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Looking for a good place to start getting into PC stuff over the next few months.
Of course, this is a general question, and I'm looking to build a thread moving forward for people to reference back to. I'd love to fill in my questions below, with insight from other users (w/credits) over the next few weeks/months/years even...Just to help anyone in my shoes currently.
What steps should a newbie focus one?
-As of May 2021, it seems community feels the best reach for a newbie is a prebuilt. It seems to avoid scalper prices and beats most of the shortages the world is seeing.
What brands are a huge miss?
-Cyberpower ( HYX )
What brands are a hit?
-Newegg for parts. ( Habofro )
-NZXT & Newegg to help decide how to build your PC - what parts to buy. ( HYX , Habofro
What should I build for? The current realm of PC? Or, plan to upgrade over the next decade or so?
-Find the hardest game you plan on playing, and build for that game to run @ minimum 60fps. ( Habofro & HYX credits)
We all know graphics cards are crazy $ at the moment, who/what is the best bang for the buck?
-The more expensive the card, typically the better. It is thought currently to buy from a store if possible to avoid scalper pricing. The graphics cards are still in shortage due to crypto miners, as well as production delays due to the past year and a half - covid.
How does one calculate what power supply should be used?
-
How much Ram is good enough?
-Look up what game you're trying to play, grab it's specs, and build for slightly better. This way, over the next couple years as technology increases, you'll be sitting pretty without worrying if you're RAM can support.
-16GB DDR4 will suffice but I say 32GB DDR4 ( Vegeta )
Does anything change when building for gaming vs. working? (Maybe a CAD Designer, engineer, graphics designer?)
-Yes, though more research is needed by me*
What should an intro level PC build cost, not buying 2nd hand or aftermarket?
-A beginner build can run for $1000-$1300 on Newegg, or similar sites. This is actually a good price due to the websites being able to bulk-buy products resulting in an overall cheaper end product for us (consumer).
What monitors are good to buy? -Good warranty, good quality?
-
There are so many variables when it comes to picking a monitor such as:
- Do you want HDR? Only FALD displays offer true HDR (X35 & PG35VQ), the budget option is Alienware or LG line of gaming monitors with edge-lit backlighting technology (gimmicky)
- Dell offers the best monitor warranty in the industry with a 3-5 years warranty and AR service, LG offers 1-year, and Acer/Asus offer 3-years.
- Don't bother looking at other brands unless you are on a very tight budget.
- Do you want a 4K resolution? 2K? 1080p?
- Refresh-Rate: 60Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, 240Hz, etc.
- Ultrawide? Widescreen? 4:3? Super Ultrawide (Samsung G9)?
- 27in, 31in, 34in, 38in, 43in, etc.
*Hopefully this hasn't been asked. If so, I will change the thread slightly to encompass more of my goal - getting this subs input overall to create a megathread - to replace/add onto Psycho Homer's post (inactive since 2019).
please, if anyone has anything to add to this list of questions that's important for newbies, please do! I will edit the response in, along with insight periodically!
-Updated July 8th, 2021
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