Questions on a good gaming computer

• mageisfun wrote on 2011-08-08 05:51
  Recently discovered the tech support section so I thought I'd jump in and ask a few questions
  
  First question: Are desktops better then laptops for gaming or does it really matter?
  
  Second question: Should I just build a desktop or laptop instead of buying one? If not, what would be a
  company to buy a gaming laptop or pc from.
  
  I most likely won't be getting one for 2-4 months as I'm short on money for one atm. My price range will be somewhere around $800-1300 I wouldn't like to spend as much as $1300 but if its needed then I will.
  
  Thanks in advanced :) :2thumb:
• Cynic wrote on 2011-08-08 05:52
  I'm pretty sure desktops have always been better for gaming.
• Random wrote on 2011-08-08 05:59
  Custom built desktops are better bang for the buck. Your price range is enough for a pretty good one.
• Excalibuurr wrote on 2011-08-08 06:04

  Quote from Cynic;543670:

  I'm pretty sure desktops have always been better for gaming.

  
  
  Yep, and I heard it's cheaper to build a computer and get more performance out from it, unless you break the parts while building which rarely happens unless your competence level equals that of a toddler or even lower, since toddlers know what shape to fit into which slot, it should be the same with computer parts, (The new ones atleast)
• mageisfun wrote on 2011-08-08 06:06
  Building a computer.....I'd imagine it'd be difficult. You guys make it sound like its easy, I've never built one so I wouldn't really know.
• Pyoori wrote on 2011-08-08 06:06
  You should definitely try building your own desktop.
  
  First of all, its cheaper than buying a pre-made desktop.
  
  Second of all, you'll find that you'll be able to upgrade your PC rather more easily if you know what parts you have.
  
  And third of all, any desktop that you've made yourself will be significantly more powerful than a pre-made of the same price. And most likely a pre-made that's more expensive too.
  
  Here's a great guide to get you started: tinyurl.com/falconguide
• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2011-08-08 06:15
  Desktops are always stronger and cheaper alternatives to laptops
  laptops with specs fit for playing video games smoothly are not economical at all
  With a $1300 laptop, you will only play current generation games on low medium to mediumish settings.
  It is easy to make a powerhouse desktop with $1300 (not including peripherals such as monitor, mouse, keyboard etc.)
  
  remember, with desktops. All the best cost to performance ratios are the middle tier hardware. The top tier is always cost like... $100 to 200 more per part for a little bit more performance.
  
  Desktops are easy to assemble. Just have a large table. Placing the hardware is easy as following instructions to build a lego structure... but they're much more fragile of course.
  If you're scared, just get a junk computer. They're practically free to $50 at a computer black market or something.
  Make sure it works. Disassemble. Reassemble. Test to see if it works. Repeat.
  Feel confident? learn to install the OS.
• mageisfun wrote on 2011-08-08 06:18
  Thanks for the advice and all :).
  I actually have a junkey desktop that I wasn't able to fix before, I could practice on that if my dad will let me.
  I'd defiantly want to do research before making a good desktop.
• mageisfun wrote on 2011-08-08 06:21
  So are the desktop cases just like.....put the pieces in place?
• Excalibuurr wrote on 2011-08-08 06:39

  Quote from mageisfun;543751:

  So are the desktop cases just like.....put the pieces in place?

  
  
  Think of it like this, you have 7 parts of mega lego blocks that are in different shapes they are also labeled to be showing which part should be next to what., you are trying to fit it in this box that was specifically designed to only fit those 7 parts in a certain way.
• Okitaru wrote on 2011-08-08 06:43
  1. Desktop and Laptop gaming, the fact is you can't upgrade a laptop as much, or as easily. Gaming Laptops are a joke because of it. And who the hell games without a real mouse?
  2. Building is cheaper and better most the time.
  
  Also, the case size can change what you can use, while the motherboard is what things put into/onto for the most part.
• mageisfun wrote on 2011-08-08 06:51
  Uhh aren't there more then 7 parts :o? Motherboard, CPU, GPU, RAM, Hard Drive, cd/dvd drive, power supply, ribbon cables and cpu fan?
• Excalibuurr wrote on 2011-08-08 07:10

  Quote from mageisfun;543849:

  Uhh aren't there more then 7 parts :o? Motherboard, CPU, GPU, RAM, Hard Drive, cd/dvd drive, power supply, ribbon cables and cpu fan?

  
  
  I was just making a point.
• mageisfun wrote on 2011-08-08 07:13

  Quote from Excalibuurr;543908:

  I was just making a point.

  
  
  Oh mk