Advice for buying a gaming PC!

It’s pretty tough since the old hard drive is just sitting there... 7-8GB... I can't really run any tests because the PC isn't even working right now...
So, my plan is to grab the whole tower and take it down to Best Buy tomorrow to see what they tell me... basically find out what's doable and what isn't... I'll also see if they suggest those extra parts we talked about so I can get a quote on those too...
Basically, there's no way I can just plug in this old drive and expect it to work, right? 🥳And will I need to mess around with the BIOS or any settings before I reinstall Windows? Because honestly, I'm totally lost on that part...
Thanks everyone for all the help and advice...

From what I understand, Micro Center wants to do the install, but they’ll expect you to bring over a barebones case—basically just the specific components you want swapped in—so they aren't stuck stripping out an old motherboard or other parts. You're essentially asking for a diagnostic service. Look, there's nothing wrong with that if you need them to check your hard drive, but just a heads-up: they might charge you for the consultation. I’d suggest asking them for a full breakdown of the costs and exactly what they'll be doing first.

There is almost zero chance that Windows will just work on a different motherboard. The board needs to be practically identical or extremely similar (which this isn't). You'll most likely have to do a fresh installation of Windows later anyway.

You really need to go with a fresh Windows installation—your PC just isn't going to run quite right otherwise, since you're dealing with a totally different chipset and a whole new set of components. Just format the hard drive (assuming you’re sticking with that same old drive) and you should be good to go.

CPU: AMD FX-4300,
Motherboard: ASUS M5A78L-M LX3
RAM: 8GB Kingston 1600MHz,
Hard Drive: 1TB Toshiba SATA 3 7200rpm
GPU: Sapphire AMD 7950 3GB DDR5 384bit DX11+,
Case: RaidMax Super Viper
PSU: Cooler Master Thunder B2 600W 85+%

Is this rig actually worth it $1533?
If not, you can probably find something better on eBay. 746 miles.

Roger Mitchell4 said:CPU: AMD FX-4300,
motherboard: ASUS M5A78L-M LX3
RAM: Kingston 8GB 1600MHz,
hard drive: Toshiba 1000GB SATA 3 6GB/s 7200rpm
GPU: Sapphire AMD 7950 3GB DDR5 384bit DX11+,
case: RaidMax Super Viper
PSU: Cooler Master Thunder B2 600W 85+%

Is this worth it $1533?
If you can't find anything better on Craigslist 746 miles.

Not worth it. Plus that site isn't even loading for me.

To avoid starting a new thread, following your advice:

Intel Core i5-4460 3.20GHz 1150 BOX
ASROCK H81M-HDS
TEAM GROUP 8GB Elite Plus DDR3 1600MHz CL11 TPKD38G1600HC1101
SANDISK 128GB X110 SATA3 2,5" SD6SB1M-128G-1022I
GIGABYTE GV-N970WF3OC-4GD GTX970 4GB GDDR5 OC PCIE
CHIEFTEC GPS-600A8 600W
ZALMAN ZM-Z1

Is this alright?

I have an extra 500 GB SSD I'll be using. My main priorities are running Blizzard games and keeping things quiet.

The power supply could probably be an upgrade. If you let us know where you usually shop, we might be able to suggest something better.

Roger Mitchell4 said:CPU: AMD FX-4300 4 x3.8-4.0GHz,
motherboard: ASUS M5A78L-M LX3
RAM: Kingston 8GB 1600MHz,
hard drive: Toshiba 1000GB SATA 3 6GB/s 7200rpm
graphics: Sapphire AMD 7950 3GB DDR5 384bit DX11+,
case: RaidMax Super Viper
PSU: Cooler Master Thunder B2 600W 85+%

Is this setup worth it $1533?
If you can't find anything better on Craigslist 746 miles, then maybe.

I've never really understood what Craigslist is supposed to be. Is it like eBay? Just some messy site mixing new parts, used parts, and actual businesses together... I honestly have no idea who's legitimate and who's just looking to scam you. Do you have to buy everything from one specific user or someone in the same city? And is it all new or used?

Timothy Kim60 said:I honestly never understood what OLX is supposed to be. Is it basically just Craigslist? Some messy site where you find new parts, used stuff, and actual retail stores all mixed together...

You hit the nail on the head there. It’s pretty much the same deal as Craigslist, full of individual users and businesses that offer some really solid deals if you're shopping over in Canada.
It used to go by Pik.ba back in the day, but now everyone knows it as OLX.

Timothy Kim60 said:I honestly never figured out how Craigslist works. Is it just a messy site for new and used parts mixed with actual businesses? I can't tell who's actually selling and who's buying. Does everything have to come from the same user or be in the same city? New or used?

I'm stuck deciding where to pick up my PC—should I go with a local shop in Chicago or try Craigslist in Banja Luka?
If I buy in Chicago, I can get a sales tax refund.
But in Banja Luka, they'll install Windows and all my software for free, plus throw in three games of my choice.
What would YOU guys suggest?

So, what should I pick up in Banja Luka versus what I can just grab here?

fadedorca66 said:What would you pick up in LA versus what's available here?

I was actually looking at an i5 4460 paired with an R9 280 from a local shop downtown, but the price jumped on me! $100My budget is capped at $5,000...
Do you think we'll see some price drops on the R9 series once those new GPUs hit the market?

If you’ve already been waiting this long, just hang tight for a few more days until the next generation of GPUs drops; then you'll really see what's happening.
I've noticed a sudden price drop on the R9 285.

http://www.amazon.com/s?k=R9+285

It was previously around $633
.
As for where you should buy it, that's entirely up to you based on what works best for your setup. Do you need to handle things like screen recording in Windows and all that?

Timothy Kim60 said:If you’ve already waited this long, just hold out a few more days for the new GPUs and see what happens.
I noticed the R9 285 just took a massive price dive!

http://www.amazon.com/s?k=R9+285

It used to be around $633

As for where to buy, that's entirely up to you. Do you know if you'll need software for screen recording and stuff like that?

That is an incredible deal! Roughly when are those new GPUs expected to drop?

I have a rough idea, but I wouldn't bet on it. I'm actually picking up a monitor in Washington, D.C. in four days, so if anyone has recommendations for a monitor under $367 (maybe via Affirm) or a keyboard and mouse under $100, please let me know!
I'm currently looking at a Dell v236hlbd and a CM Storm Octane.
But I am all ears if you think I should switch things up!

I believe the dates you’re looking for are June 18th. The real question is whether we'll actually see them hit the shelves here in the States immediately. Based on some unofficial word on the street, these new GPUs are actually priced higher than the current models—even though they're essentially just rebrands, which makes absolutely zero sense (logic dictates they should be cheaper). Honestly, who knows how this will play out. It's possible that the price drops we've been waiting for on existing cards, like the 285, might finally happen as a result of this shift.

that monitor for $343

Timothy Kim60 said:I think those might be available on June 18th. The big question is if they'll actually hit our local stores right away. Word on the street is that the new GPU prices are actually higher than current ones, even though they're just rebrands—which makes zero sense! It should be the other way around. Who knows what will happen. Maybe the price drop on older models like the 285 is the break we've been waiting for.

that monitor for $343

I'm going to hold off on buying a case until I see how the GPU situation plays out.
I'm a little worried that the monitor doesn't have HDMI. Is there anything better at that price point?

Why are you even stressing about it not having HDMI? Honestly, the only real perk HDMI has over DVI is passing audio—everything else is basically a wash. If you’re dead set on needing an HDMI port, then just grab this Dell instead.

graniteharbor85 said:Why stress about the lack of HDMI? Honestly, the only real perk HDMI has over DVI is audio support; everything else is basically identical. If you absolutely need HDMI, just grab this Dell instead.

Well, if you experts say so!
Can I actually find anything better than this monitor for $367, or is the v236hlbd a total steal?

Roger Mitchell4 said:Fine, if you say so.
Is there anything better than this deal for $367? Is the v236hlbd actually a best buy?

Just grab that one and pocket the extra cash. For $333 plus tax, you're getting an IPS monitor with a 3-year warranty. You won't find a better deal than that anywhere else.🕺

It’s a 23-inch screen—usually, you’d only see 22-inch models at this price point.