I want to get a decent gaming PC,?

Question

I know very little about computer gaming. I've been using an Xbox for a long time but recently have gotten frustrated with its limitations.
No downloads, no fan-made mods, it's all very limited.
So I want to get a gaming computer, preferably for under 800$.

I don't know much about specs but my general requirements are slim.
I mostly play RPGs, Skyrim, Fallout, etc and want to be able to mod them heavily.
Next to that are turn based games like Civ 4 and 5.
And apart from that emulators. Emulators are important.
Graphics are less of a priority but my current desktop can't even begin to run fallout.

I want to be able to hook it up to a TV as a monitor, and if there was one with decent audio that would be great too. I've looked around online but really have no idea where to start because I don't know what any of the technical stuff means.
Does anyone have any recommendations?

Answer 1

Well your main parts of a PC are:

- Processor (Processes what you're doing)

- Motherboard (Holds the RAM, Processor, and Video card)

- RAM

- Video Card (Processes the graphics)

- Case (What you put all the parts in)

- Power Supply (Provides power to your system)

- Operating System

- Hard Drive



Here's a good video series you should watch:

http://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL31ECF47172BBF5F8



Some good YouTube channels for PC hardware and helping understand them:

LinusTechTips, NCIXcom, Motherboardsorg, Razethew0rld, HardwareCannucks, and Review tech USA.



I would suggest CyberPowerPC. They allow you to customize every part, and price, and they build it it and send it to you.



I would watch some of those channels and then look through cyberpower. I would do some more research and then ask agin about what you've found, and read reviews on the products.



You can email me at [e-mail] if you have any more specific questions.



I would look for something with an AMD 8300FX or Intel 2500k, 8GB of RAM, AMD Radeon 7850 or Nvidia's 650Ti boost.





You made a great choice switching to PC, I switched just a few months ago, and I love it.







EDIT: take a look at this:

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Mega_Special_I/



If you oder now you can upgrade to the AMD FX6300 for an extra $20, and get an upgrade to 600W powersupply for like $5. With the money you still have you could select AMD 7850.





@Filenotfound: That's great point about CPU's for emulation. I only suggested Cyberpower because he said he doesn't know much about hardware, otherwise I would also recommend building one.

Answer 2

Well you will need to give a little bit more information for a more accurate answer.



-Are you willing to build your own desktop or do you need it to be prebuilt?

-What do you need with it other then the computer itself? and is that need to be included in the $800 budget? (windows operating system, monitor, keyboard, mouse, controller, speakers/headset)

-Can you buy anywhere online? or are you limited in any way on purchase options?

-What country do you live in?





Most the above recommendations are overall not that good, but even more so when you factor in emulators. Its been proven time and time again, amd cpus are NOT good for emulation at all. (they are great for normal pc games, just not emulators).

If you are wanting to play ps2 and gamecube/wii emulators, you will need to be looking at a core i5 cpu.

Answer 3

A good way to gather info is visit a Best Buy and see what they have. Think of it as a game; you are going undercover. Pump the salesperson for info.

Answer 4

Check this out.

http://www.squidoo.com/build-gaming-pc



Builds Under $500 http://www.gamingpcbuilds.com/build-a-gaming-pc-under-500-2012/

Builds Under $1000 http://www.gamingpcbuilds.com/build-a-custom-gaming-pc-1000/

Answer 5

CPU-AMD Phenom II X4 RAM-G.potential 8GB (2 x 4GB) 1333 GPU-Saphire 7950 Motherboard-MSI 970A-G46 AM3+ HDD-Western digital WD Blue 500GB Case-Rosewill CHALLENGER DVD power- Black SATA 24X DVD Burner PSU-Corsair CX six hundred about $six hundred, performs any sport at 1080p, medium to max settings.