[TAminimat]

Haha, what cheap cases do you have ^.^

[Mayo]

http://thermaltake.com.au/products-m...?id=C_00001815
http://thermaltake.com.au/products-m...?id=C_00001772
http://thermaltake.com.au/products-m...?id=C_00001615
http://thermaltake.com.au/products-m...?id=C_00001803 - Bit higher then your price range I think

[TAminimat]

What price are the first two?

[Mayo]

For prices of anything, head to www.staticice.com.au and you will see the cheapest prices around for any product on the market!

[|Erasmus|]

Probably about to get flamed out of here, but, from most of the reviews of cases I've seen... the Thermaltake case doesn't have the same build quality as something like the antec one I picked.

I am not sure whether some of the newer Thermaltake ones are an improvement, but the older models at least were well reviewed as having lots of plasticky bits... So if you move your computer around or fiddle with it at all, definitely make sure you at least read some reviews before committing to buying a case.

[freaky_beeky]

Originally Posted by |Erasmus|

Probably about to get flamed out of here, but, from most of the reviews of cases I've seen... the Thermaltake case doesn't have the same build quality as something like the antec one I picked.

I am not sure whether some of the newer Thermaltake ones are an improvement, but the older models at least were well reviewed as having lots of plasticky bits... So if you move your computer around or fiddle with it at all, definitely make sure you at least read some reviews before committing to buying a case.

I wish I couldn't agree with you...
Similar could be said about their PSU's back in the day...

[Mayo]

Originally Posted by |Erasmus|

Probably about to get flamed out of here, but, from most of the reviews of cases I've seen... the Thermaltake case doesn't have the same build quality as something like the antec one I picked.

I am not sure whether some of the newer Thermaltake ones are an improvement, but the older models at least were well reviewed as having lots of plasticky bits... So if you move your computer around or fiddle with it at all, definitely make sure you at least read some reviews before committing to buying a case.

New design team and thicker metal for 2011 onwards, so yeah, better stuff

The Spacecraft/Overseer I linked are a new line of cases developed by the new design team.

You Tube

You Tube

[|Erasmus|]

Worth a look, then. I'm all for supporting people who support eSports... but not at the cost of shoddy gear.

Still check reviews at least before committing. Make sure you pick something you will be most happy with. If it's a tie, then let Tt being good supporters of eSports sway your decision (my opinion on how this sort of thing affects my buying habits).

Quick Comments

	TAminimat:	i feel the same
	freaky_beeky:	Couldn't agree more

[Mayo]

I'm not gonna make you buy something I don't like myself.

We are a branch, we don't bring in things to sell that we don't want/like.

[TAminimat]

CASE: Bitfenix Merc Alpha
PSU: Aywun Mega Power ECO 420w
MOBO: Asus P8H61-M-LX-V3
CPU: Intel Core i3-2100, HT 4 threads @ 3.1Ghz
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 4Gb 1600Mhz
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 500Gb
ODD: Sony 24x DVDrw
GPU: Asus GTX-550ti DC 1Gb
OS: MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit

Thermaltake VM600M1W2Z Dokker Mid Tower Chassis
Intel Core i5 2400
Gigabyte Radeon HD6870 1GB
Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3 Motherboard
Antec Neo Eco 520C 520W Power Supply
SOME SORT OF 4GB KINGSTON RAM(please help with this)
Sandgate Barracuda 500GB HDD
Sony 24x DVDrw
MS Windows 7 64 bit home premium

How would the two computers stack up against each other? I am not really too keen on an i3 or an SSD. I need to find a monitor too, any suggestions on 21.5 - 23inch monitors? What do you all use?

Thanks guys. Also Karma, do you reckon you could do me up a price for the second build too? Thank you

[Meatex]

kingston ram is boss and thermaltake have some of the best cases

I may try to hold out until 30th birthday (rather may have to) and get an epic rig
and maybe by then legacy of the void will be out

Definitely go for an i5 over and i3 CPU and if you wanted to save some money you don't really need a 6870
A 6850 will be a fair bit cheaper and still runs almost everything on max

[dippa]

if you're getting a budget rig for cod4, minecraft and sc2 then you don't even need to go anywhere near a 6870/6850 because the games you'll be playing are more CPU intensive (particularly when you turn the settings down, which will tax the GPU even less and shift the focus towards the CPU)

you'd be better off getting more RAM and an i5 IMO

[TAminimat]

Also, how well do you think that second build would go streaming? Not really important if it would suck ass but it would be cool to be able to stream aswell.

[Antel0pe]

If you want to stream and play CoD4, Minecraft and SC2 you're probably wanting to spend more on CPU or RAM. None of those games are particularly graphics intensive. (I play all of those games on Macbook Pro with integrated graphics) Get like a HD6770 and flash the BIOS to a HD6850, that's all the graphics you would need.

[Karma IT]

you guys realise there is no gain of the i5 over the i3 right ?

[Fadey]

Originally Posted by Karma IT

you guys realise there is no gain of the i5 over the i3 right ?

My current gen cpu knowledge isnt top notch but correct me if i am wrong the i3-2100 is a dual core with hyperthreading (so 4 threads) and the i5-2400 is a true quad core is it not?

[|Erasmus|]

Originally Posted by Fadey

My current gen cpu knowledge isnt top notch but correct me if i am wrong the i3-2100 is a dual core with hyperthreading (so 4 threads) and the i5-2400 is a true quad core is it not?

This is correct, and it also has double the cache. The I5 will also perform better on single threaded apps because it benefits from the turbo mode (if you aren't using all cores it will clock itself up a few hundred MHz.

[VB_WhiplashJC]

The i5 2400 certainly has benefits over a i3 2400, as does 6870 over the 550ti. The 2nd build is much better.

For the RAM just get the cheapest, it makes little difference performance wise. EG: this.

[Karma IT]

this is precisely why i dont bother with gamers sometimes.

bunch of knowitalls.

4 threads to 4 cores is nothing when gaming derp derp

im just a tech, what would i know right

Quick Comments

	|Erasmus|:	Noone would ever want to run other processes while gaming or anything...
	VB_WhiplashJC:	Never mind the link with the benchmarks, get off your high horse
	dippa:	pompous ****
	TAminimat:	your very good at losing customers easily ^.^

[freaky_beeky]

Originally Posted by Karma IT

this is precisely why i dont bother with gamers sometimes.

bunch of knowitalls.

4 threads to 4 cores is nothing when gaming derp derp

im just a tech, what would i know right

Are you trying to suggest that none of the other members in this community or gamers in general couldn't be I.T technicians as well?

TAminimat has already mentioned streaming games, and if you know anything about that, you would know that it's extremely taxing on the CPU and can fully utilise additional cores in a commercial sense.

Additionally, if playing team games in SC2, especially 4v4's there is a considerable amount of AI work undertaken by the CPU due to the Havok Physics engine. If you would like some further proof of this please consider this article: http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpu...rcraft-2-use/1
The article above uses the same CPU throughout which does not take into account the cache difference between the i3 and i5 being discussed either which will lend itself to performance enhancements during difficult computational situations as described above.

If TAminimat wasn't looking to play SC2 or interested in streaming, I would say your opinion of the i3 would be considerably more relevant, unfortunately that isn't the case.


As for monitors, with that range of games I'd be reluctant to recommend anything, especially under those budget restraints. I personally use a Alienware OptX™ AW2310 23"W and am reasonably happy, however I'm really looking for something that is 120hz, 3D capable and LED backlit with a VESA mount.

Quick Comments

TAminimat: