Best electronics according to redditors
We found 536,409 Reddit comments discussing the best electronics. We ranked the 100,537 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 536,409 Reddit comments discussing the best electronics. We ranked the 100,537 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
It's not pretty lol. We tried to zip tie everything together to make it at least understandable haha
EDIT: Hijacking this post since there are a LOT of common questions. Oh and /u/smilenataliew is the wife :)
FAQ:
>How did you connect everything to the TV/What adapters did you use?
NES through Gamecube (bottom 4): We have a 4-input composite switcher (those Yellow/Red/White cables) between the N64 and Gamecube, connected to our TV's 3.5mm composite port (which looks like a headphone jack), which we convert with cables like these. We do not recommend a composite to HDMI converter, as the output (might) look garbled from older systems (it did for us).
Wii: Component cables to HDMI converter, then into a remote controlled HDMI switcher (switcher and controller can both be seen to the left of Kirby Amiibo/the Wii)
WiiU & Switch: HDMI to the same HDMI switcher
>Don't the controllers just fall out when you open the case? How are they secured?
The NES controller is resting on a WiiU controller stand, oddly enough!
The SNES controller is the most finnicky. It's slightly leaning back on its own cords, but it's hard to get it to stay put.
The N64 controller is leaned against a stack of N64 games--it's definitely the system my wife and I have the most games for already!
The Gamecube controller is leaning against two other stacked gamecube controllers.
The Wii controller is just just leaning up against a thick piece of cardboard (more cardboard is also holding up the NES and SNES systems since the bottom of their doors would block view of the systems otherwise. My wife intends to wrap all cardboard with contact paper to make it all more decorative, she's very crafty!)
The WiiU has the same controllers as the Wii, except for the screen one, which is on a stand that actually charges the unit while it sits on top of the WiiU system!
The Switch controller actually stands on its own with the joy cons connected to them, but I've decided to actually show the charging station we bought with the joy cons connected to it so that they'll always be charged and ready to go!
>Where are the games?
Behind the controllers! In fact the N64 controller is leaning on a stack of them.
>Cable management? Do you have controller extenders?
Lots of zip ties in the back, and as for controller cables, we bought ~100 of those velcro straps for cords so we can wrap them up for neat display storage without wrapping the cords around the controllers. We also have extension cords for all corded controllers since the consoles don't exactly come out of the unit!
>Where can I get the display case?
It's a piece of furniture so it's a bit expensive, but it's definitely what we wanted after searching for a couple weeks! It's on Amazon
>You could have just emulated it all!
I love having and playing on the original consoles, but emulation is also awesome!
>Where's the Virtual Boy?
It doesn't connect to the TV so I didn't feel the need to get it for this project, but I DO want it for my collection! (Also kids should wait a bit before they play with a 3D device, even the 3DS)
>Where's Nintendo's even older console, the Color TV-Game?/Where's the 64DD?
Those were released Japan only, but I might still want to get them! I believe the controller and the console for Color TV-Game are both one unit, and space is limited, so it might be tough to integrate it if I want to get it!
>Where's the TV? CRT??
Mounted on the wall above the mantle. Sorry, no CRT...yet.
>PHOTOSHOPPED!/I swear I saw this before!
lol why would anyone photoshop this? Definitely real. I'll provide a few more images if I can. And definitely my setup! Though I'm sure I'm not the first to do something similar.
>lol fake niece
The niece and story are real, but if I'm being perfectly honest this is more for me than her haha
What is a "Cable binder" ? A zip tie according to my very grueling research.
Velcro ties work much better. I use these specific cable ties on my racks as well as workstations. They look nice, secure, and easily removable when adding, subtracting, or re-routing.
https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-Black-2-Inch-91140/dp/B001E1Y5O6
I know it's spendy, like 50 bucks spendy, but those vacuum blowers on amazon are 100% worth.
However, you will become the roaming pc cleaner.
Edit:http://www.amazon.com/Metro-ED500-DataVac-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW?ie=UTF8&keywords=air%20compressor%20for%20computer&qid=1465497952&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
Edit:if you're concerned about ESD there's a more expensive one I think that's ESD resistant.
I actually already asked this question to /r/pcgaming and got some excellent feedback.
I ended up purchasing a 1440p 60hz monitor for the resolution later that day, and just picked up a 1080p 144hz recently, so I have the advantage of playing with both of them side by side to give you an accurate insight.
The 1440p has much higher color quality and makes games look ridiculously beautiful. The fact that you're at
2k1440p means you really don't need much, if any AA to get smooth models. The desktop work space is very nice to have outside of gaming, especially if you work on editing video or do graphics design. This thing is BRIGHT. I had to turn the brightness almost all the way down just to keep it at a comfortable level, especially at night.What I've noticed with my 1440p is if you're running a rig with a 970 or a card of equivalent or lesser performance, playing
2k1440p resolution with ultra settings will yield framerates under 60 in most AAA games.It also is a double loss in performance because the games you do have that pump out over 100 fps tear badly on 60 hz monitors. The lack of consistency in frames per second in general is noticeable enough to degrade the entire gaming experience. This can be somewhat fixed by enabling vertical sync, but it doesn't work well in every game, causes input lag sometimes, and from what I've observed it's there just to do what it can.
In a nutshell, 1440p didn't match up with my system's performance output at all. I had to actually turn down games in order to get a substantial, fluid frame rate. And even then, it was still capped at 60 fps max. I even overclocked my monitor to 75hz, and it looked worse even though it read 75 fps in-game. And turning down the game's resolution to 1080p on the 1440p monitor obviously didn't look good at all.
The 1080p 144hz monitor isn't as great in the color and clarity department on the desktop (in-game there is a smaller, noticeable difference, however it is not a deal-breaker), but holy cow when I first connected it, the difference was night and day. The game was so much more fluid and played more "live" if that makes any sense. Every single game looked and played like it felt like it was supposed to, some even better.
I wanted to cry when I first played CS:GO at 275 fps. It was that beautiful.
In all seriousness though, being at 1080p vs 1440p meant my graphics card could pump out much higher framerates above 60 at ultra settings with AA, where it was having trouble staying in the 50s in Witcher 3 at 1440p with some things such as foliage distance, shadow quality, nvidia hairworks, draw distance, and terrain quality turned down or off completely. I love my 1440p monitor and its resolution, but it just doesn't do well for gaming on this rig.
And the biggest difference? I was actually able to SEE the frames at 100+ fps. I play games exclusively on my 144hz monitor now while the 1440p is great for a second monitor with a large desktop workspace.
At 1080p@144hz, you will get higher and much more consistent, fluid frame rates that won't screen tear at higher ultra with AA. Games look so much better, I cannot stress that enough. OR at 1440p you'll get lower frame rates at lower graphics settings at the cost of a higher resolution, and will have bad screen tearing in games pumping out over 100 fps, forcing you to enable vertical sync.
After playing with both of them for many hours, if I had to go back and pick one, I'd pick the 1080p 144hz hands down. Actually if I could have an extra $1200+ to throw down, I'd pick up a 1080 pascal and a 1440p@144hz monitor.
TL;DR Don't get a 1440p unless you have the rig to back it up. If you want to push 1440p for gaming, you'll need a rig running a 980/i5 or better, and a 1440p monitor with 144hz to get the minimum performance necessary for games to look as good as you paid to play them at that quality. Otherwise, go 1080p@144hz.
My rig for those wanting details:
Edit: Duh, forgot to include the monitors in the pcpartpicker:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor
CPU Cooler | Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler |
Motherboard | MSI H110M Gaming Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard |
Memory | G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory |
Storage | Sandisk Ultra II 480GB 2.5" Solid State Drive |
Video Card | EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB FTW ACX 2.0 Video Card |
Power Supply | Corsair Gaming 700W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply |
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 OEM (64-bit) |
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total (before mail-in rebates) |
| Mail-in rebates |
| Total |
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-03 09:18 EDT-0400 |
stop buying these worthless cans of air and buy an electric duster.. never going back to these cans.
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395329983&sr=8-1&keywords=electric+duster
Powerline. I have this exact one. Works like a charm
Congrats on the new computers. You might want to air blower to clean your and your brother's computers every so often, especially since you have a pet. Having dust and pet fur in a computers can slow it down. I would recommend this. Other computer enthusiasts might know of better computer cleaners.
Thanks for all the great art!
Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-ear Headphones (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ENMK1DW?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf. And the mic is V-MODA BoomPro Gaming, VoIP Headset Headphone with Mic (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BJ17WKK?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf. I highly recommend them, sound quality is amazing but the only downside is everyone can hear your shit.
I think it could happen pretty easily.
Let's say that you decide that you want a decent pair of headphones and land on a budget of $200. Maybe you have some Amazon gift cards, so you decide to go on Amazon. You start looking at the reviews and come to find that the HD598s are reviewed very well. You read a ton of things that talk about how great they sound, and how well they perform.
You go look around at some other reviews around the internet and see that everyone has the same things to say about the headphones. You look at the specs and see things like "open back" and "over ear", but they're tucked in with things like sensitivity and resistance, which are terms you don't really understand. You think to yourself "well, headphones are headphones. I look at the picture and they look like headphones. I don't know the jargon, but all the reviews talk about how great they sound and I just want great sounding headphones".
If you look on the product page on amazon, you'll notice that there is no reference to sound leakage, either from the description, the top reviews, or the top FAQs. The closest thing you get is this blurb in the description:
> Open-back headphones allow ambient noise for a more natural sound experience
Unless you're familiar with headphone terminology, that doesn't sound like it's talking about sound leakage. It's a very vague claim to say the least.
When I searched for "Sennheiser HD 598 review" in Google, I went through the top results to see when I could find something explaining the potential for sound leakage due to the open design.
One thing to note is that the mentions of sound leakage are all buried in reviews that all say the same thing. If you start the review and thought "well, I've read this all before", you might stop reading.
For a lot of people, audiophilia and headphones are a hobby. For others, it's just something you want to spend money on once and just enjoy it. For those casual consumers who aren't willing to really dig around it would be easy to not know that open-backed headphones leak sound.
These are better
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001E1Y5O6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_cpS0AbD1AE3AR
100 instead of 50, Velcro brand, great reviews. $6.88
Never buying a can of compressed air again.
Congratulations! It looks like you just found a nice computer! It appears you're missing a hard drive/solid state drive, SATA cable, and operating system.
To begin, you'll want to get an unused hard drive or solid state drive. These can be found on Amazon, Newegg, or in Bestbuy (among other places). I'll supply links to a few examples below. After you've made you're selection, you'll need a SATA cable. This cable allows you to hook the drive up to your motherboard. The last step is to install Windows. All in all, it's a very simple process albeit a bit time consuming (primarily for the Windows installation).
This is a very simple explanation of an also relatively simple installation/resolution. If you'd like more detailed instructions, I'd be happy to help!
Hard Drive Example
Solid State Drive Example
SATA Cable
Operating System (Windows 10)
Ubuntu is also a FREE operating system that is compatible with your hardware. Most users are experienced with Windows, which is why I listed it. Personally, I prefer Windows over Ubuntu.
Powerline Adapters are a blessing. I got the two-port version so I can have my PS4 and PC plugged in at the same time.
Get something like this. It literally runs internet through the power cables in your house. Plug one next to your router with an ethernet cable, and one near you device with an ethernet cable. Instant internet.
https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Powerline-ethernet-Adapter-TL-PA4010KIT/dp/B00AWRUICG/ref=sr_1_4?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1543444947&sr=1-4&keywords=powerline+adapter
I like Hornloaded's guide. In this case, it would be these Micca MB42Xs with the LP-2020A+ Lepai amp. These are also recommended by a fellow redditor.
Lastly, a general guide by that same redditor.
might want to make an investment
Go to Amazon and get one of the following:
Or you can spend $15 more and get twice the storage:
These are all 7200 RPM drives and are from a reputable source.
Edit: Changed 2TB WD to Black, which is 7200 RPM
I was like, damn that is clean. Then I seen all the cables crammed under the desk. The only thing you need is some Polyethylene wire tube and some cable velcro and you're set for life.
Better than zip ties, use Velcro straps. This way, if you need to swap cables in or out, you're not having to clip your zipties and use new ones. These are the Velcro straps I use (and they work great!): http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001E1Y5O6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1419952299&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40
Zipties suck.
I've been using Velcro cable ties for a few years now. It's easy and cheap to pull out or ad in another cable. I find it helps more than you think because it reduces the friction required to make it look right.
I also use sleeves like this and this, a few wraps, and raceways. For raceways, I have this, but I'm not 100% happy with it and may switch to a basket one of these days.
I also see a lot of cables that are way too large for the space. Pick up a few short cables and remove that bulk. You don't need to go crazy with this, just pick the worst offenders.
Beyond that, focus on cleaning up the points where cables join or split. A loop hook or brace in the right spot can really clean things up. Try to have a single point where cables go to the window/closet. Have a single point at the desk that all cables going into the PC go through.
Or spend a bit more, and never buy a can again.
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
Just a word of warning - I implemented this in my car, and ran into a few hurdles:
Overall, cool project, but I retired my setup!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B2HH7G0/
Worth spending $260 for a 144hz!
For the same money as the sound bar plus the HDMI cable, you could go with this setup which would be miles ahead of that, and also easily upgradeable.
Start with this $150 Pioneer receiver. I have one, it's perfect for a basic receiver.
Then add these $90 Micca L/R front speakers.
Use this $150 Dayton subwoofer, or one of the other sizes depending on your room. I have the smaller SUB-800, it's an excellent small sub, i'd've gone bigger, but my wife put the kibosh on that.
Finally, if you decide to space the bookshelves out the way you should, instead of sitting on the edges of the TV stand, add this $70 Micca center channel speaker for a full 3.1 setup. Actually, even if you don't space them out, get the center. It really helps with dialog, especially if you sit off center.
Total: $460, not including shipping. Buy some inexpensive speaker wire similar to the HDMI cable you ordered, just be sure it's solid copper.
You'll have a full 3.1 setup that would handily beat all but the absolute highest end sound bars for audio quality, and is easily upgradeable. You can move the MB42x front speakers to the rear and upgrade the fronts and center, or simply add another pair for 5.1. You can also easily upgrade the subwoofer or receiver.
In addition, if you have any gaming consoles, plus a blu-ray player, a cable box, and possibly an HTPC, or might add one, the receiver has more HDMI inputs than most tvs, making it the logical choice for the command center of your system.
Edited for clarity, additional info.
I would recommend this: DAC/AMP in one unit for under $100.
Flio E10K
Or you buy a headphones with a detachable cable (3.5mm jack) and get a V-Moda boom pro and you have it all in one high quality cable.
My recommendation is Philips SHP9500 with V-Moda Boom Pro
You know those velcro cable ties? my sister uses those on "many straps" to bundle them up into one strap, then unvelcros them when she's done putting on a dress/top/etc.
https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-Black-2-Inch-91140/dp/B001E1Y5O6
There' only a couple of bucks.
Definitely get a cheap 3rd party cooler for that CPU my dude. An H7 would do just fine.
Edit: On second thought, Cryorig must be going out of business because the cooler I paid under around $30 is now well over $100. Another great option would be the budget king H212 Evo and step-ups include Noctua's offering or the Scythe Mugen, BeQuiet's, all are great budget coolers.
Use this whenever you see dust building up.
This RAM is actually 3600 CL18 (18-22-22-42 timings) and not the CL16 shown on Amazon. See the model number: CMK16GX4M2Z3600C18
PCPartPicker also agrees. These sticks aren't on the B-Die list which would 3600 CL16 almost certainly be. The only B-Die from Corsair that is 2x8GB and 3600 CL16 is their Corsair Dominator RGB and Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro. This is clearly not any of those kits.
These are Hynix AFR chips.
---
With such bad timings, buy some 3000 CL15 or 3200 CL16 RAM and you should be able to reach 3600 CL18 easily (though staying at 3000 CL15 or 3200 CL16 is probably better performance wise)
Here's a Team kit for $126 + shipping on Newegg, a G.Skill kit for $130 + shipping or some more Corsair RAM for $135 on Amazon that almost certainly can clock to 3600 CL18. Save yourself the extra $55 or time from having to return it to Amazon when you discover it's CL18.
If you want real B-Die, I think this G.SKILL Ripjaws V kit is the cheapest for $193 + $6 shipping from Newegg with 14-14-14-34 timings at 3000mhz. You can clock it to 3600 CL16 fairly easily. Pay the extra $10 for real B-Die or wait till a eBay coupon if you want cheap B-Die.
To play the game, you would need something like this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015PYYDMQ/ or http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Inspiron-i7559-12623RED-Generation-GeForce/dp/B015PYZ186/
These 2 would be the bare minimum for the game when it comes to the graphic processor (GTX 960m). They will as far as we know now, handle the game, but most likely at minimum settings.
A lot better would be something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834233094R
But... laptops aren't so good for gaming, not even gaming laptops. Graphics cards produce a lot of heat and laptops don't cope too well with heat. For laptops graphic processors to work well in a laptop, the make them slower and less powerfull then a desktop one. This way the consumer less power and produce less heat. Laptops aren't build for gaming.
For less money you can buy a desktop, the handle heat well and don't need to take power consumation into consideration, since they don't have a battery. Something like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227604 or this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883102076 both will run circles around the laptop when it comes to gaming. They will run NMS very comfortably. You would of course still need a monitor.
Then there's the PS4.... for half the money, you can get a PS4. It has everything you need to run the game, no worries, no hassle. You don't need to worry about drivers, settings or if your laptop/pc will run the game. Whatever game is released for the PS4, always runs well on the PS4. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16868110152
.
I'm a pc gamer and pc gaming has a number of advantages over PS4 gaming, I've owned a PS4 as well as a gaming PC. Seriously, if all you care about is this game, then do yourself a huge favour and save yourself a lot of money and hassle and get the ps4.
Or spend $6 and get a mic.
https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486410430&sr=8-1&keywords=zalman+mic
VOIP is so good now there is little-to-no reason to have a low quality microphone. Y'all should pitch in and get her one: https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
I've never been an advocate of gaming headsets. You pay for something that's way more expensive than what you're actually getting. You buy a $150 headset, you're probably getting $70-80 headphones with a bad microphone.
You're almost always better off to buy a pair of headphones that suits your needs well and then buy a microphone afterwards. You'll get the better use of your money this way. I've got a pair of Sennheiser HD 558s with a Zalman ZM-Mic1. It clips onto my headphone's cord so I don't have to worry about it being all over the place. Sound quality is good and I've gotten no complaints about static or fuzziness from friends. Otherwise, the Modmic is always a good choice.
If you're looking for something that isn't sound isolating, I would recommend buying a pair of open headphones with an external microphone. The 558s are open, by the way. You get a bit of sound leakage, so other people can hear what's going on if it's loud enough, but you can also hear everything around you. Because of this, you get a more realistic sound.
It will look even better with this and 15 minutes of your time!:
https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-Reusable-Fastening-Organizing/dp/B001E1Y5O6/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1543082742&sr=1-3&keywords=8+inch+velcro+cable+ties
https://smile.amazon.com/StarTech-SATA-Drive-Adapter-Cable/dp/B00HJZJI84?sa-no-redirect=1
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B0042A8CW2
http://www.amazon.com/Antlion-Audio-ModMic-Attachable-Microphone/dp/B00T6XUL8S/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1449003495&sr=1-1&keywords=modmic
fixed that for you
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
Get a laptop, finance it if you have to, like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-15-6-Inch-Quad-Core-i5-6300HQ-Processor/dp/B015PYYDMQ
Teach yourself how to build websites. Learn all things web development.
Start with just basic knowledge of windows and computers:
http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computerbasics/
Now, start learning a platform to write some code:
https://www.microsoft.com/net/learn
Also refer to knowledge dump sites like
www.stackoverflow.com
Can't afford internet? Ok, camp out at a McDonalds (they are everywhere, and have free wifi).
Even if you end up homeless with nothing but this laptop, you can find a McDonalds with an ac outlet and wifi to continue learning.
Teach yourself,
Google.com is your friend (bing.com sometimes too). Ask question on stackoverflow.com
There are online resources to learn everything you need to know for free.
And eventually, you'll be building websites.
Now, try to get into freelance work:
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/245953
Once you feel confident, start applying to development jobs.
I linked all MS and C# resources above, because well, that's the easiest kind of web development job to land at entry level (or internship) that's in high demand and pays really freaking well.
E.g. Enterprise Level .Net developers make 6 figures, easy (I'm one of them and almost to 6 figures).
I mention this, because this is a mental job that requires your brain, not your body. You don't do any physical labor, not an ounce of it, in software development.
After you've learned all this and you want to get hired somewhere:
Build rep, connect with other professionals on LinkedIn, blog, and get your code in the public eye.
Now when you apply somewhere, you can site your source code on github, your linkedin endorsements, your stack rep (user name), and your blog.
Talk passionately about code and what you've done and learned. Make them think you love the stuff. Be confident, don't doubt yourself, and you will sell yourself well.
Web Dev jobs now days don't give a damn if you've got a college degree. They just want someone who knows how to do it and the above resources are find for showing them that, as long as you can pass their questions in the interview. They'll ask you thinks like:
No, it'll create a circular dependency between dll 1 and dll 2, to resolve this, refactor with Dll 3 so classes common between Dll 1 and Dll 2 are in Dll 3. Reference Dll 3 in Dll 1 and Dll 3 in Dll 2.
Use MS Sql Server's Merge command, it's designed specifically for that, as opposed to the old way of doing it with an IF ELSE block which is less efficient.
So this simply means that you need to be well read. Don't just learn to code a little, really dive down into your chosen platform and read change logs for new releases, read other professionals blogs, follow the creators of your platform (Microsoft, Oracle, Python, etc etc). Be reading something tech related all the time.
Got a Phone? Install FlipBoard and subscribe to topics related to what you are learning. Read that crap everytime you take a shit.
"I priced everything out online and this is what it's worth" suuurrreee....
I'd offer $750 for everything, tops.
If cleaning PCs for dust and hair is something you do regularly, I highly recommend investing in one of these. Way more powerful than canned air and never runs out (I was able to use mine to clear my deck of leaves). I have one at the office and one at home. They're great. Cheaper in the long term too.
Looks good, I'd just swap out that HDD for this 1TB for only $14 more. Still within OP's budget. Can't go wrong with Caviar Blue
ASUS VG248QE would like to have a word with you
Get one of these instead http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
Same price on Amazon.
My monitors (pictured right):
https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-VG248QE-1920x1080-Gaming-Monitor/dp/B00B2HH7G0/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=asus+vg248qe&qid=1567120962&s=gateway&sr=8-1
My wife's monitors (pictured left): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043T7FHK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The stands:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C5H5DN0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
My wife doesn't notice difference between 60 and 144 FPS and doesn't play shooters so for her we went with a less expensive option that had a lower refresh rate/response time. The speakers are a little quieter too, and they don't have display ports (her aging GPU only has HDMI ports anyway). If you can spare the extra money per monitor I would HIGHLY recommend the VG248QEs. I've had these for about two or three years now and they've been a dream. Reliable, beautiful picture quality, speakers are loud af. I use display port cables on each and then I have my Switch hooked up to the right monitor with an HDMI. When it's time for me to play Smash with my buddies in discord, I just push a button and it flips right over for Switch time.
Couldn't recommend the stand enough either, things incredibly sturdy and well constructed. I've had it for as long as the monitors and purchased it again when buying my wife's monitors this week.
These are cheap and one of the best ones on the market
I use Beyerdynamic DT990 (600 ohms) for competitive shooters and Sennheiser HD800 for singleplayer/immersive games.
My go-to recommendation is Sivga SV007 with V-MODA BoomPro. If you need sound isolation, then I suggest Status Audio CB-1.
If you're open to using a mic such as Antlion ModMic or Massdrop Minimic, then I have other headphone recommendations and suggestions.
If you want virtual surround sound, then you can use e.g. Astro Mixamp Pro TR, Creative Sound BlasterX G6, or Turtle Beach Elite Pro TAC. I recommend SBX Pro Studio from Creative as a virtual surround sound processor; it has less compression and better positional audio than Dolby Headphone.
 
Setup
---
You attach the BoomPro mic by inserting it directly into the headphone, which replaces the original headphone cable.
The cable terminates in a single 3.5 mm connector, so you can connect it directly to the controller or any other device with a headset jack. If you connect it to a regular headphone jack, then the mic won't work. No mics will. If the device has separate headphone and mic ports, then you need to use a TRRS Y-splitter, which is included with the BoomPro.
To connect the headset to the USB port on PS4, you can use an audio USB adapter.
My recommendations:
At approximately the same volume, I heard no difference between these and the controller. I heard no hiss, hum, crackling, or other noise. The difference in the mic quality was negligible.
 
Sound
---
SV007:
SV007 a well-balanced sound profile. The mid-bass, which is where boom and punch come from, is a little bit boosted. The sub-bass, which is how deep the bass goes and is where rumble comes from, is a little bit reduced. The overall bass is clean. The treble is close to neutral. It's clean, smooth, and crisp. The midrange is clear, not tinny or muffled. The overall clarity is great.
It has a large soundstage, very good imaging and separation, and good to very good detail retrieval for competitive shooters. I assess headphones mainly in Battlefield: Bad Company 2, a multiplayer game I've played for over 3000 hours and I thrive at relying on sound cues.
Soundstage is perceived space and environment of sound. It's width, depth, and height. I mean the type of soundstage that the headphone produces. Many games have a narrow, shallow, and short soundstage. A small soundstage makes the environment around you sound confined or boxed in. With a large soundstage, the environment sounds more spatial and expansive. Imaging is inherent to the audio content. It's how accurately the locations of sounds/objects are reproduced. Soundstage and imaging constitute positional audio, and you could say they are the stereo equivalent of virtual surround sound. Before you make any stances on virtual surround sound, I recommend that you read this post I wrote. Separation is how you discern individual sounds from a range of overlapping sounds. You don't need to be concerned with this if you play competitively.
BoomPro:
You can actually judge for yourself by listening to recordings on YouTube.
I prefer to watch Podcastage for mic reviews.
 
Build, ergonomics, & features
---
SV007:
SV007 has an open design (as you can see with the grilles on the earcups), so sound passes freely in and out, unlike closed headphones which attenuate sound from passing through. The benefits of an open design are generally a larger soundstage and better imaging. If your ears tend to heat up, it may help mitigate this as it allows more airflow and heat to dissipate.
The build is sturdy and lightweight, featuring metal yokes, hinges, and headband. It has no flimsy or squeaky parts. The cups are made of wood. They tilt and swivel and can lie flat. I have average sized ears and the earpads fit around them and don't press them against the inside of the cups. The pads are plush and have a smooth and relatively high-quality protein leather. The headband has decent padding, but the headphone has great weight distribution so it doesn't exert pressure on top of my head and doesn't cause hotspots. Adjusting the headband is smooth and easy and it stays firmly in place. The clamping force is mild and isn't too loose or too tight for my average sized head. The build quality is excellent with a near immaculate finish all around.
BoomPro:
BoomPro has a flexible aluminum neck and a tangle-free, braided cable that's free of microphonics. The game volume and mic mute controls are easy to adjust and don't accidentally adjust themselves when rubbing against your clothes. Adjusting them is smooth and consistent, not scratchy, sluggish, or sticky. The mic is as non-obtrusive as a boom mic can be and is almost unnoticeable in my peripheral vision.
 
^Formatted ^in ^Reddit ^Enhancement ^Suite.
To my surprise after doing a little research, this thing is no joke. Reviews are off the chain with this thing. If I didn't already spend a lot of money on clothes I would have definitely considered getting this. Maybe next year!
This is the ticket if you want some real power!
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
That'll blow your pants right off.
These are great headphones for the money. You can have a great budget gaming headset if you pair it with the V-Moda BoomPro for $30: https://www.amazon.com/V-MODA-BoomPro-Microphone-Gaming-Communication/dp/B00BJ17WKK
It may be budget, but they will blow any "gaming" headset out of the water. I got this for my brother, and they are pretty comparable to my HD58x if not better for when it comes to gaming.
Don't suck. Blow.
Picked up a Datavac for myself and it's working good so far: https://www.amazon.com/Metro-ED500-DataVac-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
>grease my fans
lol that made my morning. Thank you.
DUSTING DUSTING DUSTING: Just get some air cans or an electric duster (Cheaper over the long run.) and dust your computer monthly.
Do NOT let the fans spin freely when you do your dusting. Rotate them manually every few blows and hold them down whilst cleaning.
Thermal Paste: Replacing the thermal paste isn't much of a priority, it works best after it settles in. Replace like once a year if you really need to (If you see a rise in CPU temps)
_
Liquid Cooling: If you have liquid cooling then clean out the pipes and blocks when it starts to get dirty (Every 6 months - 1year?)
_
That's about all the maintenance I can think of, can anyone else think of anything?
<sigh>
You have anger management issues.
Not subject to debate. Not a question.
You have anger management issues.
You should do something about that.
> my little sister accidentally spilled a glass of water on my computer at home and it wasn’t working
This isn't /r/techsupport or /r/computertechs but I can tell you with moderate confidence that your data is still on the hard drive, and can be recovered pretty easily.
If it's a slightly older, or value-oriented laptop, it probably has a 2.5" drive inside.
You just need a nerd to open the laptop, remove the drive, hook it up to something like this and bada-bing-bang-boom your old laptop will show up like a giant USB-Stick.
If it's a modern, higher-performance, or super-mega-ultra-thin laptop it may be glued shut, in which case the level of difficulty just went way the hell up - but if the laptop is already dead, and if you are writing the laptop off as unworthy of repair, then we can use destructive methods to open the laptop to remove the storage device with all your stuff on it.
SOME laptops do not use a removable internal storage device. These are pretty much always the super-ultra-thin devices. You might be in a real pickle with one of these devices.
But if we're talking about a $600 Acer from BestBuy, it's a really easy task you could probably do yourself with a little Googling.
I don't want to delve any deeper into this in this community. Please feel free to engage the nerds in /r/techsupport or something for guidance on what to do.
But I wanted you to know the situation may not be unsalvagable.
Now, back to your intended LOR teacher. Odds are fair that you just inflicted serious damage on your relationship with them.
I wouldn't write you anywhere nearly as positive a LOR after this event as I might have before this event.
And if you're being honest with yourself, neither would you.
Anger Management. Get some help.
I have a 144hz Asus monitor and a IPS Dell Monitor.
After using calibration profiles for both, the IPS easily has better color depth, accuracy, viewing angles, and etc.
HOWEVER, the monitor I ended up using more is the Asus, because I play competitive CS. Actions feel much more responsive and fluid even on 64 tick servers, but much more-so on 120 tick+ servers. I play on the lowest settings, and on high digital vibrance, so the IPS beautiful screen is useless.
Any game that couldn't utilize the 144 hz, was a bummer to play on the Asus. Even after calibration, the colors felt over-saturated and or washed-out. I don't know much about color accuracy or what-not, but the IPS definitely looked better on games, movies and and even browsing.
Depending on what your doing, could highly influence which monitor type is better, but I think 9/10 if cost isn't an issue, the IPS is a better choice. And, if money still isn't an issue, and you want the best of both worlds, those overclocking IPS monitors from Korea is always an option.
It makes no difference. If you're going to drop that much money buy him these and this.
>He wanted a fresh install
My default maneuver here is to just replace the drive so there's an intact and ready rollback that takes no time at all, especially because HDDs are so cheap anymore that a decently sized drive could be purchased on Amazon for [$50 with one day shipping], and [several other] drives are available in a similar price bracket with the same shipping.
Saves a shitload of time, especially when it's just that one thing you missed in your backup and it's easy to transfer.
Although the panel is TN, this always gets good reviews, and is always on sale!
Something like this: Datavac ED500
edit -https://www.amazon.com/Metro-ED500-DataVac-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
https://www.amazon.com/Metro-Datavac-Safe-Electric-Duster/dp/B00U01YVYK
Sennheiser HD650s with an O2 amp, and E-DAC. I have a Zalman ZM-MIC1 as a mic, which is great although I'd recommend a free standing one to most people.
I love them, great for what I listen to. Very good for gaming too. You pretty much forget you are wearing them.
Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop, 15.6" Full HD, Intel Core i7-7700HQ CPU, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, GeForce GTX 1060-6GB, VR Ready, Red Backlit KB, Metal Chassis, G3-571-77QK https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y4GZS9C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_yjE5Ab3WS2GRB
I, too, am a teacher and recently purchased three vives and three of the above mentioned laptops. They’ve been great. My only complaint is touchpad sensitivity. GTX 1060 is plenty powerful for educational VR applications. Hit me up, would love to discuss and maybe collaborate on ideas for VR integration.
https://www.amazon.com/Asus-VG248QE-24-inch-Ergonomic-Back-lit/dp/B00B2HH7G0?ie=UTF8&amp;*Version*=1&amp;*entries*=0
G O D L I K E
This
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1412294826&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=Data+vac
Is the real pro tip. So much better and cheaper in the long run. Powerful, doesn't freeze your hand if you use it too long and you can turn it upside down without shooting out harmful chemicals.
Quick list of what you are looking at
USB to SATA cables are $10 on Amazon.com problem solved.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HJZJI84/
I'm currently using the V-moda boom pro. Haven't had any complaints from teammates about audio issues, in fact have heard that i sound very clear compared to others talking. If it's compatible with your headphones (standard 3.5 jack) i would recommend, soley based on single wire set up and no need for magnetic adhesive on your head set.
An ASUS VG Series 24"
I'm running lightboost on it. its amazing!
Edit: I want to let everyone know that lightboost isn't nVidia exclusive. I'm using with my r9 280!
This.
Hey man, buy this: https://www.amazon.com/Metro-ED500-DataVac-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
No more wasting money on cans of air.
I use one of these... was a $40 investment at the time and definitely have gotten my money's worth.
Fear not, for you can still enjoy the wonders of surround sound with Hi-Fi headphones. Most "gaming" headsets use a built-in DAC (and BS marketing magic) to emulate surround sound over stereo. You can do the same thing using Razer Surround or similar software for free.
You'll have to decide between a closed or open earcup design. If you're not already familiar: a closed-back design will give you better noise isolation and more bass response, while an open-back design will give you a wider soundstage and better positional accuracy. 95% of headphones are closed-back, but there are some nice open-back options in your price range.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M40x ($100) are a decent option. They're durable, portable, closed-back headphones with a lot of bass response.
The Sennheiser HD 558 ($115) are a steal at that price. They're incredibly comfortable, open-back headphones with a very wide soundstage and warm signature. They'll do much better with surround software.
Both of those options have a relatively low impedance, so you shouldn't have to worry about amping (although they'll still benefit from it). If you're looking for a mic, the ModMic 4.0 is on MassDrop right now. It's a bit pricy, but I've heard great things about the sound quality. If you want something a bit cheaper, the Zalman Clip-On is always an easy option.
Edit:
This might be slightly skewed, because a brick sitting on my head would be more comfortable than the headband on my Q701s.
If we assume that karma is stored in an int32_t (so a maximum of 2,147,483,647 karma per post) the karma value of one post would be stored in 32 bits or 4 bytes. Keep in mind that it wouldn't be relevant if the post gets 2 or 2 million karma, it would always take the same amount of space. So the only thing that matters to get a ton of karma is the amount of posts you make.
If we take a 1TB WD Blue hard drive (like this one) which weighs 1.61lbs (or ~0.73kg) according to Amazon, we have to get 1,000/0.73 = ~1,370 hard drives.
If we further assume that only karma values are stored on it and we can use the full space of the drive (10^12 bytes), we have ~2.510^11 (or 250 billion) post we can store per drive.
So to get a ton of karma you have to make 2.5 * 10^11 * 1370 = 3.425 10^14 (or 342.5 trillion) posts.
EDIT: If we take larger (which you can find in servers) or lighter (for example SSDs) hard drives you'd have to make even more posts.
Ethernet over Power.
It's affordable and avoids running new wires.
Nice Build. His budget was around 1100, so he might be happier if he stepped up the monitor a level or two. Maybe go for a 24inch 144hz monitor if he primarily plays first person shooters. This would be a good example:
https://www.amazon.com/VG248QE-1920x1080-144Hz-Gaming-Monitor/dp/B00B2HH7G0/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1478271530&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=144hz+monitor
Or, if OP isn't into playing FPS games then he could get a decent 2560x1440 monitor instead such as this:
https://www.amazon.com/Acer-G257HU-smidpx-25-Inch-Widescreen/dp/B00QS0AKVK/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1478271680&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=2560x1440
Either one puts the total a little over the 1100 budget, but the difference would be very very noticeable, and OP would get a true feeling of PCMR
> Micca MB42X speakers on sale at amazon: $80
Yea dude its absolutely incredible
Micca MB42x + SMSL SA50 + Chromecast = about $194. You'd also need some speaker cable, and a 3.5mm to RCA cable.
Fluance SX6 if you want to bump up the speakers.
Canned air is shit. Get something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/
I have one and it's a solid purchase.
This thing.
Nice idea
Get yourself some velcro ties and do some cable management. That's the difference between a 'mess of wires under the floor' and a 'holy fuck cool looking hidden computer shit under the floor'...
If you really want a boom, use an Antlion Modmic or something similar. If you don't mind a boomless mic and only care about audio quality, get this one.
Canned air is terrible, get this and never worry about dust again:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001J4ZOAW
edit: fixed link. Thanks Devisioned.
a datavac is 50$ on amazon...
edit: link for the interested
Just my opinion, I am no expert, but these seem like the best choices as they are popular, and consideration how much work it would take to design them.
Also check the most popular on Amazon, Newegg and PC part picker.
CPUs from one socket look almost the same right?
So a LGA 1151 and AM3+ CPUs.
For RAM, classic PCB with black chips, maybe another one with a very simple heatspreader in different colors, as it would take quite a lot of work to create realistic heatspreaders for little benefit IMO.
Any HDD, they all look similar.
For SSDs, Samsung are the most popular and very simple to do.
Three most popular CPU coolers prolly are CRYORIG H7, Hyper 212 EVO, and Corsair H100i, maybe with addition of a single fan AIO like Corsair H55.
GPUs are tougher:
Motherboards and cases: the hardest parts to pick, almost every one part is completely different from the other.
Just go by the most popular.
Anything I forgot?
Ayyy I'm here to help.
These paired with a V-MODA BoomPro Mic are a perfect match, and pretty much the best gaming headset you can put together for under $100. I've had mine for about 9 months now and it is fantastic, sounds amazing and haven't had any issues with either items.
Personally I took a black marker and covered up the big R and L. Simple solution to make them look less cheap.
I'm using this and it works great. Sends Ethernet through your power sockets.
http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-PA4010KIT-Powerline-Adapter-Starter/dp/B00AWRUICG/ref=pd_sim_pc_2?ie=UTF8&amp;refRID=13D3TNS9AF1GJJK3RK7K
Last piece of advice.... Let your EdgeRouter breathe... don't stack stuff on top of the poor thing. :)
this is the standard price on amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-SUB-1200-12-Inch-Subwoofer/dp/B00669L3HS
https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-50Wx2-TDA7492-Amplifier-Adapter/dp/B00F0H8TOC
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E7H8GG2
I suggest that 3 part combo. The amp lacks a sub out so run the outputs into the subwoofer, set the crossover to 80Hz, and connect the speakers to the outputs on the sub.
Dedicates headphone plus mic. Don't waste your time with "headsets". Try this setup:
V-Moda Boom Mic + Phillips SHP9500. Zeos (of ZReviews) highly recommends those headphones, despite their relatively cheap cost. Check out his guide here and also /r/Zeos and /r/ZReviews
4"
SVS Prime Satellites
RSL CG3
Aperion Intimus 4B
Polk Blackstone TL3
Definitive Technology ProMonitor 800
MartinLogan Motion 2
MartinLogan Motion® 2i
NAD D8020
Wharfedale Crystal 4.1
Wharfedale Diamond 210
Focal Sib Evo
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-400M
Micca MB42X
Dual 4"
Ascend HTM-200, I use these on my desk.
Emotiva BasX LCR
5"
Wavecrest Audio HVL-1 order on sale here for $80 each
PSB Alpha B1 Bookshelf Speakers
Pro-Ject Speaker Box 5 Bookshelf Speakers
Pair these up with the V-Moda boompro and you've got a very nice comfortable headset for less than $100
I'll make a list of stuff you need. For the best "bang for your buck" in the $200ish price range.
-----------------------------------------
Speaker wire. Amazon Basics makes great stuff. If you want, you can get 100 feet of it for an extra $2 I think. You can get those monoprice banana plugs if you want. They just help if you're going to be switching speakers around a lot.
Simple wire stripper. Should work just fine.
Cable to plug it in. That'll just plug the amp into a computer. And that cable is amazing quality. For real. I don't know what it is about it, but the moment I touched that cable I knew it was special. This isn't a joke either. You'll understand when you get one. Trust me.
50 watt per channel amp. This thing will be more than enough. I just like it because it is open box, so cheap. The same one new on amazon is $65. If you want to order from amazon, you can just get the smsl sa-36a. Same amp, just 20 watts per channel. Which, again, is plenty.
[Here's that cheaper smsl amp] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017W13OR0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_U2NSBbTRHGFS5). I've got a few of them. They're great. This is what I'd go for if the other one is sold out.
Cheap but good little amp. I don't have one of these because I'm not a fan of the looks, but they get great reviews and a lot of people really like them.
---------------
Speakers:
Miccas. These things are nice for that price. In this price range, you really won't be getting anything better unless you go DIY.
Fluance SX6. These guys are big, but they throw a good amount of sound and some pretty deep bass for a pair of bookshelf speakers. Careful, they're pretty big.
Pioneer. These things are decent, but I think the Fluances would be better for this price. The SX6s throw more bass, which is good if you're not getting a sub. However, these are smaller.
Fluance signature series. I know, you said your budget is only $200, but you said if you need to spend more, then you will. These will sound better than all of the other speakers linked, however, that's not why they're here. I put them here for two reasons. The first is that they're front ported. Most people that are new to speakers might put them up against a wall or close to it, not understanding that the port needs some room to breathe. These have front ports so that's not a problem. The second reason, just look at them. If you really care about looks, these ones are the ones. They're beautiful. (My opinion obviously).
Oof almost forgot. Pleaae don't place the speakers directly on your desk.
--------------------------------
That's a lot. I'll sum it up with my opinion and why.
Amp: smsl sa36a. For close range, you don't need anything with more power. This thing will do whatever you need for bookshelf speakers.
Speakers: micca mb42x. Why? Here's why: for this price range, you won't notice a huge difference in any speakers, unless you get some bad ones. So, get the cheapest ones you can. Later on, if you can afford to upgrade them, you'll probably want to do that. Then you'll have a pair of $80 speakers that you don't need rather than a pair of 130 speakers that you don't need. Another reason I would pick the miccas is because they punch above their price range. Most people say they sound more like a pair of $125 speakers rather than a pair of $80 speakers. So, for real, they're good. Also, they're the smallest of the bunch.
Or, build a pair of C Notes and get something way better than any of these.
Hope this helps!
100 pack for $5. I added them right back to my want list almost immediately after I opened the package.
Get an electric blower duster instead. It saves money over time and is more powerful than a full can of compressed air will ever be.
I would recommend avoiding headsets personally. Grab a nice pair of quality headphones like the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700's for example, and basically any microphone. This is a very popular microphone, people usually clip it onto their headphone cord.
I use separate headphones and mic.
This mic you can clip to the headphones cord or I have it sitting on the desk in front of me and have had no problems.
For that price you could buy some ridiculously good audiophile headphones that would likely blow these away. Pair that with an awesome $10 mic and you'd be good to go.
1050 TI mini 11,200
Ryzen 1200 8,175
8 GB 2400Hz RAM 5700
1TB HDD 3,500
Corsair CX 550W 4,855
or
S12G 6,700
ASUS B350 6,960
Monitor: Dell s2216h 8,500
[Case: Tesseract SW] (https://www.mdcomputers.in/cabinet/deepcool-mid-tower-tesseract-sw.html) 3,363
Typical Keyboard and Mouse 850
Total = 53,103
Some games with this CPU and VC combo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK_ktjGHyeg
Notes:
Any questions? Feel free to ask.
Keep the questions coming, and don't cheap out on PSU.
See this video by Zeos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y86D7UFDh4E
SMSL Q5 Amp + Micca MB42X speakers.
Amp http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NINSV20
Speakers http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E7H8GG2
Nice little amp with a remote, and the Micca's are awesome speakers for the money. You could easily add a small, powered sub into this setup someday if you wanted, too.
Powerline Adapters let you use your home's electrical lines like makeshift ethernet cables: https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Powerline-Adapter-Starter-TL-PA4010KIT/dp/B00AWRUICG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1519569756&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=tp+link+powerline+adapter
S2716DG - $480
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Gaming-S2716DG-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B0149QBOF0
Follow the instructions here for setup.
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Gaming-S2716DG-LED-Lit-Monitor/product-reviews/B0149QBOF0
>Nvidia Control Panel>Adjust desktop color settings:
Brightness-50%
Contrast-50%
Gamma-0.60%
Digital vibrance-70%
Hue-0
CLICK APPLY
>DELL Monitor settings:
Brightness-26%
Contrast-75%
Color>Custom Color:
R-97%
G-99%
B-96%
Wait for this cyber Monday, I'm sure there will be some killer deals. For that price look into laptops with atleast 7700hq processor and gtx1060. I will look one up now for you as an example. This for example is a great pc: https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Predator-i7-7700HQ-1060-6GB-G3-571-77QK/dp/B06Y4GZS9C/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1511621010&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=Gaming+laptop
There are ways to do it. I don't know if your using an xbox or a ps3, but either way if you are using the red/white/yellow analog connectors, just slap one of these onto the console's output and then plug in your headphones. that should work for anything using the three red/white/yellow hookups.
However, if your Xbox360 is plugged in via HDMI, you will instead need one of these which plugs in to the component port on the back, and one of these to make it work with the headphones. Note that the xbox adapter comes with an optical port which you will use should you upgrade to high-quality headphones ;)
With this setup you will get audio out to headphones. To get chat in the headphones, go to the preferences, select chat, and output to speakers.
Note that this system doesn't allow for a microphone. You can go ahead and leave the microsoft headset around your neck, or you could get the ever-popular zalman clip-on and this adapter to plug it in to your controller.
They really make this harder than it ought to be :/
Also consider audio extension cables of varying lengths because you'll notice that the adapter cables are not very long.
The easiest way to hook up your favorite headphones is to use an Astro Mixamp. It will include all the needed cables and included a swanky volume knob and a balance knob to adjust game sound and voice levels. Much more expensive, though! At the price for the mixamp, you may as well just buy the whole system which includes a headset as well.
I would link stuff for PS3 using an hdmi cable as well to make an all-inclusive guide, but I simply don't own a PS3 so I can't be certain.
Amazon Link. Not trying to shill the product or anything, but it's import to keep our build's clean and this is a necessary tool.
The problem isn't thermal paste, it's that people don't regularly maintain their devices and/or don't place their consoles somewhere with proper ventilation. My PS4 is 4 years old and runs dead silent because after one year (once it was out of warranty), I routinely (every 4-6 months) open my PS4 and dust out the inside with my electric duster (https://www.amazon.com/Metro-ED500-DataVac-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW). I blast the fan, power supply, all the vents, and loosen any hardened dust with a soft paintbrush.
My PS4 runs quiet no matter what I'm playing. Same applies for my PS3, which is going to be 9 years old this year and still runs cool.
Those nooks can get nasty and properly cleaning a keyboard is a serious time sink.
But what I find works best is a microfiber cloth and one of these.
That works too. You can get a 100-pack on Amazon for $10. Don't think I'd want to use velcro on internals, however.
He got a Duc. Buy him a tool kit!! (Don't crucify me!)
But seriously...buy him a roll of velcro zip ties: Amazon link
You have no idea how useful these things are until you need them. They are reusable, work in the wet, don't mark anything, can be strung together, and they don't look shit.
I also second the emergancy tire kit: Amazon again
Metro Vac!
Been looking for a while myself OP
> BenQ GW2765HT 27-Inch 2560x1440 IPS Monitor
>
> BenQ ZOWIE 27" QHD 2560x1440 LED 144Hz
>
> ASUS MG278Q WQHD, 1ms 27-Inch FreeSync
>
> Dell Gaming S2716DG 27.0" Screen LED-Lit Monitor with G-SYNC
>
> ASUS ROG SWIFT PG278QR 27" 2560x1440 1ms 165Hz G-SYNC
>
> Acer Predator XB271HU bmiprz 27" WQHD (2560x1440) NVIDIA G-SYNC
I highly doubt that will ever happen
Edit:
For those interested, the tracked price since Oct. 2015:
https://camelcamelcamel.com/Dell-Gaming-S2716DG-LED-Lit-Monitor/product/B0149QBOF0?active=amazon&amp;context=search
You can buy extenders that run through the house's power lines. They're called "powerline adapters". I use them in my house with my roommates where I can't have a giant UTP cable from the switch to my machine.
Here's an example:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AWRUICG?keywords=powerline%20adapter&amp;psc=1&amp;qid=1457025049&amp;ref_=sr_1_1&amp;s=electronics&amp;sr=1-1-spons
I've been working from home for around 5 years now, both salaried and freelancing.
I have a wife, a son and two dogs, so it's important to reenforce that separate between personal and professional time not just in myself but in my family as well.
I have the benefit of owning a large home with a separate office. My son and wife both know that when the doors are closed I am not to be bugged unless it's something important.
I also use a pair of great headphones and playing music to prevent being bothered by sounds outside my little bubble.
If you're still open to working from home and your main complaint is the lack of separation, try cordoning off a piece of your home as your professional office space and train yourself to do nothing but work from that spot. No gaming, no playing, just work and profit generation.
If that doesn't work for you, and you're in a small town with no true hacking spaces, local coffee shops are usually ok with remote workers as long as you continuously keep refilling your coffee cup with them.
I'd recommend purchasing some really good headphones with either integrated microphone, or a detachable cable that you can use a microphone with. Don't use the cables with the inline mics that don't extend away from the cable - I highly recommend the V-MODA Boom Mic. My headphones of choice at the moment are the beyerdynamic Custom One Pro Plus because of the size (I have large ears, these rest around my ears and not on them which is important) and comfort level. Also, they sound amazing with a small $30 amp.
Having the mic be directional so that you can put it directly in front of your mouth and circumaural headphones are both important for filtering out background noises.
With this you can now ignore your phone and use Google Voice, Hangouts, Skype, Slack for voice calls.
Anyway, good luck. We're counting on you.
If you're hardstuck at 50 bucks these are ok. Be aware that the "7.1" is SIMULATED and often sounds weird depending on game.
I think people should consider the Philips SHP9500 on a deep sale for $55 for Black Friday + VModa boom mic $30 as this is a pretty significant improvement in both headphone and mic quality with the bonus that the SHP9500 can be used for listening to music.
I wouldn't call that a deal; I'd call that a scam. Notice that the seller is "Just Launched", is asking $20 less than the competition, and most importantly has no buyer feedback.
Sennheiser HD598 $99 on amazon.
>but all of the responses are "get a good pair of headphones and a clip on mic"
Because this is the best option.
I personally use the clip on Zalman but I've heard great things about the ModMic. If you got a great pair of headphones(many use the AD700, HD558/HD598, etc) and attached this it would essentially be the same as a gaming headset but with significantly better sound quality and better build quality.
If you're going to be stubborn and not accept this, I reccommend going for the Sennheiser PC360. It's typically around the same price as the HD598 but not quite as good...
EDIT: Added links to some products, note that I only looked them up on Amazon, you can probably find everything cheaper if you shop around...
---
EDIT 2: DarkWingPig mentioned virtual surround sound, which is what draws many people towards gaming headsets. You can add this functionality to any pair of headphones using a sound card such as the Asus Xonar DG, Asus Xonar DS, or the Asus Xonar DX.
I have an Asus Xonar DX and, in my opinion, it can work well in certain games such as Counterstike, where knowing the position of a sound is essential, but I don't use it for the majority of games...
A user over at Head Fi called Mad Lust Envy has created a thread reviewing many different pairs of headphones in relation to how well they work with Dolby Headphone(virtual surround sound).
> Tell that to the 26GB repo of a Unity game I cloned with the complete history.
https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Cache-Desktop-Drive-WD10EZEX/dp/B0088PUEPK/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1521228859&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=hard+drive
It would cost you $1.20 to store that repository locally.
Non-funky link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J4ZOAW
Learn how to properly roll cables over-under. This especially applies to long cables like AC extension cords, XLR cables, etc. Doing this type of wrapping in the OP will fuck up your cables pretty quickly if you use them a lot - again, especially when it comes to things like long power cords. Here's a quick demo video.
Also these velcro cable ties are great. Put them on everything you wrap and unwrap frequently.
On Amazon as well for the same price.
Why can't the 27" go on sale. I missed the last BestBuy one a month ago, I wasn't planning on building a computer/going for such an expensive monitor. Now I have all my parts except for a monitor. Can't decide on which to get, and can't get in on the limited stock Refurb ones either.
Anyone have suggestions? Regarding the 27" Dell, the Asus or the Acer?
CCC shows it's dropping by steps the past few days. Amazon's pricing algorithm is have a price war with something. Hold men, hold.
Yes they do, both of them. I happen to have many. Even my $250 LED monitor just this morning had so much glare, I couldn't see anything and had to turn it away to see better. I only linked the monitor to show you it is in fact LED and not just a generic, cheap monitor.
As far as bang for your buck, I think the Hyper 212+ is a better buy. It's about two-thirds of the price of the Hyper 212 Evo and you'll only see a minimal benefit with the Evo (which is from the better fan, if I recall correctly).
You really can't go wrong with either cooler but if you're already over budget or need to save a few dollars somewhere, I'd say the 212+ is a better buy - especially if you're only doing some conservative overclocking.
These are the HD 558, not to be confused with the HD 598.
The HD598 was $99 for Black Friday 2014 and didn't drop that low until Black Friday 2015. I don't know anything about the price history of the HD558, but I wouldn't expect it to drop this low again for some time, even though the price has been steadily dropping for some time.
$30 DAC - Link - Please know these aren't game changers, it's only offering better quality sound than your motherboard. If your headphones or speakers aren't that great, it's not doing to do much. Weakest link type of thing. If your headphones suck, these wont help. But if you have a decent set of phones, many people have sworn by these.
$75 DAC - Link - More expensive, better sound output. Again, should be paired with even higher quality sound gear. $100+ speakers/headphones.
$115 DAC - My Dac - Link - I needed a dac with a little power. I use speakers with my setup instead of headphones. This one is 2x25. It's honestly the most anyone should need for a 2.0 system.
$80 Speakers - Link - These are mine. I love them. Best combined $200 I've spent. Instead of a CPU that will need to be replaced in two years, these will out last many builds if I take care of them. The reviews are through the roof compared to the price. And I'd have to agree.
There are a million reviews about the topping DAC + Micca speakers. Things feel more immersive. I think that's the simplest way to put it.
Granted this is a TINY bit over budget but I really think a subwoofer and a center channel are important to give you the home theater experience.
This would support modern codecs, Bluetooth/AirPlay etc be able to take hdmi in from your devices then send a single hdmi to your projector to feed it video.
Later on when you have the $, buy another pair of the MB42X and use them as surrounds.
I bought a USB adapter to get audio out.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRVQ0F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_5ZhQAbSGK1SN1
144hz is a huge step up. If you don't have the money, then this is fine. But if you can drop the cash for a 144hz monitor, then I'd definitely go for it. It might even be worth it to check out a 1440p 100hz ultrawide.
Monitors to look at:
1080p 144hz TN
Ultrawide 1080p 144hz IPS
1440p 144hz TN(you might not be able to hit 144hz with all games on this one due to the resolution being so high)
EDIT: TN, not IPS
Wall of text ahead. Please, read only if you are really interested...
What I usually recommend when someone ask for advice about gaming headsets is: Gaming headset are crap 99% of the time. They provide very poor sound quality, and any good headphone (literally, even 40$ ones) will sound far better than expensive 300$ headsets. The question is not if headphones are better than headset (the answer is “Hell, YEAH”). The question is, are they better for you?
What are you planning to use your headphones for? Just for gaming, or for gaming and music listening?
If the answer is “just for gaming”, then ask yourself if a Hifi headphone is what you need. Usually games don’t really need high quality headphones, since they provide low quality sound, and you will be more concentrated gaming than listening. In that scenario, everything will serve you, and gaming headsets have the advantage of the integrated microphone.
So, if you want something good for gaming, and just for gaming, with integrated microphone, then the only two headsets with good enough quality sound (aka don’t suck) are:
HyperX Cloud (70$)
Sennheiser G4me One (170$)
Both are good choices. Or go with any fancy RGB headset you find (Logitech, Razer, Corsair, Steelseries, etc), you will most probably don’t notice the difference while gaming.
BUT, if you plan to use them for music listening besides gaming, then keep reading.
Hifi headphones for gaming have the disadvantage of having to deal with the micro thing. None of them have microphone incorporated, and you must either use a desk microphone like this, use a modmic like this one. or if your budget is tight, something like this. The first one requires desk space. The second and third one are detachable micro, with an extra cable you’ll have to deal with. Any of them are a nuisance. Any solution is annoying. All of them are an extra expense that must be accounted. If micro is a must and you are not willing to bother with this solutions, please, go back to HyperX Cloud or G4me One.
Ok, so, you really want some damn good headphones, that also can be used for gaming! Keep reading, please (are you bored yet?).
You can choose Closed back headphones (the classic ones you have already used. Closed back models offer good isolation and do not leak sound. This is your choice when there are people around you, or you want isolation from noisy a environment.) or Open Back headphones (Open back models offer next to no isolation and will leak sound -and allow you to hear what happens around you-, but they are the best sounding models). Open headphones achieve the best sound, soundstage (feeling that sound is coming from around you) and imaging (ability to locate the origin of one sound).
If you are here because you want to get a replacement for a gaming headset, I would recommend you Open back, but since they don’t isolate, you must choose. If isolation is required, get closed back, if that’s not a concern, go open.
Some closed back cans:
Audio-Technica ATH-M40x. 100$. Balanced headphones, very good feedback from lots of people. Typical entry level headphones to the rabbit hole.
Sennheiser HD 598Cs. 125$. Balanced, very very detailed, great instrumental separation. Comfortable as hell, Very recommended.
Beyerdynamic DT770. 160$. V-shaped signature (lots of bass and lots of treble). Great for explosions, movies, and rock. Treble can be harsh if you are sensible. Get the 32 ohm version, as the 80 (may) and 250 (do) need an amplifier to work properly.
Those are some examples of entry-mid level of closed cans. There are lots more, depending of your budget!
As for open cans:
Superlux HD668b. 40$. Those are THE CANS. The best quality for low budget you can get. Hands down. Great soundstage, Bass light. They are not too comfortable, but pads can be changed for a deluxe comfort (extra expense). You are not getting anything better at this price. For gaming in a budget, this are the headphones you were looking for,
Philips SHP9500. 80$. Mid-forward signature. Good soundstage, great comfort. Very detailed. Another amazing quality for the budget headphone.
Sennheiser HD 598 SR. 170$. Very similar to the HD 598Cs, but with open back. Wider soundstage, a little less bass. Very balanced headphones. Super-duper comfortable. Great for long gaming sessions.
Philips Fidelio X2. 250$. V-shaped signature. Those are in another league. Build quality is just.. OMG. Extreme soundstage and imaging. More comfortable than the HD 598. Bass is BOOOOOM!!!. A little pricey, and can be somewhat fatiguing to listen if you are treble sensible, due to high treble.
Well, that’s all. I have selected only headphones that don’t need an amplifier. Now is your turn to research, watch some Youtube videos, read some reviews, and give them a try.
All this headphones are GOOD. No trash here, and all them will make you open your eyes when listening your music if you are coming from standard headsets. You will notice sounds, instruments, that you never realized they were there, even if you had listened this song a thousand times before. Try them, and be amazed.
Welcome to the rabbit hole.
People keep recommending zipties and I'm just like ya'll should be using velcro.
I use this duster and it works just fine.
Source: Ran a custom PC building service/repair business for five years.
Just buy this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_TNFJzb6A1NCW2
It's a small electric powered air blower, with a dust filter on the bottom. I use it at work for hours every day, works like a charm.
I would recommend This clip mic paired with your choice of headphones.
https://www.amazon.com/V-MODA-BoomPro-Microphone-Gaming-Communication/dp/B00BJ17WKK/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1511122973&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=vmoda+boom&amp;dpID=41WfbQw%252Bp8L&amp;preST=_SY300_QL70_&amp;dpSrc=srch
My monitor has four built in crosshair overlays that pair to your mouse cursor position. It's pretty much cheating.
GTX 1080 is definitely going to overkill this 1080p 60Hz monitor. I would either get the GTX 1070 and a 1080p 144Hz monitor like this one or keep the GTX 1080 and get a 1440p 144Hz monitor like this one
Price is 50$ regularly on Amazon so looking at this (70$-20$-5$), this is not really that big deal.
Do yourself a HUGE favor and get yourself an Ethernet Powerline Adapter.
It sounds expensive but you can get a decent one for
$20$36 and it works great! My Wi-Fi speeds were 1/10th of what I get with the adapter.Filtered according to your specifications
165hz $308
144hz $225
No clue how worth it those prices are but that's all I found for 24" 1440p 144hz
Canned air is so wasteful. Get one of these guys
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001J4ZOAW/
They're much more powerful as well, they make canned air look like a toy.
Aw thank you! (:
It's all about personal preference as to what you want to use, but I used Velcro cable ties, cable sleeves, and sticky cable clamps for both my battlestation and my TV/console station. I bought these in particular and they do just the trick for me at very low cost.
Ties: VELCRO Brand ONE WRAP Thin Ties | Strong & Reusable | Perfect for Fastening Wires & Organizing Cords | Black, 8 x 1/2-Inch | 100 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001E1Y5O6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_l3bJBbHE1JZZS
Sleeves: 20" Cable Management Sleeve with Free Zip Ties https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MR6QQLR/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Clamps: eBoot Adjustable Cable Clips Adhesive Nylon Wire Clamps, Black, 50 Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYO307S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_J3bJBbRA9GWRQ
Stick some clamps behind your desk and down the edges of the desk legs to run the wires and cords along them. Just be warned that the residue may stick and might peel off paint or wood, so take caution if you want to tear them off. I'm sure you can find better ones that don't potentially damage your desk, but with proper removal care, you should be fine.
I like the velcro straps because they can easily be adjusted, removed, and reused. They're also versatile for any other random cables you want to store.
EDIT: Added some pictures of the back where the cables are to show you how messy and hectic it is.
https://imgur.com/a/Zqin1bj
Get a Datavac.
http://www.amazon.de/Zalman-ZM-MIC1-Mikrofon-mit-Mikro-Clip-Schwarz/dp/B00029MTMQ
if you use this correctly, that mic is the shit while only having a price tag of ~$10
Hey! It looks like you've got a pretty solid build started here! I just want to point out a few things to make your life just a little bit easier.
So there ya go! I hope that you enjoy your new build, it's going to be amazing! If you PM me I'll add you on Steam and we can play some games together when your build is all set!
I'd recommend the Sennheiser HD 598. They are literally the best headphones you can get for under $200! Radiohead is a band that has a lot of intimate and detailed songs. These are open-backed headphones so the sound stage is really wide and makes you feel like you're their with band! Also I recommend these for any genre of music really; if you want an intimate and detailed experience.
CPU: Intel Pentium G4560 7th Gen - 4.65k
GPU: Zotac GTX 1050 Ti 4GB - 11.7k Buy Zotac only because you get 5years warranty by registering online for free.
MOTHERBOARD : Gigabyte H110 BIOS Updated - 4.46k
RAM: Crucial 8GB 2133MHz DDR4 - 4.1k
HDD: WD 1TB Blue - 3.6k
SMPS: Antec BP450 450W - 1.89k
CABINET: 2.3k (Circle CC 819)
TOTAL: 32.7K
If your budget is strictly 30K, or if you are using a 720p monitor instead of 1080p, then go for Zotac GTX 1050 mini 2GB - 9.3k
NEW TOTAL: 30.3K
I think that this is DEFINITELY the best build under 30K.
> Problem 1: blockchain becomes 1 tb in 1 year
Where is that stat from? What size of consistently large blocks are creating a 1 tb yearly chain increase? What would the value of the fees and blocks of that size be? What would the value of 1 BCH be at the point where blocks are at that level?
> Problem 2: internet sucks!
Graphene
https://people.cs.umass.edu/~gbiss/graphene.pdf
xthin and
https://github.com/BitcoinUnlimited/BitcoinUnlimited/blob/dev/doc/bu-xthin-protocol.md, https://github.com/BitcoinUnlimited/BitcoinUnlimited/blob/dev/doc/bu-xthin.md
compact blocks
https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0152.mediawiki
and IBLTs.....
https://arxiv.org/pdf/1101.2245
How do you rectify the idea that users are supposed to be running a full node, but not mobile (spv) wallet to do most commerce unless you are home all the time? The very idea that everyone in the world should be running a full node is just silly. How many people do you know that can not even be bothered to back up their photos from their phone? The vast majority of people in the world will never run a full node. However anyone that wants to will still be able to. 1tb a year is not an expensive ($47 and cheaper every year) addition to securing your own finances. Running a full node and then expecting the average person to use the rube goldberg machine of lightning for "cash" transactions at the same time vs the simplicity of reasonable block size increases that follow value, volume and demand is a losing proposition. Nature prefers simplicity.
Not sure what your budget is, but I picked this one up recently and really like it. 1440p, 165Hz, G-sync, 24" TN panel
Dell Gaming S2417DG https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IOO4SGK
I would try this
Much better processor in that one you'll regret not getting a better processor for wow especially. Also 16GB RAM is nice for some multitasking
$2 cheaper for longer & better quality https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E1Y5O6/ref=crt_ewc_title_huc_1?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;smid=ANMG9JKN0R2VN
Get one of these portable blowers.
An air tank small enough to be easily carried around the house will run out of air very quickly.
lil pricey, but worth it:
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1409800808&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=metro+vacuum
Personally I use these cable ties with this wrapping method.
Edit: wow, I didn't expect a response. I'm glad others do this as well. Some may think it's overkill, but I want my stuff to last a very long time.
STOP BUYING CANNED AIR!! But something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
I use mine on everything, especially the few large builds I keep for display. I also use it on the internals of my gaming rig. Had it for 2 years now and it still works great, definitely more cost effective than canned air in the long run.
Most likely they are sound whoring with headphones and attentiveness. When I play killer, sound is my greatest asset against the survivors. Things like running and breathing can be picked up by paying attention and having the sound system to do so.
I followed the advice on this post and got these headphones and this mic. Pretty cheap set up for quality audio and voice communication.
the EQing on your voice is way too bassy/muffled/boomy
also recording people off of VOIP is usually pretty bad. you'd have much better sound quality if you made everyone buy mics and record their own audio locally on either their computer or some kind of device and then send you their audio for you to splice in. the downside of this is it increases the chance of screwing up recording significantly if your friends aren't tech-savvy
https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1499611093&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=zalman+clip+on+mic
velcro cable ties would also help to organize your cables.
Been using these in my home and they've been great
Get yourself this and take it outside. This thing cleans like nanobots on it.
Get a pair of bookshelves and a Chromecast Audio for each room. The music playing can be synced with Chromecast. You could probably do 3 rooms with $500.
Here's an example of what you could get:
3 x https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A2QLGEQ/
3 x https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2/?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1481779004&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=mb42x
3 x http://www.bestbuy.com/site/google-chromecast-audio-black/4532100.p?skuId=4532100
1 x https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BWS7HY6/?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
3 x https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000068O3A/?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Went a bit over budget, oh well.
I woke up last Monday morning and had the urge to build a gaming PC out of nowhere. I literally reached over to my phone while laying in bed at 5 AM in the morning and started ordering parts off Amazon and a couple days later here's the finished product. I had 0 PC building experience before this but thankfully Reddit and Google had all the answers I needed.
Specs:
MOBO: ASUS Prime Z370-A II (in case I want to upgrade to a 9th gen)
GPU: EVGA 2070 Super XC Ultra Gaming
Ram: 16GB Corsair Vengeance C15 3000mhz
Storage: 1TB WD_Black NVMe // 1TB Seagate SSHD // 128GB Unknown Brand NVMe (running windows on it)
CPU: Intel i7-8700
CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X62 (using the 2 NZXT 140mm fans that came with it as intakes)
PSU: Seasonic FOCUS Plus 850 Gold
Case: H500 (base model)
Rear Fan: NZXT AER RGB 2 120mm (exhaust)
Top Fan: NZXT AER RGB 2 120mm (exhaust)
Top/Bottom LED: NZXT Hue 2 300mm LED Strips
Monitor: Lenovo Legion Y27gq-20 27-inch WLED G-SYNC
Mouse: Logitech G903
Keyboard: Logitech G Pro
Headphones: Logitech G533
Cable Extensions: Asiahorse Customization Mod Sleeve Extension Power Supply Cable Kit
It's similarly priced.
Pay 12 dollars more for a laptop that's just been repackaged in new condition.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B015PYYDMQ/ref=dp_olp_used_mbc?ie=UTF8&amp;condition=used&amp;m=A2L77EE7U53NWQ
Found on buildapcsales
Ridiculous pricing on a laptop.
Update: you already missed it if you're reading this, $899 on a 1060 7700HQ laptop.
If you can add some money, buy this monitor instead which has FreeSync and is 144Hz.
Otherwise, if you can't spend 50$ more, check out this and this.
Don't buy a non-freesync monitor.
As for the 480, no it won't overheat, the node202 has a big grill right where the fan is, so it can take as much air as it wants. MOreover, since it's a blower style card, the volume of the case doesn't affect the cooling (cold air is taken by the fan and hot air is spit right out of the case through the rear. Hot air doesn't remain in the case)
Good for the rest ;)
This is a receiver + 5.1 system that adds up to $550 and has 4k passthrough (not sure on lossless audio like DTS-HD), but is $50 over your budget. Still better than any soundbar you'll find...
$250 AV Receiver Denon 720 (refurb w/ltd warranty, has HDCP 2.2 Dolby Atmos)
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrs720w/denon-avr-s720w-7.2-ch-x-75-watts-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html
$90 Micca MB42X Bookshelves PAIR for Front
$90 Micca MB42X Bookshelves PAIR for Surround
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2
$70 Micca MB42X-C Center Channel
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00HHFBEK6
$42 Micca M8C In-ceiling speakers EACH (for x.x.2 atmos)
$42 Micca M8C In-ceiling speakers EACH (for x.x.2 atmos)
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-M-8C-Ceiling-Speaker-Pivoting/dp/B002YPS6T6
$200 BIC America F12 12" Sub
https://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-F12-475-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0015A8Y5M
$550 Projector Optoma 142X (cnet.com "Best Picture for the Money" 2018)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HQCF6R6
$205 Elite Manual 120" Projector Screen
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OLO59EI
TOTAL: $1550
You will also want a universal remote (Logitech Harmony recommended), speaker wire / banana plugs, stands / mounts, HDMI + subwoofer cable. So with this stuff as well you're over budget, but you could grab everything except the sub and add that later, for example.
EDIT: found the projector recommendation here, with more research you might be able to find better (same for the screen):
https://www.cnet.com/topics/tvs/best-tvs/projectors/
It's also 49.99 on Amazon - if you have prime for the 2 day shipping.
EDIT: It's no longer $49.99 (~6 hours later) :(. Please disregard this link.
Grab one of these: https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-SATA-Drive-Adapter-Cable/dp/B00HJZJI84/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1478567410&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=usb+sata+adapter
Of course make sure it's the right connector for your HDD. You will need USB 3 for that one to work too, since it needs more power than USB 2 can deliver.
And then boot up a linux machine and see if it's recognized. If Linux is no good, I've had luck with Mac as well, Windows seems a lot more finicky about whether it will take a shot at figuring out a broken harddrive or not.
Getting data off a drive this way works a lot more often than booting the device, since you're just trying to get raw data off of it rather than needing it to boot first then get data off of it.
I recommend a DataVac. It's a bit pricey at around $50, but you'll never need to buy another can of compressed air again and it works SOOOO much better than they ever did.
I believe these ties are what you're referring to. I bought them for cable management behind my entertainment center, and ended up also using for cable management in my pc build. They worked great!
Honestly the best thing you could do for your setup right now is cable management. You can get reusable velcro zip ties from Amazon or Walmart or someplace like that. I’d also recommend getting little figures or plushies of your favorite characters to add some more of your personality to the area
If you use it at all frequently, buy an electric one. I have this from Amazon, I've seen it as cheap as $40.
It's 100x stronger than compressed air, and since it's effectively free to use, you can use it all around the house to help dust or otherwise clean things. 100/10 would recommend.
Electric duster. You save so much on buying air canisters in the long run. It's also very powerful
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J4ZOAW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Just a note regarding sound quality: if you really care about it, even high-end gaming headsets are bad options compared to headphones by companies that specialize in audio, like Sennheiser (only brand I'd buy 'gaming' sets from), Audio Technica, AKG, Koss, Shure, Westone, Beyerdynamics, etc. For the same price, you can likely get way better quality by getting a mic-less headphone and attaching a ModMic or using a standalone mic.
People keep telling me to purchase Philips SHP9500 when they go on sale for $50-$60 Currently $54.99
Then add V-MODA BoomPro Gaming, VoIP Headset Headphone with Mic for $30 and you're golden at about the same price range.
The downside is the mic is always in demand so they vary in whether they have it in stock.
If the air cushions aren't great you can follow this to make them better
Edit: Constructive criticism is more appreciative than down-votes alone
If I had a $1500 budget, I would recommend the following:
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Epson Home Cinema 2150 - $699.00
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Micca MB42X - $79.95
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Micca MB42X Center - $69.95
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Fluance AVBP2 - $119.99
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Denon AVR S530BT - $229.00
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Silver Ticket 120" Screen - $249.98
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This would give you a decent entry level setup. You'll have about 50$ left over for speaker wire. I am be no means an expert but I lurk a lot and I think this would be decent.
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Best bang for your buck in headphones these days in my opinion.
Couple things to note:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0149QBOF0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
It's a little more than $100.
Here's an AOC Freesync monitor
Here's the exact same monitor but with gsync. do you think the exact same features in a monitor are worth twice as much?
Is this really considered a deal when there is the Dell S2417DG, which also is a 24" G Sync monitor at higher resolution of 2560x1440 and Overclocks to 165Hz for $399.99 on the Dell website, Amazon, as well as Best Buy who also happen to have an open box of it at $354.99.
Boom, 144hz 1080p baybee
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BV1XBEI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_aL5Zxb049RDS3
Yes, yes, yes. That assumes your video card is already putting out at least close to that amount of frames. It's a most for FPS games.
I have this one.
AOC G2460PF 24-Inch Professional Gaming LED Monitor Free Sync,144hz,1ms, Hght Adjust, Spk, VGA DVI HDMI DP USB https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BV1XBEI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BbszzbYWPS1E1
Had to resubmit due to the title being wrong, it actually has a TN display. As /u/HEROxDivine pointed out, there is the Acer Helios 300 on Amazon for $1050 before tax that is another option for a 1060 6GB laptop, it comes with a 256GB SSD and 7th gen CPU, as well as better build construction. It is a thicker laptop, however, the MSI is .69", the Acer is 1.05". Some reviews do say that this laptop does have some thermal issues after a while gaming under load. The build quality is also questionable, it's not going to fly apart, but it can feel a bit more flimsy than more premium laptops.
Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop, 15.6" Full HD IPS, Intel i7-7700HQ CPU, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, GeForce GTX 1060-6GB, VR Ready, Red Backlit KB, Metal Chassis, Windows 10 64-bit, G3-571-77QK https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y4GZS9C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_T-U7BbHTDNZDC
This one seems good.
https://www.newegg.ca/black-acer-helios-300-standard/p/1TS-000X-012R2
✓ 8th gen i7
✓ Can handle SolidWorks.
✓ GTX 1060 6GB, plenty good for those games and can play AAA titles at decent settings.
✓ 1 TB SSD NVMe + 1 TB HDD, plenty of space and speed.
✓ 16 GB memory, plenty for a laptop.
✓ 1080p IPS screen @ 144Hz (probably the best part). In my opinion, 1080p IPS @ 144Hz is way better than 4K TN @ 60Hz. Resolution isn't everything.
✓ $25 over budget, BUT, it's on sale at 30% off, free shipping and only 5% tax.
Reviews:
4.25/5 https://www.ultrabookreview.com/27055-acer-predator-helios-300-review-ph315-52/
4/5
https://www.pcworld.com/article/3341337/acer-predator-helios-300-review-the-bestselling-gaming-laptop-on-amazon.html
4/5 (1772 user reviews)
https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Predator-i7-7700HQ-1060-6GB-G3-571-77QK/dp/B06Y4GZS9C
Note: Some of the reviews have slightly different configurations, but it's otherwise the same model, i.e. Predator Helios 300.
Damn, it's 24" little brother just shipped for me and I paid $40 more. Welp, nothing 's leaving the box it shipped in until next week. Gonna take a lot of self control.
Edit: On second thought, I'll stick with the smaller one since it's 165hz refresh and closer in size to what I currently have.
For those interested: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IOO4SGK/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Another contender...
I have one and am pleased with it for a cheap solution. I clip it onto my shirt using a binder clip.
I have about 400 velcro zip ties in my bag that I use instead of normal zip ties. The guy after always appreciates it.
https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-Reusable-Fastening-Organizing/dp/B001E1Y5O6
The "Type" of cable fastener absolutely does make all of the difference depending upon the application.
In many applications cable or "zip" ties are not allowed due to toxic fumes given off when they are heated. Many users tend to over tighten cable ties thus damaging the cable jacket or conductor vs velcro.
In the case of aircraft or high vibration scenarios the type of cable fastener used is highly regulated.
In the end remember there are Redditors from around the globe here that are not only home users but also many that work with cable fasteners day to day in the work that they do. I have been known to post a link to this set of velcro from Amazon to those that complain about price.
If this were my setup I would cringe at the crimped coax cable. It's totally worth redoing, using a compression fitting instead. Those tools can be found at your local hardware store, online or just befriend a cable guy and hand him a few bucks to remake the end. It will take him a minute or less.
Thx OP for the post, IMO anything better than a nest of cables is better in the end. I highly prefer velcro.
https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-Reusable-Fastening-Organizing/dp/B001E1Y5O6
Servers:
Networking:
FreeNAS Server Case:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0091IZ1ZG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Rack:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XZWJPHG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Rackmount Power:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00077INZU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Extras:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008X3JIVS/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002D1GG0C/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0060RUVBA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E1Y5O6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s03?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Do not buy a headset.
Buy a microphone like [this here] (http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1374138699&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=Zalman+ZM-MIC1+Microphone) and get some decent headphones from Sennheiser (dependant on budget).
You get a lot more quality for your money this way.
Honestly, the best thing you can do is regularly clean the area and room you keep your rig in. The time between having to go in and clean the insides of your PC increases a lot.
Other than that I usually go in with an electronic duster instead of cans of compressed air.
It's a bit out of your price range, but it works well.
http://www.amazon.ca/Metropolitan-Vacum-ED500-Datavac-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
It's cheaper from US amazon...dunno about shipping or what not though.
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
I have a mic, it works, but for some reason squad refuses to pick it up. Anyone have a fix for this? Squad is the only game that it doesn't work in.
EDIT: Turns out my mic was set to USB in steam, just had to change it. Thanks for all the reply's and willingness to help. The mic i use is this good quality mic, but the cord is insanely long.
It will not cost more than 15K rest of the money can be spent for Monitor or other accessories including mouse and keyboard.
If you don't know how to build just visit a local shop and provide him parts list to assemble your Desktop.
Those first three games are likely CPU limited while Rainbow Six is probably GPU limited. My immediate thought is overheating. Use a temperature monitoring software to check the temperature on your CPU. If it's high, consider cleaning out your CPU fan or replacing the thermal paste on your fan.
If you don't have one, I'd suggest getting an after-market CPU cooler. The Cooler Master 212 is what I use and I've always been extremely satisfied with the results. With the 4590 you won't have much room to overclock, but it will guarantee you aren't running into any thermal problems.
Purchase this
This
And this
EDIT2: Só como referencia: iMac i7 comprado pelo governo, segue o baile comparando com o PC montado e este meu comentario US$1.200,00 de diferença.
O preço do iMac é exagerado até la fora: iMac top de linha i5
Quem entende de computadores sabe que você monta um PC MELHOR por um preço bem menor: Top de linha no MINIMO 5x mais forte, e o mesmo preço. Na verdade, um exagero, porque montei com as melhores peças no mercado atualmente. Poderia até ter poupado mais e aproveitado o quad-channel do ram na placa mãe, que seria melhor e mais barato, só quis ser overkill.
Os produtos Apple são overpriced em QUALQUER mercado, só ver a linha de ultrabooks deles por 2k dolares e os concorrentes pelo mesmo valor (Razer Blade).
EDIT: link talvez tenha problemas, então eis os itens:
Somando US$2.100,30
here's some matching headphones
I'm sporting the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and a FiiO E10K. I also use the Fidelia music player on a mac. It's definitely an upgrade from standard audio equipment but still under $250. You can easily go nuts and drop $1,000+.
FLACCs are still difficult to find from digital sources for lesser known bands. Not everyone's on bandcamp. I buy the physical CD then rip it to FLACC. 320kb/s MP3s are ok but if you opt for a higher fidelity setup I'd stick to FLACC, ALAC, WAV, or AIFF.
>When I first turned this monitor on, not gonna lie, it was very underwhelming. Colors were washed out and it was too bright. You HAVE to calibrate this in order to see its true potential. Here is what I finally landed on. Use this for yours or atleast a starting point. You should be able to play games without adjusting in game brightness. Here we go.
>Nvidia Control Panel>Adjust desktop color settings:
> - Brightness-50%
> - Contrast-50%
> - Gamma-0.60%
> - Digital vibrance-70%
> - Hue-0
> - CLICK APPLY
>DELL Monitor settings:
> - Brightness-26%
> - Contrast-75%
> - Color>Custom Color:
> - R-97%
> - G-99%
> - B-96%
>*Also, download the latest driver for this monitor on Dell's website.
>And you're welcome :)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/cr/B0149QBOF0/ref=mw_dp_cr
Spent several grand building out this magnificent beast of a workstation/cockpit:
http://imgur.com/a/GAgVj
I had everything else but the monitors and the cockpit, which was about $1900 and $1500 USD, respectively. I got all but one accessory for the cockpit, and shipping was $200 cause it weighs over 200lbs :D
I already had the $400 wheel, $300 pedals, $200 shifter, $150 handbrake, and a PC that is nothing less than $2500-3k to drive such a setup.
That said, I can race around any track I want around the globe, do so without spending thousands on tires/gas/gear each race weekend, am not risking life or limb, and am on-hand at home to be a father to my 1yr old daughter.
Sure I've spent the price of a not-even-that-old Honda Civic on this setup over the years, but its good clean wholesome fun, and fantastic practice for later in life should I ever decide to buy a track car.
Most women see this "rig" and roll their eyes HARD, but only after scooping their jaw up off the ground. Men just get insanely jealous and beg to drive it after scooping their jaw up off the ground :)
Worthit to me!
Disclaimer: I am an IT Systems Admin and an avid gamer/sim racer for years...
Non-mobile link: https://www.amazon.ca/V-MODA-BoomPro-Gaming-Headset-Headphone/dp/B00BJ17WKK/
I'm using that one 144Hz asus monitor right now, with the Lightboost Hack, and its life changing
You need to do a bit of registry editing and fuck around with some icc profiles, but the output is so worth it
Obviously these are not $160 headphones, more around $75-$85.
I've heard fantastic reviews about these, and you can even attach a V-Moda boom pro mic.
These are open backed so the sound will leak, so use them in a quiet environment. Open backed essentially just means they have more sound stage vs closed back, and sometimes less bass. These are not tight fit headphones at all either - in fact they slide around too much if you move your head too much.
I wholly recommend these- some of the best budget cans for $60. I don't own them, but this is a cumulative review from many redditors and reviews.
https://www.amazon.com/V-MODA-BoomPro-Gaming-Headset-Headphone/dp/B00BJ17WKK
Y'all should watch this video if you're on the fence about buying this headset. I'm no audiophile, but I agree that they're the best headphones I've ever used. The guy in this video, however, is in fact an audiophile and is in love with them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aipXii-qWiQ
Also, if you're looking to use these for gaming and don't have a standalone mic, this VMODA BoomPro mic is the common recommendation. I use it daily and have no real complaints.
For people here after OP stops giving advice / wants to look themselves:
/r/headphones. Don't post a thread asking for purchase advice, it pisses them off. Go to this dedicated thread instead, or use their purchase advice tool here
Turning studio headphones into gaming headphones is as simple as buying a Modmic or a V-Moda BoomPro. The main difference is that the Modmic is a separate cable where the BoomPro is part of your normal 3.5" cable. If your headphones have a detachable 3.5" cable, I'd recommend the BoomPro
Some people on the sub will recommend DACs / Amps. If you're not an audiophile, ignore them. Amps are sometimes needed for high impedance headphones, but for the most part they're a waste of money. Your mobo's onboard DAC works fine.
Pick up a VMODA boom mic and BOOM you have a $88 headset that will put most gaming headsets to shame.
I've sat here a minute trying to think of a nice way to say this, and I can't, so here's what I've got, and it's not meant to be impolite:
$150 cad isn't enough for anything good, new. A soundbar may or may not be marginally better than your TV speakers. If you buy one with a sub, it'll add bass. It won't be clear, it won't be 'good,' it'll just be there. If that's all you want, well okay then. Regarding surround sound and music: More of the same. Music is generally just 2.1, and none of the soundbars will be anything even remotely interesting. For surround sound.... Similar to the bass: You will physically have sound coming from speakers around you, but it won't be good sounding.
I'm not trying to be high and mighty, I'm on a very low end setup compared to most people here (Denon X series and Elacs.) Honestly, for $150, you can buy something, and it'll sound 'different' than the tv speakers, but not 'good.' You'll either be adding bass or you'll be adding speakers around you, and that's all I can say about it.
I know you said you don't have the space for surround sound: What does that mean? How much room do you have? If you can, I'd vote to buy this receiver and preferably these or these if your budget forced. Those are small speakers, only about 8 inches. For very similar money, that's better and will eventually let you get a better sub and center / surround speakers. The "4.1" soundbar isn't real 4.1, it's just reflecting sound around your room. I'm sure it'll sound different, but just... meh.
You might want to check out /r/BudgetAudiophile Broadly though, they're all going to be similarly loud and similar in sound quality. I'd vote the LG or Samsung over Sony. I would encourage you not to get a soundbar.
EDIT: By the way, the LG does have a separate sub.
I actually prefer the 24" version of 1440. I have a Dell 24" with G-Sync and it's the best goddamn monitor I've ever used.
Edit: It also overclocks to 165hz which is exceptionally nice.
The dell s2417dg is an amazing monitor that checks all your boxes, but it 1440p. However, it is very cheap AND even better it goes on sale all the time. Lurk dealsource.tech and r/buildapcsales to find a good deal.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01IOO4SGK/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1520463341&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=s2417dg
https://m.newegg.com/products/9SIA24G62T0569
thanks man. appreciate it. this is the monitor https://www.amazon.co.uk/AOC-G2460PF-Response-Adustable-Speakers/dp/B01BV1XBEI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542215018&sr=8-1&keywords=aoc+g2460pf
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The Acer XF240H is a newer panel and the only complaint I've seen about that is that its out of the box colors are worse than the VG248QE's. It's flicker free at all brightness settings where the VG248QE uses PWM at <100 brightness. And let me tell you that you will not use it at 100 brightness.
But if you don't like that one specifically, here's another 144hz from Amazon that's newer than the VG248QE at a price I'd definitely say is worth it over the VG248QE: https://www.amazon.com/AOC-G2460PF-24-Inch-Professional-Monitor/dp/B01BV1XBEI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1499027011&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=144hz+freesync
It's also this price on Amazon if you prefer them over Newegg. Have 5% back on Discover card for Amazon so I went with that
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-S2417DG-24-Inch-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B01IOO4SGK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1511680171&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=dell+g+sync
Well I see how it's convenient with an integrated mic, but a very standard desktop/clip on mic will do the job a heck of a load cheaper, and you can spend the excess money on better headphones or an audio card. Also. Less parts that can be broken on the rift.
Edit: actually I take that back. If it's an integrated mic with no sensitive parts (the bar that carries the mic) and if it would be more like a cellphone mic I would be OK with it. Although the voice quality might not be the best this way.
Over under is all I know, every company I've ever worked with, as well myself personally, use over under exclusively. Skip the "garden ties" and get these or opera knot some tie line on the cables so you can keep them tidy.
https://smile.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-ONE-WRAP-Management-Self-Gripping/dp/B001E1Y5O6/ref=smi_se_mit_rcol_smi_2537928482?_encoding=UTF8&amp;*Version*=1&amp;*entries*=0&amp;pldnCmp=rcol&amp;pldnCrt=my-impact
100 pack
Alright I'll be the first to say it... You're going to hate that you used zip ties. Any time you need to change anything, you have to cut and refasten new ones. They also can damage wiring.
You should have used velcro ties: https://smile.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-Reusable-Fastening-Organizing/dp/B001E1Y5O6/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=velcro+ties&qid=1564609258&s=electronics&sr=1-3
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E1Y5O6
Or spend $5 and get 100 velcro ones that will hold up better...
My shop has one of those datavac units sitting on a shelf. It is worthless and has zero actual suction.
I understand your reluctance on the subject of blowers, I was right there with you a couple years back, but this is the way to go. Of course, you do have to take it outside.
I have a windowed case so I clean out my computer whenever I start seeing dust inside my computer which is about once a month. It's easiest to clean out my case using some form of compressed air to blow all the dust out. I personally use the DataVac as my form of compressed air and would recommend it to anyone that is currently using compressed air cans. The DataVac would be paying for itself after a couple of uses.
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1420416560&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=data+vac
I've got that same one and can confirm it's excellent. Here's a much better price for it though (in the US, at least):
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1449761796&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=metro+datavac
I have a few farms I run including my own and I have these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J4ZOAW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
EDIT to add:
PLEASE make sure to shut down your rigs before you use it or you might damage a fan.
Or stop wasting your money on canned air, and get one of these bad boys.
Asus 24" 144hz Right at your budget before taxes. I'm also an Asus fan boy.
I
could beam wrong here, but the deal is that they have insanely low response time. 1ms.It's not just BenQ monitors, my Asus VG248QE also has 1ms response time. BenQ is smart about getting into the esports scene early and sponsoring, so their name is very recognizable for gamers.
Note that a lot of the expense of my personal monitor choice comes from the fact that it's 144hz. Total overkill for Smash, but feels much better for games that actually support it (CSGO, Overwatch, etc).
One last anecdote, I switched from a 60hz 5ms response time to my 144hz 1ms response time and the difference was immediate and noticable. Colors are more washed out on the faster monitor but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Some people think it's cheating, but many hackintosh owners just skip the audio driver problem entirely and get a cheap USB-to-audio adapter. Plug it in, plug in a set of speakers, and that's literally all you have to do.
If it's the MacBook Pro 2012 13" non retina then you may be experiencing the extremely common hard drive cable failure as described here https://beetstech.com/blog/prevent-a1278-mid-2012-hard-drive-cable-failure.
If you happen to have a USB to SATA caddy/connector then you can plug your SSD into your Mac via USB, if it boots then that pretty much proves a hard drive cable issue.
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You can buy the hard drive cable from Beetstech with a lifetime warranty https://beetstech.com/product/hard-drive-cable-923-0104.
No it is not, 55% sale is bullshit, in fact - regular price on amazon de is cheaper:
https://www.amazon.de/Corsair-Vengeance-3000MHz-Performance-Arbeitsspeicher/dp/B0134EW7G8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1541974533&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=corsair+vengeance+lpx+16gb
---
Pros: Assuming you mean this laptop, then there are quite a few. This is coming from someone who has a high-end dekstop (980Ti, i7 3770k, 16GB RAM, 1TB of SSD storage/3TB of HDD storage) and a mid-range gaming notebook (i7 4720hq, 960m, 12GB RAM, 1TB SSD)
Cons:
---
That's about the laptop.
You also have to ask yourself:
Do I have time to play games when I'm constantly out and about?
Do I really want to use that time to play video games?
Will I be in a place that's comfortable and has room for my gear? (Mouse, backpack, charger, you will basically be taking up a lot of space
Do I want to have the distraction of being able to play games while I need to study?
If you answer no to any of those questions, reconsider your options.
---
I bought my laptop for the same reason - to use at college. It was, in my opinion, a mistake. I should have gotten either a Chromebook or a mid-range ultrabook. But my use case was a bit more different and YMMV.
I agree, this is a way better deal.
http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Inspiron-i7559-763BLK-Full-HD-GeForce/dp/B015PYYDMQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1450001278&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=dell+inspiron+15+7000
I think the one off of Amazon is a much better deal if you're willing to pay at 799.99 since it has a 256GB SSD instead of the 1TB HDD.
http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Inspiron-i7559-763BLK-Full-HD-GeForce/dp/B015PYYDMQ
You can get everything you're looking for in the Dell S2716DG. 1440p, 144Hz and G-sync for $599. It is however a TN panel if that matters to you, but I hear it's a great one. Some tweaking can make it look really nice, and you won't have to play the quality control lottery of the new IPS monitors out right now. http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Gaming-S2716DG-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B0149QBOF0
Not sure why my links came out all fucked up? Too lazy to try and fix it.
His.
Monitors: [Dell S2716DGR] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0149QBOF0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Triple Monitor Mount: [EZM Deluxe Triple Monitor Mount] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006JG7G2E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s06?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Keyboard: [Corsair K70 Cherry MX Reds] (https://www.amazon.com/CORSAIR-K70-Mechanical-Gaming-Keyboard/dp/B01ER4B8C8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1526665446&sr=8-2&keywords=corsair&#37;2Bk70&#37;2Bcherry&#37;2Bred&th=1)
Mouse: [Corsair Scimitar Pro RGB] (https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Gaming-SCIMITAR-Mechanical-Buttons/dp/B013KK9JOO/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1526665487&sr=1-2&keywords=corsair+scimitar+pro+rgb)
Mouse Pad: [Razer Goliathus Overwatch Mouse Mat] (https://www.amazon.com/Razer-Goliathus-Overwatch-Mouse-Professional-Grade/dp/B01DXVKEJY)
Wireless Headset: [Steel Series 800 Wireless] (https://www.amazon.com/SteelSeries-Lag-Free-Wireless-Transmitter-Surround/dp/B016YGMH9U/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1526665568&sr=1-3&keywords=steelseries+h800)
Speakers: [Audioengine A5+] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005OSR1C8/ref=twister_B00L3KRZS6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1)
Speaker Mounts: [Audioengine DS2 Desktop speaker stands] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005STCILC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s04?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Desk Surface: [Ikea EKBACKEN countertop 98in] (https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80274864/)
Desk Drawers: Haha who am I kidding everyone knows that those are!
Lamp: [IKEA Hektar lamp] (https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40349376/)
Cable Management
[Raceways] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015EDVVU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s06?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
[Velcro zip ties] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E1Y5O6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s05?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
[Desk Grommet ](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MX5TH4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s05?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
[Cable clips] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075WWCN1K/ref=detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Pc build specs
Case: NZXT H440
Motherboard: ASUS ROG Maximus IX Hero Z270 LGA1151
CPU: i7 6700k
RAM: G.SKILL TridentZ RGB Series 32GB
Power supply: Corsair RM series modular 1000W 80plus Gold
Power cables: Corsair custom sleeved in blue
CPU cooler: NZXT Kraken X52
Boot Drive: SAMSUNG 750 EVO 2.5" 500GB
HDD: 2TB Western Digital
GPU: EVGA 12GB Titan black
Hers.
Monitor: [Asus ROG Switft 34in ultra wide] (https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-ROG-SWIFT-PG348Q-3440x1440/dp/B01C83BE6U/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526666082&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Asus+-+ROG+Swift+34&#37;22+IPS+LED+Curved+QHD+GSync+Monitor+-+Armor+titanium+Plasma+copper)
Monitor Mount: [VIV duial mount] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CUW5HDU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Mouse: [Razer Naga Chroma] (https://www.amazon.com/Razer-Naga-Chroma-Programmable-Adjustible/dp/B01798WKTY/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1526666200&sr=1-4&keywords=razer+mmo+mouse)
Keyboard: [Corsair K70 Cherry MX Reds] (https://www.amazon.com/CORSAIR-K70-Mechanical-Gaming-Keyboard/dp/B01ER4B8C8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1526665446&sr=8-2&keywords=corsair&#37;2Bk70&#37;2Bcherry&#37;2Bred&th=1)
Mouse pad: [Razer Goliathus Overwatch Mouse Mat] (https://www.amazon.com/Razer-Goliathus-Overwatch-Mouse-Professional-Grade/dp/B01DXVKEJY)
Wireless Headset: [Steel Series 800 Wireless] (https://www.amazon.com/SteelSeries-Lag-Free-Wireless-Transmitter-Surround/dp/B016YGMH9U/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1526665568&sr=1-3&keywords=steelseries+h800)
Speakers: [KRK Rokit 5 ](https://www.amazon.com/KRK-RP5G3-NA-Generation-Powered-Monitor/dp/B00FX7MMRO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526666262&sr=8-1&keywords=krk+rokit+5)
Desk Surface x2 : [IKEA Linnmon] (https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S39932699/)
Cable Management
Cable Rack: [IKEA Signum rack] (https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30200253/)
PC Build specs
Case: Corsair crystal series 460X
Motherboard: ASUS ROG Maximus IX Hero Z270 LGA1151
CPU: i7 7700k
RAM: G.SKILL TridentZ RGB Series 32GB
Power supply: Corsair RM series modular 1000W 80plus Gold
CPU cooler: NZXT Kraken X52
HDD: WD 1TB
GPU: GTX 1080 ti SC
> Not in this case. 3kMHZ just aounds like you don't know your prefixes.
Well considering that it is industry standard to use MHZ instead of GHZ...
Edit: Your flair says "32 GB DDR4 3000[MHZ]". Do you not know your prefixes?
Ofertas previas al viernes afro:
De nada...
Yeah it'll help https://www.computerbase.de/2019-03/amd-ryzen-cpu-ddr4-ram/2/
You can imagine where 2133 would be. Should be roughly the same difference between the 2666 and 3466 results.
Get any 3000MHz+ kit that people've said works, or is said to work in your mobo's QVL which you can find on its site.
This's great value: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820164137
Or, if you want something more muted: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233852 or https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0134EW7G8
Especially when the Corsair Vengeance C15 3000mhz kit goes for $10 less
Amazons matching this now(with $10.00 coupon): https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0134EW7G8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I have this ram over a year now, it works great. For the money its a steal.
have you considered one of these?
http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Inspiron-i7559-763BLK-Full-HD-GeForce/dp/B015PYYDMQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1459094475&amp;sr=1-1&amp;refinements=p_n_intended_use_browse-bin%3A9647497011
Just a heads up these are selling for $270 used on Amazon Market
How does this compare to a Sennheiser HD 598? I just bought one for $65 on ebay as well
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-SR-Open-Back/dp/B0042A8CW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1504247094&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=sennheiser%2B598&amp;th=1
In my opinion, the best option is to buy a regular pair of great headphones, then buy a mic to go with them. No gaming headset will sound as good as a pair of headphones for the same price. Get a pair of headphones in your price range, then a mic and the audio splitter will be an extra $18.
I currently use a pair of Audio Technica M50x's, which I bought to listen to music with and wound up using them for gaming. They are very comfortable and sound fantastic, although I personally wish they had a bit more bass, for gaming. For a microphone, I prefer the Pyle-Pro PMEM1 Headworn Mic, because it sounds far better than any other microphone I’ve used. Some people like the Zalman Clip mic, but in my experience it didn’t capture my voice clearly and picked up a ton of ambient noise. I just wear the mic underneath the headphones, which is perfectly comfortable. MAKE SURE YOU BUY A SPLITTER! The mic won’t work on the PS4 without one. I use this one. Overall, it’s ~$180 for a great gaming setup, and you get an amazing pair of headphones that you can listen to music with and wear out of the house.
If you want to look into a different pair of headphones, The Wirecutter has some phenomenal advice on headphones. They also have a list for gaming headsets, and I would take their advice on those if you have your heart set on a headset.
Consider getting a cheaper pair of headphones The Wirecutter recommends if you won’t use the M50x’s for anything else other than gaming, but they are among the best headphones for listening to music, and work great for gaming.
Headphones:
https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Pro-PMEM1-Headworn-Omni-Directional-Microphone/dp/B003D2S7HA/ref=pd_ybh_a_2?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=8HYQKPP2BHCSX3M8WW8N
Mic:
https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Pro-PMEM1-Headworn-Omni-Directional-Microphone/dp/B003D2S7HA/ref=pd_ybh_a_2?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=8HYQKPP2BHCSX3M8WW8N
Splitter:
https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-headsets-separate-headphone-microphone/dp/B004SP0WAQ/ref=pd_ybh_a_3?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=05264WVDYHC2FG0SSX1W
Other Headphones:
http://thewirecutter.com/leaderboard/headphones/
This is how it breaks down from parts from ebay. Includes shipping. I'll even include links
Base Desktop - $50
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 -$30
EVGA 600W 80+ Bronze PSU -$50
16GB DDR2 - $20
WD Blue 1TB - $45
Sandisk 240GB SSD - $40
MSI Twin Froze GTX 770 - $83
Windows 10 Pro License -$7.50 since its so valuable to you. Also its 2018, be real. No one buys full keys or they buy them off eBay. Yes I know they are not legit but once again 2018 no one cares.
Total: $325.50
Even comes with a spare CPU, drive, and 8GB DDR2. Also, you could probably buy most of these parts for less. These were pulled from quick ebay searches. For example, the PSU could be closer to $20 in reality, the card would be closer to $70 and the drive would be around $25 for the HDD and $35 for ssd. That would be $257.50. Still could probably get lower than that. Get real with your prices.
no thats just a headphone splitter
you need : http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-headsets-separate-headphone-microphone/dp/B004SP0WAQ
I love my HD 598's that I got a couple years ago
never overclock on the shitty intel cooler
https://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-RR-212E-20PK-R2-120mm/dp/B005O65JXI/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1495367377&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=cooler+master+hyper+212+evo
$25
You can get a cheap usb condenser mic. Not ideal over a more expensive xlr mic setup (watch the video I linked at the end, it explains a lot there), but for just gaming it's better than pretty much any headset. If you don't have room on the desk, there's the Antlion Modmic. Overpriced for the sound quality imo, but it should still be better than most headsets. I'm not sure if the a40s have a detachable cable, but if they do you can also get the V-moda boompro. I've used mine for a few years before upgrading to the ATR2500, and it sounds almost as good as the standalone mic and I like the sound signature much more than the Antlion. The only downside being some hiss that the condenser doesn't have, and it needs power from one of the channels for the mic to work, so you need to adjust the center for the headphones. Ideally if you're just using voice chat in games and in programs like Teamspeak, Discord, Mumble or whatever, the most you should be spending is around $50.
Here's a video if you wanna take the plunge and get something more professional for voice overs some time in the future.
That was a mic I looked at but it seems like they're heavily backordered and a $40 price tag is fairly high.
I ended up getting this mic and I'm satisfied with the audio quality.
Only thing is I have to go mount it on my HD598s because there's no 3.5mm port on the side and I haven't had time to do that yet.
Just wanted to share another perspective for any potential buyers.
Standard issue /r/audio "I want better computer speakers" answer - stop looking at "all in one" bundles. Since you say you have 3 monitors, I'm guessing you also built your computer from parts, right? You should look at your speaker system the same way. The links you posted to 2.1 speaker systems are like going to /r/buildapc and saying "hey guys, help me decide between these Dell and HP systems I saw on sale at Best Buy".
Absolute bare minimum, you want an amplifier and bookshelf speakers:
http://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2
http://www.amazon.com/Lepai-LP-2020A-Tripath-Class-T-Amplifier/dp/B0049P6OTI/
One step up from that, you want a powered subwoofer:
https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sub-800-8-80-watt-powered-subwoofer--300-627
Need your speakers to be far away from the amp? Trivial, because the speakers hook up to the amp using speaker wire, which you cut to fit:
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=102&amp;cp_id=10239&amp;cs_id=1023901&amp;p_id=2747&amp;seq=1&amp;format=2
The links above are basically the absolute bare minimum I can recommend in this subreddit without getting crucified. If you can share your maximum budget, there are probably more and better recommendations.
You're looking for
this adapterthis adapter.Edit: The hard drive is probably formatted as NTFS. If that's the case, then basically, all you can do on it is copy things from it to your Mac (which is what you said you wanted to do, so you should be fine). You can't actually change anything on the hard drive unless you get some software to fix it (you can also fix it yourself; I'll link you to a tutorial for that if you run into the issue). If the hard drive is formatted as FAT32 or exFAT, then you shouldn't run into any problems.
You could take off the plastic case and use something like this: StarTech.com SATA to USB Cable - USB 3.0 to 2.5" SATA III Hard Drive Adapter - External Converter for SSD/HDD Data Transfer (USB3S2SAT3CB) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HJZJI84/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_zMPYDbY41HJJ5
FiiO E10K Olympus DAC / Amp on Amazon
I am using it to drive a pair of Sennheiser HD 598 SE headphones at work.
Before you chastise me for open back in an office space, I listen at a relatively low volume, the ambient noise here is pretty loud, and I've okayed it with my cube neighbor who is rarely even at his desk.
Some initial thoughts:
The biggest issue I've been having so far is not the DAC's fault, but the fact that my laptop is quite old and has a weak CPU. This led to some crackling when the CPU was under heavy load, so I've had to tweak a number of things (process priorities, disable "smooth scrolling" in my browser, etc) to eliminate it.
Otherwise it seems like a solid purchase.
Based on all the research you put in, i don't think that you really need our help :p
But just in case you just need some re-assurance, the R7 series is definitely going to get you the best bang / buck, although it'll be interesting to see how Intel prices SkyLake X / KabyLake X.
You'll also have to look into if their block supports AM4 since they only say that they support AMD.
Why even bother with your SoundBlaster if it's going to complicate the build. I'd just sell it an get an external solution like a FiiO E10K or a Scarlet Solo (Although i guess that depends on what headphone you have).
Even with something like this, you still have quiet a bit leftover for some sleeved cables and a keyboard / headphone upgrade.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
CPU | AMD RYZEN 7 1700 3.0GHz 8-Core Processor | $319.75 @ OutletPC
Motherboard | MSI X370 GAMING PRO CARBON ATX AM4 Motherboard | $178.98 @ SuperBiiz
Memory | Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory | $119.88 @ OutletPC
Storage | Samsung 960 Evo 250GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive | $129.99 @ B&H
Storage | Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | Purchased For $0.00
Storage | Crucial MX300 750GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | Purchased For $0.00
Video Card | EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB Superclocked Gaming ACX 3.0 Video Card | Purchased For $0.00
Power Supply | SeaSonic 520W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular Fanless ATX Power Supply | $126.50 @ Jet
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total | $875.10
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-04-10 14:41 EDT-0400 |
Typical 16gb 3000mhz price.
CAS15 is $65 on amazon.
Might want to pcpartpicker stuff before you post it here.
Many people report issues with low volume on this mic. I've owned two and can confirm it is very quiet on some systems. From what I can tell, this is caused by some motherboards not supplying sufficient voltage to power this unit. A cheap usb sound card like this one fixes that problem. Definitely a good mic for the price if you're just using it for voice comms.
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ Not an air compressor, but a lot more portable for $49. I love it.
Nope. Any device with an inductive load can cause severe electro-static discharge (ESD) across the computer. This is why things like the Data-Vac exist. Stick to compressed air if you're unsure if your vacuum is ESD-safe.
EDIT: In a pinch, last resort sort of thing, use the longest plastic hose attachment for our vacuum. The goal being to isolate the computer from any conductive contact with the vacuum as much as possible.
I always try to link - https://www.amazon.com/Metro-ED500-DataVac-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1479510803&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=datavac
Because I've had one for 3-4 years, and It's completely paid for itself by now.
100 Pack (enough to do your home, office, and your friend's cubicle) is $6.99.
Seriously, skip lunch one day, buy this, and finally get organized.
For the Canadians among us.
-label maker
-headphone hangers
-another vote for the Fethead!
-velcro cable ties
Get the ties that velcro, they work just as well and if you need to move something around its easier. Example:
https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-2-Inch-Count-Black/dp/B001E1Y5O6
Get some velcro cable ties; tie everything headed to a common component together. ie. all the power cords conecting to a certain power bar, tie them together. All the HDMI cables connecting to the TV, etc.
All the cords going to the right-hand side of the entertainment unit, bundle them together and tie them to the unit's centre-right vertical support column/leg (preferably the one in the back). White velcro cables ties might blend in better here. Do the same for the centre-left column/leg and components on that side.
For the big rat's nest in the back, bundle the surplus power brick cord lengths together with cable ties and either hide the tied bundles behind the component it powers, or tuck it under the entertainment unit out of sight.
Snip the surplus ends of the wrapped cable ties so they are neat and not rolled up into little cinnamon rolls.
Because the entertainment unit is so open, you're not going to be able to completely hide everything. It doesn't all have to be hidden, it just has to look organised.
I use this computer 'vacuum'. It blows all the dirt/dust/etc out of the PC. You'll never have to buy compressed air ever again. It's really loud and sounds like a vacuum, but it's really just an air blower/pusher/mover.
Just ordered this one. Is this what you are talking about?
DD DOES NOT MATTER, ALL YOU NEED IS STEREO You're better off with this:
Edit: use [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-PC-Headset-Adapter-PC35-Xbox360/dp/B0035AMM76)
Honestly, any headphone marketed as "gaming" will be a rip-off, and pretty much every Xbox 360 headset is crap compared to headphones designed for music listening and production.
You'll get a better deal if you get one of the generic adapter plugs that let you use any headphone and microphone combo with the Xbox. Then get this microphone and a good pair of headphones or IEMs. Here are some threads on head-fi to help you select a pair:
http://www.head-fi.org/a/buying-guide-headphones-by-price-range
http://www.head-fi.org/t/433318/shootout-96-portable-headphones-reviewed-v-moda-m-80-added-11-27-11
http://www.head-fi.org/t/478568/multi-iem-review-208-iems-compared-clear-tune-monitors-ctm-200-added-12-10-11
While people are recommending headsets that come with the mic. I'm going to recommend something else. Get a high quality set of over the ear headphones. I'm talking something like the Audio Technica ATH-M50S, Audio Technica ATH-AD700, Sennheiser HD555/595 (The 595's are very similar to the 555's but sound better, there are links around that you can mod your 555's to become 595's), or Sennheiser HD380 Pro. And then attach a Zalman Mic to it.
I have a pair of HD595's and absolutely love them, I can wear them all day and not feel it. They are built like tanks and have amazing sound quality. With my Zalman mic, I not only have a headset that has much higher sound quality than any gaming headset, but I can also use it for VOIP.
I used to have a pair of Creative Fatal1ty MKii, but after picking up my Sennheiser's I can't go back to them. The comfort and sound quality is literally night and day.
Although slightly out of your price range, the two companies make extremely high quality audio equipment. If you look through their offerings you'll definitely find a pair of headphones that will fit your budget. If you watch Amazon you can find that they cut prices dramatically from time to time, I picked up my 595's for around $150, and now they're almost $250.
It depends on what your preferences are on bow you like to experience games. Both comments so far have the two of the best options: a Korean 27" 1440p or a 24" 1080 that runs at 144hz. If you enjoy the look of the game more, with arguably better colors, go with the Korean monitor, such as this one; if you enjoy a smoother experience, go with something like the ASUS VG248QE or the BenQ XL2420TE (If you're partial to FPS games, this is the better choice IMO).
Or just buy larger hard drives to store their copy of the block chain.
My home internet connection could easily tolerate a significant block size increase.
The block chain stands at a whopping 91GB however for ~$50 I can buy a device that can hold that ten times over.
additionally the fee does not have to be large, by increasing the block size (which was satoshis intention from the start) the miners would be able to accept transactions with a much smaller fee attached to them as there would be no competition for block space.
I don't get the centralization argument at all. Nobody is talking about TB sized blocks and if we ever get to a point where they are, 1Pbps connections will exist.
Here are some things you can try if you haven't already:
I'm using these.
The way they work is quite simple. Plug one into an outlet near your router and insert an ethernet cord into it. Plug the other into an outlet near your ps4 and connect an ethernet cord to it.
Now you have wired internet access. No other settings required.
This bad boy has that functionality built into it.
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-VG248QE-24-inch-Ergonomic-Back-lit/dp/B00B2HH7G0
Got one of these a couple days ago. I'm happy with it.
Don't buy that AOC, the panel is awful. I returned mine within a week
These usually work: https://smile.amazon.com/TP-Link-Powerline-Adapter-Starter-TL-PA4010KIT/dp/B00AWRUICG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1494949588&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=network+electrical+outlet
Just use a powerline ethernet adapter to move between those locations. You won't have full gigabit speed, but they have come a long long way.
This link is for the 500Mb speed, but the 200Mb (which is fine for most stuff) is only $20! http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-PA4010KIT-Powerline-Adapter-Starter/dp/B00AWRUICG/
I can't believe that after 173 comments, no one has the explanation as to why this is the case. I guess it's finally my time to shine. Simply put, the PS3 uses a wi-fi standard that's currently in most homes today. The PS4 uses a newer, faster standard. So why is it slower then? Because most people's routers aren't upgraded to this new standard yet. Sony made the PS4's wi-fi module more future-proof, but as of now it's definitely too future-proof. There are two work-arounds to this issue. You either A) buy a router that uses the new wi-fi standard or the better option IMO,B) buy one of these genius little network powerline adapters. Why do I think the powerline adapter is better? It's cheaper than most routers that use the new wi-fi standard and it's a wired connection. You ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS, want a wired connection with your gaming devices. Save the wi-fi for your phones and tablets. Wire connections are faster and more stable than wi-fi. The network powerline adapter allows you to have a wired connection even if you don't have the ethernet wire routed to the room with your PS4."But wait u/IVIajesty, how does this marvelous machine pull off such a magical feat???"
It's simple young padawon. You connect the first module into the outlet and into your router. It sends the ethernet connection throughout your homes circuiting. You connect the second module into the outlet by your PS4 and into your PS4 via ethernet cable, and alakazam! The internet signal is transferred over through the rooms. It's like having a wired connection, without having a wired connection! Woo!
Bonus LPT: If you have an electronics store like Best Buy or Fry's by you, you can buy the device from them and make sure it works. If it doesn't, they have 15 day return policies. This device works in pretty much 99% of home circuiting layouts. There are a few cases where the circuiting of the home isn't compatible with this device, but it's rare. If it doesn't work, you can always return it.
Bonus-Bonus LPT: Best Buy and Fry's both price check, so if it's cheaper on Amazon or any other reputable online vender, make sure you take advantage of that to save a couple extra bucks.
Edit: Used some bolding and italics to make my comment sexier.
Edit 2: It seems as though I might've have confused standard with a different word or I might've gotten my info from an unreliable source. Crossed out the wrong info. Guess I'm not a savior after all :'(
ni hacerle el servicio a los mercadovergas.
Ejemplo basico ya que hable de monitores antes.
http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.ar/MLA-628288027-monitor-led-24-gamer-asus-vg248qe-1080p-144hz-1ms-tricubo-_JM
https://www.amazon.com/Asus-VG248QE-24-inch-Ergonomic-Back-lit/dp/B00B2HH7G0
somthing like this could help depending on your need. All the fun of having ethernet in the wall except for cutting of drywall.
Unlike the other PC gamers in this thread, I'd say that rig for a PS4 is a decent deal - if you do plan on replacing your PC with something a little more powerful, as you say in another thread.
Once you pick up the PS4, what you need first and foremost is a PS+ subscription, which I think is $50 a year. Multiplayer is more or less dependent upon it (except where noted, in certain games). With the service, you also get two free games every month. So far, they've all been smaller indie titles, though the PS3 is seeing some older AAA releases. You can still make a PSN id to buy games and suchlike off the PS store.
Next, you'd probably want a second controller, especially if you're into fighting games like Mortal Kombat or Injustice. Sportsfriends, one of the free PS+ games this month, is also local MP only, and I've really enjoyed it so far.
If your WiFi is not ideal, and you don't have a LAN connection direct to the PS4, you could look into one of these.
Finally, you could look into upgrading the hard drive. 500 GB doesn't last long, since the PS4 installs all games, even ones on discs, to the hard drive. With each title clocking in between 25 and 40 GB, not to mention the two free PS+ games every month, it's gonna run out fast.
Thankfully, it's really easy to replace, as detailed here. I've heard good things on /r/PS4 about a certain 2TB Samsung hard disk, but I cannot find it right now. Or you could go for an SSD, which is faster but more expensive.
That's about all I can think of at the moment. Now for the disclaimer:
If your primary motivation for the PS4 is Destiny, you might want to hold off. I'm enjoying the game, but I would not recommend it to anyone who hasn't already tried it and decided if it's the game for them. I played the open beta for between six and eight hours before deciding to buy it. If you can, play for at least an hour or two on a friend's system before taking the leap.
I know unsolicited advice is often unwelcome, so feel free to skip the following paragraph if you want to:
UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOLLOWS
You could upgrade your GPU and get a PS4 for cheaper than assembling a new rig from scratch. I'm pretty sure you could sell just the GPU for between eighty and a hundred bucks.
UNSOLICITED ADVICE ENDS
Cheers, and welcome to the PS family!
http://www.amazon.ca/Cooler-Master-Hyper-120mm-RR-212E-20PK-R2/dp/B005O65JXI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1451446229&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=cooler+master+hyper+212+evo
128.99$ regular price for a 212 EVO eh Amazon? Wow I'm saving 86$ what a steal! How is this allowed....
I love, love, love my Sennheiser HD598's.
This review sums them up pretty well. You'll fall in love.
They're $100 off Sennheiser's price over at amazon.
These are far and away the best sounding and most comfortable headphones I've ever used: http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B0042A8CW2
I know they might be outside your budget, but if you get them, you won't be disappointed.
Ask yourself what type of gaming you do. I was playing CS:GO on a pair of ATH-M50x's and while the deep sounds were great, for music even more so, I ended up enjoying all "positional" FPS games much more when i got a pair of Sennheiser HD 598's. Ridiculously priced on amazon right now.. http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B0042A8CW2
I was considering a Mod Mic but decided on the Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB with a desk clamp and windscreen and do not regret it one bit. I'm surprised with the quality of this mic and i don't have to wear my headphones to use it. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004QJOZS4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Following is my configuration built 2 years back.
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor
Motherboard: Asus Z97-PRO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
Memory: Kingston HyperX 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 760 2GB DirectCU II Video Card
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler
Power Supply: Cooler Master VSM 750W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply
Case: Cooler Master Storm Enforcer SGC-1000-KWN1
Dell S2240L 21.5 inch LED Backlit LCD Monitor x 2(Got these two for a steal at the Flipkart Big Billion Day Sale)
Cooler Master Keybord & Mouse Devastator Combo SGB-3010-KKMF1-US
Right now playing SOMA.
If you can save another $100 I'd check this one out
http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Inspiron-i7559-763BLK-Full-HD-GeForce/dp/B015PYYDMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1457042105&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=dell+gtx+960m
Has an SSD for quick load times, the i5 should be hefty enough, and a 960m is great for most games nowdays.
On the other hand, you could really build a decent desktop with that money.
Dell S2716DG: 27" 1440p 144hz Gsync TN
Here, get this https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Gaming-S2716DGR-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B0149QBOF0
I have it and its amazing. 4k is not worth it. More frames on 1440p is the way to go.
If you can spare another 100 bucks you should seriously consider this laptop: http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Inspiron-i7559-763BLK-Full-HD-GeForce/dp/B015PYYDMQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1453642122&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=Inspiron+7559
I don't think you can find another laptop with similar specs for that price.
Heads up man, this is super high for what you have. You can buy 16gb 3000 speed for $58 on Amazon
This is my new Dell Gaming S2716DG 27".
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0149QBOF0/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Even moving the mouse on the desktop is a new experience :)
I'm looking at buying it as well. $1049
Link
AOC G2460PF 24-Inch Professional Gaming LED Monitor Free Sync,144hz,1ms, Hght Adjust, Spk, VGA DVI HDMI DP USB https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BV1XBEI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BpTNzbP4892DH
Basically the same monitor with freesync for $20 more
They make a 24" version that is several hundo cheaper if you're looking for max affordability. But the 27" is great.
24" on Amazon
the zalman zm-mic1 will be perfect for your needs. it clips on to the cable of your current headphones, and has clips all along the microphone cable so you don't have a messy tangle of wires. i use it all the time when playing bc2 and killing floor, works perfectly. best $5 i've spent on a mic ever.
Definitely look into a Headphone + Attachable Mic Combo
I recommend the JVC HARX900's With a Zalman mic that you can clip on the headphones
If you do end up pushing your budget, I don't really recommend the G35's like the other guy (No offense, really) I do on the other hand recommend the Audio Technica AD-700's, if you get these for gaming they will last you a lifetime, they are built very well too, I love Audio-Technica for that
We have a little blower at work that we call the mini leaf blower, it's the most awesome thing ever.
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1459197169&amp;sr=8-4&amp;keywords=electronics+duster
Hmm, missed that.
One of these:
http://i.imgur.com/FDKeNvN.png
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-ZM-MIC1-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
http://www.modmic.com/collections/frontpage
Maybe?
It seems that your comment contains 1 or more links that are hard to tap for mobile users.
I will extend those so they're easier for our sausage fingers to click!
Here is link number 1 - Previous text "1"
Here is link number 2 - Previous text "2"
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^Please ^PM ^/u/eganwall ^with ^issues ^or ^feedback! ^| ^Delete
Mother of god....
If I ever came over I would lock you out of the house and have my way with your wires and a 100 pack of Velcro Ties
LOL! The dirty secret?
I have two cats, brothers, Mario and Luigi. Luigi's mellow, never a problem. Mario likes to chew on things, the more expensive and less replaceable, the better. After the second mouse and a set of reference headphones lost, I'm now religious about neatly cabling everything lest he get the idea that my patch cables (or the USB ones for that matter) are there for his amusement.
Velcro ties are your friends, best thing ever. I learned to like them about 20 years ago on my first civilian job post military, wiring up computer labs in schools - they're absolutely fantastic and so cheap you'll be embarrassed you don't already have some. I get mine from Amazon 100 at a time for about $10.
&#x200B;
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E1Y5O6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Datavac and never look back!
Standard version: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J4ZOAW/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
ESD version: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00U01YVYK/ref=psdc_3012916011_t2_B001J4ZOAW
I bought a bag of these Velcro Straps and it was easily one of the best things I bought for cable managing.
That's the thing though... Velcro is hardly more expensive... Especially considering the advantages it offers.
>Get a working microphone, or if you already have one, use it
Here is a great inexpensive mic that you can add to a regular stereo headset: Zalman Zm-Mic1 High Sensitivity Headphone Microphone
Samson SR850s + Zalman Mic. The samsons are amazing and blow every other headset I've heard out of the water. They are the same headphones as the Superlux 668Bs, so perhaps you can find them on ebay more cheaply than amazon.
Here's a head-fi review of the SR850s.
If you want something more expensive, see this Head-fi thread.
Instead of getting a headset I would recommend a Clip-on mic and a pair of headphones as headsets generally have pretty shitty quality compared to getting headphones and a microphone separately. Head-Fi is an excellent resource for finding good ones.
> I'm in the market for a headset
I highly recommend buying a nice pair of headphones (ATH AD700 are a favorite for gaming) and then a mic like this clip on zalman or the antlion modmic. You almost always get better sound quality (playback and recording) for the money and a wider choice of headphones.
None, 5.1 and 7.1 headphones are a scam.. or at the very least redundant.
http://www.overclock.net/t/640943/why-5-1-headphones-are-a-scam-with-pictures
If you have to go for a traditional headset, Sennheiser's usually a good bet.
Otherwise you can just buy a pair of high quality headphones and a clip-on mic like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
As long as you avoid koss, bose, logitech, turtlebeach, beats, skullcandy, steelseries, razor and creative, you should be fine. USB headphones are usually pretty bad, as well.
http://www.head-fi.org/a/headphone-buying-guide
(As for which of these you can use on consoles, I guess that depends on the console.)
Micca MB42X bookshelf speakers are on sale for $71. Some of them on the Warehouse Deals side are also 20% off if you're a Prime member so they end up being like $50ish. Great set of speakers.
Don't know the size of your room but with a $1800 budget this is what I'd do:
Receiver $390: http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrxa750bl/yamaha-rx-a750-7.2-ch-x-90-watts-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html
L/R mains $300: http://smile.amazon.com/Infinity-Primus-Two-way-Floorstanding-Speaker/dp/B0044D178S/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1464963383&amp;sr=8-7&amp;keywords=infinity+primus
Center $140: http://smile.amazon.com/Infinity-Primus-Two-way-Speaker-Center-Channel/dp/B0046A8R5A/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1464963428&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=infinity+primus
Surrounds $90: http://smile.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2/ref=sr_1_7?s=aht&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1464963474&amp;sr=1-7&amp;keywords=infinity+primus
Subwoofer $800: http://www.rythmikaudio.com/LVX12.html
In response to the person who has been using it for 5 years, I'd recommend against it. There are better headphones available if you don't specifically search for a 'gaming headset'. I've said before the hyper x cloud sounds horrible from experience and I stick by it.
If you don't search by the gaming headset moniker and instead look for a separate headset/microphone combo you'll be a lot happier.
Personally I enjoy these headphones and microphone, but I've been using them for 2 years so I'm also probably a bit biased/out of the loop. If anyone recommends better, definitely chime in!
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00ENMK1DW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JaVYDbZ82YWRP
Along with this microphone:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00BJ17WKK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_1cVYDbZRR7BN2
They are overpriced right now (headset was ~80 when I bought it, microphone was $35) so I'd wait until black Friday or look for a cheap alternative, but regardless I wouldn't go for the hyper x cloud. These are also open back so you'll have a nicer sound but others around you will be able to hear if you've got the volume up.
What setup: 5.1 , stereo, 2.1?
Assuming 5.1:
$180 Reciever
$110 Subwoofer (easily find $10 promo code online, or its $120)
$90 Fronts
$80 Center (matching)
$40 Rears
So that $500, but it doesn't include speaker wires (get 14 gauge oxygen free), stands/mount, cable (mono coax subwoofer cable), etc. Some of this equipment can be bought for slightly cheaper used on Amazon, so you can shave a few bucks that way.
Buy a set of passive speakers with an amplifier that has bluetooth capability. It gives you a future upgrade path.
Suggestions for:
Amplification
Speakers
A number of suggestions on hardware is in the sidebar, if you don't like these.
Do NOT buy another battery bluetooth speaker. They are all hot garbage.
Philips SHP9500S on sale for $51.99 for the next 4 days.
V-moda boom pro Mic is $30. I know it's not 20.. but one of the best for connecting into a pair of headphones that has a removable cable.
No1 selling adapter on Amazon. #2 is the metal cased version for a little more.
Did you ever plug it into one of those USB adapters? I've noticed a massive sound quality increase when using one with my Omni MM4. I didn't expect it since I have a decent motherboard and it's such a cheap piece of equipment, but it worked.
To build a system using the minimum recommendations from this sub, let's start with this diagram: http://i.imgur.com/Z8FMJ.png
DAC is optional, so is a subwoofer but I recommend one.
DAC: Behringer UCA202 $29.99 Link: http://amzn.com/B000KW2YEI
Amplifier: SMSL SA-50 $68.99 Link: http://amzn.com/B00F0H8TOC
Subwoofer: Dayton Audio SUB-800 $99.00 Link: http://amzn.com/B0063NU30K
Bookshelf Speakers: Micca MB42X $89.00 Link: http://amzn.com/B00E7H8GG2
Wire: 16-gauge Speaker Wire $8.00 Link: http://amzn.com/B006LW0WDQ
With DAC, this cable: Stereo Male to 2 RCA Male $5 Link: http://amzn.com/B00I0HPK6O
Without DAC, this cable: Monoprice 105597 3-Feet Premium Stereo Male to 2RCA Male $5 Link: http://amzn.com/B0094A1F3S
This is a great starter system, I would have loved to had something like this starting out.
All of these pieces can be upgraded, do your research. Look for sales etc. Good luck and have fun.
Yep. They're way more durable and pretty much just as fast as an internal SSD. I use this connector:
https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-SATA-Drive-Adapter-Cable/dp/B00HJZJI84
120gb SSDs are cheap these days. I recommend going this route.
That's awfully expensive for what you get. You could buy any 480GB 2.5" SSD on the market, and replace the HDD with that. I've replaced several unibody MBPs and MBs with standard SSDs with very good results.
Since average SSDs of that size are on average around $130, you're practically paying $90 for an enclosure for the old HDD and some cheap tools. You can get all of those off Amazon if you really wanted to, and also pick up a USB to SATA cable for $10 to transfer your old stuff, and still save money.
As for reliability of SSDs like the Sandisk or Crucial, I have SSDs ranging from a few cheap Sandisks SSDs to Samsung 960 EVOs, and unless you're constantly transferring GBs of files you won't see an appreciable difference, from boot up times to load speeds. Hope this answered any concerns you had.
Just buy a SATA III to USB connector, plug it into your Xbox, and install Destiny on it. Crisis averted.
Trying to back up a hard disk after it fails usually ends up in partial or complete data loss.
Your best bet would be to buy an inexpensive external hard disk adapter, plug it into the usb port of a working computer, and run a program to attempt to recover any data off the drive. You'll have to hope for the best, but expect the worst. If you're lucky (read: very lucky), only boot partitions of the drive have failed, and your data is mostly untouched.
You would need an adapter similar to this one, but of course make sure that the HDD adapter is for your hard disk in particular, i.e. 2.5" v.s. 3.5"
These or https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2?
Are you talking about a $100-150 price limit?
Well, if you want a 2.1 computer speaker set and never intend on spending more money on upgrades, then the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 is still a solid choice. Even after 15 years on the market.
If you are starting with $100-150 and plan on upgrading/expanding in the future, I would recommend starting with a pair of bookshelf speakers and a mini amp. Something like these:
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2/
https://www.amazon.com/Lepy-LP-2020A-Digital-Amplifier-Stereo/dp/B00C2P61FO/
As time goes by, you can add a subwoofer or swap out the amp for a AV Receiver. You can expand into a 5.1 or Atmos surround system by add a center channel, surrounds, or height speakers.
It all comes down to whether you want to go the one-and-done route or a piece-by-piece upgrade route.
If you're still interested I did a project once that used all the hardware and software this would require and I could give you some pointers.
e: I used a raspberry pi and one of these rather than what he used. One advantage of doing it this way is you could do internet control so you can have a button on your smartphone instead of a combo.
e2: you'd also need a sound card for sound input on the pi to do combo input. I also used a rc filter for noise reduction/DC isolation, and a mechanical relay to hang up the phone.
It'll definitely need an amp so look into this that's also on sale
Setup Specs:
&nbsp;
Posters:
&nbsp;
Wallpapers can be found here
&nbsp;
The desk is a long story:
I purchased this desk, but I turned out to dislike the white color and decided to paint it black, the paint job completely failed and ruined the table top(s). I decided to purchase 2 Ikea tabletops and attached them to the legs with kit making the desk bigger then the original with a smoother finish!
&nbsp;
Things I want to change/add:
Purchase some kind of AMP/DAC because my motherboards soundcard is really bad.Ordered this amp/dac.Purchase headphone stand/hook.Ordered this headphone hook.&nbsp;
EDIT: I apologize for the poor quality pictures, I don't have anything better then my cellphone (Nexus 5X) to take pictures with.
I know it's not that helpful. But I struggled with sound out of the laptop's headphone jack for a couple months. I eventually broke down and just bought a small USB DAC and that fixed it right up and even sounded better than Window's did.
Something like this: Sabrent USB DAC [Amazon]
The audio output on the Pi is super low quality, you will hear a lot of noise from your stereo. A cheap USB sound adapter will make a big difference. This one worked for me
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRVQ0F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.CX7AbFTRWR18
I've been using Beyerdynamics DT 770 Pro 80 ohm paired with a Fiio E10k DAC and the sound quality is incredible. You'd be under budget with this setup too and the E10k also has a bass boost switch if that's your thing ;)
That's more of a desktop setup, though my phone does drive the 770s pretty well. If you're looking for headphones for on the go listening, I'd recommend Sony's WH1000XM3, they're the best noise cancelling headphones I've ever owned.
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrs530bt/denon-avr-s530bt-5.2-ch-x-70-watts-bluetooth-a/v-receiver/1.html
Micca MB42X Bookshelf Speakers With 4-Inch Carbon Fiber Woofer and Silk Dome Tweeter (Black, Pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E7H8GG2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_0KIMAbACJDP4B
AmazonBasics 16-Gauge Speaker Wire - 100 Feet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LW0W5Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_vLIMAbNV7J12N
Here are some thoughts on this.
Here are a few options to consider.
I'd recommend taking the hard drive out to see what size it is and then ordering a SATA to USB connector lead online. You can then plug the hard drive into any computer. That way you can have a look for yourself to see if there is anything 'dodgy' on there, and if you don't find anything, you could put back the hard drive and get it computer fixed with out worrying about it.
I picked up this SATA to USB lead recently off of Amazon for $12 and it works great: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HJZJI84
It has an optical out so if you want a cheap dac/amp combo you could use the SMSL SD 793II and if your PC has an optical out you can use it with that too.
http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-SD793-II-PCM1793-DIR9001-Amplifier/dp/B00A2QLPJM
Also according to this thread on gamefaqs
http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/691087-playstation-4/69310423
It does support USB dacs but I have no experience with this so you should do more research.
As for the 'flat' sounding of headphones I'm fairly certain the 598's are fairly efficient though I think an amp could possibly help tighten the bass region due to the 300ohm peak at 100hz IIRC.
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/SennheiserHD598.pdf
Something like E10k also has a bass boost which may be helpful if you find them too bass light. But that's usb so you should do research on that.
http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E10K-Headphone-Amplifier-Black/dp/B00LP3AMC2
I have 598s and use this. I've never used the Schiit stack but used my FiiO E10k every day for two years and love it.
here you go. 1440p, 144hz, 1ms g2g, and Gsync for $500.
Amazon has some "very good" (for $465) and "like new" (for $491) in their warehouse deals as well if you're looking to save a little more money.
Additionally, the street price per camelcamelcamel for this monitor appears to have settled at $599, so bear that in mind when considering the savings.
Amazon currently has it for $535 and it's been as low as $489.99, which I bought it at about a month ago. So THIS is the lowest it's ever been.
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Gaming-S2716DG-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B0149QBOF0
Its TN but ive seen this and the predator side by side at microcenter and the difference is only noticeable if you're 2 feet away and nitpicking
Dell 27" G-Sync 144hz (S2716DG). Great monitor and doesn't look like a carnival ride. If you're into that, you can always paint the base red or copper and run some LEDs along the back. Stock image settings are terrible, but easy to adjust. Take a look at the first review here for settings:
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Gaming-S2716DG-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B0149QBOF0
I have this and its awesome
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Gaming-S2716DG-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B0149QBOF0
Both suggestions by Shopineer are excellent. The Acer is good if you want a longer battery life but isn't quite as powerful, and the Lenovo Ideapad is a fine mix (but not quite a great battery).
If you think you could push your budget a bit, you could get the even more powerful Dell Inspiron 7559 for $700. It comes with a quad core i5-6300HQ processor, 8gb of ram, 256gb SSD and GTX 960M dGPU. The 960M is probably more what you're looking for and can play most games on the market pretty well. The dell also has a long battery (advertised up to 10 hours), but it weighs a bit more at 5.7 lbs.
The cheap gaming laptop that actually has decent specs is the Dell Inspiron 15 7559, found here: https://www.amazon.com/Dell-15-6-Inch-Quad-Core-i5-6300HQ-Processor/dp/B015PYYDMQ
$700 for:
Quad Core 3.2 GHz (turbo) Intel Skylake CPU (i5-6300HQ)
NVidia GTX 960M 4GB
8GB Memory
15.6" 1080p IPS Screen
256GB SSD
and actual usable ports. It's not exactly thin like the Asus K501UW-AB78, but it's cheaper, and has a much better CPU (albeit more power hungry). The Acer would be if you valued thinness and lightweight over performance, while this Dell I'm talking about is more performance oriented with components that put out more heat, and therefore require a larger battery and better cooling.
This is my go-to choice for games under $1000: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015PYYDMQ
NVIDIA GTX 960M, 15.6" 1920x1080 IPS display (The MSI and ASUS laptops with this GPU for this price use low-quality TN displays), and 256GB SSD (not a 1TB HDD unfortunately, that's the only thing)
EDIT: There's also this for $794 with an 960M and IPS display http://www.newegg.com/Special/ShellShocker.aspx?cm_sp=Homepage_SS-_-P4_34-331-904-_-11302016&amp;index=4 Not sure how long the deal will last.
EDIT2: fixed link
I got these for $73 in October 2015 NOT on sale. I didn't know how to look for computer part sales then, so I just got them because I wanted an upgrade from my 6GB of RAM I had before that.
Then when I made my new build, I got these for $80 this past Black Friday.
With this kinda thing.
Get a powerline. It uses the outlets and runs the signal across the electrical wires. My xbox gets about 5mbs down wifi but about 75 mbs Wired.
TP-LINK TL-PA4010KIT AV500 Nano Powerline Adapter Starter Kit, up to 500Mbps by TP-LINK http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AWRUICG/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_pJTWtb1PBK8A4
Sorry, posted right b4 bed
The mount is an [Ergotron dual stacking arm] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0036RDOT8/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1411569894&amp;sr=1&amp;keywords=Dual+stacking+arm)
And the monitors are both Asus vg248qe 144hz displays
The ergotron arms are an absolute dream. If need be I can easily adjust them to a horizontal or side by side monitor setup. Make sure you have enough of a lip on your desk for the base to clamp onto. My desk is really just a dining room table and it's 3'' lip was just barely enough to secure the stand. If you done have a sufficient lip then be prepared to drill a hole for the alternate mounting method.
Either this one http://www.amazon.com/BenQ-XL2411Z-24-Inch-LED-Monitor/dp/B00ITORITU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1411654861&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=benq+xl2411z
or this one
http://www.amazon.com/VG248QE-24-inch-LED-lit-Monitor-response/dp/B00B2HH7G0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1411654884&amp;sr=8-4&amp;keywords=asus+24
Both are 1080p/144hz
http://www.amazon.com/VG248QE-24-inch-LED-lit-Monitor-response/dp/B00B2HH7G0/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
I've been researching, and this looks pretty great to me.
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-VG248QE-24-inch-Ergonomic-Back-lit/dp/B00B2HH7G0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1453507213&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=asus+144hz
I have the ASUS VG248QE which is 144hz and only like $270 from amazon. I've used both lightboost and just flat 144hz and I like the 144hz more, but it's definitely capable of doing either. I love it. http://www.amazon.com/VG248QE-24-Inch-Screen-LED-lit-Monitor/dp/B00B2HH7G0
Seems like WD's slashed prices on their Blue desktop hard drive line, at least on Amazon. Was personally following the 3 TB for a while but here's some other drive info, going off of Camel^3:
> Safe to say I blew it out the water in terms of value.
To be fair, not really, you got the case and HDD for free + 4GB less RAM
Motherboard looks like a Gigabyte
GA-78LMT-USB3 + £8
Cheapest 8GB 1333 Mhz I could find: Geil Enhance Corsa + £15
HDD: WD Blue 1 TB + £50
PSU: Corsair VS450 - about the same price, couldn't find one.
Case: Aerocool X-Warrior + £50
Videocard looks like it's got some custom cooling solution on there, so maybe + £5
£222 + £128 = £350 + 3 "free" games
Doesn't seem THAT bad. And apparently the system was £372 at some point. Although not crystal clear if it's a 6300 or a 6100 in there, even so, not much price difference.
Edit: It's actually a FX-6100, but the whole thing is only £360 on their website. However, it also includes a Wi-Fi adapter and a DVD-RW drive, so definitely a fair deal price-wise.
I don't think so, but you can always get something like https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01IRCXC9S
or even the V-Moda BoomPro mic
but you'll need a 3.5mm to 2.5mm adapter as well. (e: and some modding due to the twist-lock, Youtube has guides)
edit: Looks like there is bundle @ $79 which includes a mic, not many details on it though. See my post here.
My wireless connection was too poor for the Steam link, and I rent a room so I couldn't run ethernet through the walls. Instead, I found a good solution in using this powerline ethernet adapter.
I would say it is sligthly better than a chromecast. Rather than only being able use a couple streaming services from an appstore. With the steamlink, you can basically stream whatever is on your desktop.
A ethernet connection is highly recommended though. I've use these with some success.
Buy a Tp-Link I bought one a while ago and it fixed all my problems I was having.
TP-LINK TL-PA4010KIT AV500 Nano Powerline Adapter Starter Kit, up to 500Mbps https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AWRUICG/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_zQYFwbA7ZNW41
This is on Amazon prime for the same price right now
I have this one and I love it: ASUS 24" 144hz 1ms
Actually connect this
StarTech.com Headset adapter for headsets with separate headphone / microphone plugs - 3.5mm 4 position to 2x 3 position 3.5mm M/F https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004SP0WAQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_RtNiybQBKJPYG
Then the mono adapter to the headphone side
Then this,
Maeline 3.5mm Female to 2 Male Gold Plated Headphone Mic Audio Y Splitter Flat Cable https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PYZ2BT4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ewNiybTP946EB
Motherboards: MSI Enthusiastic Gaming Intel Z270 DDR4 VR Ready HDMI USB 3 ATX Motherboard x2
Ram: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 DRAM 3000MHz C15 Desktop Memory Kit - White x2
Processors: Intel 7th Gen Intel Core Desktop Processor i7-7700K x2
3 of the Monitors (1 is a Benq): ViewSonic VX2452MH 24" 1080p Gaming Monitor HDMI, DVI, VGA
GPUs: GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1060 DirectX 12 GV-N1060WF2OC-6GD 6GB 192-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 ATX Video Card x2
Coolers: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - CPU Cooler with 120mm PWM Fan (RR-212E-20PK-R2) x2
Speakers: Logitech Z313 Speaker System x2
Cases: Corsair Carbide Series Air 540 High Airflow ATX Cube Case - Black (and 1 white)
Keyboards: SteelSeries Apex 300 Gaming Keyboard, White LED Backlit and CORSAIR K55 RGB Gaming Keyboard
Mouse: Logitech G600 MMO Gaming Mouse (and don't ask what my cheap ass mouse is, but I love it)
Cat: Pain In The Ass Model
&#x200B;
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B0042A8CW2
add a mod mic and you're good.
> HD598
Black ones are $130 right now on Amazon.
Highly recommend them. I've got them connected to a Soundblaster Z and they sound nice, not sure if there's something better I could be doing in the sound card/amp department.
These Sennheisers are ultra comfortable and easy to wear for multiple hours.
Sennheiser HD 598's! If I get them they will be my first real set of headphones.
[bear in mind, this is long winded mostly cuz i'm trying to explain the reasoning for what i'm suggesting rather than just throwing parts at you]
well for that much you're not gonna get a whole lot of power, /r/buildapc (also useful as a source to help with costing the build) has a handful of useful tools (in the form of links on the sidebar) for determining what parts match what other components (though most components have universal designs and so all fit the same slots).
that said, the cpu should be the first thing you decide on (also the one thing you should not skimp on), then the motherboard with the same socket as the motherboard in the desired size. it will have a specified label you can type in, ie mine is an lga1150 cpu and the motherboard is the same, but the actual cpu itself is an i5 quad core thingy which shares that lga specification with a handful of other grades of cpu. it also is a bit biased to say but i would suggest going intel over amd, if only because the pins will be on the motherboard instead of the cpu and since the cpu is decidedly far more expensive than any motherboard you would get for it, it's better to have the easily bent pins on the motherboard in case something goes wrong. the aforementioned cpu has yet to be forced to meet the needs of the two gpu i have so something below i5 will probably work for your intents. (you'll also want to get cooling for it eventually, the stock fans work but are pretty bad)
once you decide on the cpu, you need to decide what size tower you want (there's a few, though micro atx and atx are the two i'm familiar with. this will define what size motherboard you would get. depending on how you want to go with the computer in the future, you may want smaller or larger. if you would eventually put more money into the computer to boost its power via SLI or crossfire (meaning, running two of the same graphics cards at the same time with a wire "bridge" between them), then atx would be a solid choice. i would not suggest going that route if you can help it as cooling the top gpu can be a bit of a pain (though they sell hybrid gpu which have liquid cooling pre-installed that mitigates that issue) along with multiple games not supporting that functionality and not using it anyway (overwatch is one that does support it, for whatever that's worth) however, the power you can get out of them is better for the price and doesn't require a huge immediate investment (ie, can buy the second card later, doubling your power). however, if you don't mind upgrading and replacing the gpu as needed, then micro atx is fine, too. (bear in mind, you can do sli in micro atx but they will be seriously cramped and you won't have any room for any other pci slotted device like an audio processing unit or a wireless card). my personal recommendation would be to go for the atx size and try sli/crossfire out once you could afford the second graphics card.
once you've got the size of the computer, go find a motherboard which can socket the cpu you chose (amazon/newegg are good choices for shopping for these, new or used, btw) and then a tower/case of the appropriate size (if you're interested in liquid cooling, look for towers with grates on the top and sides. corsair does a pretty good set of these but they're also kindof expensive. easy as pie to work on, though). after that, go find some ram (i would suggest 8gb at least) which match or are lower than the motherboard's specifications (ddr3 is pretty common atm, but ddr4 is better if you can afford it. ddr3 is probably best to go for for price and availability.)
gpu! the funny little powerhouses that make graphics run really well. you don't strictly speaking need one to run a game, but i would highly encourage one (even if it's a basic little bitch like this $20 one as onboard graphics of most motherboards are only good enough to run basically low res video. these are the filling to the sandwich and can be added and removed with relative ease (also one of the components with universal specs so any graphics card will fit in any motherboard, more or less). both the cpu and the gpu are going to be where you're spending most of your money along with your monitor and operating system coming in close behind. that said, with the 10 series of nvidia graphics cards being released recently, you can probably get a used 960 pretty cheap (for the record, i can run overwatch with two 960 ftw's at 135~fps solid on high settings at 1920x1080 so one would get you a solid 60fps on most games at decent levels of prettyness. you could get 700 and 800 series cheaper but will not last as long or be as effective. a 1050/1040 might be a better option but you'd have to get use one of those tools from /r/buildapc to compare effectiveness and price cuz there's way too many for me to spew all the data here)
last but not least, the power supply unit! (aka psu) once you have all other components selected, you need to go find out the wattage ratings for all the components and add them up. that will determine the amount of wattage your psu should be, choosing a psu with more wattage than is required as having too little can cause problems (750w should probably be fine unless you go for much heavier stuff). you also need to make sure it's the right size for the tower and has all the plugs you need (modular are good as they have a lot of everything and can add/remove cables fairly freely).
once you have those picked out, there are gallons of peripherals you can choose from (ie, monitor, keyboard, mouse, headsets/speakers, etc. i personally like my keyboard to light up/glow cuz i work in the dark more often than not.) as well, you will need a hard drive or two and an operating system cd and key (windows 7 is probably best for price and usage for gaming. definitely do not get windows 8 it was made with tablets in mind and is total crap, windows 10 isn't a bad choice if you can get it cheap. maybe student versions? idk.) hard drives are fairly cheap and easy to upgrade and install (nother one of the universals). i would suggest a 1TB HDD as that is a large amount of space and fairly cheap (that one's $50) considering they go up to 6tb now. another option if you are willing to shell out for it is to get an SSD to load the os from (makes your computer start up stupid fast) and have an extra hdd for larger files like movies music and games. the only problem with this is that most things want to use C: for downloading and storing files so if the ssd isn't big enough you can run out of space pretty damn quick. that said, i'm using a 128gb ssd and only just recently started running out of room. 256gb would probably be better for longer term and for storing maybe one or two games on it for fast loading or maybe just using that if you're not a game hoarder like i am (i like having all my steam games installed for nostalgia purposes).
also as a sortof rant/general rule i would suggest avoiding asus if you can, not cuz their stuff is crap but because their rma department is crap. i've sent things to them which were horrifically broken or otherwise obviously damaged that they sent back to me unchanged. on the flip side, they sent back a new motherboard when i sent it in the second time after i said i would prefer they do that, so they've got that going for them.
with all of that said, there are likely pre-designed pcs for that range somewhere but i could not immediately find them on /r/buildapc so i'm not sure where to find them. if you'd prefer that, i can go find it. i just think of it as more fun to do the aforementioned abomination of planning and minmaxing. in all cases, building the pc yourself will be cheaper than buying one from a store or a laptop.
Cause I am dumb and didn't realize that Amazon lists this drive as one item with two options. First time I looked it up it said 7200, second time it was 5400 but I didn't realize til I opened the box.
https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Cache-Desktop-Drive-WD10EZEX/dp/B0088PUEPK
My poor boot times :-(
$69 is the MSRP, but this always hovers around $50-60 (http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Desktop-Hard-Disk-Drive/dp/B0088PUEPK). Still a good deal at $44.99
S6AVCM003-Over-ear-Headphones/dp/B0048072Z4/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1345687004&sr=1-6&keywords=skullcandy+aviator)
take your pick
seriously, there should be something on the sidebar about stylish headphones that also sound good
I love how everyone is recommending overpriced garbage sounding headsets when the OP asked for headphones. Check out Audio Technica AD 700xs, the're simply amazing. The Sennheiser HD 598 are also superb. http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Headphones-Burl-Wood-Accents/dp/B0042A8CW2/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1381815860&amp;sr=8-8&amp;keywords=sennheiser
Is it possible to use the V-moda boom mic with this?
These are always on sale for about $58 but figured the $46 was a pretty good deal. I bought the open box deal a few weeks ago and there was nothing wrong with them, aside from the box being torn up, but that is just my own experience, yours may differ.
So far these things are fantastic! I have them paired with a V-Moda Boompro and everything works and sounds great. There is a large community for these and a lot of tutorials on how to change out the pads and whatnot.
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Here are a few links for you all
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New ---> $57.99
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V-Moda Boompro ---> $29.98 + Free Shipping
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Review
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Modded
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Thingiverse
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Replacement pad adapter for sale on Ebay.
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Replacement pads without pad adapter
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Tuning
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Discussion Thread
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https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-50Wx2-TDA7492-Amplifier-Adapter/dp/B00F0H8TOC/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1484858805&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=smsl
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1484859060&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=mb42x
https://www.amazon.com/Generic-F8V235-12-3-5mm-cable-12-Feet/dp/B01K9SCY88/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1484859089&amp;sr=1-7&amp;keywords=stereo%2Bto%2Brca&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1
/done
I just figure since most people want nice headphones for listening to music you should probably get a pair of nicer ones and use a separate mic.
Also try this.
http://www.amazon.com/V-MODA-BoomPro-Gaming-Headset-Headphone/dp/B00BJ17WKK
If your headphones have a removable cord w/ 3.5mm jack then the Vmoda Boompro is really where it's at. Cheaper and from what I've seen better sound quality. You also don't have to stick anything on your headphones in order to make it work when compared to the ModMic. I own a ModMic 4.0 and have been kinda kicking myself for not getting a boom pro.
You'll get better sound quality for a better price buying a good pair of regular headphones and adding a mic. Specificially I would suggest getting a pair with a detachable cord and adding this mic.
As for the wireless route, that's a bit more complicated, but you could still pair a set of wireless headphones with an external mic and getting something nice. I have this set of wireless headphones from Sony and really like them, although you could probably do better for $300. For the mic, I would get something like the Blue Snowball.
Philips shp9500 headphones with vmoda boom pro mic.
https://www.amazon.com/Philips-SHP9500-Precision-Over-ear-Headphones/dp/B00ENMK1DW
https://www.amazon.com/V-MODA-BoomPro-Gaming-Headset-Headphone/dp/B00BJ17WKK/
I bought this mic that works well for me:
V-MODA BoomPro Microphone for Gaming & Communication - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BJ17WKK/
Since you aren't going for anything art related you won't need a screen with an amazing color gamut to do what you want then.
I'd take a hard look at this to start with: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y4GZS9C/ref=psdc_13896615011_t1_B01N9SSQ9E
A very good price/performance tradeoff, if you can stomach the somewhat questionable aesthetics. The only real downside is that you've only got 256gb of storage. You will likely want an external drive for anything large such as movies (if you get one, make sure it is USB3).
Note that when gaming your battery life is going to tank, and your fan noise is likely to be high. There isn't any getting around that regardless of what device you choose.
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 series is $800 (US) on Amazon and has a Skylake i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, and an NVIDIA GTX 960 w/4GB GDDR5.
Those are some pretty demanding requirements. My first thought is an XPS 15, but the price is really cutting it close for the i5 configuration (don't forget the coupon code 10%OFFXPS), and significantly over if you want the SSD included. You could always get a HDD configuration though and swap the SSD yourself.
Doing some quick searches if you want it to stay cheaper, this Dell looks pretty nice. Or this Acer Aspire V Nitro.
I don't think you're going to find a 15.6" laptop that weighs much less than 5 lb, unfortunately.
Thursday was my last day. It wasn't the worst thing ever, but goddamn I am so sick of fucking drive thru.
In other news, I'm finally moving to Duluth next Wednesday. I think I'm pretty comfortable with job stuff, but if anybody knows of anything good I'd love to hear about it.
Also, I got some money from amazon for sending in textbooks and I think I'm going to get a new monitor and possibly some speakers for when I'm not using my headphones. After doing a bit of research, I've landed on the AOC G2460PF and Logitech Z323. Anybody familiar with either of those?
Amazon model for $199 doesn't include freesync. The $195 model does
Dell S2417DG
I got it on sale for ~$325 a few months ago. There's some backlight bleed on the bottom edge and the colors are only so-so (coming from an IPS display) but the gaming performance is unreal.
Dell 2417dg is one of the best choice (I just got mine).
165hz - G-sync - 24" 2k (1440p) - 1 ms (of course) -
TN panel ---> but check some reviews it as one of the best color accuracy and viewing angles compared to shitty Benq 1080p monitors.
399$ in amazon US atm this is honestly the best monitor fast and optimized for gaming, but still great for movies.
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-S2417DG-YNY1D-24-Inch-LED-Lit/dp/B01IOO4SGK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1483041803&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=dell+2417dg
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-S2417DG-YNY1D-24-Inch-LED-Lit/dp/B01IOO4SGK
Link for those interested: https://www.amazon.com/Dell-S2417DG-YNY1D-24-Inch-LED-Lit/dp/B01IOO4SGK/
At this price point you can get 165hz 1440p gsync, which is way nicer
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01IOO4SGK/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1526218777&amp;sr=8-1-fkmr0&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=dell+165hz+1440p
http://www.pcgamer.com/best-horror-games-pc/
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/07/27/best-horror-games/
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2838314/software-games/15-terrifying-pc-horror-games-to-play-with-the-lights-off.html
You're going to be doing your ears and the ears of the people you're talking a disservice to by getting a "Gaming Headset." I've owned a Steelseries Siberia v2 for a couple years now and I regret it every time I use them.
Average is the greatest compliment I can give them. Average soundstage, average bass, average highs and average mic quality. And if you're going to be spending ~$90 on a head set you want something that will be more than average.
This is what I wish I went with years ago and what I still wish I could justify buying while my Siberia is functioning:
By going with a pair of headphones that are high quality and feature an exceptional soundstage, which basically means how far around you you can hear (good for picking up footsteps and locating bullet shots), and top of the line sound reproduction you're setting yourself up to have the best of both worlds, gaming and music.
This is all coming from someone who wishes they had more money to spend on audiophile gear. Make sure to check out /r/audiophile as well, they have a lot of good information there as well.
[http://www.head-fi.org/a/buying-guide-headphones-by-price-range]
First, let me say this: all headphones are surround sound. You only have two places that you can hear from and headphones literally surround them. Surround sound (5.1, 7.1, etc.) in speakers is nice since in order to hear from all directions without getting too technical you need speakers around you. If you see 5.1 or 7.1 headphones, that means they just stuffed a ton of low quality drivers into their phones and is a good sign they are nothing but marketing and that you should avoid them.
Also, if you see a headset that is usb that means it uses it's own sound card essentially, which may be good or bad for you depending on your setup.
For gaming specifically you want headphones with a good sound-stage. There is no gaming headset on the market that compares to getting some good phones plus mic. Sony MDR-V6 and Creative Aurvana Live (rebadged Denon AH-D1001) are a decent choices for your price range. You can always get a desktop mic, a clip-on mic, or better yet find a Labtec LVA-7330 on ebay and do some simple modding and you have yourself a headset with removable mic.
I got this one and it's great considering I already had awesome headphones.
I personally chose the 558s, but I'm using them exclusively on my desktop so I don't have to worry about noise leaking out at home or carrying an amp around with me.
Also for gaming I use this.
Much cheaper and excellent audio quality.
I'm gonna be that guy, and say something like Sennheiser HD558 or Audio Technica ATH-M50s with a Zalmann clip on mic or standard desktop mic.
Not as elegant but will sound MUCH better than most, if not all, of the mic + headphone combos.
There's no way you can be on a team without a mic.
Price an issue?
Even a headset will do. Make sure you enable push to talk and are using headphones.
Are you afraid? Get over it. Sorry for the bluntness, but consider your team to be friends. People you'd play any game with and still have a good time. If they aren't people you can relate to, don't join their team. It's that simple. Find people you can relate to easily. Find people that won't yell at you. Find people that will crack the occasional joke and laugh at stupid/amazing plays. You will create incredible bonds with these people, and have lifelong friends. These people must be more important to you than a random lobby player, so talk to them!
And to be honest... most teams don't take people who can't/won't talk. Even if you were Clockwork or Ruwin.
So, get a mic.
Audio Technica ATH-M30x seem to be a good entry-level enthusiast headset but coming in at £60 at amazon I figure you could find better prices elsewhere for that headset. Personally I think it sounds pretty similar to the ATH-M50 while being loads cheaper in my area.
Or the Sennheiser HD 202, it's quite decent for cheap. Also comfortable.
Edit: Here's some cheap clip-on mic in case you game:
Standard recommendation for high quality headphone/microphone combo is a Sennheiser HD555 with a Zalman Clip-on Mic.
I have them both and I find they work well and that they work well together.
A data vac will solve ALL your problems.
I have one of THESE, and it's pretty awesome.
get yourself a datavac if cleaning PCs is part of your job. canned air is too expensive for how much you get.
Give this a look: Metro Vacuum ED500 DataVac
I have a can of air duster that I try to dust the vents on the sides/back once a month. I'm really thinking about getting one of these so I don't have to buy those cans that freeze up after 10 seconds.
DataVac, literally a hurricane in your hand.
Link
These...
Velcro straps - All Day Every Day
Here is a pack of 100 for $5 http://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-ONE-WRAP-Self-Gripping-Cable-Reusable/dp/B001E1Y5O6
I'd probably by some zip tie anchors (should be available at your local hardware store in various sizes) and put those on the back side of the desk frame and use velcro straps to attach wires to those anchors. As long as you keep everything along the backside of that black frame, you won't really be able to see the wires as much.
For the speakers on the shelf. Personally, I'd move them down to the desk, you'll get a better listening experience that way because right now, they aren't only above your head, but they are angled up, so most of the sound is just going into the ceiling. Putting them on the desk would be a more optimal height, and allow you to hide the chords better. If that isn't an option, I'd get slightly longer speaker wire and run both wires straight up the center so you only have 1 line, then once they get behind the shelf, split them off there and run it behind the back edge of the shelf.
Forget compressed air, get something like this
Buy one of these and contact me in a week.
DO NOT BUY CANNED AIR.
Get this puppy: http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323500794&amp;sr=8-2
IT BLOWS!
Try screwing one of these to the bottom side of the desk right next to the hole.
https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-Black-2-Inch-91140/dp/B001E1Y5O6
http://i.imgur.com/8kvZP.jpg - another angle
Fun fact: I bought a pack of 100 Velcro cable ties, and used 90 of them yesterday.
Fun fact: the FMV of the GameCube box is over $400 with a component cable, two Hori digitals, and four Wavebirds.
I use this one. It's very popular velcro ties.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E1Y5O6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Velcro (or similar adhesive) strips for the win! Amazon offers a 100 ct. package for $10 USD.
> Metro ED500 DataVac
Link for the lazy
How about the DataVac Metro ED500? It's very popular with IT folk, and it's perfect for your intended usage.
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
Bonus -- it's half the price of the compressor you suggested.
Seriously, just buy one of these and never worry about it again.
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-ED500-DataVac-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1463028631&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=duster+electric
That eventually happens to any filter. It happens faster in a high dust area like in my case.
I would rather the dust get caught on the nylon ped than be inside my system.
Every few weeks I clean the ped by blowing it with a Data Vac and rubbing the dust off with my hand. Dust still gets inside but it takes much longer for the heat sinks inside to get to the point where the dust needs to be peeled off like a dryer sheet.
how about just a microphone?
Zahlman Zm-Mic1
much cheaper, good sound. Should serve you just fine for VOIP
Beater headphones and get this Mic. Zalman ZM
I have a nice set of Audio-Technicas that I use for music but needed a mic. This satisfied ALL my needs.
For question number one, PLEASE get a headset and a microphone BEFORE you start playing. Here is a link to a good mic for a cheap price
No, do not buy surround sound headsets, even if you play CSS. I spent around $100 for my pair of 5.1 surround sound headphones (Tritton was the brand -- the audio division of Mad Catz), and while they were a very blatant step up from the shitty generic Logitech headsets I'd used in the past, they are not even close to the quality you get when you just purchase a normal pair of high-quality headphones, especially considering how much more expensive they were.
Immediately after going through two different pairs of surround sound headsets, I decided to just buy normal headphones and a separate microphone for voice chat. I currently use a JVC HARX900 and a Zalman mic, which will cost you about $70 altogether, but it's well worth it in my opinion. The sound quality is fantastic, and most FPS games are made well enough that you can get distinguish sound coming from different directions, even with stereo headphones.
Surround sound headphones are entirely unnecessary, and I wish someone had been there to tell me that before I bought mine.
As a side note, listening to music on stereo headphones vs. a surround sound headset will make no difference, as pretty much 99% of music is 2 channel anyway, so having 5 speakers makes no difference. Yes, it can be upmixed to 5.1, but if you just buy a good pair of stereo headphones, it will sound equal to, if not better, than the surround sound headphones.
Audio Technica AD700 are pretty much the standard audiophile reccomendation when it comes to sub-$150 gaming headphones. Pair it with a Zalman Zm-Mic1 and I can pretty much guarantee you that you will never touch a gaming headset again. The AKGs are a good option but I would opt for the AD700 if you can spare the extra $15. They offer a better soundstage which is critical for gaming as it gives you a better sense of your surroundings.
i'm using a pair of audio technica ath-m50's (which are used primarily for listening to music but works as a headset just fine) along with a clip on zalman mic.
i understand that this might be a little more expensive than you are looking to spend, but buying a headset for gaming only seems kind of inefficient to me. in reality you can just pick up that clip on mic (which is super high quality) and pair it with some ear-buds you have lying around.
$8
Zalman Zm-Mic1 High Sensitivity Headphone Microphone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_9rSpxb0W2PRGG
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
I bought one of these that clips on to my headphones cable fine. You can also just fold the collar of your shirt over as well. Might want to get a sleeve to keep it together with your headphone cable. I don't really use a mic often though so I don't mind 2 cables when using it too much.
http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-HD-681-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00BWUHHYE
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
Really good headphones for an excellent price. 7.1 is just a fancy marketing technique and a good pair of headphones is more than you'll need.
Mic is excellent as well, it clips on the cable of the headphone.
There is a white version of the headphones if you want, http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-HD-681-Professional-Monitoring-Headphones/dp/B00CAG1ZG0/ref=pd_sim_MI_5?ie=UTF8&amp;refRID=00MCGHWWKXXYERJ2ZWW6
I wouldn't recommend any traditional gaming headsets, you would do better to get a good pair of headphones and a separate mic. Gaming headsets have good mics, but the speakers are almost always lacking compared to similarly priced headphones.
I've used many headsets from Logitech, Steelseries, Razer, Turtle Beach, and a few other companies, and anything from Sennheiser, Audio Technica, Beyerdynamic, Denon, AKG, or the multitude of quality audiophile manufacturers, will give you far better audio.
Sennheiser makes the only really good headsets in my opinion, the PC350 and PC360, but they are expensive at around $200, and don't sound as good as the HD598's for about the same price.
Steelseries makes okay headsets, but are over priced for the audio quality. The 5Hv2 and 7H are incredibly comfortable, and the Siberia v2 are quite comfy as well (not if you have a large head though, I have 7 7/8 hat size and was fatigued in an hour). Also their build quality is very good. They produce very accurate locational noise, but be warned as Steelseries headsets have no bass at all at the cost of having very clear footstep identification.
I wouldn't even consider Razer products as their build quality is sub-optimal.
Check out: reddit.com/r/audiophile and reddit.com/r/headphones for all the info you want on good headphones.
Also www.head-fi.org/a/headphone-buying-guide is a good place to start.
For gaming I use Audio Technica ATH-AD700 and Zalman Zm-Mic1. The AD700's don't have a large bass presence, so bass thumps don't interfere with footsteps and important locational noise (which they produce very accurately). These are by far the most comfortable headphones I have ever had on. The ModMic is also a very good mic option for any headphone.
Do a little research on the audio sub-reddits and you will find the perfect solution for your needs.
Sorry, it's over budget but here is my setup:
Headphones (Really quite amazing for the price):
http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HARX700-Precision-Sound-Headphones/dp/B0013OWPV4
Clip on Mic:
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
If you shop around, you may be able to find them cheaper. I wouldn't have bothered mentioning my setup knowing it's over budget but I researched and scrutinized for a solid month when I made these purchases and these seemed to be as good as it gets under $50
Edit:
Looks like there are cheaper mics with good ratings here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&amp;N=100007792%204024&amp;IsNodeId=1&amp;bop=And&amp;Order=REVIEWS&amp;PageSize=20
The same headphones I would recommend for anything. ATH-M50s. If you shop around you can find them for ~$100.
http://www.headphone.com/selection-guide/top-picks/audio-technica-ath-m50.php
I spent a lot of time shopping around and comparing before settling on those & I have to say there really isn't anything that compares for a comparable price.
Then just get a cheap clip-on mic (like this) and you're good to go.
Whatever you do don't waste money on a "gaming headset". You'll be happier in the long run if you buy a decent set of cans & a separate mic. And DEFINITELY don't be suckered into a pair of "5.1 headphones" that have multiple drivers per ear. A good set of stereo headphones + virtual surround will kick the shit out of them every time.
Most people would recommend a Blue Snowball but I really like the concept of the Modmic. Honestly though, I used a three dollar desktop microphone I got from Microcenter and, while I wore the headphones to get rid of background noise, I was getting compliments on the microphone quality.
Edit: I forgot about the Zalman clip-on but that seems like such a pain.
Razer makes good mice, not headsets. Get a Sennheiser
Lower priced
Higher Priced
And just use this mic. It works great, and is very clear. I have never heard of pulsewave as a competitive brand, and that headset doesn't look as sturdy as most Sennheiser's.
>Headphones
I'm tempted to get a pair of Axent Wears, but I'm nowhere stylish ^^nor ^^cute enough to pull off the look.
Honestly, "gaming" headphones aren't renowned for sound quality. IMHO, it's better to get an affordable pair of audiophile high quality earphones like the MylarOne Bijous/Westone UMPro10s/Shure SE215s and then get an attached microphone (Zalman and Modmic are good choices for those). This is purely my opinion though :)
Regardless, Black Friday is coming up, so keep a lookout on Amazon for good deals!
Get VELCRO Brand One Wrap Thin Ties, Black, 8 x 1/2-Inch, 100 Count (91140) instead of zip ties.
You may need more sata cables if you have more drives you’re adding in.
If you’re going for aesthetics, some led strips and cablemods will go a long way with that.
Maybe some different fans than the stock ones if you want lights in them perhaps.
As far as building it goes, the only thing I can think of that you might wanna worry about is to enable a profile to get your ram running at the speed it’s rated for and be sure to plug something into the cpu fan header so you don’t get an error on post
I recommend something like these velcro wire wraps to bind your TV's cables together to make it look way cleaner. Either that or some cable raceways.
Though I admit I'm a bit crazy when it comes to cable management.
You cannot go wrong with these guys. I use them for so much stuff.
http://www.amazon.com/Velcro-Reusable-Self-Gripping-Inches-91140/dp/B001E1Y5O6/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1370462607&amp;sr=8-6&amp;keywords=velcro+strips
I like these, personally. Lots of stores carry them.
Velcro ties, then organized however you like without worrying about tangles.
http://www.amazon.com/Velcro-Reusable-Self-Gripping-Inches-91140/dp/B001E1Y5O6/
velcro ties. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-Black-2-Inch-91140/dp/B001E1Y5O6/ref=pd_lpo_229_bs_tr_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=AW2FABYWJ6TYBNEDMMZ7
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
Skip coffee for a couple days and bam, you've got a solid microphone equivalent to those that are installed in many combination headsets.
Monoprice headphones and the Zalman clip on mic. It's the best setup you can do in your budget. It's the only pair of super cheap headphones that I've actually seen the people at head-fi.org rave about. No headsets are going to be all that great on your budget...or in general for that matter, so go for a separate mic and headphone.
He has some good advice. But for the love of all that is holy. Please do not buy a "gaming" headset.
Invest in a good pair of headphones and attach something like a Antlion Mod-Mic to it. You'll end up with far better sound, a similar if not better mic, for around the same or cheaper price as those "high end gaming" headsets.
Something like this: Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 $99 + Antlion ModMic $32 or Zalman Zm-Mic1 Clip-On Mic $6.99
Gives you a set of incredibly good sounding headphones for both music and gaming, and a mic comparable to the one you are going to find on any headset out there (no matter how expensive, unless you want to go super high end).
If you don't like the look of the ATH-AD700s, then browse through this wonderful thread/font of knowledge on headphones at Head-Fi.org: Link.
As for mechanical keyboards, the Steelseries 6Gv2 Cherry MX Black is a good choice.
In terms of mice, I suggest you go to your local computer shop and try out mice there with your hand. You need to find one that fits the way you like to grip your mouse and one that is fit for you. I'd even recommend the same with the mechanical keyboards. A place like Frys is a great place to test them out as the regularly have the mechanical keyboards out on display to test.
Only the uber gamer has a mic and headphones?
My mic cost 8 dollars, it is the size of a quarter and provides perfectly serviceable audio quality, despite the fact that it is currently hidden somewhere under the mess that is my desk.
My headphones are cheap earbuds. My bet is the average household has three of these things, they cost less than a burger and I've had this pair long enough to have forgotten when I acquired it.
One doesn't need an overpriced neon gaming headset to talk to people online, whether it is playing games with friends who've moved out of state or geographically distant family. And it certainly doesn't have to be integrated with the device. If I buy a VR headset today, I would need to make zero changes to my $15 audio input and output to play with friends immediately.
I think you must not have seen this type of mic, otherwise I don't understand how you can hold the view you do.
Not a headset... but I went with headphones and mic.
If you're looking for a solution that doesn't cost money forever, I might suggest a DataVac. It works wonders cleaning electronics, air purifiers, fans.. basically anything that collects dust.
Link for the lazy.
You need one of these:
> http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/259157-REG/Giottos_AA1900_Rocket_Air_Blower.html
Now why use that when there's this:
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1412301341&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=computer+blower
https://www.amazon.com/Metro-ED500-DataVac-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/
I use this! http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
Tis why i use this: http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1451945541&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=datavac+vacuum best electric duster ever
Use compressed air or something like this.
Make sure you don't spin the fans super fast, and if you use canned air make sure you keep the can level and spray in short bursts.
I got sick of buying compressed air, so I made a long term investment.
while I don't have a specific sub for you, I can highly recommend the following product: Metro Datavac
don't worry, it's not an affiliate link. It's way more economical then buying canned air, it's made in the USA, and it's got stellar reviews. I'm quite happy with mine.
EDIT: I should note that it is not a vacuum, despite the name. It blows air.
Not free, but will save you money after a while instead of buying cans of air:
The DataVac:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001J4ZOAW?pc_redir=1396810604&amp;robot_redir=1
I use one of these.
Cans of compressed air can sometimes throw out the accelerant used to compress the air. This isn't great for internal components. Also, this never depletes. Take the computer to an open area that airs outdoor (garage, shed, etc.) Take off the case door and if your case has any filters take them out, too. Blow out the filters first. When you get near the fans, hold them so they don't spin freely. You should see the dust bunnies start to fly. Blow from front to back as dust will build up in the direction of your case's natural air flow. Use the attachments for narrow areas or for detailing.
Tips:
DataVac $60. Over time it pays for itself.
You should look into open headphones. Sennheiser is a great brand if you don't buy too cheap (like the 518 you mentioned).
I've got HD 598's and they're extremely comfortable & fit your needs - should look into them.
Well, if you're using the 60Hz monitor as your secondary, ie. putting random stuff onto that monitor it's not really that big of a deal.
However, depending on your budget, why not just get best of both worlds?
Pick up a 27" 1440p 120Hz ($317) monitor for general purpose/gaming use and a 24" 1080p 144Hz ($270, link here for hardcore gaming.
If you want to see my write up of the aforementioned 27" 1440p 120Hz monitor for $317, you can click here.
That way you'll have buttery smoothness all the way through.
The acer linked by /u/maddog1994 is really popular for the price. I have this one and it is also really popular. Looks great as well and has an awesome swivel mount built in.
This one.
Been wanting to do a new computer build for a while now, but decided to start with a new desk and monitors.
3xASUS VG248QE 24" 144Hz monitors
Desk/side table/file cabinet/shelves from Ikea.
Still have some cable management, light blocking, shelf filling and general maintenence to do, but for now I'm just relaxing and enjoying it.
Thanks to this subreddit for helping me collect my thoughts for what I wanted to accomplish.
Edit to link included items:
KRK Rokit 5 Powered Studio Monitors
3xASUS VG248QE 24" 144Hz monitors
LED Kit
Wall Mounts
Cable Management Wrap
Desk
Screensaver (Solar Winds)
The only recommendation I might make is to consider a 144hz monitor. The card you are looking at can handle 4K out of the box.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B2HH7G0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Picked this beauty up when I built my rig this past November and it is a killer. Keep in mind the trade off, you won't get a much color saturation on this monitor as you will with most 60hz, but the performance excellent.
Skimping on monitor is like putting tires from a Civic onto a Murcielago. Do yourself a favor, drop another $100 and go big
Dude. Go for the ethernet through power lines adapter first(btw this is more commonly called a powerline adapter).
This one has 500 mbps, which is considerably higher bandwidth than wifi. It will also give you lower latency, and a generally more stable connection. Take it from me, I have had some TERRIBLE experiences with wifi repeaters. Powerline ftw.
Or you could go all out and get the best of both worlds. Buy one of these, another router, and a powerline adapter. Then what you do is you set it up downstairs (where you normally have your router), and have it go, modem -> ethernet switch -> old router. Then plug one end of the powerline adapter into the switch.
Then plug in the powerline adapter into the wall upstairs where you want wifi. Plug in your new router to it. Set the SSID (the wifi name of your router), as the same name as the router you have downstairs. BAM. You now have STRONG wifi anywhere in the house. Devices will automatically connect to the router with the stronger signal. It will only appear as one wifi network on phones, tablets, etc.
Had this same issue - still can't stand Wifi due to dropouts and latency, so bought an Ethernet over Power adapter instead. Uses your AC line to provide a solid connection to your router anywhere in the house.
https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-AV600-Powerline-Ethernet-Adapter/dp/B00AWRUICG/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=ethernet+over+power&qid=1569066338&s=gateway&sr=8-3
I'm curious for a source too, but it's not at all far fetched. Scanners are tiny nowadays and could easily be put into the feed chute of a shredder. The guts of this would do nicely. Data over power lines certainly isn't a new technology. Hell. You could use a wifi scanner and not even screw with that.
I could cobble this together in my garage over a weekend probably.
Edit to fix link.
What is in this picture?
Topre Realforce RGB bought from Amazon Prime.
EnjoyPBT white caps w/ black English and red Hangul lettering bought from AliExpress.
Colored PBT modifier keys from Amazon Prime.
Logitech G PRO mouse bought from Amazon Prime.
Steelseries QCK+ mousepad from Steelseries.
ASUS VG248QE 144hz monitor from Amazon Prime.
I have the ASUS VG248QE and its absolutely amazing. The height adjustment and VESA compatibility are also huge pluses. On Amazon the cost is a bit steep, but I got mine on eBay for $150 with the original box and wires.
P.S Make sure you use DisplayPort and change refresh rate in Nvidia Graphics settings.
If you're tight on money, no. It's a nice feature to have, but its really just icing on the cake.
Go for a nice medium priced 144/120hz monitor. The frames are still buttery smooth, even without the G-Sync.
The Asus VG248QE and Ben Q version seem to both be decent purchases.
if the ping is the same either way, then i guess it doesn’t matter. but you should look into getting one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Powerline-ethernet-Adapter-TL-PA4010KIT/dp/B00AWRUICG/ref=mp_s_a_1_3/138-4569046-3886957?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1541919341&amp;sr=8-3&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=powerline+ethernet+adapters&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41SIVgLUmaL&amp;ref=plSrch
i use it to get a wired connection in my room far from the modem
nVidia LightBoost 2D is a poorly-advertised feature of many new 120Hz computer monitors, that is normally hard to activate (without using 3D). For relevant information, see LightBoost FAQ and the LightBoost HOWTO.
Apparently, it is profitable for nVidia as evidenced by the posts in this thread. People buy nVidia equipment just to get LightBoost working (since LightBoost is limited to nVidia). You will notice that about 20% of amazon.com customer reviews for the ASUS VG248QE monitor (popular LightBoost monitor) have rave reviews about the LightBoost motion blur elimination. Go check out the rave LightBoost reviews on Amazon.com -- within that webpage, hit Control+F and find "LightBoost" in all the Amazon customer reviews.
For this reason, people have been asking nVidia to make LightBoost an easy feature to turn on/off!
Take those K7XX's, throw in a 3 pin mini xlr to 3.5mm and a boompro mic, and baby you've got yourself
a stewa top-tier gaming headset.^If ^you ^don't ^have ^an ^external ^mic, ^which ^I'm ^just ^assuming ^you ^don't ^since ^you ^were ^coming ^from ^the ^Game ^Ones.
Ill give you my setup. Great for games and a nice set of headphones for day to day music. You can shop around for better prices.
Headset
Mic
Boom Pro might have been easier ;)
Something along the same lines would be the Micca Covo-S, but you need an amp for them (looks like the soundphonics have a built in amp in the larger speaker?). Amps can be had for cheap, but many cheap Chinese amps have a slight buzz in them whenever they're on. I don't spend any real time with super cheap speakers, so sadly I can't give any cheap amp recommendations. I had a Dayton DTA-1 on my Micca MB42X (bigger cousin to the Covo-S) and it was a weak amp, but loud enough, and no buzz. Lepai amps seem to be very hit or miss with their quality.
If you want something nicer, but a bit over $70, there's the Micca PB42X. I mentioned the MB42X, but those need an amp, whereas the PB42X has one built in. It's not a good or powerful amp, but being built in is handy if you don't plan on going for crazy quality. They aren't huge speakers -- about nine inches tall, or six inches if you lay them on their sides. IMO the best sound you can get for this price without scouting for crazy deals on hi-fi equipment.
But of course... if you happen to be outside of the US then I think that availability is pretty poor.
You might want to consider getting a USB to 3.5mm converter so you can continue to use your current headphones.
In my opinion, you should only do that if you already have a good set of headphones/speakers that can actually take advantage of the increased sound quality from a card. If you're running WoT with a $20 set of stereo speakers, you'd get more "sound-quality-per-dollar" by getting a better set of headphones than you would with a sound card.
The other reason I came here is to recommend that you get a DAC that's external to the computer. They're undoubtedly more convenient for headphones (who's going to run their headphone cable to the back of the PC?), and arguably you reduce the amount of EM noise by taking the DAC outside of your computer rather than have it sit next to all of the computer's electronics on the PCI-E slot.
The last time I looked, the FiiO E10K was highly recommended for entry level price-to-performance.
Best answer is probably/maybe. Here are some options at different price points:
$30 UCA202
$76 FiiO E10K
$100 Modi 2
$150 ODAC
Not sure why they'd throw a 9900K with a 2070... i mean the price isnt God awful... but if you want to save some money I'd go with THIS ONE... quite a bit cheaper and still has a 2070... will fare just fine for the greater majority of things.
&#x200B;
Edit: the one thing that I'd be careful with on this one is the RAM that it comes with... seems to come with 2400mhz ram... not sure how much you know about RYZEN but RAM speed matters a lot more for them compared to Intel... If you go for this computer... I'd probably take the ram out and sell it and throw in something like this. The processor will run MUCH better with that ram and youll probably only have to spend about $40-$50 more after you sell the ram that the computer comes with
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0134EW7G8/ref=twister_B07DPGX5CV?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1
The additional £20 is worth it for 3000MHz those on Ryzen Systems
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-15-6-Inch-Quad-Core-i5-6300HQ-Processor/dp/B015PYYDMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1465828421&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=dell+gaming
Best deal out there. Please note the track pad is garbage but the rest of the system is very nice. Just bought this for my wife knowing I would inherit it in four years or so..
See decent review here ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJPQfWCuxAo
If you don't mind Tn that much I would suggest this. It is 1440p 144hz G-sync display that has a decent stand and good build quality. If you are willing to buy refurb/open box/used my recommendation changes a bit.
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Gaming-S2716DG-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B0149QBOF0
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Gaming-S2716DG-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B0149QBOF0/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1473937801&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=dell+s2716dg
https://www.amazon.com/PG278Q-27-Inch-Display-Refresh-Monitor/dp/B00MSOND8C/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1473937837&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=asus+rog+swift
https://www.amazon.com/SWIFT-PG279Q-27-Inch-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B017EVR2VM/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1473937837&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=asus+rog+swift
https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Predator-XB271HU-27-inch-Widescreen/dp/B0173PEX20/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1473937867&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=acer+1440p+144hz
to name a few
I have a broken Dell LINK and was wondering if I could do this. My wife dropped it when cleaning my desk. Would they know it's a different Serial Number?
Also, where can I get a new wife?
That's for the 23in - here's the 27in for $475: https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Gaming-S2716DG-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B0149QBOF0
craigslist that monitor for -$50 less than you bought it and pay the G-sync tax on a used craigslist monitor. It is a ~$150 loss all around, but then at least, you won't ever have to worry about being let down on a GPU release.
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Gaming-S2716DG-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B0149QBOF0 is avail on my craigslist for $100 under retail.
Dell Inspiron 7559
Think about this; vanilla was released in 2004. Hardware since then has evolved drastically, to the point where it's very hard to find hardware from 2004. Even the worst hardware, as long as it's modern, would run vanilla just fine, even with integrated graphics.
Do you need that for school? Its price tag is beyond a ripoff.
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-15-6-Inch-Quad-Core-i5-6300HQ-Processor/dp/B015PYYDMQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1481783440&amp;sr=1-4&amp;keywords=gaming+laptop
cheaper, better, it'll run current gen. If you need the drawing portion, I recommend just buying an art tablet with it. My only problem with it personally, the only company I've come to trust is Asus. Had bad experiences with MSI and HP, dell is kinda iffy. Now if you are really willing to spend in the 1000$ area, I recommend buying a laptop from Origin PC. Not cheap, but the equivalent to a desktop.
https://www.originpc.com/gaming/laptops/
or if the extra 600 is too much (back to the 1k you were planning to spend)
https://www.amazon.com/K501UW-AB78-15-6-inch-Full-HD-Gaming-Glacier/dp/B01DT49XN8/ref=sr_1_6?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1481784540&amp;sr=1-6&amp;keywords=gaming+laptop
Tablets: (don't let wacom fuck you on prices, they're assholes, their shits made in China yet they still charge out the ass because their brand is well known, you can get another better Chinese tablet for a quart of the price. Doesn't seem to be an escape from buying Chinese tablets unfortunately, I have yet to find a US manufacturer).
https://www.amazon.com/Huion-H610-Pro-Graphic-Carrying/dp/B00ZWRSQ4I/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1481784853&amp;sr=8-10&amp;keywords=art+tablet
https://www.amazon.com/Ugee-M708-Design-Graphics-Drawing/dp/B00VUHQECU/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1481784964&amp;sr=8-17&amp;keywords=art+tablet
also the i5 version is $660 on amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-15-6-Inch-Quad-Core-i5-6300HQ-Processor/dp/B015PYYDMQ
24" Dell S2417DG with G-Sync, 1440p, 165 Hz Refresh, 1ms response for $350 on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Monitor-S2417DG-24-Inch-Response/dp/B01IOO4SGK
I’m in a similar situation, and I was actually looking at the Dell S2417DG YNY1D. It’s not an IPS panel (I believe), but since you have an Nvidia card, you’ll be able to utilize Gsync.
I found it for ~$400 on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dell-S2417DG-24-Inch-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B01IOO4SGK
How does his compare to the AOC G2460PF
$250 budget means you can also go for this one which I read good things about.
$240 Viewsonic
https://www.amazon.com/ViewSonic-XG2401-24-inch-Response-FreeSync/dp/B01A0ZRR50
$250 LG
https://www.amazon.com/LG-Electronics-24GM77-B-24-Inch-LED-Lit/dp/B00P0EOX1S
I've also looked at:
$200 AOC https://www.amazon.com/AOC-G2460PF-24-Inch-Gaming-Monitor/dp/B01BV1XBEI
I read that the AOC one has driver issues? Not sure if they're fixed.Install beta drivers for full freesync range.$170 ACER http://www.costco.com/Acer-XF240H-24%22-Full-HD-Monitor-with-AMD-FreeSync.product.100316061.html
This is the best deal I've seen.
Probably between the AOC G2460PF and Acer XF240H. The AOC looks like it has average color for a TN, not sure about the Acer. They have most of the same features from the look of it: adjustable stand, flicker-free, free sync, speakers, vesa mount...The Acer XF240H is still on sale at costco for $170.AOC G2460PF is $199 at Amazon.Edit: One sale is over and the other looks to be out of stock... So the Acer GN246HL seems to be the only option atm. I'd suggest you guys wait for the price to drop on something else, check pcpartpicker and /r/buildapcsales.
Never heard of that company, so I can’t really recommend. BUT here’s a link to a pretty good monitor, 144hz 1080p 1MS by AOC : AOC G2460PF 24” Gaming Monitor, FreeSync, FHD (1920x1080), TN Panel, 144Hz, 1ms, Height Adjustable, DisplayPort, HDMI, USB https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BV1XBEI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_EKRUCbRMYG0TB
Short answer: yes, it is VR Ready.
Suggestions: Acer Predator Helios 300
I assume you'd be paying about $900 for the one you posted. For $150 more, the one above has a 1060 6b, which has about a 10% boost in performance, and 6 gb of vram will be good for years to come. It has a 7700hq instead of the 6700hq. This is about 10% boost in performance and is the latest generation of Intel processors. Probably the most notable improvement however, is the 256 gb ssd. This will make a drastic improvement in boot times. This laptop is only $1050, and I think those three improvements are well worth the upgrade if you have a little bigger budget.
Edit: The one I posted also has 16 gb of ram, while yours has 8 gb. This is also a nice improvement and a little future proofing.
Since you want this laptop to be somewhat future proof getting a a good GPU is vital, check out the *Dell i7577-5241BLK-PUS**
A powerful gaming laptop which provides great value with a powerful GTX 1060 and a quad core CPU for below $1000. The system will boot quickly with the OS on the fast SSD and videos, pictures and large files can be stored on the HDD. Alternatively, if you want to use your max budget you cant beat the Acer Predator Helios 300
I have a couple audiophile quality headphones (newest being my Hifiman HE-400i). I use a cheap lapel clip-on mic along with a 4-pole y-splitter adapter. Plug the headphones and mic into their spots on the splitter and then plug the splitter into your controller (or Mixamp, which I use). Works great.
My current setup is A50s and a Modmic plugged into a Y-adapter that plugs into the adapter and so far it works amazing. Let me try to get you links:
-Modmic (incredible quality; built to last and made by a guy who's just starting up):
http://www.modmic.com/
-Y-Adapter: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004SP0WAQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1394242076&amp;amp;sr=8-1
-Sennheiser (better for gaming, however the sound leaks so others can hear your music at a low volume (cant be used in public places)) http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004FEEY9A/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1394242127&amp;amp;sr=8-1
-A50s (what I have; perfect for music and great for gaming; very private and doesnt leak sound very much):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000ULAP4U/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1394242250&amp;amp;sr=8-2
The modmic is magnetic and will stick
To your headset while having the ability to be taken off with ease to leave the headphones bare. The a50s are awesome for music and pretty good for gaming, but if you do gaming at about a 80-20 ratio to music listening than I would go with Sennheiser 558s or 598s. The y-adapter just allows you to combine both the headphones and the mic into one 3.5 mm AUX jack.
Total cost was about $165 (not including xbone adapter). Fairly good price for better headphones (structurally and sound-quality), ability to use everywhere and not look dumb with an attached mic, listen to music that sounds phenomenal, and speak in crystal clear quality to my buddies (who have already noticed how well it sounded in comparison to the xbone chat headsets).
TLDR: Get audiophile headphones, a modmic, and y adapter for a better and cheaper headset that can be used as normal headphones and as a headset (removable mic).
Good work, your cable management is excellent!
I have a couple of recommendations for you build:
I'd recommend buying a new CPU cooler when you can. The Intel ones are good, but there are so many better ones on the market.
Try this one - I used it in my build for like 3 years. Keeps temps down and fans quiet.
Another thing you may consider is an SSD. You'd be surprised by how cheap they are right now. Here is a 480Gb SSD for only $118 USD.
And as /u/nolo_me said, definitely flip that PSU if it's not too much trouble. Better performance, better sound, better temps.
1 TB hdd for $32 shipped....really don't want to sully my IBM-PC compatible with moving parts though lol
https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Cache-Desktop-Drive-WD10EZEX/dp/B0088PUEPK
Overall it's a great build. I would suggest getting RAM which cost a little less for the same capacity and use the funds to go to a 1TB drive instead of 500GB. It'll work out better in the long run.
People buying on Amazon, be careful: the 5400 RPM one is $45, but the 7200RPM is $54 (was 49 until this morning).
I think you can do a lot better for your money.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor | £77.99 @ Aria PC
Motherboard | MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard | £32.17 @ Scan.co.uk
Memory | Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory | £58.96 @ Amazon UK
Storage | WD 1TB 3.5 inch Internal Hard Drive - Caviar Blue | £43.49 @ Amazon UK
Video Card | MSI Radeon R7 260X 2GB Video Card | £96.78 @ Aria PC
Case | NZXT Source 210 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case | £38.65 @ Scan.co.uk
Power Supply | Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply | £36.73 @ Amazon UK
| | Total
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | £384.77
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-16 15:24 GMT+0000 |
Changed to a far superior CPU. Motherboard is nice and cheap but I have one and it's absolutely fine. Doubled the RAM to 8 GB. Doubled storage to 1 TB. Semi-modular PSU (you'll thank me when you build). Removed the disk drive because nobody uses them very much these days but of course it'll still come in under budget if you want it.
It is also in amazon if someone is interested
Ever heard of saving your money? $40 is quite a bit and adds up quickly if it's a recurring amount.
For $40 though, it's more of being able to upgrade parts that you might get. an i5-7500 vs an i5-7600k is a $40 difference.
Upgrading from a regular cpu fan to watercooling is <$40.
Although mining has ruined the prices, upgrading from a gtx 1050 to a 1050ti is <$40
8GB of ram is just over $40.
Why 558s ??
Go for 598 : sennheiser
Or the new model 599 👌
Which, incidentally, are on sale for $150 right now.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B0042A8CW2
(If anyone reading this doesn't know headphones, that's a fucking steal)
www.amazon.com/dp/B00ENMK1DW +
www.amazon.com/dp/B00BJ17WKK
If the modmic hasn't put you off getting another mic, I'd highly recommend the [V-MODA BoomPro] (https://www.amazon.co.uk/V-MODA-BoomPro-Gaming-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00BJ17WKK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1468155613&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=vmoda+boompro).
After searching through a ton of thread I settled on the [Philips SHP9500s] (https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826138190&amp;cm_re=philip_shp9500-_-26-138-190-_-Product) and a [vmoda boom pro mic] (https://www.amazon.com/V-MODA-BoomPro-Microphone-Gaming-Communication/dp/B00BJ17WKK/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1517508626&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=v+moda+boom+pro). This was a super popular option for those that wanted a solid set of headphones that weren't just for gaming. All around great sound, though not that bass heavy. Build quality is amazing for the price, and versatile since the (very good) mic can be removed. Also, You'll need to jack up the volume and it's a little big for small heads.
Do you have any pair of headphone at all? If so I would recommend this VMODA boom mic
Phillips SHP9500 + Vmoda BoomPro
You will have to get a receiver and with that budget, you will have to buy a refurbished receiver to get anything for your money. Amazon is selling a good yamaha 5.1 receiver below:
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-HTR-3066-R-5-1-Channel-Refurbished-Receiver/dp/B00IWURW6U/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1404937723&amp;sr=8-10&amp;keywords=yamaha+receiver
Then you can get a pair of bookshelf speakers to start:
http://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1404937847&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=micca+speakers
This would be a pretty decent 2.0 setup. Over time you can purchase a subwoofer:
http://www.amazon.com/MartinLogan-Dynamo-300-Theater-Subwoofer/dp/B004LRPXAU/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1404938019&amp;sr=8-16&amp;keywords=subwoofer
This whole setup can be expanded to a 3.1, 4.1, or 5.1 setup by purchasing another set (or 2 sets) of bookshelf speakers.
I've been SO happy with my Micca MB42x's powered by a SMSL SA60
Amazing sound for $170. Here is some help in setting up your PC equalizer.
TELEVISIONS
If you're into gaming the #1 thing to look for in a TV is low input lag
Here is a list of low lag TVs Looks like one of Sonys might be your best bet
AUDIO
Get a receiver.
SPEAKERS
http://www.amazon.com/Tripath-TPA3123-Stereo-Amplifier-Supply/dp/B008YBC172/
http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-TDA7492-Integrated-Tripath-Amplifier/dp/B00F0H8TOC/
http://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2
http://www.amazon.com/Mordaunt-Short-Alumni-Bookshelf-Speakers-Black/dp/B0049APO8U
http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-TSi100-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B00192KF12
http://www.fluance.com/product/SX6_High_Definition_Two_way_Bookshelf_Loudspeakers.eng-12.html
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-BS22-LR-Designed-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers/dp/B008NCD2LG
http://www.amazon.com/Fostex-PMO-4-W-4-Inch-Personal-Speaker/dp/B00CYNT8XG
http://www.amazon.com/Alesis-Elevate-Speakers-Elliptical-Waveguide/dp/B00F3F7OIS
you should look around on /r/audiophile. Their lowest recommended setup are the Micca MB42X and the Muse M50. You can go cheaper on the amp but the speakers are the key part to a good listening experience. You're at $145 there. The LP120 has a built-in preamp so you won't need to worry about buying a separate one.
also if you haven't yet check out /r/zeos for his 2.0 and 2.1 recommendations located HERE
All those are if you want to go new. You can probably scour Craigslist or eBay and find some vintage stuff for a little cheaper, it's up to you.
Ooooh misinterpreted the replacement suggestions lol I'm looking at the Sennheiser HD 598 open back here but the closed back are cheaper and might suit you better, you can buy something like this if you need a mic.
It's very solid. I enjoy it quite a bit for voice chat, and it's directionality means my mechanical keyboard doesn't get picked up quite as much.
That being said: if you've got room in your life (IE your headphones utilize a standard 3.5mm jack at the headphone end) for something like the V Moda mic it's a little cheaper for close to the same thing.
I don't know what OP's pricerange is, but I would HIGHLY recommend avoiding any kind of "gaming" headphones, and go for a solid pair of audiophile headphones with a mic attatchment for when playing games. Anyone looking into headphones should definitely checkout the weekly advice threads on /r/headphones.
I agree that we need more info, but I'll suggest a pair of the Dayton Audio SUB-1500, added to some full range speakers and a used HT receiver. A good alternative would be to DIY the sub or subs - the VBSS (Value Buster Subwoofer System) is probably a good choice.
But others are correct, if not done carefully, the bass may be irritating to others, and if the venue is too large, these may even be insufficient.
Edit - I managed to skip a good chunk of your questions:
For a home sound system that will work for your party, you'll need:
Edit 2: Without any knowledge of your specific room sizes (which would still be good to know!), I'll recommend the following setup:
SMSL SA50 ($67): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F0H8TOC/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_RthDDbDAZR43F
Micca MB42X ($79.95): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E7H8GG2/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_UAhDDbJYN7S0D
Comes in right under your budget, and plenty of people on these forums have been happy with that setup (I have no experience personally with the amp or speakers).
Bose is 100% about marketing to people who buy into style over substance. The sound quality is generally among the worst you can buy, especially at the price point. Their noise cancelling headphones are OK, I'll give 'em that much.
Spend a few minutes in /r/hometheater or over on avsforum - you don't need to look far to find many, many better sounding and less expensive speaker setups. Just one example, these little guys will blow the doors off the Bose cubes.
You should probably buy the V-Moda BoomPro as it does exactly what you want.
That particular setup (SHP9500 + BoomPro) is pretty popular on r/headphones.
I had something similar until I upgraded to the Fidelio X2 (Phillip's really nice higher-end set of headphones)
Don't get a gaming headset.
Get a nice pair of headphones with a removable cord and this:
http://www.amazon.com/V-MODA-BoomPro-Gaming-Headset-Headphone/dp/B00BJ17WKK
http://www.amazon.com/V-MODA-BoomPro-Gaming-Headset-Headphone/dp/B00BJ17WKK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1452554901&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=vmoda+boom+pro+mic
This is about as good as you can get for under $100. Warning: it’s big and might be loose if you have a small head. It’s also open-back, so it doesn’t block out outside sound.
https://www.amazon.com/Philips-SHP9500S-Precision-Over-ear-Headphones/dp/B00ENMK1DW.
You can pair it with this.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BJ17WKK/ref=pd_aw_lpo_23_lp_img_3?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=R2PXH050N0CWCBQQ9SAD.
This has been my setup for close to two years on Xbox, so I’m not sure how it would translate to PS4. I use the Dolby Atmos app, but idk what the PS4 alternative is.
Here's a few options. Depending on where you are in the world some might be more feasible than others. I'm talking from a UK perspective, YMMV.
So that's what I recommend. Any option you pick here will theoretically last you a great many years, if not a lifetime, and will outperform any gaming headset. This is because manufacturers of these headsets will spend a tiny amount of cash on the components and a large amount of cash on marketing them, meaning when you buy a gaming headset you're really paying for them to sell it to you. Stuff like I've listed above is all word of mouth; passes the savings onto the consumer who gets a quality product at a good price.
They're all open backed, meaning they leak sound out and allow outside sound in; the benefit of this is that you get a wider soundstage, which in regard to gaming essentially means better 3D positioning. You can pick out things like footsteps and locate where they're coming from with a great degree of ease.
HD598: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-HD-598SR-Over-Ear-Headphone-Black/dp/B06WLGRYSF/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1521973971&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=HD+598
Fidelio X2: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-X2-Headphones-Over-Ear-Cushions-Black/dp/B00MRUPSHQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1521974003&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=Fidelio+x2
Phillips SHP9500/00: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-SHP9500-00-Headphone/dp/B00ENMK1DW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1521974021&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=shp9500
Audio Technica AD700X: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Audio-Technica-ATH-AD700X-backed-Hi-Fi-headphones/dp/B009S332TQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1521974053&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=ad700x
Audio Technica ADG1X: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Audio-Technica-ATH-ADG1X-High-Fidelity-Open-Air-Headset/dp/B01AYZZP5U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1521973470&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=audio+technica+headset
V-Moda Boompro: https://www.amazon.co.uk/V-MODA-BoomPro-Microphone-Gaming-Communication/dp/B00BJ17WKK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1521974126&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=v-moda+boompro
Antlion ModMic: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Antlion-Audio-ModMic-Attachable-Microphone-Uni-Directional-Muteless/dp/B00R98O6R4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1521974091&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=antlion+modmic
Instead of a ModMic, I would also like to offer an alternative. Do this simple mod, buy the Nokia 2.5mm M to 3.5mm F adapter, and then you can use the V-MODA Boompro. Very similar audio quality as the ModMic, cheaper in total, and only need to worry about a single cable.
Alternatively, if he already has decent non-gaming headphones that he finds comfortable, you could get him the BoomPro mic by V-MODA. It will transform any headphones into gaming headphones for about $30.
I dunno if its frowned on here but my #1 suggestion is craigslist. I've bought JBL northridge series, Fluance sx-6, Def Tech and klipsch bookshelves for $50 or less. I've also missed on out on quite a few deals for fantastic speakers $100 or less.
The only real suggestion I have for the price range is https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2
Sidebar Wisdom:
99.9% of the time Soundbars or HTiB (Home Theater in a Box) systems are not a good investment of your time and money. It is the general consensus of r/hometheater not to recommend these things and instead simply steer a user toward a 2.0 or 2.1 system made of quality, Audio-Centric name brand components easy to assemble and cheap enough for low budget or space conscious buyers. Most can be expanded to 5.1 if you buy items in the correct order.
That being said for $140 you can get a set of these: http://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2?ie=UTF8&amp;keywords=micca&amp;qid=1464745129&amp;ref_=sr_1_2&amp;sr=8-2 & a cheap amp from this list: https://www.reddit.com/r/Zeos/comments/43mn1n/guide_desktop_20_speaker_systems/
much better then a soundbar
How much better are these than the Micca MB42x's? I just bought them for the same price a week ago... Though the Micca's are smaller though for my desktop application.
I have used the following setups within the last year, ranked in order of preference:
To expand a little bit on what ImKrimzen is getting at...
This community is really, really hardcore about headphones. I say this in an affectionate but matter-of-fact way: we are a bunch of elitists who mostly look down our noses at products like the one you're asking about. Most gamers here prefer to use an awesome pair of headphones with a regular 3.5mm audio hookup, and then attach something like this mic to it. This tends to give you better value for your money than buying an overpriced gaming headset. Now, playing on console is a little more complicated...I've never even used a mic when console gaming, but if you can find a way to set that up via a bluetooth mic or something, then you can always just use the PS4 controller's headphone jack to plug in a regular pair of headphones and then go to town. (Or alternatively, your TV's aux out if it has one, or optical digital out through a DAC.) Here are a couple of relatively inexpensive headphones that have an absolutely stellar reputation around here for gaming. (And will also bring your movies and music to another level.)
Less expensive
More expensive
Most expensive (or actually not, because they're on sale)
Edit: Oh, just one important thing to note: this is /r/headphones 101, but since you're new, I'm just going to assume you may not realize that all those options I linked are open-back headphones, which means that they do not isolate sound well and they leak your sound out. In other words, other people around you can hear your stuff and you can probably hear noises in your environment, so if you need sound isolation, get a closed-back pair like this. But the advantage of open-back is that you generally get better-quality sound for your dollar, and the sound stage is always better, meaning the locations of sounds in your 3D headspace are very detailed and precise. This is really awesome for immersive gaming and movie-watching, so people love open-back headphones for those uses.
The VModa BoomPro if the headphones have a removable 3.mm cable. Otherwise from my research/experience this is definitely the best.
Just buy a V-Moda BoomPro and use it with your Sony headphones.
Here I have my current setup. The headphones are my Beyerdynamic Custom Studios, the DAC is an Audioengine D3, and the AMP is a Fiio A3 Portable Amp. The entire setup cost me $268, but as of now I believe the Custom Studios are discontinued, so you could replace the headphones with some alternatives in that price range (Audio Technica M40x/M50x or Philips SHP9500.) Anyways, here’s a review for everything.
Beyerdynamic Custom Studio (80 ohm)
Used to be $163, now they are [$250] (https://www.guitarcenter.com/Beyerdynamic/Custom-STUDIO-Headphones-1392652270585.gc)
I bought these headphones around July of 2017 as my first pair of “real” headphones. Initially, I was disappointed, but this was only because I was not used to the sound of these headphones at the time. After about a month of listening to them, I went back to compare them to some old Apple Earbuds and at first, I couldn’t believe the difference. Everything about these headphones was amazing. There’s a great amount of detail in them, the imaging is absolutely amazing, but soundstage is very narrow due to them being closed back headphones. As closed back headphones, they do a fantastic job of not allowing sound to leak about and making sure outside noise stays outside as long as the volume is higher. I use these at the library in my school when I write papers and never get complaints. I’ve tested them before by placing them on my friends’ heads and playing music at a loud volume, but nothing leaks out.
I found the comfort to be alright, but the fault was due to the velour. I really do not like velour as I find it to be very itchy, however, many other people praise the earpads, so it just comes down to preference. I instead replaced the pads with some [Brainwavs HM5 Sheepskin earpads] ( https://www.amazon.com/Brainwavz-Sheepskin-Leather-Memory-Earpad/dp/B01J53KM32) and fell in love with the comfort. The pads increased bass a little and made them incredibly comfortable. I use a [V-Moda Boom Pro] ( https://www.amazon.com/V-MODA-BoomPro-Microphone-Gaming-Communication/dp/B00BJ17WKK/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1524357476&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=vmoda+boompro&amp;dpID=41WfbQw%252Bp8L&amp;preST=_SY300_QL70_&amp;dpSrc=srch) with it when I game and these never become uncomfortable, even after playing for hours on end. The clamp on these is very strong, but I like it that way as it prevents them from falling off my head.
The unique thing about these headphones is that it has bass sliders on each cup, which allows you to adjust the bass from (Low bass, neutral, vibrant bass, and max bass.) I tend to keep it on neutral and the bass there is more than enough for me (and I love bass.) I use these for just about everything, including gaming and I never have any issues. I wear glasses and these are fine for anyone who may wear glasses.
After trying out different headphones at CanJam this year, I now know where these headphones can improve, but these still manage to keep up with everything else above its price range. You can run these off a phone and get some good volume, but I like music loud, so I use them with an amp at all times. Overall, I’m glad these are my first pair and I plan on keeping them as my closed back pair of headphones after I move on to more expensive headphones.
Audioengine D3 DAC+AMP
[$45 Refurbrished] (https://audioengineusa.com/shop/factory-refurbished/d3-24-bit-dacheadphone-amp-2/)
I bought the Audioengine D3 as the last piece of the puzzle in terms of headphones, amps, and dacs. It is a USB DAC that comes with a ¼ inch adapter and a sleeve to carry it. This is actually what motivated me to listen to music on my laptop as I used to listen to music on my phone. I really have no complaints about it. When it released, it was priced at $200 and was one of the few USB DACs that could compete with the Dragonfly DACs, and from what I’ve read online, a lot of reviewers actually prefer the D3. I saw it on Massdrop a month back for $70ish and wanted it, but I wanted to read reviews about it first. That’s where I found that you can get it for $45 straight out of their website with free shipping included. There really is no reason to look for another DAC when this one is available for such a steal. There is no kind of sound when music is not playing and it is driverless, meaning you can just plug it in to your computer and it’s ready to go. One thing to note is that it gets really hot, but it isn’t a problem, so long as you keep your fingers off of it. I felt like I noticed an improvement in songs, but it could just be a placebo (A B test your gear and see if you can notice a difference.) However, I really like having it around and I don’t listen to anything on my laptop without it.
Fiio A3 AMP
[$59.99] (https://www.amazon.com/A3-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier-Black/dp/B00Z9BIODA)
I bought the Fiio A3 when I bought my headphones because I read that an amp was almost required for anything at 80 ohms and higher. Since then, I’ve loved this little beast of an amp. It has a low and high gain switch to control volume (I keep it on high gain when connected to my phone and low gain when connected to the D3.) It also has a bass boost switch which I really like when I feel like being basshead (The bass boost here + max bass setting on the Custom Studios = Madness.) It has a life of about 16 hours before needing to recharge and it has a blue led that blinks when it needs to charge. It makes headphones very loud very fast. It is also built like a tank. I tried carrying it around in my pocket when I walked on campus and it slipped out. It only took a cosmetic hit, but in terms of functionality, it is untouched.
The only reason I still use it is because I like being able to control audio through a knob as opposed to a digital slider. The only annoying thing about it is that it has a hissing noise when the knob is turned up without any music playing, but when music starts to play, the hiss disappears. Overall, I absolutely recommend this amp if you want something to start with as it will do nothing but impress you every time.
This is my setup and being a broke college kid, I could not be happier. In terms of the things that this sub shows off, I find this to be a very budget friendly setup. Even when I upgrade everything, I still plan on keeping it as I do not want to forget where I started in terms of this hobby. For anyone that may be wanting to jump into the world of audio, I absolutely recommend these products as places to start. I’ve provided straight links for anyone that may want to check out the products.
When I first got the HD598's from the first time it was $99, I originally got the Zalman clip mic everybody recommended. I thought it was a terrible little mic. Like a lot of cheap mics, it rather picked up too little or too much. Couldn't really get a good sound from the way it clips in.
I eventually bought the Modmic and thought it was great. Its possible its a similar quality mic, but you're basically paying for the placement of that mic, which made it worth more. Still way overpriced for what it was. But I thought it did its job well, unlike the the Zalman clip mic.
Also, I've seen this one recommended on reddit as a modmic alternative
V-MODA-BoomPro
Don't know what it costs in Europe though... It also may require adapters depending on the size jack. But its another option. No experience with it myself.
Now out of curiosity, why not get the Takstar 82 and then a vmoda boompro? Sure it'll be a little more expensive but you get the aluminum case of the Takstar and you can keep the base vents. I guess Xbox compatibility?
Takstar 82: https://www.amazon.ca/Headphone-Over-ear-Recording-Monitoring-Appreciation/dp/B078NTRQR8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1549318144&sr=8-3&keywords=takstar%2B82&th=1
Vmoda BoomPro: https://www.amazon.ca/V-MODA-BoomPro-Microphone-Gaming-Communication/dp/B00BJ17WKK/ref=pd_sbs_147_1/132-2457449-1014840?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00BJ17WKK&pd_rd_r=647a880a-28c9-11e9-950e-c9e76c8cf3b3&pd_rd_w=qhERM&pd_rd_wg=7RaEg&pf_rd_p=5dcda75b-8643-4da3-9bb1-5c0233790500&pf_rd_r=D37PD0T8M7T6R27RW4N5&psc=1&refRID=D37PD0T8M7T6R27RW4N5
Edit: The Takstar 82 doesn't have tax, so it's a flat $99.99 for the silver version.
you don't necessarily need a gaming headset. In fact you'll probably get more bang for your buck avoiding headsets and buying a separate mic from your headphones. Check out this Zeos guide: https://www.reddit.com/r/Zeos/comments/3tu9gl/guide_headphones_gaming/
This can turn a good headphones into a headset with mic: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BJ17WKK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;linkCode=sl1&amp;tag=wwwpuresimula-20&amp;linkId=0f30921a5b459fdc711f13f599128198
Personally just use a this clip mic since I sit close to my machine and don't need a long cord: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-ECMCS3-Omnidirectional-Stereo-Microphone/dp/B0058MJX4O/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1434311220&amp;sr=8-1-spell&amp;keywords=sony+microphonwe&amp;linkCode=sl1&amp;tag=wwwpuresimula-20&amp;linkId=SZWGUFUWKW3XEXJ3
I hate the suction cup feeling too, I ended up getting a philips SHP9500 after reading a bunch about it on reddit a year ago. Its not a good solution if you are worried about other people hearing what you are listening to as they can be heard across a bedroom fairly easy, by design of course, with little holes in the pieces that cover the ear. This also means you can hear your surroundings too, works great for me as I can talk to people IRL while wearing them.
The pads are soft and the headband is on the looser side so it won't squeeze your skull. I do find that sometimes I don't hear sounds from far away in games like distant footsteps as good as the traditional suction cup feeling earphones but its worth the trade off for me because my ears don't hurt even after a full day of gaming, in 20 years of wearing headphones I haven't had a more comfortable set.
It doesn't come with a mic, I just use a $10 desk mic I've had for 2 years and am going to get a moda mic that just plugs into the headset cord eventually.
Yes these are great for gaming, you can turn it into an awesome headset too with the [V-MODA BoomPro] (https://www.amazon.ca/V-MODA-BoomPro-Gaming-Headset-Headphone/dp/B00BJ17WKK)
No, it’s a cable with an in-line Mic, he uses it with his Beats, I use it with my Bose. here
Bought these and this when they went on sale last week, hope they come in soon :)
Should make for a good video recording setup, and on the go music listener when not at the computer.
Do your Beats come with a removable cable? If so, you can get this.
easier to just throw out a few recommendations. the OP can take them or leave them afterall.
on a tight budget it's hard to beat these Micca's.
a step up from there would be Fluance. They're nearly twice as large but also exceptional for the price.
Do NOT get any internal sound card!!! I can't say this enough. People kept telling me and I didn't listed. I bought 2 of the best sound cards and had to return them due to interference. Get a DAC like the Schiit Modi 2 (Modi 2 Amazon link) or Modi 2 Uber and save yourself the frustration and have much better sound.
For speakers, check out the JBL LSR305 (Amazon link) (Amazon link with cables) or if those are too expensive check out the Micca MB42X. They're both great speakers. I got the JBL LSR305 about 6 months ago and they sound amazing with my Schiit DAC. Check on eBay too. I got a brand new Schiit DAC for about half the regular price and they have used ones even cheaper.
I had the same problem. Best way to get ride of this static would be to remove your analog audio from the inside of your computer.
I would get an external DAC/AMP or DAC/AMP combo. I use the FiiO e10k. $75 on Amazon It's a pretty good little DAC/Amp.
Game engines use their own 3d stereo sound processing so virtual 7.1 isn't really worth much. I would recommend getting an external sound card (DAC/AMP). I would recommend this http://www.amazon.com/AUDIOQUEST-DRAGONFLY-V1-2-USB-DAC/dp/B00H00VLZQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1426275640&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=audioquest+dragonfly or this http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E10K-Headphone-Amplifier-Black/dp/B00LP3AMC2/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1426275640&amp;sr=1-6&amp;keywords=audioquest+dragonfly
You could also peak around /r/headphones. There's a ton of discussion there about these things. There's no upper limit to quality or what you can spend on Digital to Analog Converters and Amplifiers.
You could also just search amazon for sound cards, but if you're only using it for headphones make sure you're not wasting money on cards that have speaker outputs. The one's I recommended aren't cheap, but you will appreciate the quality.
16GB of DDR4 does not cost ~60-90$. Especially at 3000mhz.
2x8GB 3000mhz sticks of Corsair Vengance LPX is currently $195, A 525GB SSD is currently $130.
You don't need to spend that much. This Sandisk 240GB model along with this SATA III to USB 3 cable will do just as well for less money, but it won't look as pretty lol.
If you get a USD to SATA adapter you can clone/transfer files directly from the HDD to SSD.
Buy (or borrow) a USB to SATA cable https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-SATA-Drive-Adapter-Cable/dp/B00HJZJI84
This will allow access to the harddrive if the data is not encrypted.
Best of luck.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HJZJI84/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_a3LSAbPG98N78
If you don’t have an Amazon Prime account, do yourself a favor and get one.
It's super easy. Maybe 5 minutes to get the screws out, 5 minutes to put the drive in, 5 minutes to put the screws back. Most of the time will just be cloning your HDD to the SSD, or copying your data over if you want a clean install of macOS.
Pop the bottom off, unscrew some bracket, pull a cable off. Move the screw/pegs from the HDD to the SSD, then pop it in.
iFixit Guide:
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+15-Inch+Unibody+Mid+2009+Hard+Drive+Replacement/1715
You can skip the part about removing the battery. It isn't necessary to pull the HDD. Just make sure to lift the hard drive slowly so that you don't pull its cable.
I recommend the Samsung EVO, 250GB, 500GB, etc. And don't forget to enable TRIM.
You can use the built-in Disk Utility to clone ("image") your HDD to the SSD. You just need a USB adapter for that.
250 GB SSD, $93:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OAJ412U/
Port-powered SATA/USB (should work fine for external SSDs), $12.50:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HJZJI84/
500 GB SSD, $170:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OBRE5UE/
Powered SATA/USB adapter (may be needed for some external HDDs), $22:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005B3VO24/
Same, I have to stop myself from buying more entry level headphones because it's a lot easier to financially justify buying an entry level pair then a mid - hifi pair.
Although I did just listen to Zeos again when he said that an entry 2.1 speaker setup is just as good / better than a mid to hfii pair of headphones which resulted in me buying the components for a 2.1 setup:
Yamaha R-S202BL Stereo Receiver
Micca MB42X Bookshelf Speakers
Dayton Audio SUB-1000 10-Inch 100 Watt Powered Subwoofer
I personally am more open to sound bars than many people here, I have one on all of my TVs except my main HT system.
That being said, if this is your main HT system I'd see if you can swing this:
Denon AVR-S530BT Refurb Receiver for $150:
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrs530bt/denon-avr-s530bt-5.2-ch-x-70-watts-bluetooth-a/v-receiver/1.html
Pair of Micca MB42X speakers for $90:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E7H8GG2
Total = $240
If you absolutely can't go much above $200 then get the Dayton Audio B652-AIR speakers for $67 at the link below or get the above speakers used on Amazon for a little cheaper.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NOA58RS
The nice thing about the Micca's is they have a matching center channel (on the same Amazon page) that you could add later on to upgrade your system. And with that receiver you could eventually add a center, a sub, and 2 rear speakers for a full 5.1 surround setup. Even if you don't want anything more than 2.0 anytime soon it's best to give yourself options down the road in case you change your mind.
No glue required.
$7: https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Adapter-Windows-AU-MMSA/dp/B00IRVQ0F8/
My windows laptop didn't have a dedicated mic input jack (only headphone), so I had to buy this. It works great so far :)
If you want a recommendation, I have the FiiO E10K DAC, and it's great. The bass boost switch on the front is a nice touch.
Then just get a good set of regular headphones + a DAC. Head to r/headphones and get a good recommendation at your price point + Buy this DAC. Sennheiser HD 598's are a very popular "budget" option.
audio technica m40x/m50x's are also very good.
Are they 32/80/250 ohms? I'm guessing they're not 32 considering the amp in the back. What amp is that, also? Looks like this guy https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E10K-Headphone-Amplifier-Black/dp/B00LP3AMC2/ but it's hard to tell for sure.
If you're willing to spend a decent chunk of money on a sound card, don't. Get an external DAC- it does the same as a sound card but is further isolated from interference in your computer. Some also have built in volume controls and mute buttons.
I use a Scarlett Solo with audiotechnica M50X headphones.
This is a good small DAC.
FiiO E10K Headphone Amplifier and DAC https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LP3AMC2/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_Sh8FxbGKRG5TQ
And this is one which I use.
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 2nd Gen 2 in 2 Out USB Audio Interface https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_Xi8Fxb55YAY5D
Edit: It's not worth it unless you have a good quality headphone set. I would recommend the audiotechnica M40 or M50 headphones for very good quality at low prices compared to other brands.
Why not get an external DAC/AC like this?
https://blog.jdslabs.com/2018/11/jds-labs-atom-amp-official-release-benchmarks/#comment-23006
they say "this year". If you can wait, you could wait for sure yeah :) you could just get the affordable Fiio E10k for now. It has line out which you can connect to Atom https://www.amazon.de/FiiO-E10K-Olympus-Digital-Kopfhörerverstärker-schwarz/dp/B00LP3AMC2
A good enough temporary solution for sure, there's plenty of people on /r/headphones still using one!
The HD598 were my first 'real' headphones. I did like them. But I felt they needed more. These have been my favorite auxiliary equipment. Before you completely give up on the HD598s give a DAC/AMP or even just an AMP at try. (unless you are using one already)
Here's an HDMI 2.0 with HDCP 2.2 receiver that will work for your needs. I would choose these MB42X with the upgraded crossovers compared to the original MB42s as the upgrade provides a big improvement in sound for only $20 more. This is already over your budget but I'll keep going.
From there you can add the matching center and a subwoofer. All told this comes out to $557. The speaker preference means little to me as everyone has different opinions about speakers but I would not skimp on the subwoofer and the one that I chose is IMO the value leader when it comes to subs.
First step: have you read noaudiophile's reviews? He does very thorough reviews on a lot of budget speakers, and has corrections for many of the popular options. His corrections for the Infinity P163s that I'm currently using made them sound like completely different speakers.
First let's start with powered options:
The Micca PB42X would be a good option. They are basically a powered version of the MB42X so you don't need to purchase a separate amp. Also in the similar realm that get recommended here a lot would be the Swans D1010 and the Edifier R1280T.
Personally I'm a bigger fan of passive speakers, as you get a lot more options to expand your system.
Pioneer BS22 bookshelf speakers are great and have gone on sale quite a bit lately for $70-80/pair.
Dayton B652 I am currently using as my surround speakers, but people rave about them as a budget desktop option
Micca MB42X also get great reviews.
You could also go used for your speakers, but sometimes it can be hard to parse through all the junk out there if you don't know what you're looking for.
Take any of those passive options and pair them up with an inexpensive amp like this SMSL or Lepai for a good budget setup.
I would also recommend checking your local Craigslist or Facebook marketplace for a used receiver, you could pick up a very decent one for just a few bucks and have a great starting setup. This will give you a lot more powerful amp, and the ability later to easily add a subwoofer or expand to surround sound. Personally I'm using an older Sony home theater receiver at my desk, it's old enough that it doesn't have HDMI or optical inputs, someone was just giving it away so I snagged it.
HDDs are not hard to pull from a desktop and you can get a cheap USB adapter to access it on a new computer. Youtube should have plenty of directions.
https://smile.amazon.com/StarTech-SATA-Drive-Adapter-Cable/dp/B00HJZJI84/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1504234904&amp;sr=8-1-spons&amp;keywords=sata+to+usb+adapter&amp;psc=1
Assuming that it's a normal 2.5in HDD, you should just be able to remove it and connect it to another device. You can either connect it internally to another PC or you could get a HDD to usb adapter like this You should also be able to find a YouTube video on how to remove the HDD from your specific laptop, if you're unsure.
Pick up one of these: https://www.amazon.com/iXCC-Premium-Gold-Plated-Adapter-Extension/dp/B019D04S4G/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1485751174&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=RCA+female+to+male+3.5mm
Then you just record game audio from a mic port instead. Obviously you can find cheaper ones. If you only have one mic port and dont have a USB mic, get one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Adapter-Windows-AU-MMSA/dp/B00IRVQ0F8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1485751227&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=usb+microphone+adapter
Turns a USB port into stereo mic and headphone ports.
USB soundcards are under ten bucks and work great!
https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Adapter-Windows-AU-MMSA/dp/B00IRVQ0F8/ref=zg_bs_3015427011_1?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=CJ2CR6MTN1FG1AFAMFXP
usb DAC
something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRVQ0F8/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001J4ZOAW
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Electric-Computer-Duster-lbs-White/dp/B001J4ZOAW/
I'll probably stick to the compressed air.
I bought this prior to cleaning. https://www.amazon.com/Metro-ED500-DataVac-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
This thing is absolutely amazing. I haven't bought a compressed air can for years. Some of the benefits include:
I would buy another in a second if mine ever breaks down.
If you're not worried about electrostatic get this Metro Vacuum which isnt actually a vacuum
If you are: Here or here
The vac is pretty much like a can of compressed air but without the $10/can price tag. Also you dont need to worry about asshole friends turning it upside down and spraying you.
If you are going to use a vacuum use one that is designed for electronics like this one. A standard household vacuum created a lot of static electricity when used.
I haven't used it to clean my keyboards, but I use one of these to clean my computer.
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
Best $50 I ever spent. Blowing dust out of a case or crumbs out of a keyboard has never been this much fun, and it pretty much pays for itself within a year.
Lol, but compressed air does do the trick. The thing is compressed is is expensive for what it is, and only lasts so long. I go through them pretty fast, and have easily gone through $100+ of them. This ESD Blower is only $60 http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1421905552&amp;sr=1-1-catcorr&amp;keywords=Metro+ED-500ESD#customerReviews
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1380420041&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=ed-500
This was from ~5 months ago. This was from about ~6-7 months ago.
&nbsp;
When you clean a lot, the cleaning becomes easier. I wrote a whole thing about it here. But to add to this, every month or two, I use the brush attachment I was talking about. I take all my components (except my CPU and case fans) out and I use the brush+air to get inside the PCI slots and ram slots and around all the heat sinks. Like I said, cleaning more often makes the cleaning process in general easier.
&nbsp;
This isn't the one I bought, but it has really good reviews on Amazon, and I have seen a couple guys over at PCMR recommending it.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_3TjrybTDF87S2
I've been eyeing this, but can't decide if I'd have enough uses...
Blow instead of suck. Everyone has a vacuum, but there's still a big demand for those compressed gas "duster" cans. It's because it's always better and safer to take the computer outside and blast the dust away. They usually come with a small diameter straw to direct the air into small spaces. I've also used an electric "duster" that's highly rated on Amazon.
2nd this, here's one a bit cheaper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_1-pVCbHCFPXTP
DataVac
Costs about 5 cans of compressed air, doesn't get ice cold and stop working, powerful, safe.....
I use a similar one by the same company I think. I'll never go back to compressed air. http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
For the cost of 3 cans of air, you can get a powered air blower which is much stronger, can put out a constant stream, and doesn't leave any residue on your electronics.
Be careful with this. Don't let the vacuum touch any components. The dust rubbing against the plastic vacuum hose creates static. I killed a fairly new HD3650 back in the day by accidentally touching the vacuum to the back of the card. Saw the spark gap and I knew it was all over. I have a case with air filters now, so dust isn't a problem. I used to only use canned air, but I'm about ready to splurge on this thing for all my other electronics.
Se o post for somente por causa do frete ridículo, pode parar de ler aqui.
Mas, se alguém também estiver interessado em algo além de ar comprimido, uns anos atrás comprei isso - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J4ZOAW/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1 -
https://www.amazon.com/d/Leaf-Blower-Parts-Vacuum-Accessories/Metro-ED500-DataVac-500-Watt-Electric/B001J4ZOAWI use one of these bad boys to clean all of my equipment and have yet to find something better. Has a lot of power behind it. I used to use canned air but realized how fast those little cans add up in price.
I do it every 3 to 6 months typically. Bought a data vac and never looked back at canned air again. It's basically a reverse vacuum, gets in nooks and crannies that canned air could only dream of.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J4ZOAW/
If you're looking for something that will primarily be used for listening to music, I'd get a nice pair of headphones and something like this attachable mic. If you're looking for a headset that will also be used for music occasionally, probably just get something in your price range by a reputable brand (Audio Technica, Sennheiser, etc). We'll need a budget before making any actual recommendations though.
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1342639959&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=zalman+zm-mic1
Best clip-on mic money can buy and it's only $8 dollars. (can be found on other sites for even cheaper)
Depending on your intended use, I'd suggest the CAL!, Sony MDR-V6, or Audio Technica ATH AD700 with a Zalman clip-on mic.
With any of these headphones plus the mic, you will get much higher sound quality than any headset in the price range.
If you're looking for something that's more permanent for the HD mounting try these out. I find that over time (a few months) rubber bands start to crack, fall apart, and become glued to anything they are touching, especially if whatever they are touching is warm.
Here, take these! You need them...... all three.
This will help you clear up most of that and these will take care of most of the rest.
If those are random cables going into the wall, then get a keystone jack or something.
Not on sale, but if I were you I'd invest in these: https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-Black-2-Inch-91140/dp/B001E1Y5O6 Velcro, but loops on itself like a zip tie for easy tensioning.
Good to go! Nice setup. I'd probably suggest 2 things:
-Velcro wire ties for the cabling
VELCRO Brand One Wrap Thin Ties, Black, 8 x 1/2-Inch, 100 Count (91140) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001E1Y5O6/
-DuetDisplay for the iPad. I have it for my surface and ipad and it's been awesome. Turns your iPad into a portable second monitor And it keeps the touch capabilities of the iPad.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/duet-display/
These are what we use to organize cables for clients at my IT job. They are also very reasonably priced.
I've been using these for years.
https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-Black-2-Inch-91140/dp/B001E1Y5O6
They've served me well, and are easy to work with. I've used cords, other straps, dealt with venues that tie the XLR to itself(shudder), etc.
I use the orange cable reels for the majority of my cables now, but still use these straps with what doesn't go on the reels.
What if you need to add capacity, move a cable due to a bad port, upgrade to device with a different port configuration? What about tracing bad cables during bring up? What about the ties putting too much pressure on the cable causing it to break a fiber or go out of spec with regards to impedence?
These are the way to go: https://smile.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-Black-2-Inch-91140/dp/B001E1Y5O6?sa-no-redirect=1
You can buy them cheap in bulk, they work just as good as plastic ties, they won't damage cables and they are reusable.
Your room is really functional, and you're trading off style for function. Honestly, if you really want to make your room look nicer, take the Computer and Musical instruments out, replace the space with some seating, and a small table (maybe with a TV), leave some open space in your room.
As far as what you can do with what you have... Most students are in the same position you are, not a lot of space for our stuff and everything we have is there because it functions well. For instance, that chair that you have is an eyesore, but I'm sure it's comfy and you spend a lot of time in it (I have pretty much the same thing in my room, crappy looking chair, but I love to sit on it; in fact I actually have the same Chassis and speakers as you as well...).
Here's what you can do... Pick a Color Scheme, lose the blinds, and move your desk in front of the window if you're going to keep it. It would be best if you could kind of center it at the window, but I don't see anywhere else you can put your bed.
Your computer is the only thing which can't change color, so go with sometimes like White/Orange, stay away from dull colors and grays, take a chance, paint the walls with orange and white stripes or something(I like orange and white if you didn't notice).
Next, make sure everything is organized. Your room isn't dirty or really messy, but it's cluttered, it looks like everything was just thrown in there. Grab a couple of storage cabinets, shove them in your closet, and throw everything in there that you can bare to not have at arms reach (take some chances, you can always keep something out if you find that you need it too often). Do your best to clear up as much desk space as possible. A desk is not a storage space, it's a workspace, it looks best when it's cleared off.
Thus musical stuff will always look poorly in your room; it has too many wires. If you can find a place to put it elsewhere in the house, that would be best, otherwise, grab these and use them on every cord. Take a second to wind everything up when you're done using it and keep all of the cords out of sight when you're not using them.
Putting some stuff on your walls would be cool too, I like that everything you have up is framed. In my opinion, A few framed items or a lot of unframed items look great on a wall, but I think having a couple of loose posters looks tacky. A few more framed items would be cool (band posters/artwork/movie posters, whatever you're into).
Finally, never understood the rug on carpet thing, especially if it's just another solid color, and especially if that other solid color is black. I would ditch it, if you want a rug, get something colorful and contemporary (this is really the key word for you). The rug is an opportunity to have a centerpiece/focal point/glue that holds the room together, so keep that in mind if you go shopping for another one.
And of course, pick up the chair, clean your closet, put away your vacuum, fix your light bulbs, and pick all that shit up off the floor you lazy son of a bitch...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001E1Y5O6?cache=1f4347899b187e3ec0b57fb8d0db2f20&amp;pi=SY200_QL40&amp;qid=1408458893&amp;sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1
Start with some velcro cable ties like these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E1Y5O6
Sell all your unused gear and then buy 100 packs of these cable ties.
Buy a nice desk.
But really, just sell the gear you don't use. Less is more.
Hey, thats my shop! Glad to see you put your shadow boxes to good use! Your setup looks great and is surprisingly similar to mine (I love that monitor, but I had to return mine a few times to get one without backlight bleed). Maybe I'll post my station later in the week.
About the cables, I don't know if your desk is too thick, but I bought some of those black binder clips from office supply stores and clamped them to the back of my desk, and then I ran wires through them and secured them with velcro straps. Even if that doesn't work, these velcro straps are awesome for bundling wires: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E1Y5O6
Thanks to everyone else for your interest in my shadow boxes, I'll be working hard to get your orders out and I'll have some new NES scenes up soon as well. Check back this week!
These are great to use for almost any desk, regardless of the location. Pacifically or Atlantic.
If anyone missed out on the velcro ties from last time, theyre on sale again but even cheaper. The product is not sold by Amazon but by a third party seller; 3-BALA.
According to camelcamelcamel, the lowest price was $0.55 however the lowest most recent price was around $2-$3 back in late July-August.
I have this https://www.amazon.com/Metro-ED500-DataVac-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW totally awesome. I lost the attachments though. Worth buying them again or keep the distance?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001J4ZOAW
Non mobile link.
I would avoid it. They make special air compressors for electronics that filter out moisture.
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-ED500-DataVac-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW?ie=UTF8&amp;keywords=electronics%20air%20compressor&amp;qid=1464283880&amp;ref_=sr_1_1&amp;sr=8-1
is what you want.
I stopped using compressed air and bought one of these bad boys.
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1370149820&amp;sr=8-4&amp;keywords=dust+pc
Quickly justified the price considering how much I was spending on compressed air. Its way more powerful than a can of air too. Also useful for other stuff around the house, since I dont have to worry about wasting my cans of air.
Instead of buying compressed air buy this air blower. It will save money in the long run.
Normal headphones and a separate mic:
If you know anyone who has a soldering iron and can get to the wires without breaking the plastic, it's not too hard to solder stuff like this.
Easier solution, get a clip on mic
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_zGSsDbSZ63XDC
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
clip theses to your V-Modas.
EDIT: Oh wait you want a USB headset.
Get the cheapest you're willing to afford 'cuz they all sound like shite.
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Microphone-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
I've heard nothing but good reviews on the Zalman zm-mic1 even though it looks and costs nothing like quality. I've also heard several sound samples of it and it does backup the reviews. Then it's just up to finding a good pair of headphones. I'm currently in the market for headphones and a mic aswell but I have a bit of a bigger budget. A lot of people suggest the Audio Technica AD700's but I've seen mixed reviews especially when it comes to the headphones fitting properly. If you decide to go for a regular pc headset where the mic and headphones are attached I suggest you steer clear from the Razer Carcharias, it's what I currently have and the audio leaks into the microphone so people on the other end can hear what I'm listening to at low volume. A friend of mine recently go the Corsair HS1 and it sounds really good according to him, but he hasn't been able to use it's mic yet.(his soundcard is a bit fucky) I don't think you can get a really definite answer to what headphone/mic combo is the best because everyone has their own taste in sound. Just try to avoid any phones that have "gamer" plastered all over the box because they generally won't be good for anything OTHER than games.
As a side note, in the end of my hunt for a good pair I'll be going with the aforementioned Zalman zm-mic1 and a pair of AKG K240 MKII's...one major attracting point for these headphones for me is that the cable is modular so when I inevitably break it (I have bad luck with headphone cables) I can just swap to the 2nd that's in the box.
I currently use this combo:
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD555-Professional-Headphones-Channeling/dp/B0001FTVDQ/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323130988&amp;sr=8-6
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323130978&amp;sr=8-2
I have had plenty of headsets over the years, and this one has been my best purchase. My friends on skype tell me the voice quality is fine.
You are also going to get way better sound quality through headphones rather than a headset.
I've heard good things about this mic: http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Microphone-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
Please dont buy any Headset get yourself a nice pair of Headphones and a small mic.
http://www.amazon.de/Beyerdynamic-AMS-DT-990-PRO-250-DT-990-Pro-Headphones/dp/B0011UB9CQ/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1382078720&amp;sr=1-2-catcorr&amp;keywords=beyerdynamic+dt+990
http://www.amazon.de/Zalman-ZM-MIC1-Mikrofon-mit-Mikro-Clip/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1382078697&amp;sr=1-1-catcorr&amp;keywords=anklipp+mikrofon
I bought that setup with a nice Soundcard only for Battlefield 4 and omg i was surprised how good the sound is.
I don't know how to attach that mic, but if all you need is a microphone you can try this doohickie: http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
My friend has one and uses it with his AD700 for gaming. He is very happy with it!
Here is my recommendation:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor | $169.99 @ Microcenter
CPU Cooler | Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler | $29.98 @ Outlet PC
Motherboard | Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard | $104.99 @ Microcenter
Memory | Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory | $59.99 @ Newegg
Storage | Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk | $164.99 @ NCIX US
Storage | Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $69.99 @ Amazon
Video Card | PowerColor Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card | $219.99 @ NCIX US
Wireless Network Adapter | Rosewill RNX-N600UBE 802.11a/b/g/n USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter | $25.22 @ Amazon
Case | Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case | $49.99 @ NCIX US
Power Supply | XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply | $54.99 @ NCIX US
Optical Drive | Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer | $14.99 @ Newegg
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) | $89.98 @ Outlet PC
Keyboard | Microsoft SIDEWINDER X4 Wired Gaming Keyboard | $39.99 @ Newegg
Other| Audio Technica ATH-AD700 Headphones | $99.95 @ Amazon
Other| Zalman Zm-Mic1 Microphone| $8.48 @ Amazon
| | Total
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | $1203.51
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-21 23:53 EDT-0400 |
I think this build falls right in the sweet spot for performance vs. price. The CPU/Mobo is a combo at Microcenter, you'll have to add around $20 for tax. A note on the headphones, these are the best headphones for gaming for the price. I strongly recommend against buying any name-brand headset, you will overpay and get a product that doesn't sound as good. Let me know if you have any questions.
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
It is under $10. So far no one has complained about it when I am on vent so I guess its not bad?
This is a horrible head set. The sound quality is awful, and there's a constant hiss from the USB amplifier. On max bass boost, the bass is muddy and intrudes on the other sound ranges; on minimum bass boost, the sound feels empty and tinny. There's no good middle ground that I found. The soundstage is also horrible, which makes it far from ideal for gaming as you can't really perceive positional audio well.
You will honestly get much better sound quality out of the Koss KSC75 with a Zalman Mic attached, for even a few bucks cheaper.
Get a ModMic or a Zm-Mic1 (build a micarms from lego or something else), put it on your hi-fi headphones and you've beaten 95% of headsets on the market in quality for same price or less
Unfortunately most gaming headsets are quite overpriced, a popular option without spending a lot is this mic that clips onto normal headphone wires ($8) maybe get that and save up for a better headset or some good headphones and a modmic.
For the internet if you have to use wireless get the internal card, if you can run an ethernet cable do that and consider a cheap usb adapter for interim.
http://www.amazon.com/Razer-Carcharias-Gaming-Headset-Black/dp/B001PTH0VW/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1301801164&amp;sr=8-7
i really like those for purely gaming. theyre comfy so you can wear them forever. they have decent positional sound and good sound quality and the microphone is good too.
http://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATH-AD700-Open-air-Audiophile-Headphones/dp/B000CMS0XU
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Microphone-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_b
the best headphones money can buy for a decent price plus a highly flexible/mobile/good microphone to just clip on when you need it.
If you spend $0.84 cents more you can get these, which are the best thing Amazon sells.
Those are some expensive damn Velcro straps!
I use these which I got off amazon for around $10/100.
And I’ve used nearly half already. Also used for my entertainment center management.
https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-Reusable-Fastening-Organizing/dp/B001E1Y5O6
I personally use these velcro for cable management. Just be creative with it :P
These are also pretty awesome: http://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-ONE-WRAP-Self-Gripping-Cable-Reusable/dp/B001E1Y5O6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1457283089&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=velcro+cable+ties I originally bought them for personal use but also use them for electronics I sell.
It sounds an awful lot like you could probably reduce all that down to one server. Not saying it to be mean I just think you can reduce your power bill quite a bit and have the extra machines as failover.
Especially with the Mac Mini there are ways of getting OS X to run on hyper-v or esxi. I know a lot of people use them for home automation.
Also please buy some Velcro - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001E1Y5O6/
Even if this was setup by Comcast, I would have gone in there and did some cable maintenance.
Masking tape, crimped/cut cables, zip ties, all needs to be pulled out and properly tied up with some velcro straps. w
If you haven't already, invest in some Velcro Straps
The Velcro cable ties I ordered from Amazon were the best music related purchase I made in 2014.
I have a power strip located on the underside of the desk that powers the PC, 3 monitors, and speakers. It is held in place by a cable management net that comes included with the Ikea Bekant desk.
I used a lot of velcro ties to group up any cables coming from a similar area. You can get a pack of 100 ties on Amazon for $10. Once they were grouped I kinda just threw them into the cable management net, there's probably a more elegant way of doing it, but I didn't want to spend even more time trying to do that 😅
Here are some pics of how I did it
TN and IPS are panel technologies that affect the perceived colors at different viewing angles. On a bad TN monitor (like my brother's TN monitor he got for ~$80 3 years ago) if you have a single color on your whole screen, even at the optimal viewing position/angle, the color will look different at the top of the screen than at the bottom, significantly so. In practice, that means in a game your screen's colors look "off". Now, if you slide out of that spot upwards or downwards (or somewhat sideways)? Instantly terrible. Colors nearly unrecognizable.
On the other hand, on a good TN, like my brother's VG248QE that he bought a year and a half ago for ~$260? You still have the colors a bit off, and you still get color shifting, but as long as you're sitting in front of it normally it's not "bothersome". I wouldn't watch movies on it from an off angle, or slouched back in my chair, but for gaming it's fine.
IPS, meanwhile, has basically all the viewing angles. Lovely colors as far as the eye can see. Downsides: cost (especially if you also want 144hz) and a little extra latency (5ms VS 1ms on TN, not really noticeable IMHO, but maybe for top-tier twitch FPS players).
The holy grail tends to be IPS + 144hz, which only exists at 1440p for some reason and not 1080p, and costs typically over $500, and until recently was in the $600-$700 range.
I just got the Philips SHP9500 along with the V-MODA BoomPro. By far the most comfortable headset I have owned. Ear cups are huge and completely surround my ears. The headset is very light weight and does not squeeze at all. I wear them all day when working, and in the evening with gaming. Plus, they are great sounding too.
Amazon Links:
https://www.amazon.com/Philips-SHP9500-Precision-Over-ear-Headphones/dp/B00ENMK1DW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1484846026&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=philips+headphones
Looks like the mic is currently out of stock. I got mine on eBay.
https://www.amazon.com/V-MODA-BoomPro-Gaming-Headset-Headphone/dp/B00BJ17WKK/ref=pd_bxgy_23_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_i=B00BJ17WKK&amp;pd_rd_r=E5NE128ZPRX3KS4F4QYD&amp;pd_rd_w=VLjAz&amp;pd_rd_wg=dKgCd&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=E5NE128ZPRX3KS4F4QYD
I used a 64 GB SanDisk USB drive for over a year without any issues and only upgraded to an external hard drive because it was running out of space. Older USB drives had a much lower tolerance for the number of read/writes they could perform. Newer brand name USB drives have a much higher threshold.
That said, if you can upgrade to an external drive, do it. Here's what I bought and it works great.
WD Hard Drive
USB Hard Drive Enclousure with power supply
depending on the wiring in your house, i'd recommend Powerline Adapters. when i first found out about these i thought they were fake as hell. But I use them now for my main pc, which is ~80ft away from my router, and still get most of my wired speed.
however, they're really only as good as the wiring in your house. the closer the adapters are to eachother, the better they work. if you have an older house that has never had the electrical renovated (like pre-70's), than a router would be better. look for one with AC protocol, it's the current standard for speed and consistency
Here's a good one
The goat monitor:
https://www.amazon.com/VG248QE-1920x1080-144Hz-Gaming-Monitor/dp/B00B2HH7G0
Here's a good one for pretty cheap. It also has 1ms response time, which is good.
$250 http://www.amazon.com/Asus-VG248QE-24-Inch-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B00B2HH7G0/?tag=amazon0606-20
This is the monitor I own.
ASUS VG248QE 24" Full HD 1920x1080 144Hz 1ms HDMI Gaming Monitor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B2HH7G0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_8WADCbADF3XZ0
Good choices for 144hz 1080p TN panels are ASUS VG248QE and BENQ 2411z. Check for BENQ refurb deals, I got my 2411z refurb from benq.com 2 years ago and i love it, no issues.
and btw 5ms is no big deal, you will not notice, anything under 10ms is definitely acceptable. This video explains everything you need to know: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER1YV42iqrE You can't trust what manufactures put in the specs, just read reviews and use 3rd party testing results such as https://displaylag.com/display-database/ if you are worried about ghosting
In fact I'll go a bit more into detail.
Median household income in the USA: $30,932.
Median household income in Turkey: $7,958.
Some select monitors I've been looking into:
In the US: $279.99
In Turkey: $520.53 (1.208 TRY)
In the US: $278.99
In Turkey: $467.96 (1.086 TRY)
Edit: Yes, these are relatively expensive 144 Hz monitors, but it's the same with shittier monitors.
Almost exactly what I have (GPU, CPU, Motherboard). This is the best upgrade purchase I've made so far https://www.amazon.com/VG248QE-1920x1080-144Hz-Gaming-Monitor/dp/B00B2HH7G0
Asus VG248QE
Sauce: I have the exact one :)
check out a thing called Powerline Adapter https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Powerline-ethernet-Adapter-TL-PA4010KIT/dp/B00AWRUICG/ref=sr_1_3?crid=ZS4BI96GD1BJ&amp;keywords=powerline+adapter&amp;qid=1550932169&amp;s=gateway&amp;sprefix=powerline+ad%2Caps%2C339&amp;sr=8-3 its basically a wired connection through your existing powerlines in the walls its convenient because you don't have to stretch a long Ethernet cord all the way to your console https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywQeJCa3jl8
Well you can use the defective cat5e cable as a fish to pull a new cable run. You need to detach/destaple it, and redo the job. Depending on the run, it might be difficult, but it's the only way to get gigabit.
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If you have 100mbps internet or less, you won't see a difference as long as you're not copying files across the devices. Use your cable tester on your cat5e cable, if you have at least 4 good pins, rewire those to pins 1,2,3,6 (from left to right on the connector).
If you don't have 4 good wires, well you need to rerun anyway.
There's always powerline adapters, but those are hit or miss. Make sure you have a good return policy (Walmart).
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You can probably try a powerline adapter. This one will run you about $40.
So you're essentially using wifi because the extender is wirelessly connected to your router and that's the most likely culprit here. If you can't pull a direct cable from your PC to your router then the next best thing is powerline ethernet.
TP-Link TL-PA4010KIT AV600 Nano Powerline Adapter Starter Kit, up to 600Mbps https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00AWRUICG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_sFmWDb503BQ0H
I'm not saying you should do this. I'm saying you might have an option you weren't aware of.
Eh, they're cheap enough just to try it. This is the set I went with. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AWRUICG/
2 story house? id forget about wifi and get a bunch of powerline adapters like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AWRUICG/
Here you are. It's a 144hz monitor with a 1ms response time as well. So I mean it's really only for PCs with that refresh rate, but that response time would be great for competitive games on the xbox.
https://www.amazon.com/Asus-VG248QE-24-inch-Ergonomic-Back-lit/dp/B00B2HH7G0
Get a really good headset like a Sennheiser + a modmic, "gaming headsets" charge you ridiculous prices for a terrible quality mic and a decent headset which they act like gamers want surround sound which you don't. 7.1 is terrible for gaming. I have the Sennheiser HD 598s + a modmic
which has 10x better quality than 90% of most gaming headsets today and the combo only costs around 200$. If you have money to spare, and are looking into getting a good and worth your money headset, I would suggest getting the 2 that i just linked. Hope this helps.
$113.99 on amazon.ca!
available in canada too - http://www.amazon.ca/Sennheiser-HD-598-Headphones-Accents/dp/B0042A8CW2
Three questions:
Sennheiser HD 598s are a great midrange option (always wait til they're on sale), but your mileage may vary depending on your answers to those questions.
So the Denon receiver is an older model but one that has held up very well since its inception in the early 2000s. Would be a perfect little amp to start an awesome listening station.
I'm not very well versed in the turntable side of things but a quick Google tells me it's an entry level turn table that is a little older. Not sure how it will sound/perform.
As for the RC-95 I believe you can run your audio through that bad boy and then it lets you control the level with the included remote(again, just Googling here, not a ton of info on this bad boy)
As for speakers, gosh there are so many and at ALL different price ranges. Personally, I have had good luck with Klipsch and Polk Audio speakers. With the system you have these should rock out pretty hard and sound really nice: [http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Synergy-F-30-Premium-Floor-Standing/dp/B003XRD9TG](Klipsch Floor Standing Speakers)
If you don't want to break the bank and want to have a rad audio experience might i suggest some awesome headphones and a DAC/AMP for them: [http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B0042A8CW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1419844009&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=hd598](Sennheiser HD598s)
DAC/AMP: [http://schiit.com/products/fulla](Fulla by Schiit)
Hope this helps a bit! Good luck!
edit: apparently I have no idea how to format, whatevs.
No, those look like the ivory colored old version (without the microphone).
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B0042A8CW2
Sennheiser HD 598s
They are fantastic open ear cans.
There actually is a bit overlap. When some people go into Best Buy and purchase a $200 pair of Beats if they had known better they would have bought a different brand. Audio Technica makes some awesome headphones in that price range, Sennheiser has some decent ones (this pair in particular fits the mold of the Beats demographic), and the Grado 225i is considered by many the best sub $300 pair of headphones out there for only $200. Yes, it's a different aesthetic, but there are people who buy Beats and think they have great audio and just don't know any better. Because of marketing.
Turtle beaches are among the worst crap you can buy.
If you want to really drop a decent amount, you can buy some pretty good audiophile headphones for a bit over $200. You'll need to get a separate microphone then, but that is a very good option for music and gaming.
Something like the dt990-pro, q701, or HD598
EDIT: Amazon links added w/ child's play affiliate and some others
http://camelcamelcamel.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-Over-Ear-Headphones/product/B0042A8CW2
The cheapest I've seen them brand new has been $99 USD for the past two Black Friday sales and I personally bought one last Black Friday. I would assume it would hit that price again with Amazon and their SE version this Black Friday as well. It has also gone as low as the 70s Like New for a short period probably due to returns of the SE edition and there was also that presumable price mistake on the Ivory color for Like New a couple of months ago if I'm remembering correctly. If you need one immediately, you can probably find one BNIB for like $120 USD give or take.
On Amazon, search for "microphone splitter adapter" and find one that looks like this:
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-MUYHSMFF-Headset-Splitter-Adapter/dp/B004SP0WAQ/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1411316777&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=microphone+splitter+adapter
Then connect the headphone part to a set of speakers. (if your sound system accepts Red/White cables as input, you can buy a 3.5 mm stereo jack to Red/White cable converter at many different lengths.) Then connect your pin mic to the mic connector and connect both to the controller via the adapter.
As the audio from the TV and the headphones might be different, I'd recommend connecting the headphone part to a separate set of speakers.
I feel for your condition. I don't like headphones either, but I don't have some condition.
Both will work, you just need to get one of these adapters if you don't already have one: https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-headsets-separate-headphone-microphone/dp/B004SP0WAQ
The surround sound (Windows Sonic for Headphones or Dolby Atmos for Headphones) will work on everything. No worries there. It's the mic monitoring (being able to hear yourself talk) that doesn't work with the original headphone adapter: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-one/accessories/headsets/stereo-headset-adapter
Mic monitoring DOES work on the newer Xbox One controllers that have a built in 3.5mm jack or the mini-keyboard attachment. I use the keyboard attachment on my old controller to get mic monitoring.
Here is the keyboard attachment I'm talking about: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-one/accessories/communications/chatpad
https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-headsets-separate-headphone-microphone/dp/B004SP0WAQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1500711129&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=StarTech.com+Headset+adapter+for+headsets+with+separate+headphone+%2F+microphone+plugs+-+3.5mm+4+position+to+2x+3+position+3.5mm+M%2FF
That's the problem. Here's what you will need: http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-headsets-separate-headphone-microphone/dp/B004SP0WAQ
Notice that this one has four conductors and yours has three. Don't waste your time looking in stores because it's very rare that anybody has it. Unfortunately you're gonna have to wait for shipping. You can find the same adapter on Newegg and Walmart.com if you would prefer.
You'll also need one of these. The splitter isn't going to work unless the bit that plugs into your controller is four pole (three black lines).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004SP0WAQ?ie=UTF8&amp;at=&amp;force-full-site=1&amp;ref_=aw_bottom_links
I use this to connect my Siberia v2 headset to the chat adapter and it works perfectly :)
If the microphone has a standard output in addition to USB, you could always try something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004SP0WAQ
It looks like it has 3.5mm mic and 3.5mm headset connectors. You'd need a 2x3-pole to 1x4-pole connector. I use this one from Amazon.
In op's defense here are some prices I found online.
Processor ($339.99):
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117826&amp;ignorebbr=1&amp;nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC&amp;cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC-_-pla-_-Processors+-+Desktops-_-N82E16819117826&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwgOzdBRDlARIsAJ6_HNntpJGeKcrIqLK_yPxSRmiBoa8Lvce7tKruCKMuIBUeanOlFagQmK0aApfGEALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds
Graphics Card ($550.83):
https://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Support-Graphics-08G-P4-6286-KR/dp/B01GAI64GO
RAM ($129.99):
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231888&amp;ignorebbr=1&amp;nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC&amp;cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC-_-pla-_-Memory+%28Desktop+Memory%29-_-N82E16820231888&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwgOzdBRDlARIsAJ6_HNluiesSkg9CxxBfxBDmz1HWxtmFUiMwnkaY7NVmjP6ZhSJRDLMI8AcaAot_EALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds (EDIT: made a mistake with ram. Previous was DDR3)
PSU ($56.99):
https://www.amazon.com/Apevia-ATX-JP800W-Certified-Supports-Crossfire/dp/B01IE09DXM/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1539020247&amp;sr=8-13&amp;keywords=800+watt+power+supply
CPU Cooler ($29.99):
https://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-RR-212E-20PK-R2-Direct-Contact/dp/B005O65JXI
SSD ($55.99):
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147676&amp;ignorebbr=1&amp;nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC&amp;cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC-_-pla-_-Solid+State+Disk-_-N82E16820147676&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwgOzdBRDlARIsAJ6_HNkIQk5_jTrXnqxvt_MIapC1vkX1Gi07g7kvIAkyp_NlJE7IL1MrCvMaAuQEEALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds
HDD ($45.99):
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236339&amp;ignorebbr=1&amp;nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC&amp;cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC-_-pla-_-Hard+Drives-_-N82E16822236339&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwgOzdBRDlARIsAJ6_HNkf9uXrvZly4mlfMtSPCSOJVbsDW1TXGscIqEVyzNOvp1Viya-ITYAaAmnyEALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds
339.99+550.83+129.99+56.99+29.99+55.99+45.99=$1209.77 (EDIT:Made a mistake with calculation and also want to note these all are found through quick searches and most don't look like top quality products. What op has is probably priced a bit more than all these parts. Also click on the frickin pc part picker on the post.) without case, monitor, and motherboard included. It is quite a steal in my opinion. By the way op are you wiling to sell just your CPU cooler to me? What would you price it at?
Your cooler is just a fan, get the CM Hyper 212 EVO. Your motherboard is incompatible with the processor, get the MSI H81M-P33. Your harddrive is a slow spinny spinny, get the WD Caviar Blue. Your graphics card/cpu is unbalanced, either downgrade the processor to the Intel i3-4160, or upgrade the graphics card to a GTX 960 or R9 380.Edit: No aftermarket cooler with the i3-4160.
What are you going to do with your PC? If it's just gaming then an i7 is a bit overkill. I'd recommend the FX 8350 with this build and if you want to overclock, I'd recommend the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU cooler. And you're right, it would be a great gift!
I know that feel bro, I had a AMD Phenom II x4 965BE that also ran at 125W. After upgrading to a Hyper 212 sound and noise were no longer an issue, (just size was, and I went without my stock case side panel the whole summer, lel)
Here is a $20 cpu cooler http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103064&amp;nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC&amp;cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC-_-pla-_-CPU+Fans+%26+Heatsinks-_-N82E16835103064&amp;gclid=CjwKEAiAg_CnBRDc1N_wuoCiwyESJABpBuMXlsgcfmGTOTavNvaSEJXZrNDQStKLkb4A_PBBXCHx-BoC-T_w_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds
And a comparison to the stock cooler on the fx 8350:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH9Oj_g6xYU
Or if you have $35 you can get the Hyper 212:
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-212-RR-212E-20PK-R2/dp/B005O65JXI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1425882089&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=212+evo , its better performance and almost silent for me (its been with my phenom and now its with my intel)
Use eBay.
Total: $512 or possibly less if you make some offers -- for a very capable system.
Example build (not cheap, nor expensive):
Extras:
AOC e2470Swda 23.6" 1080p LED Monitor with VESA Mountings - £110.06
Logitech MK330 Wireless Keyobard/Mouse Combo - £31.18
*0.3m HDMI Cable - £0.72
Total Cost: £400.46
Assuming you have either headphones or speakers, you'd be set up for around £400 (around $750 US), with a 23" monitor, wireless keyboard/mouse, and it would all move as if it were just the screen, since the PC would fit on the back of the monitor with the VESA mounting.
... Of course, it's still no substitute for a real desktop (the inability to add a graphics card would be pretty limiting), and I'm not sure how far I'd trust that integrated PSU, but if desktop space/portability is a real concern, then there are ways around that - better ones if you're willing to pay more.
and if you're feeling up to a tiny case sitting on your desktop in exchange for the ability to throw in a GPU at a later date, you could swap the case out for something like the Cooler Master Elite 120 for £40.24 and pick up a nice PSU for ~£35.
Brand new in box means that its unopened and sealed. Just warning you cause I seen a mod get anal about this earlier. Also you may wish to rethink pricing cause I doubt you'll get 50 straight for this if you can buy it new on Amazon for the same price.
No, you won't notice any difference in gaming. I would highly recommend purchasing a 1TB HDD alongside your SSD, as a 120GB SSD leaves very little space for games once your OS and other essential programs are installed. I would recommend a WD Blue 1TB.
Here is a good deal on a new hard drive. And like /u/ehManiacal said, I would not bother with a used HD, just not worth the risk.
I have 4 GB of DDR3 ram and a case that I'm not using, let m know if you are interested.
You can also get a new 120GB ssd from new egg for like $50.
http://www.amazon.ca/Western-Digital-3-5-Inch-Desktop-WD10EZEX/dp/B0088PUEPK/ref=aag_m_pw_dp?ie=UTF8&amp;m=A29LZXCT63LR05
I do not advise getting him a Alienware, they are overpriced for cosmetic reasoning. I'd say go with a dell or something in that range, but it all depends on what your budget is. What is your budget and I'll see what I can find?
EDIT: http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Inspiron-i7559-763BLK-Full-HD-GeForce/dp/B015PYYDMQ/ is a good laptop for under 1000 dollars, but it all depends on your budget as said before.
If it's going to be your only laptop, Dell's Inspiron is one of the best for under 1000$. It leaves you room to get some good peripherals, or a monitor if you want to have it also pull double duty as a desktop.
Ten bucks above your budget you can find the Dell Inspiron 15 i7559 on Amazon. Full HD IPS display, Intel i5 quad core, 256 GB SSD (it has a free 2.5 inch SATA bay), enough RAM and a Nvidia GTX 960M GPU. It will run games like Overwatch and CS:GO on the highest settings without issues.
Spend a little more for this.
If not, go with this.
This is similiar
I have the 24 inch and it's great.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0149QBOF0/
Get this Dell Insoiron which would surely provide you with all the performance power needed to run any photo editing programs and play the games you mentioned all on ultra settings. It has a powerful quad core i5 processor, 8 GB RAM, a nice gtx 960 graphics card and a fast 256 GB SSD.. It also has a nice 1080p screen resolution and a decent battery life ..It does have a full keyboard with back lighting as well as number pad.
This Dell 15.6-Inch Gaming Laptop would be a wonderful pick for you. This laptop is actually withing your budget, does have an good battery life and will run those games you have mentioned on high settings. The laptop has brilliant quad core i5 processor, 8 GB RAM, a great 256 GB SSD and of course, a gtx 960 dedicated graphics. This laptop will run the games you mentioned above on high settings.
u wont get a new laptop with a 970m at that price range, the cheapest will be about $1170 or something like that, u can however get a 15 7559 dell inspiron for $800 with a 960m
http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Inspiron-i7559-763BLK-Full-HD-GeForce/dp/B015PYYDMQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1459293530&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=15+7559
I would spending $799 (552 pounds on a Dell Inspiron 7559. You may be thinking, WHY IN THE WORLD would I want an Inspiron? Keep in mind that this is not their Alienware lineup, this computer is actually reasonably priced. It has an i5-6300 HQ which well get the job done. It also has a GTX 960M which will be perfect for gaming, and 8 GBs of RAM which is sufficient for any task. Keep in mind it only has a 256 GB SSD, so I would recommend keeping some external drives around unless you don't download a LOT of stuff like me. The screen is only 15.6 inches, but that is reasonable for the price. I don't personally own this laptop, I'm just viewing it by the specifacations, but if you want more insight on the laptop check out LinusTechTip's Video
Dell 7559 for
$769$788 shipped for those that want a 960M. This one has the i7-6700HQ, 1TB SSHD, and 16GB of RAM. Refurb. Also i5 version on Amazon for $699, new.Edit: Added Amazon link.
I have a version of this that doesn't have the SSD. With the version I'm linking you can add an extra hard drive. You can also add an extra 8GB of ram, I did.
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-15-6-Inch-Quad-Core-i5-6300HQ-Processor/dp/B015PYYDMQ/ref=sxts_k2p_hero1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_p=2668835642&amp;pf_rd_r=7TXPMJRHEDE0BWT6GDSW&amp;pd_rd_wg=5m0mW&amp;pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-top-slot&amp;pf_rd_t=301&amp;pd_rd_w=LgHan&amp;pf_rd_i=dell+inspiron&amp;pd_rd_r=2MMP8V5YMEFTTTW32GK1&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1478471063&amp;sr=1
I'm on the fence about this. I am worried about CL16. Would LPX 3000mhz CL15 be better than this?
https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-3000MHz-Desktop-Memory/dp/B0134EW7G8/ref=zg_bs_172500_1?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=98A1TTC0A2YFM5KEMQ7K
They are also on Amazon for the same price without the promo code. I assume it goes off sale at the same time.
Couple new games, like Quantum Break, recommend* 16GB Ram. Still reasonably cheap on Amazon - http://smile.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-3000MHz-PC4-24000-Memory/dp/B0134EW7G8/ref=sr_1_5?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1458910956&amp;sr=1-5&amp;keywords=corsair+vengeance
/u/jetjaguar124
Regarding your build below, most of it looks good. I have a few refinements you may wish to consider.
CPU: The 3600 is a fantastic go-to CPU and I have no complaints.
Mobo: The MSI Tomahawk is perhaps the most-recommended board on the AM4 platform. I have no complaints. The MAX version should come with the requisite BIOS updates needed to just slot in your 3600 and go. In theory.
RAM: I would recommend a 2x8 kit instead of the 1x16 kit. Taking advantage of dual-channel memory is worth 15-20% in games and perhaps is worth even more in workstation tasks. Amazon is selling a 2x8 kit at 3000 MHz speed for $65, so take a look at that.
SSD: I think the Intel 660p is perfectly fine for 95% of first-time builders. Some people will urge you to get a somewhat more expensive SSD.
HDD: I have no complaints about the 3TB Seagate.
GPU: You can probably get a somewhat better 5700 XT if you spend $20 to $30 more. By "better" I mean one that runs slightly cooler and slightly quieter. Gamers Nexus did a big review here. Their "best overall" is a $420 model available here.
Case: Subject to taste. Pick something according to your aesthetics.
I hope this helps!
!ping PC-BUILDING
3 Laptops I can recommend for you.
I shall assign them nicknames.
Gamy
General-usey
Sexy
Processor: In terms of clock speed gamey obviously has the best fucking processor, with a clock speed higher than me on LSD (I'm kidding, never do drugs, and if someone offers them to you say your mom doesn't let you.) but overall there isn't too much of a difference even though general-usey has an i5, i5's and i7's aren't very different (except that i7's cost a fuckton) unless you do a lot of photoshop/video-editing/AutoCAD.
GPU: Like the penis, it is not actually the most important part but in a man's mind it is. Gamey will easily pull of 50 FPS at GTA V ultra, but the general-usey doesn't lag far behind pulling off a respectable 42 FPS. So they're both very good, though gamey will last you longer.
RAM: NEVER CHOOSE A LAPTOP BASED ON RAM YOU FUCKTARD. IT'S UPGRADABLE.
OS: Win 10
Screen: All have anti-glare screens gamey is a 17", so you know the ladies like that ;) while general-usey packs a punch with his 15.6 incher and lagging far behind is Sexy, with a 13 incher.
Weight: Sexy literally weighs less and a macbook air and is thinner too. Yep pretty amazing. Heard she's on a diet.
General-usey is pretty light but not super light, I'd call it mid range.
Gamey is so heavy a crane wouldn't be able to lift it.
Battery: All have very good battery life for browing, doing uni-work etc. None would be able to pull off more than 2.5 hrs while gaming.
Storage: Sexy has an SSD so she can only store 512 GB but she has a very fast boot time. The others have a TB but probably launch apps 75% slower and boot much slower.
Personal recommendations
If I were to buy for myself I would get gamey, because weight isn't a factor for me.
Another laptop I can easily recommend is the Dell Inspiron 7559.
It has the most VRAM out of all these laptops, looks awesome, weights somewhere in between general-usey and gamey and has a fucking powerful processor.
Sorry for swearing so much, I just woke up.
.
.
.
Additional tips: If you plan on gaming(which you do, apparently), you should rule out Sexy immediately.
Also, inbox me your steam ID.
I think a few factors come into play;
Taking those three factors into consideration, I would say a $550-$600 USD range is realistic.
Edit: Grammar
If you prefer a gaming laptop with only SSD, what about the [Dell i7559-763BLK] (http://www.amazon.com/Dell-15-6-Inch-Quad-Core-i5-6300HQ-Processor/dp/B015PYYDMQ/)?
Here is the typical gaming performance of a 960M GPU:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-960M.138006.0.html
(scroll down to Game Benchmarks)
This is what you want: Dell 15.6-Inch Gaming Laptop (6th Gen Intel Quad-Core i5-6300HQ Processor up to 3.2GHz, 8GB DDR3, 256GB SSD, Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M, Windows 10) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015PYYDMQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_HBPQzb054FCSM
I actually have this laptop and I can run Warhammer on High (while plugged in) with around 30+ FPS. Some slowdowns with huge armies and lots of particle effects but generally a very smooth experience. It's a really solid laptop.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015PYYDMQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;th=1
That one will play it, 60fps at 1080p on high. It's the one I have for when I'm on the road
Also on amazon for those interested https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0134EW7G8/
165Hz is pretty pointless. I can tell you from experience that it difficult to even tell the difference between 120Hz and 144Hz, heck for most people anything over 90Hz starts to have diminishing returns.
The only use I could see for a 165Hz monitor is in cases where you're playing low-demanding titles such as CS:GO where you're getting abnormally high FPS, a higher refresh rate will mean less chances of tearing. But, this is addressed by NVIDIA's Fast Sync technology at the cost of some latency.
That being said, I'd say a single GTX 1080 will handle 1440p at 120-144Hz, and with a G-Sync display you won't even notice any small dips.
EDIT: also, I'd recommend this monitor for the price: http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Gaming-S2716DG-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B0149QBOF0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1464583131&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=DELL+S2716DG
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0149QBOF0/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&amp;me=
How about this?
This is my monitor. It's not IPS. But ill tell you it's DAMN BEAUTIFUL!!! It's also 1440p with 144hz and G-sync.
Had to look through the comments to make sure that somebody let OP know. Even if you, for whatever reason, do not want to take advantage of the G-Sync capabilities, you can always buy a 27" inch 1440p monitor for cheaper without the Freesync. If you are in the market for a G-Sync monitor with the same specs, this one goes on sale for around $350 semi-often.
I would look at the G-sync 1440p 144hz monitors.
You may need to turn down a few things to keep high fps, but some day you'll want to upgrade your GPU. And at that point, you'll have the monitor for it.
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Gaming-S2716DG-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B0149QBOF0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1492624267&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=dell+g-sync
That is the best bang for the buck when it comes to 1440p, 144hz, G-sync. I owned 2, and then upgraded one to a PG348q Ultrawide.
There are still a good amount of games that that 1070 will push high fps in at 1440p.
This is exactly what I want too. 27" 144Hz and G-sync. Here are the 3 that I've found and bookmarked and have been price-checking religiously:
Hopefully we get lucky on Cyber Monday and one of them drops below 500.
The [helios 300 7th gen] (https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Predator-i7-7700HQ-1060-6GB-G3-571-77QK/dp/B06Y4GZS9C/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1537760938&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=helios+300&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=gaming0789-20&amp;linkId=22cf6f3f530f36406cdab3c967d00013&amp;language=en_US) is now below a 1000 dollars. It's a true powerhouse laptop, which comes with a powerful gtx 1060 gpu and i7 processor, Great IPS screen display which is good for wide angle viewing. 7 hours of Battery life.
This list will help you to pick. It has the best laptops for gaming and high performance in various budget ranges. Just identify the budget range you have and ask any question you think is necessary.
Would something like this Helios 300 be something you would work with in terms of its appearance ? The performance power is definitely there, but it has quite a gaming appearance. This Pavilion Gaming 15t Notebook has a weaker graphics card, but a better display and more powerful processor.
Hey,
How about the Acer Predator Helios 300? It has:
The laptop runs Windows 10 Home. Any recent game (AAA titles) will run great at high settings, so the games you listed will have no issue. It will also be fine for general use.
Currently using a 17" Acer Predator in college for game dev, and some gaming. Mine was 1400$ but they have cheaper ones that are 15". Runs all my games at high-ultra at 60fps.
Looks like they are right at 1000$ now. Definitely suggest this over something thats closer to 600$ for obvious reasons. And Acer has a 2 year manufacture warranty, while most have 1 year.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y4GZS9C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_bjxNBbGJHPE62
Amazon has it too: https://www.amazon.com/Dell-S2417DG-YNY1D-24-Inch-LED-Lit/dp/B01IOO4SGK
Amazon says LED but Im not sure. If you have an Amazon Prime card, you can get the 5% cash back bringing this monitor to 380 + tax? Though, Im sure youll have to pay tax for BestBuy too.
this one from dell
Dell S2417DG
The [Dell S2417DG] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IOO4SGK/) is on sale on Amazon.com for $400 USD right now. I don't have any personal experience with it, but reviews look good. It's basically just the 24" variant of the S2716DG you mentioned yourself. It's worth mentioning that the Amazon product description does not indicate that it's 144hz, but the [Dell product page] (http://www.dell.com/ed/business/p/dell-s2417dg-monitor/pd) does.
I’ve got this exact laptop. Thing is a beast. Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop, 15.6" Full HD, Intel Core i7-7700HQ CPU, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, GeForce GTX 1060-6GB, VR Ready, Red Backlit KB, Metal Chassis, G3-571-77QK https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y4GZS9C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_j.oWAbEH9ZX8Q
Edit- it’s $1049 on amazon right now.
I have the 960 version and it's been great. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015PYYDMQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1 For $800 I got a 250GB SSD, 8GB memory, and an i5 along with a GTX 960 and an IPS panel. It's quite a bit lighter than my previous laptop, and can run for several hours on battery.
As was mentioned, you won't find one under £150. Some recommended entry level 144Hz monitors would be:
BenQ Zowie XL2411
ASUS VG248QE
AOC G2460PF
The AOC is the one I have, mainly because it was the cheapest of the three at the time. Have no issues with it, Freesync is nice for the price, although I can't make use of it.
To help out /u/prim0_RL, I have both a Ryzen 5 1600 and a GTX 1060 3GB. I can get 250 at 1080p if I turn down some settings and a stable 144 at max is 1000000% percent achievable. I love my 144hz monitor and for the price, I love my AOC G2460PF
I might suggest the AOC G2460PF (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BV1XBEI/) then. I don't have any personal experience with it but I think it fits your needs. Like the suggested monitor, it's 1080p 144Hz (great for FPSs) but it also includes AMDs FreeSync which will give you smoother gameplay since you have an AMD GPU.
Same here. I was gonna get this $195 AOC G2460PF 144HZ on Amazon when I saw this 240HZ. Hope we win the lottery and not get bad panels. Good luck
I got this one a few months ago and couldn't be happier
AOC G2460PF 24-Inch Free Sync Gaming LED Monitor, Full HD (1920 x 1080), 144hz, 1ms https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BV1XBEI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_nzzcJhtxedhME
There are a few options though it depends what route you wish to take. It's hard to know how much ghosting a 1080p IPS panel will have due to the lack of detailed reviews of them.
If I had to pick a 27" IPS I would grab something like the ASUS MX279H which is slightly over budget. Not sure if it's the best one though as I don't often look at the 1080/60/IPS monitors.
If you want to rid yourself as much ghosting as possible then 144Hz would be fantastic. Less motion blur compared to 60Hz, less input lag, buttery smooth and since it's TN its a little faster.
For $200 you can get a good 144Hz monitor, the AOC G2460PF which also includes Freesync.
In the end it depends if you prefer 144Hz or the benefits of an IPS panel more.
http://www.amazon.com/AOC-G2460PF-24-Inch-Gaming-Monitor/dp/B01BV1XBEI/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1458925652&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=AOC+G2460PF
get this. 144hz freesync
currently 210$ at the time of this post.
Nah, my monitor's decent, I was just choking
The AOC G2460PF and ViewSonic XG2401 are both solid choices. Each have FreeSync, 144hz, 1ms, and are 1080p resolution.
AOC G2460PF
ViewSonic XG2401
The monitor OP bought is literally the same price as a 1070...
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-S2417DG-YNY1D-24-Inch-LED-Lit/dp/B01IOO4SGK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1485436625&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=Dell+gsync
I have the gsync version of this monitor ( which I would recommend if you have an nvidia gpu, it was only about $30 more when I got it however it is the 24' variant). I assume it is like mine and does not have speakers which doesnt bother me given that I use headphones almost exclusively. I think it is a solid monitor for the price, however dont be alarm if your colors dont look quite right out of the box, there are alot of forum posts giving better settings for color accuracy and other things. Also my roommate has the same monitor and we both have noticed a slight issue where it will move a row of pixels in the middle to the left side of the monitor, dont fret because this is fixed simply by just turning the monitor off and on again, takes maybe 15 secs so it hasn't been too big of a deal.
Overall I think it is a solid monitor for what you're paying, not the best of the best, but by no means the worst. And as far as gaming is concerned being at 144hz in 1440p is great, although it does raise your standards a bit so console just feels wrong XD.
lastly this is not some sort of flash sale, these lines of monitors are constantly on sale, given I bought mine over a year ago and my roommate was able to find the same deal on the 27' version 6 months later for about $350 I think.
Sorry for the long post, but I hope this was helpful in some way :)
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Here is a link to my exact monitor, only 24' however it is gsync and only $315 currently: https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Gaming-S2716DGR-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B01IOO4SGK?th=1
The 24" is going for the same price on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dell-S2417DG-24-Inch-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B01IOO4SGK/
BestBuy also seems to have an Openbox option on the bottom of the page for $314.99.
Edited: Got the size wrong because my mother beat me as a child.
Get the Acer Predator Helios, off Amazon. It ships here too, but the S&H and Import fees almost total up to 500 dirhams. Check SnS. The laptop's $1049 which is 4549 including the S&H and Import fees, and I don't think you'll get many good deals at GITEX, but it's worth checking out. :)
One of my friends just picked up the Acer Predator Helios 300. He runs squad at around 60 FPS on most maps. For the specs you can't beat the price. i7 1060. $1,049.99
https://www.amazon.com/Amazons-Choice-Predator-GeForce-G3-571-77QK/dp/B06Y4GZS9C
In this price range for gaming I would rather choose Acer Predator Helios 300.
It has:
More details
No, that asus model is still a TN panel, meaning the colors should be really close for both.
The AOC: LINK ,seems to be the better overall option, 144hz,1ms,Freesync, etc.
AOC and LG have cheap FreeSync monitors:
1) The cheapest: AOC G2460VQ6
24", 1980x1080, 75 hz, TN, 170$
FreeSync range: 48-75hz
https://www.amazon.co.uk/AOC-G2460VQ6-24-Inch-LED-Monitor/dp/B015510R4M
2) High refresh rate: AOC G2460PF
24" 1980x1080, 144 hz, TN, 210$
FreeSync range: 35-144 hz
http://www.amazon.com/AOC-G2460PF-24-Inch-Gaming-Monitor/dp/B01BV1XBEI
3) Cheapest ultrawide: LG 29UM68-P
29", 2560 x 1080, 75 hz, IPS, 350$
FreeSync range: 40-75 hz
http://www.amazon.com/LG-Electronics-UltraWide-29UM68-P-LED-lit/dp/B01B9IDLAW/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1465081379&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=lg+29um68
My personal choice will be the LG + RX 480 / 490.
Edit: That LG's FreeSync range might be expandable to 32-80 hz (LFC sweetspot), source:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ultrawidemasterrace/comments/454bva/got_a_brand_new_uw_lg_29um68p/czvlw87
The freesync version is also on sale on Amazon for $209. Link
Dell 1440p, 165hz, 1ms, 24” TN panel, with G Sync
For less than $400
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Monitor-S2417DG-24-Inch-Response/dp/B01IOO4SGK/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=F5IR20ICCTOY&amp;keywords=dell+1440p+144hz+gsync&amp;qid=1557235632&amp;s=gateway&amp;sprefix=dell+1440&amp;sr=8-3
I HIGHLY recommend this monitor. I've purchased about 4 of them for various builds I've done and it's the best bang for the buck https://www.amazon.com/Dell-S2417DG-YNY1D-24-Inch-LED-Lit/dp/B01IOO4SGK
How can you even justify it for yourself let alone your parents? Jokes aside, for cheaper than that price you can get a 1440p 165hz G-Sync 24in Monitor. Which is better in almost every way aside from the refresh rate, which is still really high. Older people tend to react better to higher resolution over higher refresh rates (Which this thing still also has). Also, the fact that it doesnt look like a gaming monitor means it might be easier to justify it to them.
I'm seeing this at $395.25 "marked down" from 569.99 on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IOO4SGK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_aqxVAbX63WCK4
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IOO4SGK/?tag=pcpapi-20
That's about as good as it gets. 1440p and 144hz.
I believe he's talking about the S2417DG. It does go down to $350 regularly for the 24 inch, sometimes even below, but it looks to be $400 on amazon right now.
I used to own this monitor. While it's bang-for-buck on paper, the contrast is poor and colors weren't great (expected of a TN panel), mine had noticeable backlight bleeding, and sometimes the display would flicker when GSYNC was on while gaming.
That being said, it's still a great gaming monitor with very low latency. If you want GSYNC, you won't find a cheaper regional monitor with these specs. I wouldn't buy it if you plan on doing anything with it other than gaming, though.
If you're interested in a really in-depth review, rtings has one on this monitor.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B01IOO4SGK/ref=mw_dp_olp?ie=UTF8&amp;condition=all
Does that work?
A realistic answer haha? Anyways, I can strongly suggest getting a monitor for GSync with a setup like mine. Itll help relieve the stress of dropping frames since its on the entry level of 1440p 144hz gaming. If you have a beast card like a 2080ti that probably isnt as necessary. I have this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IOO4SGK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Ryzen uses dual channel, so get 2 x 8GB sticks of ram instead of 1 x 16GB sticks. The B350 /u/manojk92 mentioned above has 4 slots for ram, so you'll have room to add more down the line.
It's also not true that you need more than 8GB of ram. 1 or 2 games might recommend 12GB, but 99% of the time 8GB is more than enough. I'd still advise getting 16GB to make sure you never find yourself needing more, but if you had to save money you could get 1 x 8GB stick now and then buy another 8GB stick in a month or a couple weeks when you have more cash.
450W PSU is enough and leaves about 100W of headroom for that build's max power draw, but keep in mind if you upgrade in the future to more power hungry parts, you might want to consider getting a higher wattage PSU. Especially if you overclock. That 450W one is decent and so cheap, I wouldn't get a higher wattage one right now unless you find one of equal quality for about the same price (which isn't likely to happen).
That monitor is also freesync - which the 1080 doesn't support. Another option would be this which is on sale for $380 + tax right now. 1440p, 165Hz, 24", and has Gsync. Gsync prevents screen tearing when your fps drops below the frequency (Hz) your monitor operates at, and it only works with Nvidia cards. Freesync, which the acer above has, only works with AMD cards. It'll be very noticeable during cut scenes - lot of games cap fps during cut scenes to 30.
Same price at Amazon 319.99:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IOO4SGK
Honestly for 1350 you should really be looking at laptops with at least a 1060. At that price you could even land one with 6gb vram. That laptop only has a 1050 and not even a TI it looks like. I say no go bromigo.
Check out this Predator Helios for example. Way better laptop for the money. Only thing it's missing is a mechanical drive for storage but it is also almost 300 less than that ROG
Well if you want great value for money as well then I would recommend this Acer 300 because it comes with everything you need , i7 quad core CPU which is one of the best in the market and great for your usage, 16GB of ram for smooth multitasking, Good SSD storage of 256 GB for faster boot up and loading, Full HD IPS screen which is a must have for this price range, high build quality, very good heat management, 1060 GPU that should be able to handle the games you mentioned on medium to high settings with very good FPs, and it is within your budget.
The new Intel chips you've been hearing about are probably the ones with integrated Vega graphics. They're not out yet.
However $1400 should get your friend something quite a bit more than entry level, and much more powerful than whatever those new chips will have to offer.
For example, this Acer Predator Helios 300 is ~$1000 with an i7-7700HQ, GTX 1060 6GB, 16GB of RAM, SSD, 1080p screen, very good specs for a 1080p gaming laptop. At $1400 you can get something with a GTX 1070, which is already high-end for laptop.
link to laptop new on amazon
4 stars $1049 there.
Seems like decent deal, but I am hoping for a 1070 or 1080+144hz (which would cost more of course)
https://www.amazon.com/AOC-G2460PF-24-Inch-Gaming-Monitor/dp/B01BV1XBEI
I love this monitor. I got the 28 version for this same price. Good budget monitor that's budget in the key area which is 1080p. 144hz, 1ms response, and freesync.
ViewSonic VX2457
ViewSonic-XG2401
AOC-G2460PF
24" 1080p 1ms 144Hz TN panel monitor on sale for $205 right now.
I'd go with this: https://www.amazon.ca/AOC-G2460PF-24-Inch-Gaming-Monitor/dp/B01BV1XBEI/ref=sr_1_1?m=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&amp;s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1522514680&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=aoc+144hz
It's at a fairy low price, but has all of the features of the more high-end monitors.
This is the lowest price I have seen for this monitor on this sub. I would have bought one, but tax in CA kills the deal for me.
If you are sensitive to refurbished, for $198 at Amazon, this is brand new and very similar: https://www.amazon.com/AOC-G2460PF-24-Inch-Professional-Monitor/dp/B01BV1XBEI
I have had great luck with ebay Manufacturer refurb monitors. I think its a great deal if you are sensitive to price.
Your budget is too low for a proper 144Hz build. But even if it were higher, PUBG is still that unoptimized that proper performance can't be certain.
Can you raise your budget? This is a proper build for 144Hz:
pc-kombo shared list
Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i7-7700K | $322.99 @ superbiiz
Motherboard | ASRock Z270 Pro4 | $93.99 @ newegg
Memory | G.Skill Aegis DDR4 DDR4-3000 16GB (16 GB) | $131.99 @ newegg
Storage | WD Blue WD10EZEX (1 TB) | $45.98 @ superbiiz
SSD | SanDisk Plus 120GB TLC (120 GB) | $59.75 @ Amazon.com
Video Card | ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1070 Mini | $428.89 @ superbiiz
Case | RAIJINTEK Arcadia Midi-Tower - black (view case size) | $35.99 @ superbiiz
Power Supply | Corsair CX550M (550 W) | $49.99 @ Amazon.com
CPU Cooler | RAIJINTEK Themis Heatpipe , PWM - 120mm | $24.99 @ superbiiz
| Total | $1195.55
| Generated by pc-kombo 05.09.2017 |
It still misses the display, but that would be i.e. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BV1XBEI.
If that is way too expensive (it most likely is) say the word and I will show something cheaper.
If anyone has experience with these monitors, which one is the best for the price with build quality, colors, etc?
[AOC G2460PF] (https://www.amazon.com/AOC-G2460PQU-Ultimate-Performance-Professional/dp/B00HY7PAUC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1505149072&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=AOC+G2460PQU)
[Acer XFA240 bmjdpr] https://www.amazon.com/Acer-XFA240-bmjdpr-FREESYNC-Technology/dp/B06ZYHZ6R6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1505149080&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=Acer+XFA240+bmjdpr)
[AOC G2460PQU] https://www.amazon.com/AOC-G2460PF-24-Inch-Professional-Monitor/dp/B01BV1XBEI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1505149088&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=AOC+G2460PF)
[ASUS MG248QR] (http://www.microcenter.com/product/480187/MG248QR_24_Full_HD_HDMI_FreeSync-Adaptive_Gaming_Monitor) This one i can get a student discount so i would get it for about the same price range as the other 3.
Thanks for any help you can give me!
Also available on Amazon for the same price with Prime Shipping if you have a Prime account.
Dell S2417DG. It's only 24" but it has g-sync and is 165hz.
akchyually
Found it on amazon for $370: https://www.amazon.com/Dell-S2417DG-24-Inch-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B01IOO4SGK We may have a winner!
Here's the Dell for anyone curious.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IOO4SGK/ref=twister_B01N5DR9U9?_encoding=UTF8&amp;th=1
There's only 5 left when I posted this...possibly 4 depending on whether or not I cave.
Is G-Sync worth the extra tax? I'm dying and have been on the edge of buying a monitor for like 5 months...is this probably the best price I will get on a similar monitor?
These things in case of high winds...
3 Pair Motorcycle Riding Glasses, or any other "padded sunglasses". They keep the dust out, look decent and are cheap.
12-in-1 Headband, they come in a ton of patterns too. They're better than a bandana and good when it's hot/cold.
VELCRO One Wrap Thin Ties, Black, 8 x 1/2-Inch. I use these things for everything.
https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-Black-2-Inch-91140/dp/B001E1Y5O6
Use these to tie up your cables
We use Velcro cable ties at work and now I use them at home too.
I second the velcro choice. $7 on amazon for 100 velcro ties.
Hey if you want to up your condition presentation game get some of these cheap velcro cable ties - https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-ONE-WRAP-Management-Self-Gripping/dp/B001E1Y5O6
I did professional cable management for the past 14 months or so. For me and my team this stuff was the absolute shit:
https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-ONE-WRAP-Management-Self-Gripping/dp/B001E1Y5O6/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1474004500&amp;sr=8-5&amp;keywords=velcro
Anytime we would start running low we'd all start hoarding it to ourselves like it was toilet paper after the apocalypse. We also had some techniques like creating a cable sausage where you fold the cable into a sausage, velcro the center, slide the wrap to one side of the sausage then strap another piece to the center and slide that out to the other end of the sausage. Was a handy trick I still use at home.
You might have tried this already, but how about instead of your back to the wall, the desk goes up against the same wall? This will help with the following:
You are both wrong.
Velcro zip ties FTW.
Superior.
Here are the parts I used:
The cable raceway and the cable clips made the biggest difference. In the past I would just use the velcro strips, which would help with making the cables look more clean, but not with hiding them altogether.
The process I used was:
Fixed your link
I would run all cabled directly off to either the left or right side, bundle them and then run them over the top and down the other side.
Consider getting an arm or something else to avoid messing the whole thing up when you pull out the server on the rails. You can kind of wing it without one though.
Velcro strips comes in real handy for cable management. Having 100 of those hanging off the sides makes it really easy to gather up the cables and redo them when adding equipment. They don't look quite as nice as plastic strips, but it is just so much more enjoyable to work with for projects like this.
https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-Black-2-Inch-91140/dp/B001E1Y5O6
Similar ones can be bought on AliExpress for peanuts if you can wait a month.
From the looks of it pulling the server out on the rails will disconnect the power cords. I would mount an extension socket next to it with an on/off switch that lights up.
I'd probably affix some of those velcro cable-ties or similar to the back of the box to clean up the dangling cables some more. You can then still open the ties to move your consoles and cables around, but there'll be no more risk of pulling on any cables by accident when carrying something past or so. Plus, bonus, it looks cleaner.
Amazon boxes and velcro cable ties.
Everything started out in one box and about once every 3 months it mitoses into new, smaller boxes.
Right now I have: USB cables. If it has a USB port on any end, it goes into the USB box.
Wall Warts: Everything gets labeled with a label maker the voltage and current so I don't have to read every single one
Video: DVI, VGA, HDMI, DP.
"Other:"
And then shelves. Shelves upon shelves.
Came here to recommend velcro cable ties as well. I bought this 100 pack from Amazon for $6.99. I have enough to last through Armageddon. Very handy.
Cable management to start.
You need to set yourself ample time and be in a focused mood to do it.
Basically, you sit down one Saturday (or other day off), and unplug EVERYTHING.
Line up all of the equipment the way you want to so it looks nice and neat, and then run the wiring. (optional but helpful: label the wires)
I use these a lot at work: https://smile.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-Reusable-Fastening-Organizing/dp/B001E1Y5O6/ you can also buy one long roll of velcro so you can cut to size, I like that better at home.
To address the flipping over because of cables, you have to contort the cables. Bend them in the opposite direction they want to bend, not too hard but firm, and they'll end up wanting to stay straight.
Pro-tip: If you hang a group of cables over a hook and cable tie them together at the bottom, near the RJ-45 tips; leave them there for a week or so, you end up with really straight cables. (I got this trick from my former boss).
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Edit: for me, if I had a wire rack I would make it look more pleasant by putting a wooden board, or even poster board on top of the metal wire so you couldn't see through it. That may just be a personal preference though.
Edit 2: Thank you kind internet stranger for the silver!
Anyone who wants to improve their cable management skills needs to get these fuckers. I don't know how I lived without them: http://www.amazon.com/Velcro-Reusable-Self-Gripping-Inches-91140/dp/B001E1Y5O6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1376163559&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=velcro+cable+ties
No more snipping 20 cable ties when I want to move something. They're just as strong as zipties but you can reuse them as many times as you want.
> Also velcro is quite expensive
It's really not.
First, use these: https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-Reusable-Fastening-Organizing/dp/B001E1Y5O6
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Second: put like cables in ziplock bags. Either quart or gallon depending on how many you have. Then label those bags and put them in a box like you have been.
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I have literally used hundred of those cable ties though. Use those for sure.
Post a follow up! I won't be able to sleep knowing this is out there!
Edit: Don't use zip ties, get Velcro ties.
amazon link
I just moved into a new place, so I've had the opportunity to upgrade a lot of my stuff.
Here's my list (sorted by value it provides to me)
Amazon to the rescue?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E1Y5O6/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
So when I originally moved in to my house last year, I set things up in a very temporary setup that became more permanent than I was hoping. I also had to bring another box home from my office when we moved locations and we no longer had a dedicated internet connection so I couldn't expose anything directly to the internet.
I've been looking at setups from everyone for a while now, getting ideas of what I needed and I finally settled on the following:
I don't intend on purchasing full sized rack mount servers as I just use desktop class hardware for the most part but I took the two systems that I had in desktop cases and put them in the Rosewill cases that I've seen a lot of people use and a coworker recently suggested them as well as he recent did a rack setup. Since I don't need full size servers, I decided to go with a 4 post "network" rack as I don't really need the extra depth. I'm just using a 1U blank to help stabilize the servers in the rack so they're not just hanging from the front.
If anyone is looking to get some of the same components, I would say that the 1U shelves that I bought don't really work that well as I had to get creative with the brackets to make them work and they do extend out the back a bit but I knew they would do that when I purchased them, I just didn't realize I would have to flip around some brackets to make it work.
My network is really basic so I went with a 24 port unmanaged gigabit switch. I did have to get some POE injectors for my 3 WAPs as I did have a 8 port switch that had built in POE before but I knew that 8 ports wasn't going to cut it and I wanted to go with a rack mount switch.
Future plans are to replace the 3 regular PSUs with something rack mountable. Right now I have one PSU for each box and then the 3rd is for all of the network equipment. I'd also like to get a KVM but for right now I have HDMI cables ran to the side where I can easily switch them out and the keyboard I only plug into the front panels if I need it.
And for outside-the-box cable management I use Velco cable ties.
But you can get actual Velcro-brand cable ties for even cheaper...
https://www.amazon.com/Metro-ED500-DataVac-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
Sure, except for the fact that those vacuums are too wimpy to really do anything.
Better to go big or go home!
I use one of these and a camera lens brush / qtip for any stubborn bits:
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
If you want one that's not a toy, grab a Metro Vacuum ED500 DataVac 500-Watt 0.75-HP Electric Duster instead.
Highly recommended. Just be sure to have your earplugs handy, they're loud.
Get dust filters for your case and buy an electric duster.
I live in an apartment but I own one of these https://www.amazon.com/Metro-DataVac-500-Watt-0-75-HP-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW (can't vouch for that particular listing, but the product is what I mean).
It looks unassuming but that fucker is just a (electric, corded) leaf blower in a different indoor form factor. I bought it after the bad ash clouds a few years ago to clean my electronics.
Use something like this instead.
I'm a big fan of [this...]
(http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=pd_sim_60_6?ie=UTF8&amp;dpID=41Cp8R4LZ9L&amp;dpSrc=sims&amp;preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&amp;refRID=1ZFDRCAFYA8014DSD9PR)
Haven't tried the one you listed, but this is super portable and has a decently long cord. Doesn't have a vacuum feature though.
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
THIS
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
Never touched a can since
When it comes to cleaning the interiors, a data vac is awesome. Just need power and a good spot for the blow job. http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
I picked up one of these once I finished my last can of air. Sure it's a little pricy, but I'll never have to pick up another can again!
The thing is just as powerful, if not more powerful than a can of air and you can use it for much longer (granted it does get a bit warm).
I actually look forward to cleaning my computer as well as friends just to put that thing to work, haha
Buy the Metro Vac if you plan on having your PC for a few years and building more in the future. It will save you over the long run from buying compressed air and you don't have to worry about the liquid coming out from the can. Just make sure you hold your fans in place while cleaning (even when using compressed air as well). You don't have to worry about the static from a regular vacuum as well.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J4ZOAW/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1/191-3113634-4563214?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&amp;pf_rd_r=1Z6SX38GBHP14Y4KQQVP&amp;pf_rd_t=201&amp;pf_rd_p=1535523722&amp;pf_rd_i=B000RMPXXK
I clean two PCs out about every 6 months, if you can take them outside its even easier. I saw someone else post this a while back and it has definitely been worth the money. I hated buying the cans of compressed air so I used to just put off cleaning it, but now with this thing I've been cleaning them out pretty regularly.
You can also get some dust filters for your intake fans as well, I have some cheap ones from Silverstone and they work pretty well. I believe you can also make your own filter just by using some pantyhose.
Zalman mic for 8 bucks on Amazon - Sounds good and uses a standard 3.5mm audio jack, so no drivers or BS. If it's not long enough you can get it with an extension cable or pick up a cheap one from Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy, whatever. It clips onto your headphone cord or shirt or whatever, and if it doesn't hold tight enough you can just put a binder clip on it. It's a great way to not spend 100 bucks on a headset that sounds as good as $30 headphones. Now you can spend that money on something that sounds really great, or beer.
Sennheiser HD 201 + http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=pd_sim_e_1?ie=UTF8&amp;refRID=0DC54EY9HC1S0YFQQR49
Will sound considerably better than this garbage.
amp isn't required for these. this zalman mic works great for me
I use this one. Gets the job done, haven't heard a single complaint from anyone. I just clip it to my headphone cable.
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1418945333&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=clip+on+mic
Well, with audio, quality of sound and product often go hand in hand. My point about the headphone/mic combo stands. The quality on headsets, from my experience, pail in comparison.
For your budget, /r/headphones recommends the [Panasonic RP-HTF600-S] (http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-RPHTF600S-RP-HTF600-S-Stereo-Headphones/dp/B004MMEI8W) with the [Zalman clip-on mic.] (http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ)
You can see down in the review section that someone published a video using the mic, and it sounds pretty good.
Don't buy into the whole "gaming headset" craze. A lot of it is overpriced garbage. Find a pair of good quality headphones and then buy this mic to go with it.
If you want to save money and only care about performance/price ratio try this combination in the sub 75 dollar range, which should be sufficient for most gamers. This will net you better quality than anything that is marketed for gaming:
Sennheiser HD 202
Zalman ZM-MIC1
Separate Mic! No need to limit your options by only looking at headsets. Get a decent set of cans and get a separate microphone. This is what i did but you can swap out any solid set of cans in your price range. Drop 250 for akg701's Here and get a
15$8$ mic, amazing solution if you have the power to drive the headphones. If you are super picky about microphone quality go for a blue microphone.Don't buy into the whole "gaming headset" craze. Find a good pair of legitimate headphones and then buy a mic like this one to go with it.
My friends and I use that mic and the sound quality is crystal clear through both ends. Don't be fooled by a gaming headset being good just because it has a built in microphone. Majority (if not all of them) have terrible quality and are ridiculously overpriced. I know you don't want to order things online, but I'd recommend looking into it. If you're putting $50-$100 into something, it's much more worth it to wait a week for it to come in than settle for a half-assed pair because you can buy it directly from the store.
Zalman clip on mic. Best thing ever.
Cheap too.
Edit: Actually, looking at the cx500 I don't think the zalman will be able to clip onto them, so you should look into something like one of the logitech desk mics.
Audio Technica ATH-AD700
Zalman Microphone
Simply superb combination. Throw in a Xonar DG is you want a nice (and cheap) sound card to bring it all together.
Depends on some things.
Do you want virtual 7.1 simulation/EAX support? If yes, a standard Xonar DS soundcard for around 30-40USD will suffice. That will help with some of the more expensive headphones too, which will need a bit of extra power to drive.
Pretty much every gaming headset uses rather cheap mics and so can we. All voip comm will get heavily compressed, be it with TS, skype or ingame voice, so you really don't need a high quality mic for gaming. Many gamers are using a Zalman mic for around 10USD, but any cheap, sturdy clip on mic will do.
This left us with around ~150USD for a good headphone. There are plenty of alternatives in the <150USD range, I can give you a couple of often recommended options.
The favorite right now in hi-fi circles is the ATH-m50 at around 130USD.
A very comfortable pair are the AKG K271MKII at the same price level.
To complete the our maxing out the budget trio we have the Ultrasone HFI-780.
All three have superior drivers with very good sound characteristics, very decent isolation and are fun enough to listen to for gaming, music and movies.
But we don't really have to max out the budget to get superior sound quality. There are some very decent headphones under 100USD too, which can more than compete with any high budget gaming headset.
Some examples: Sony MDRZX700
Creative Aurvana Live, especially for Europeans where the price is better
similar famous like the ATH-M50 are the ATH-AD700. It's a open headphone though, so gone is any decent isolation in exchange for a better soundstage.
I could go on for a bit, but those mentioned above are pretty well known and tested with the hi-fi community. You should find plenty of reviews and user experience for them. While some of them are a bit more analytical than most users are used to, they are all pretty fun and warm and not so boring like traditional studio monitors.
Even if we look at the lower budget gaming headsets <100USD, many without any 7.1 simulation, we can find plenty of better sound headphones, especially if we don't need a soundcard.
I responded to a similar thread on girlgamers here;
http://www.reddit.com/r/GirlGamers/comments/1y7ae5/in_need_of_a_good_pair_of_head_phones_wmic/cfhzlua
>My advice is to not buy a headset, and instead get a nice pair of headphones and a clipon mic. The majority of "gaming headsets" provide vastly inferior audio quality, are USB, and are really overpriced for what you get. see: Astro's.
>My suggestion is watch this video; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1rXcJuEsy0
>To get a decent understanding of how headphones work, and what a lot of the general terminology means (Amp/DAC/Ohms/SNR/Digital and Analog signals/etc).
>Then proceed to;
>www.reddit.com/r/headphones
>And they'll probably tell you the exact same thing. A good pair of headphones combined with a clip-on-mic will not only provide the best audio experience for your money, but also the best audio experience period.
>http://www.head-fi.org/a/headphone-buying-guide
>This is a good price-range guide for headphones as well.
>in general;
>5.1 and 7.1 are a gimmick, virtual 5.1 and 7.1 dont do anything but allow 5.1 and 7.1 audio channel audio to be played as 5.1 and 7.1 audio channels.
>Generally in gaming, virtual 5.1 and 7.1 can actually muddy up directional sound and make your audio experience significantly worse if the game isnt optimized for that exact audio spartialization.
>You dont want USB if you're going to be using an Amp/DAC or a Soundcard, because it wont actually use your amp/dac or soundcard.
>Popular recommendations are like;
>Audio Technica ATH-M50
>Audio Technica ATH-AD700
>Audio Technica ATH-AD700x
>Sennheiser HD-280 Pro
>Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro
and then a clip-on microphone like this one;
>Zalman ZM Mic1
But the tl;dr is, buy a good pair of headphones and a clip on mic. They will sound better, last longer, and potentially be significantly cheaper.
Also, check out Massdrop for good deals on Headphones and Amp/DAC's.
Headphones
AKG K-540
Sennheiser HD-439
Microphone
Zalman ZM-MIC 1
Either of those headphones will do just fine for it's price range plus you don't have to deal with the price premium for headsets. I own the Zalman mic myself and it's pretty decent for the price. If you really need a headset, my only recommendation would be the Skullcandy Slyr.
Lurk r/buildapcsales, There's always posts every few days that pop up for a great pair of headphones. Sennheiser, beyerdynamics, and akg just to name a few. Any of those paired with a standalone mic or modmic or clipon mic will always deliver sound leagues above
don't buy a headset.
Buy a pair of headphones and this http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
this advice is pretty much universal for anyone who knows anything.
Disclaimer:
I don't know A LOT about audio quality and what to consider when buying topnotch headphones, however:
A few months ago I was looking for a gaming headset (headphones+mic) myself and found the following combination on a German web page (their discussion board is very appreciated in Germany):
Superlux HD 681 - £27 on Amazon
Zalman Zm-Mic1 - £10 on Amazon
I never had expensive headphones before but the guys on the board stated that the Superlux HD681 go head to head with some €150 AKG headphones. I, for my part, have no comparison but I really like them and have yet to find their downside. The mic is good too, but it falls of the cord quit frequently cause I move quite a lot.
I also bought the headphones along with velvet ear cushions like those (£10 on Amazon), which make long gaming sessions very comfortable.
You now spent only about £47 so you still have half of your budget for a nice audio card, enhancing your audio-experience even more.
I hope I could support you a little bit for your buying decision and please excuse me for my bad English. =)
Edit: formatting
Could have sworn i only payed like 4 bucks for mine, but here is the default one. That is actually the recommended mic to go with when picking out a headphones + mic vs Headset. Its generally either that, or the high end solution which is to use a ModMic (40 or so bucks). That said, i and several friends use the zalman and have no complaints. Meanwhile, another friend has a razer headset and its the worst fucking thing when being on coms with him.
Don't buy into "gaming headsets". A nice pair of headphones with an external mic will give you way more sound quality. If I were you I would get:
Sennheiser HD 598's- http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-Headphones-Accents/dp/B0042A8CW2/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1414427164&amp;sr=1-2-catcorr&amp;keywords=sennheiser+hd+pro+598
Ear Force DSS2 - http://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Beach-Force-Surround-Processor-63043006306200/dp/B006W41X36 (not sure what is up with that first picture)
Zalman clip on mic - http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
Then you'd need an adapter to hook up a 3.5mm audio to whatever controller you're using. You can simply get a male 2.5mm to female 3.5mm adapter (won't give you chat volume control) or you can use something like this http://steelseries.com/us/products/outlet/steelseries-spectrum-audio-mixer-xb if you're using a Xbox 360.
This setup is almost exactly what I use and it's amazing. I use Sennheiser HD 380 Pro's and Ear Force DSS1.
What part is dying on his headphones? E.g. The headphones themselves, the cable, something else every time?
I would recommend getting something with replaceable parts. In my experience it's usually just the cable that breaks after a few years of intense use. Also, the earpads may go bad after a couple more years.
I have very good experience with Sennheiser products so I did have a quick search for headphones with replacable cables / earpads and a mic if possible. It looks like the Sennheiser HD461 or HD 471 might be just what you're looking for.
However, personally I would recommend against using a headset with a built-in mic and using a separate headset and mic instead. The reason for this is pretty simple: Almost every part on a quality headphone can be replaced and you can get a decent clip-on microphone dirt cheap.
Example: A bit over 15 years ago I bought a Sennheiser HD500 and this microphone. While the microphone died last year, the headphones are still in use by my sister. The cable has been replaced once or twice, the earpads once I think.
I've upgraded to a Sennheiser HD600 eight years ago and in that time have replaced the cable twice (I drag it around a lot, am not careful enough, I know...), it's still the best headphone I've ever had. When my mic died after 14 years of use I've 'upgraded' to this one, it's pretty ridiculous how cheap it is for such a quality mic.
Get the hd681 from superlux and the zm-mic1 from zalman. Should be around your price and will beat headsets up to 100. Headphones + Mic = Awsome. I use the mic together with my custom one pros from beyerdynamic and it's awsome! EDIT: added the links.
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
I wouldn't buy gaming headsets. Just buy a nice pair of headphones (eg. Sennheiser HD 201) + a nice external mic.
As for keyboards, I'd look into buying a mechanical keyboard.
Mice are personal preference
EDIT:
Here are some link
Sennheiser HD 201
MonoPrice Mech. Keyboard
As for mice as I said it's preference. it also depends on wheter you are a claw-gripper, palm-gripper or whatever. Maybe if you have a store like BestBuy or something around go there and test some mice.
Nice Zalman Mic.
mandatory link for "gaming" headset : http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-updated-5-23-2013-mrspeakers-mad-dog-v-3-2-reviewed
mandatory references for the "mic" issue :
> Get this mic.
FTFY
Sennheiser HD201 Lightweight Over-Ear Binaural Headphones $20
Zalman Zm-Mic1 High Sensitivity Headphone Microphone $10
Those are the only budget headphones and mic I'd consider. It will sound much better than any gaming headset at even twice that price.
Probably the best bang for your buck. However, if those ModMics are in stock you might want to check them out.