Looking for a new Gaming PC/Laptop for under $1000

[RadasNoir]

I've had my current laptop for a few years now, and it's getting to the point where it just can't properly run some of the newer gamers coming out these days.

I'd like to get a new gaming PC/Laptop, but I'm on a bit of a budget. It needs to be at least >$1000, but the cheaper the better.

I primarily play MMOs, and an example of one of the newer ones I'd be looking to play on my potential new computer would be The Secret World, and I am also greatly interested in the forthcoming Wildstar. I'd like to be able to have decent looking graphics without sacrificing performance. As it is, right now when I play TSW on my current laptop, I have to have pretty much everything set to low, and things still slow way down when there are too many characters or effects on screen.

I'm leaning toward getting another laptop, simply because I like the ease of mobility with one, but I'm definitely open to the idea of getting a PC if it will mean a cheaper price and/or better potential performance. Worse comes to worse, I just keep my old laptop around for those situations when I'm in need of such mobility.

Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions, guys.

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Whilst browsing about on these forums, to see if anyone had asked a question similar to mine, I did come across another post asking about gaming laptops on a budget, and someone in that thread mentioned the Lenovo brand.

I looked up Lenovo laptops and found this. It seems like it's what I'm looking for in terms of price, and sounds like it could also be what I'm looking for in performance, but I still wanted to ask: Does anyone here know much about this brand, or that particular model of laptop? Would it get me the kind of performance I'm looking for?

Thanks, once again, for any advice or suggestions....

[Ripox]

Custom PC >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Prebuilt PC >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> laptop
in terms of price/performance, anyways

Do you need peripherals like mouse/keyboard/monitor?
Do you need an Operating System disk/license?

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oh and what is your location? can you use all vendors?
can you do Microcenter in-store pickup?

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If you need peripherals and operating system, is that included in the budget?

and if you can get mail-in rebates, would you count that? Like if total price ended up $1100 and you got $100 in rebates if you mail-in, would that be ok?

[RadasNoir]

Custom PC >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Prebuilt PC >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> laptop
in terms of price/performance, anyways

I was starting to get that sense while browsing around on here. Is a Custom PC something I would have to put together myself? As in, not only choosing the parts, but actually physically putting it together myself?

Do you need peripherals like mouse/keyboard/monitor?
Do you need an Operating System disk/license?

I already have a wireless USB Keyboard, and a USB mouse, but I would need a monitor.

I'm pretty sure I'd also need an Operating System disk/license.

oh and what is your location? can you use all vendors?
can you do Microcenter in-store pickup?

I'm in America. Not sure about those other two questions, but I'm assuming where I live decides the answers to them.

If you need peripherals and operating system, is that included in the budget?

I suppose it would have to be; can't do much without a monitor or operating system.

and if you can get mail-in rebates, would you count that? Like if total price ended up $1100 and you got $100 in rebates if you mail-in, would that be ok?

Yeah, that would be okay. The Lenoro laptop I linked is actually so cheap due to having a mail-in rebate.

[Ripox]

What is your more specific location?
Should I include the monitor in the $1000 or put it separately?

What about the operating system?

You would indeed have to put together the PC but it is so unbelievably easy you'll be surprised
You can always get a tech savvy friend or someone to do it for you, but its not hard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPIXAtNGGCw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_56kyib-Ls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxaVBsXEiok

[RadasNoir]

What is your more specific location?

Michigan, lower peninsula.

Should I include the monitor in the $1000 or put it separately?

It would have to be included.

You would indeed have to put together the PC but it is so unbelievably easy you'll be surprised
You can always get a tech savvy friend or someone to do it for you, but its not hard

As this post might indicate, I'm not too computer-literate, so hopefully you'll understand my trepidation at the idea, and the concern over screwing something up. I suppose if I'm really serious about getting the best gaming performance for my buck, I really should give it putting together a Custom PC a shot.

Oh, and thanks for the links.

[Ripox]

Can you throw me a ZIP code?

[RadasNoir]

That specific, huh?

Alright, 49649.

[Ripox]

Would you be willing to drive to 32800 Concord Dr, Madison Heights, MI, United States ‎ for cheaper processors? LOL

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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Signature 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($255.66 @ Newegg)
Case: BitFenix Merc Alpha (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($45.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Monitor: AOC e2351F 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($117.47 @ TigerDirect)
Total: $1002.04
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-01 12:33 EDT-0400)


I think you're good to go with this but you could wait till somebody (Chazus) OK's it

[RadasNoir]

Would you be willing to drive to 32800 Concord Dr, Madison Heights, MI, United States ‎ for cheaper processors? LOL

Yeah...I'm not sure getting a cheaper processor would make up for the amount of time and money I'd probably need to spend getting across half the state. -_-

I think you're good to go with this but you could wait till somebody (Chazus) OK's it

Thanks for all that! It goes a tad over my price range, but it doesn't seem like that can be helped. You've given me quite a bit to consider.

Whilst I wait to see if anyone else has further advice, either when it comes to your suggested build or in general, I think I'll browse through the items you linked and the videos you shared.

[Ripox]

I can decrease the price by changing out some parts by quite a bit but it will come at the cost of performance, of course

[Fluorescent0]

Made a couple of adjustments that bring the price down by about 13$, not really much more can be done without decreasing performance.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Patriot Signature 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($254.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($45.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.90 @ Amazon)
Monitor: AOC e2351F 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($117.47 @ TigerDirect)
Total: $989.28
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-01 13:30 EDT-0400)

[Ripox]

case is preference I guess, I don't agree with the Z75 board. Early Z7X boards had issues causing revisions and changes. I would personally keep the Z77 pro3 for just a few more dollars, its worth the benefits

[Fluorescent0]

case is preference I guess, I don't agree with the Z75 board. Early Z7X boards had issues causing revisions and changes. I would personally keep the Z77 pro3 for just a few more dollars, its worth the benefits

The only difference between the Z77 and Z75 board is not supporting SSD caching from your HDDs to SSDs.