or AMD, you won't pull more than 150W under full load during a stress test. Even with a GPU, you're looking at maybe 250W tops. No need to overspend on a massive PSU; just grab something reliable in the 400-500W range, like that Corsair unit I mentioned.
With a budget around $1667, you can either grab the option with the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G like I listed, or go the Intel Core i5-8400 route, where you'll have to cut corners elsewhere (slower RAM, relying solely on integrated graphics, etc.).
Both paths work. The Intel Core i5-8400 is very solid, and the integrated graphics handle 2D work just fine.
The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G has better graphics and respectable processing power since it's a 4-core/8-thread CPU—performance-wise, it's pretty close to something like an Intel Core i7-6700, which used to go for over $667.
In my opinion, an NVIDIA GT 1030 would be perfectly fine.
But, if you're dead set on getting a dedicated graphics card, I’d suggest going with an AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or 2600. You get 6 cores and 12 threads, plus the AM4 platform gives you actual room to upgrade later. Compare that to the Intel Core i5-8400, which is just 6 cores/6 threads. It's decent enough, and having integrated graphics is a plus, but for real productivity, AMD wins here—plus, the current Intel platform is a total dead end.
So, my advice? Either go with an AMD Ryzen 5 1600/2600 paired with an NVIDIA GT 1030 or a GTX 1050
or
just stick with the Intel Core i5-8400 and skip the extra GPU.
Regarding the power supply: whether you pick Intel or AMD, you won't pull more than 150W under full load during a stress test. Even with a GPU, you're looking at maybe 250W tops. No need to overspend on a massive PSU; just grab something reliable in the 400-500W range, like that Corsair unit I mentioned.
With a budget around $1667, you can either grab the option with the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G like I listed, or go the Intel Core i5-8400 route, where you'll have to cut corners elsewhere (slower RAM, relying solely on integrated graphics, etc.).
Both paths work. The Intel Core i5-8400 is very solid, and the integrated graphics handle 2D work just fine.
The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G has better graphics and respectable processing power since it's a 4-core/8-thread CPU—performance-wise, it's pretty close to something like an Intel Core i7-6700, which used to go for over $667.
Deals, Discounts, and Best PC Component Buys & Builds
in Desktops ·
Checked the prices on Amazon via my phone; I honestly thought that lowest price was coming out of Canada 😁
Ends up being just under $1200
Ends up being just under $1200
Best PC build for photo editing?
in Desktops ·
The setup with the Intel Core i5-8400 wins here. That GT710 is basically a paperweight, and you won't find anything better than a Ryzen 2600 in this price range.
Check out this build featuring the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G
-Integrated graphics actually outperform both the Intel Core i5-8400 and the GT710.
-CPU is a bit weaker than those 6-core chips, but still decent—roughly on par with an older i7.
-Modular PSU comes with a 5-year warranty.
-Great SSD here, also carries a 5-year warranty.
-16 GB of fast RAM.
If you can stretch the budget, grab a Samsung 500 GB SSD; it makes editing much smoother.
A 6-core processor is also a smart move (in that case, I'd go with the Intel Core i5-8400 without a dedicated GPU), but I think the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is perfectly fine. Plus, that platform gives you plenty of room to upgrade later if you want more power (you could just drop in an 8-core chip from the next generation).
P.S.
It's from futur IT—includes free shipping and assembly.
Check out this build featuring the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G
-Integrated graphics actually outperform both the Intel Core i5-8400 and the GT710.
-CPU is a bit weaker than those 6-core chips, but still decent—roughly on par with an older i7.
-Modular PSU comes with a 5-year warranty.
-Great SSD here, also carries a 5-year warranty.
-16 GB of fast RAM.
If you can stretch the budget, grab a Samsung 500 GB SSD; it makes editing much smoother.
A 6-core processor is also a smart move (in that case, I'd go with the Intel Core i5-8400 without a dedicated GPU), but I think the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is perfectly fine. Plus, that platform gives you plenty of room to upgrade later if you want more power (you could just drop in an 8-core chip from the next generation).
P.S.
It's from futur IT—includes free shipping and assembly.
Deals, Discounts, and Best PC Component Buys & Builds
in Desktops ·
EVGA SuperNOVA (Full Modular Cable Management, 80 Plus Gold, 1000 Watt, US) https://www.amazon.de/dp/B015Q7F5AQ/..._3MccBbXWG33HD
Amazon Lightning Deal
$165 in the US
Amazon Lightning Deal
$165 in the US
Monitor won't display anything (urgent)
in Hardware ·
Please just post the pictures you're thinking of
Which PSU should I buy?
in Desktops ·
The Corsair unit looks solid enough, especially if you can snag a brand new one at that price point.
Then there's the EVGA 550 BP—it’s modular and actually pretty decent.
If I recall correctly, it comes with a 5-year warranty.
This one isn't bad either.
(3-year warranty)
Then there's the EVGA 550 BP—it’s modular and actually pretty decent.
If I recall correctly, it comes with a 5-year warranty.
This one isn't bad either.
(3-year warranty)