New PC time for me

**lars573** · 05-08-2013, 18:03

So having done more than a few outstanding tax returns and having got many refund and tax credit checks I've got a budget for a new PC to play Rome 2 on. My budget is $1500-$1600 CAD. What I really need is direction for how to start looking at builds. Should I just wait a few more months for Rome 2's specs to drop or use Shogun 2 recommended specs times say 2 or 3 as a basis.

**Lemur** · 05-08-2013, 19:58

Well, the i5 appears to be the default gamer's chip. So you can start with that as a given. For gaming purposes there appears to be no difference between the i7 and i5, and AMD is barely competitive with the humble i3.

Using some sort of SSD as the boot and gaming drive also appears to be a pretty common build tactic.

I'm pretty out of the loop in terms of where the sweet spot is with video cards.

**lars573** · 05-08-2013, 22:34

Eh if there's one thing I know about video cards it's that the higher end ones just have much better ram and over all card architecture than the mid range ones. GPU's don't change much. And my intention was to find a middle-high range Radeon and use that.

**Furunculus** · 05-16-2013, 18:26

personally:

i5 ivy-bridge(k) for £175
quality z77 m/b for £125
radeon 7970 for £275
512GB crucial m500 for £275

**Lemur** · 07-30-2013, 20:42

So @lars573, any updates? Did ya build a new rig? Update some parts?

I specced out what I would need to bring my 5-year-old rig current. Found the cheapest NewEgg parts I could. Total was approx. $1100, which depressed me a great deal.

With home ownership and children, there is never a good time for that sort of money on a non-essential item.

So ... please let us live vicariously through you. Show us the goodies!

**Papewaio** · 07-31-2013, 00:55

What are the specs?

**Lemur** · 07-31-2013, 02:11

Oh, pretty bog-standard gaming parts. A newish i5, which necessitates a newish mobo, which necessitates new RAM.

A not-quite-high-end Radeon and a decent 240 gig Corsair SSD drive rounded out the build.

When all was said and done, about $1100. Too much. I wait for a windfall that isn't earmarked for children, house, or car repair.

**lars573** · 07-31-2013, 18:09

Originally Posted by Lemur

So @lars573, any updates? Did ya build a new rig? Update some parts?

I specced out what I would need to bring my 5-year-old rig current. Found the cheapest NewEgg parts I could. Total was approx. $1100, which depressed me a great deal.

With home ownership and children, there is never a good time for that sort of money on a non-essential item.

So ... please let us live vicariously through you. Show us the goodies!

I haven't committed to a build yet, but the Rome II spec dropping was the kick I needed. I'm been looking at what sort of stuff the box retailers have on offer. I still need to go to the "mom and pop" tech retailers around the city. And I do need to actually go there as their websites are basic at best. But right now I might just go with something built around an i7 with a Radeon HD 7 series, without a SSD . As I need a 1 or 2 TB drive too for ~~pron~~ other media.

An etailer like Newegg is not really a good option. As shipping will be $50+ unless I luck into one with free shipping. And since I have sales taxes* to consider (15% if I buy from any where in Canada, charged on the shipping too). Buying from a US retailer is not an option as that $50 shipping will quickly become $200. And your subject to the carrier not playing kick ball with it. So that's where I sit.

* Which would make an $1100 build $1265. Not that I could get your build for $1100. As an experiment change .com to .ca next time you moon over it. I'd bet it'll go to $1300 or more.