Bes
join:2006-01-24
Canada
1 edit | Ideal WoW PC - $400 Budget
I want to build a separate PC that will run anything World of Warcraft throws at it. Basically I just want to build something that will run WoW at its highest settings and will still run 100% smoothly no matter what happens, and that includes epic world battles and intense battleground wars. But, I really don't feel like spending any more than $400.
I own some stuff already. I have a case, a decent enough hard drive with WoW and WoW:BC already installed and fully updated, CD ROM drive, etc. What I'm actually looking to buy are these items here: motherboard, processor, video card, RAM (at least two gigs), and a power supply powerful enough to properly run it all.
I have a few things in mind that I'm thinking of purchasing:
Processor:
»www.directcanada.com/products/?s···00BD3219
Motherboard:
»www.directcanada.com/products/?s···30BD1399
Video Card:
»www.directcanada.com/products/?s···80BD5144
That's pretty much all I've looked at so far. It's just a start.
I was hoping you guys could help me figure all of this out. I've come to these forums looking for help once or twice before and you guys were awesome. Do you think you could help me build an ideal WoW PC for under $400? |
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Raptor
Not a Dumptruck
join:2001-10-21
London, ON
 ·Rogers Hi-Speed
 ·Bell Sympatico
| $30 for 2 gigs of decent RAM, my how the times of changed.
Might consider picking up another set. WoW is certainly known to be more CPU/RAM heavy. Just a thought at that price.
Having not posted a motherboard, make sure you get something that is user friendly in terms of O/C'ing. You'll want to crank that Intel chip up, even on stock heatsink. I run my e4300 (1.8ghz) at 3.2ghz. So that means stay away from Intel boards.
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....where's my fiber? |
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drew
Reformation
Premium
join:2002-07-10
Port Orchard, WA
clubs: | reply to Bes
what resolution are you going to be running it at? |
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Bes
join:2006-01-24
Canada
| reply to Raptor
Raptor:
This is the motherboard I was looking at just now. It seems really nice for the Intel Pentium Dual Core E2160. What do you think?
»www.directcanada.com/products/?s···30BD1399
Drew:
I was thinking of running it at 1280x1024 32bit. I think that's the highest the game allows, right? |
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drew
Reformation
Premium
join:2002-07-10
Port Orchard, WA
clubs: | nope.
I run it at 1680x1050 at home. It is hot.
That system should run at 1280x1024 just fine, you might want to not turn multisampling up too high though. |
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Bes
join:2006-01-24
Canada
| Hm, I don't think I've ever fooled around with multisampling options. But it would be nice if I could run the game at any high resolution flawlessly. I probably wouldn't bother using anything higher than 1280x1024 since I'm fine with that right now, but I'd like the option to do so if I ever felt like it in the future. I guess I shouldn't get greedy like that with a $400 budget, though. |
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drew
Reformation
Premium
join:2002-07-10
Port Orchard, WA
clubs: | I actually have gotten less-than-impressive results with my new rig (5400+ 2GB RAM 8600GTS) at my resolution. Turned the multisampling down to 2x and I get a solid 40fps when looking over a LOT of terrain. and usually at least 20fps in shat. |
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Bes
join:2006-01-24
Canada | Heh. Honestly, if my new setup can run at 1280x1024 flawlessly while running through Shattrath, then I think I should be OK. |
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drew
Reformation
Premium
join:2002-07-10
Port Orchard, WA
clubs: | Can't say flawlessly. a lot of that is dependent on the amount of people in shat. |
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chaud
Serious Business
join:2004-07-09
Anderson, SC | reply to Bes
Are you planning an overclock for that CPU?
If so make sure to get some decent cooling.
You also may want to get a slightly more higher end card |
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Bes
join:2006-01-24
Canada
1 edit | reply to drew
Drew:
True enough. Them and all those guards and recruits in the middle circle area. It's a real killer for anyone with a less-than-decent PC, and it really sucks for them, too, because the flight master is right around there.
Chaud:
So far, I think I'm set on purchasing these two things here:
Processor:
»www.directcanada.com/products/?s···00BD3219
Motherboard:
»www.directcanada.com/products/?s···30BD1399
I'm stuck figuring out what video card to get. I can't seem to find anything really decent for under $200.
Any recommendations? Keep in mind, though, that I still haven't looked at any power supplies, and I'm not really set on RAM, yet.
Oh, and one more thing. Apparently Direct Canada has free shipping for any orders over $300 and are less than 100 lbs. So, I'm also trying to keep within that range. |
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thrillhaus
Premium
join:2003-12-26
Tucson, AZ
clubs:
| reply to Bes
said by Bes  :I was thinking of running it at 1280x1024 32bit. I think that's the highest the game allows, right? I run it at 1920 x 1200  |
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SKYHN
Lu.. Lu.. Lulululu
Premium
join:2001-09-16
99999 | reply to Bes
I would bump the CPU up a lil bit.
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Do you douche with coconut juice? |
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Bes
join:2006-01-24
Canada | I guess instead of the E2160, I could get the E2180.
Would you happen to have a CPU in mind? Honestly, I'm jumping into this blindly. I've never actually built a PC myself before. I have almost zero experience in buying parts. |
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drew
Reformation
Premium
join:2002-07-10
Port Orchard, WA
clubs: | I prefer AMD, but that's another debate altogether. |
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Bes
join:2006-01-24
Canada
3 edits | A very good friend of mine has had a lot of trouble with AMD, and actually suggested that I go Intel. So I probably will do just that, unless someone has any reason why AMD would be better?
I know it's asking a lot out of you guys to look around for cheap parts for me, but I would really appreciate it if you guys would throw out suggestions for any processor, motherboard, video cards, RAM, and power supplies if you know of any really good ones for very cheap. It's only for WoW, after all, so I don't think I'll need anything top-of-the-line.
The only things I have in mind are the processor and motherboard I mentioned in one of my previous posts above. Now all I need is a decent enough video card, two gigs of RAM, and a power supply. Any help is appreciated!
What do you guys think of this video card here:
»www.directcanada.com/products/?s···80BD5144
More details:
»www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/···sNSUvw.w |
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Sithra
join:2008-02-07 | For what it's worth, I use an E6750 OC'd to 3.2ghz, 2gb of RAM at 4-4-4-12 and an old G80 8800GTS and I get 302fps when I look at the sky and a minimum 80fps during raids.
Running at 1440x900 with everything on max. |
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Bes
join:2006-01-24
Canada
| That sounds pretty sweet. Although, an E6750 and 8800GTS is a bit steep for my budget, at the moment.
Apparently I can OC the E2160 pretty high. People say it runs nicely at 3.0ghz. The only problem is, I don't have any experience OC'ing. I'm willing to learn how, though, and that's exactly what I plan to do with my E2160 when I get it. |
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Dissembled
join:2008-01-23
Indianapolis, IN
| reply to Bes
If you're interested in saving $20 on your video card:
»www.pricewatch.com/video_cards/g···8600.htm
I have a 3700+, 2GB RAM, and a two year old 7800GT. I run WoW "flawlessly". The only time I ever slow down is during lag and not because of my hardware.
FYI, I play at 1680x1050 with all sliders at full and a good majority of eye candy stuff enabled. |
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SixOfNine
Brake In A Ladylike Manner.
Premium
join:2001-08-30
Sterling, VA | reply to Bes
Those of you getting a kazillion fps at max settings: how about during the trash waves in Mount Hyjal? I've had to turn a couple of things down to squeeze out more fps during that encounter.
--
Verizon FIOS |
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