Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Holiday Season 2013
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Buying a gaming PC is very challenging. There are so many different parts out there, and choosing the right stuff to go together requires a lot of research. So we did it for you. Sponsor link: linustechtips.com Pricing & availability: linustechtips.com Join our community forum: bit.ly twitter.com @LinusTech Intro Screen Music Credit: Adhesive Wombat -
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The video presents a 2013 Holiday Gaming PC Buyer's Guide that breaks down three distinct price tiers to help viewers assemble a capable gaming system without getting overwhelmed by the many parts available. The first tier targets a budget around $500, described as a no frills gaming box, with emphasis on keeping cost down while ensuring the system can actually play modern titles. The host explains the rationale for selecting an AMD quad-core processor over an Intel dual-core in this tier, highlighting core count and upcoming technologies like Frostbite 3 and Mantle as reasons to prefer more cores in the near future. RAM is kept minimal with a single 8 GB module to fit the motherboard’s two-slot design, with future upgrades in mind by swapping to a second 8 GB module rather than replacing current modules. The budget build uses a basic case and a modest power supply from a trusted brand to ensure reliability and proper protection, and it keeps overclocking out of the equation to avoid thermal constraints in the entry level configuration. In storage, a modest SSD or a large hard drive is recommended, with the SSD chosen to accelerate OS boot and frequently used programs while a larger HDD provides bulk capacity, illustrating the tradeoffs between speed and space at this price point. The host also notes the optional Windows license cost and the possibility of using Linux to avoid that expense, framing the budget plan as flexible according to the user’s needs and existing licenses.
Topics · technology · computer_hardware · gaming · reviews · budget_planning
Questions answered
- What is the rationale behind choosing an AMD quad-core for the budget build?
- The guide favors more cores for future game engines and upcoming APIs like Frostbite 3 and Mantle, arguing that more cores can offer better overall performance even if individual cores are less powerful.
- Why is a GTX 770 recommended over newer generations at the midrange price point?
- The GTX 770 provides strong performance close to higher-end cards at a lower price, offering good values and bundled games in the price range, making it a sensible balance of cost and capability.
- What storage strategy is suggested for the midrange and budget builds?
- Use a small fast SSD for the OS and core programs, plus a larger HDD for mass storage to balance speed and capacity.
- How does the video propose handling Windows licensing?
- If you already have a Windows license, you can reuse it and avoid the extra cost; alternatively, you can run a free OS such as Linux to save money.