New Computer Buyers Guide: The 7 Most Important Component Choices When Buying or Building a PC

Custom computer companies today compete with each other based on offering more and more component choices to their customers.  While choices are good, the more options that are available, the harder it is for you to know what to look for when customizing your new rig.  The following is a list, in order of importance, of what you should focus on when purchasing a new computer.

#1 RAM

Memory is first most important thing to focus on when customizing a PC.  Computer memory can be considered even more important than processor speed because, nowadays, processing technology is such that the average speed of a computer is rarely limited by the CPU, especially in desktop configurations.  Random Access Memory, also known as “RAM,” or “memory,” is a computers working memory that it can access almost instantly.  Each running program uses RAM to store a certain amount of information that is necessary for that program to run.  As long as there is sufficient RAM space available for each program that is running, this information can be accessed with almost unnoticeable delays.  Slow downs and delays occur when a computer has to retrieve information from the hard drive, which takes considerably longer to access than RAM.  A computer will load information on its RAM as long as there is space available.  The more information that can be stored in quick accessing RAM, the faster the computer will be overall.  Today the cost of RAM is relatively cheap, so to maximize the performance of your computer for the lowest possible cost, focus on customizing a computer with a good amount of RAM.  How much is a good amount? Well depending on your specific needs, the answer to that could be as much as 8GB or more, but that’s only if you are into some intense high resolution multi tasking.  For an average user, the magic number is around 4GB.  As you add up to 4 GB of RAM, you will see significant improvements in speed during everyday use and average gaming.  After 4GB, we start to see some quickly diminishing returns in performance for any more that is added.  Fortunately, the cost of customizing a pc with 4GB will be hardly noticeable in the total price.  Most Predator PCs are shipped with 4GB of RAM.

#2 CPU

The second most important component choice should be the CPU, (Computer Processing Unit, or Processor.)  The CPU is the brain of the computer.  All commands by all programs that are running on a computer originate in the CPU.  The CPU essentially tells every other component what to do and when to do it.  The faster the CPU can process information and communicate commands with other components, the snappier your computer will feel.  The reason that the all important CPU is listed as the second most important component to consider is that, today, processing technology has reached a level where even mainstream CPUs can process everyday software while utilizing only a fraction of its potential power.  Only a few years ago this was not the case. Now, however, CPUS are no longer a speed bottleneck for the average user.  While we have come a long way in processor technology, the choice of what CPU to use is still extremely important.  The best way to choose a CPU is to examine your needs and price range.  Most mainstream desktop and laptop processors fall between the $80- $200 price range.  Any AMD or Intel CPU that falls in this range (at Predator Computing, or other quality computer specialist stores) will perform sufficiently for everyday use and average gaming.  While performance tends to increase with price, the amount of performance per dollar varies greatly between CPUs, especially at higher price points.  With hundreds of processor options available on the market today, it is difficult to realize exactly what you are paying for without doing some extremely time consuming research.  Fortunately for you, Predator Computing has selected, tested, and benchmarked the best processors available from almost every price point.  To easily compare processor performance and value take a look at the following graph which is explained in more detail on this page:

 

#3 Graphics Card

For gamers and graphics users, the graphics card could potentially be the most important component choice.  Unlike CPUs, current graphics technology does not greatly surpass the demands of most graphic intensive applications, which therefore makes the graphic card a significant speed bottleneck for most gamers.  Graphics cards process and store image related information with use of its own GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) and graphics card memory which are separate from the computers CPU and RAM.  The following graph shows almost all mid to high-end graphics cards that are available today:

 

The blue line tracks the performance score, while the red line tracks the value score for each processer. While most of the graphics cards featured in this graph will run almost all applications and games that are currently available on at least minimum settings, you will have to move up the performance graph fairly quickly if you expect to max the settings on some of the more demanding games. As you can see, many of the higher performance solutions are SLI or CrossFire (CF). SLI stands for “Scalable Link Interface.” SLI was developed by Nvidia and is basically a solution that allows a user to combine the power of two identical cards to enhance the performance of one system. CrossFire is ATI’s multiple graphics card solution that operates with the same principle that SLI does by using two graphics cards in one system to achieve performance levels higher than what is currently obtainable through the use of a single card. If you are looking to max the settings in games like Crysis while having flawless frame rates, you should look into either an SLI/ CrossFire solution. Keep in mind that the prices for multiple high-end graphics cards (SLI/CF) and the top of the line single cards can be quite high and that most of the cards located in the upper middle of the graph will be capable of running demanding games at close to highest settings.

If you’re not a hardcore gamer and don’t use extremely demanding video editing software then the graphics cards on right of the graph will be more than sufficient for your needs and will allow you to save a good amount of money on your pc. These cards are sufficiently powerful for regular computer use and will still be able to handle most games on low settings. If you purchase a card with more value than performance to save money now, keep in mind that a graphics card is one of the easiest components to upgrade should you want a more powerful one in the future. With Predator’s upgrade program, you don’t have to worry too much about being stuck with a card that doesn’t fit your needs.

Click here to learn more about graphics card benchmarks.

#4 Hard Disk Drive

The computer’s Hard Drive represents its available space where programs and files can be stored.  When choosing a hard drive there are 2 factors to consider: capacity and speed.  Storage capacity today has become extremely inexpensive, so getting enough space is not difficult.  There is almost a negligible difference in price between a 300GB and 500Gb hard drive with similar speeds, for example.  So unless you plan to store excessive amounts of high resolution video, imagery and music, a 300-500GB drive should be more than enough for the average computer user.  The vast majority of mainstream hard drives operate at 5400-7200 RPMs.  Predator Computing chooses to offer 7200RPM drives as a standard component, but gives customers the choice of faster options as well.  Faster drives like the Western Digital Velociraptor ®, for example, operate at speeds up to 10,000 RPMs and contain higher cache capacity and faster read and write speeds, which all allows data to be accessed quicker leading to shorter load times and a faster feeling computer.  The price for this increased speed, however, is fairly substantial and the noticeable performance gain is arguably minimal.  For the average user, a 7200RPM hard drive at a capacity suitable for the needs of the user will be more than sufficient.

#5 Power Supply

As long as your power supply can provide enough wattage to support all of your components running simultaneously, you will not gain any performance advantage for having a higher powered power supply.  The only advantage to getting an extra powerful power supply is to add future expandability to your rig.  Most custom computer services will make choosing a power supply fairly simple and will ensure that you will end up with a power supply that can handle whatever combination of components you choose.  If you are planning to build a computer yourself though, choosing a power supply is a slightly more difficult process.  The main thing you want to look for when figuring out how much power you will need is your graphics card (or cards) power requirements.  Graphics cards alone tend to consume by far the most amount of power in a system and, therefore, if you follow the recommended power supply wattage that is advised by your particular graphics card, you should get a good ball park wattage level to start considering.  It is then up to you whether or not you want to make upgrading in the future easier by stocking up on a higher wattage power supply, or if you would rather save a little cash now and upgrade when you really need to.  For example, a computer with an Intel E8500 CPU, two 9800 GT graphics cards, 4 GB of RAM, a regular hard drive and a single optical drive could be powered easily with a 500W power supply.  If you had plans to upgrade to an SLI GTX 295 graphics solution in the future, though, you would require significantly more power and would want to invest in a power supply that was closer to 1000W.

#6 Sound Card

Unless you plan to use your computer as the center of your home theater system, or are into detailed sound processing, getting integrated sound is a good way to save a little money.  All Predator motherboards are equipped with integrated sound ports that will work proficiently for casually listening to music, playing games and watching movies.  If however you do plan to hook your PC up to an intense surround sound system for some extreme gaming or movie watching, investing in a sound card is not a bad idea.  The best way to choose a sound card is to examine the features available on each one and fit the card with your needs and your price range.  Predator Computing lists the features of each sound card in the product details box for each one offered.

#7 Optical Drive

Choosing an optical drive comes down to your individual needs.  For most users, a typical DVD burner will allow you to play all CD and DVD media as well as burn both CDs and DVDs.  Most standard dvd drives will run you well under $50.  If you have a little more to spend, looking into a Blu-Ray ® reader or writer will typically offer every feature of a standard DVD burner in addition to the ability to read and write high capacity Blu-Ray® discs.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 Benchmarked

After quite a while of ATI having the “most powerful graphics card” title with the Radeon HD 4870 X2, NVIDIA has finally answered with the release of the Geforce GTX 295. The GTX 295 is a dual-GPU graphics card from NVIDIA based on the 55nm GeForce GTX 200 technology that is used in the GTX 260 and GTX 280 models.

So as usual, we couldn’t resist getting our hands on one of the first GTX 295 cards to see what it is really all about. Our test system included The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX 9770, 8GB of DDR2 1066 RAM, a 1000W power supply, WD Velociraptor in an EVGA 780i motherboard. We tested the frame rates in 4 different games including Crysis, Farcry 2, Call Of Duty: World At War, and Fallout 3. The following graph shows the frame rates that our test system achieved in each of these games at 1920x1200 resolutions with graphics settings maxed in each game.

 

As expected, the GTX 295 outperformed all of the other cards, but does not make a huge margin in these games compared to the Radeon HD 4870. The following graph shows the average frame rate for each card in these four games which makes it easier to see just how much better overall the GTX 295 is than its competition. (Not all that much compared to the HD 4870 X2). 

So overall,the GTX 295 lived up to its expectations to be the most powerful graphics card on the market. According to our overall benchmarks, the GTX 295 beat GTX 280 by 30.97%, the Radeon HD 4870 X2 by 5.5% and the Radeon 4870 by 41.13%

AMD Competes, But Can't Match i7s!

Yesterday, AMD officially launched the Phenom II 940 and the Phenom II 920. We eagerly waited for the launch wondering whether or not AMD would be able to match Intel processor performance. The following is a graph that depicts where AMD's new processors stand in the PC market: 

AMD's new chips are able to hold their own among the world's best desktop processors, but still can't compete in the extreme high end market segment. AMD does deliver a superior value proposition because its prices are less than performance equivalent Intel processors. We expect that Intel will hold on to its market share by lowering its prices on many of its non-i7 desktop processors.

In addition to AMD's superior value package, the new Phenom II processors are rumored to overclock better than the i7s, which means that owners of AMD's new processors could potentially close the performance gap between the i7 and AMD's new Deneb processors.We'll keep you updated with a follow up on the new AMD Deneb processor's overclocking potential.

AMD Has a Plan

On January 8th, AMD will begin launching it's new Phenom II line of desktop processors. There is some irony with the model name as it is strikingly similar to Intel's new i7 processors. For years, AMD has struggled to simply meet media expectations and launch as many high performance processors as possible; AMD has developed a road map that extends out to Q2 of 2009 and hopes that the Phenom II will be its high performance answer.

In February, AMD will be adding DDR3 memory support to its processors with a modified socket type, however, these AM3 processors will still work in many AM2/AM2+ motherboards, so AMD owners will have an upgrade path that works for them.

Though still in development, the Phenom II X4 940 has been rumored to overclock well, albeit with liquid nitrogen. There are a few reports on the web that the chip has been overlcocked to speeds in excess of 6GHz+. We're skeptical, and there aren't many consumers who are willing to pour some liquid nitrogen on their CPUs for any extended period of time. Time will tell and we'll keep you posted on AMD's progress.

Below is the AMD roadmap:

 

Core i7 For Gamers?

So rumor has it that Intel’s new Core i7 processors are no good for gaming.  While that is obviously false, the rumor is based on some truth.  Due to the Core i7 new architecture and use of logical cores, most games are not optimized to take advantage of its true power.  The real question is how exactly does the Core i7 compare to the Core 2 Quad or Core2 Duo CPUs when it comes to gaming.  To put an end to the argument, Predator Computing ran a few tests on some of the latest games.

Our test systems consisted of 4 GB of DDR3 1333 RAM, an Nvidia GTX 280 OC graphics card, and a 1000 Watt Power Supply. 

The following graph shows the frame rate of Far Cry 2 on high settings at various resolutions on our test computer:

As you can see, the Core2 Quad QX9770 outperforms the other two processors pretty much across the board. As the resolutions get higher, it is clear that the test system becomes limited primarily by the GPU, as even the Core 2 Duo matches up with the two quad cores at higher resolutions.

While Farcry 2 is supposed to be fairly optimized for multi core processors, it is clear that the game, like most others, is not able to harness all of the CPUs power. 

While the Core i7 does not quite dethrone the QX 9770 as the most powerful gaming processor, it does make some significant headway in synthetic benchmarks which more appropriately represent operating system use, rendering, and other tasks.

As the graph to the left indicates, when the Core i7s true power is utilized, it is significantly more powerful than the QX 9770 or the E8500.

So which one is the “better” processor?

In my opinion, the huge advantage that the Core i7 has over Intel’s other processors in synthetic benchmarks can’t be ignored. It is easy to overlook the i7’s slight disadvantage when it comes to gaming because at any resolution that an owner of any of these processors will likely be using, a game will be limited by the GPU long before the CPU becomes the bottleneck.  Even at lower resolutions, the framrate variation between the Core i7 and the QX9770 still won’t make a noticeable difference as frames will be well above what a typical monitor can even display.