Comments

Yeah I know rufee, the problem is if can actually spend that much... I'm confused. :/

And, holy shit, Archie's old rig? That would be awesome in anyway!

@Elliot: I've had something like this a while ago, but most of the hardware got broken in 2008.
I've had an AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ (3.1 Ghz Dual Core), 2 GB Ram OCZ Reaper 1066 Mhz, Asus EN 8800 GTS 512 MB, and a Seagate Barracuda 500 GB Sata 2.
The CPU got broken fast because 3 or more pins got stuck inside the socket (don't ask me why or how.) PSU and HDD went in overheat. The only things I could've save was the VGA and RAM (I still have them.)

I've been unlucky with PCs in my whole life. :/

@Stojke: I don't know mate, I've always had problems with AMD video cards. I'm not sure if I want to purchase another one once again. :/

I really recommend to first do a search of used parts.
I searched for 5 minutes and found two AMD R9 290 graphics cards with 2 years local warranty (boxed) for 270 euro. Here is one link: R9 290

You need a dual core 2.5-3GHZ cpu, with 1-2GB ram and an 8800GTX or GTS 250 to run modern games. You would literally have to be trying to make a system that couldn't run games well.

For how long do you think of having this machine before you change ?

Judging by what you have now it will be a long time so get a 4770K and you will be happy for at least another 5 years, even more if the technological advancement continues to decline as we reach the 1 nm mark.

Ive had a q6600 and 560ti for 5 years and i can still play most of the games on decent settings on 1080p.

Ask Archie for his old rig, maybe he will give it to you

Damn guys...

You're confusing me quite a lot now lol. A lot of different opinions has been said here, but what I really should do?

To be honest though, I prefer it to be a quality rig, and I would like to play games more than modding, actually.
I've missed so much titles since 2008 because I couldn't afford a sufficiently good PC to be able to run them properly; so I would just like to sit there and play as long as my playing experience is full before coming back again to the modding world.
Let's just say that I fucking miss PLAYING first.
I'm stuck with a crappy netbook that can barely run DirectX 9 games. For instance: CS:S runs at 15 fps with the lowest possible settings with additional performance boost configurations, so I don't want to play it for obvious reasons.
I have a list of 112 games on Steam, and I still have to play at least half of them because I've never had the chance to do it.
So, being sick of this situation, that hybrid system should satisfy me more in the gaming aspect rather than the modding aspect. Of course I don't need a 3000 € pc to be able to make any kind of mod for Goldsource or any version of Source engines, being the only engines that I know the most (I can do something with Unreal Engines 1, 2, and 3 but I'm not sufficiently acknowledged.)

I've personally tried the Roccat Kova + gaming mouse of a friend of mine, and I must say (regarding of some of your comments about it) that it actually fits my preferences than any other mouse out there (the ones I've tried, of course). I also tend to use low sensivity with every mouse. Roccat Kova + have 3600 maximum DPI, so I just simply lower the OS's mouse sensivity, and the in-game one to be able to have a beast precision (according to my standards [600-800 DPI mice]). I also don't like ergonomic mice of any kind, just for your info.
I come (like many of you) from an era where I was used to use those mice with the ball... So I just look at those new mice with a dazed face somehow.

I also like to listen to music, so, having a clean and good quality sound would do the trick. I prefer headsets instead of headphones with a separate microphone because I want to be comfortable without having stuff on my desk other than a keyboard, a mouse (plus mousepad) and a monitor. Nothing else.

I want to thank everyone that helped me (and confused me haha). :3
Now that you know a bit more about my preferences, please leave your thoughts. It would help me out quite a lot.

I would like to deepen the Stojke's economic method though. Shouldn't be that bad imho.

P.S.: Sorry for my english.

He is buying a computer, not a dolly, he will use it every day.
Instead of blowing it all on something inferior, invest in a smart way and use it fully.

I know you love me Bruce senpai

Edit: Nevermind

you god damn japanese pervert burn in hell!

I don't have any money and I still buy things I want. You're so conservative and rigid, relax.

That's just the thing Eliot-chan, he does not have a lot of money, that's why he should invest smart.

To be fair, this system is not a work system, it is his personal system. He's allowed to waste money for something that suits his style better than some rigid, purpose built office peripherals, even if it doesn't have perfect price to performance ratio like you guys calculate with your super sophisticated math. You can't calculate personal enjoyment or style with a calculator.

You'd be better off trying to explain to the kids that buy $300 hoodies and $600 shoes (then complain about being poor) why their choices aren't practical and waste a lot of money.
([u][b]And since I'm going to get 30 responses about those two prices, they're exaggerations, hyperbole (the number 30 was as well). Use some common sense.[/u][/b])

I've got a pair of Pioneer SE-M290(the over the ear cup type, with bass ducts) I've paid about 30 euro. Best damn bang for buck, I have them since 2012 and they're still rocking. The sound is awesome for the money too. But an audio card can make the difference. They certainly sound better on my Asus Xonar DS( ~40ish euro) than on my onboard laptop sound card.

I'm not an audiophile, just a normal music listener, so take my opinion as it is.

Well if you are making a hybrid system, then save up some cash and get a 4770K and atleast 16GB or RAM.

Yeah and as Stojke suggested throw those crap roccats out the window.
Get a Logitech mouse, even the cheapest ones will last you forever and its not like you are going to need more than 800dpi anyway. Steelseries were good until they stopped producing Xai.

Audio from integrated devices will be of average quality. Getting headphones from a dedicated headphone company is always a better choice.

If money is problem than never buy all the components from shops.
You can get multiple components for cheaper, such as:

Processor, RAM, Graphics, Computer Case

That you can be 100% sure that they are fully functional.
I bought 4GB Geil Ultra plus DDR3 RAM for 20 euro in 2012 when the price was 110 euro, it was almost brand new.

You pretty much can not get screwed over with CPU and RAM (if they ran at default clock and were not OC'd) , some people tend to sell older high end cases for cheap, and they are usually in great condition, and people import graphics cards from different countries for cheaper with warranty.

Spending 150 euro on mouse and headphones from a store is an extreme waste.

For rendering you want pure processing power and a good amount of RAM. The graphics card doesn't count in that equation at all but it helps with the in-editor stuff. Other than that, you're good.

I meant a high quality LCD\LED panel, not just any random 'gaming' one.

I'm not sure I understand your suggestion, Elliot. Are there any options besides LCD/LED? Because CRTs have been out of production for almost a decade.

what is honey oil? like some kinda marijuana? who needs that?

Shh, otherwise he'll bring back retro TWHL...

Of course, it's music.

You son of a monkey's uncle!

Looks sexual! New system brofist!

Any workstation system you could build would double as a more than enough gaming system anyways.
If you really care about using your system for workstation work, don't skimp on the CPU, graphics card or monitor. LCD\LED monitors may seem super awesome compared to whatever you may compare them to, but they could end up having terrible color reproduction and fucking up everything you make. Your memory seems fine, though.
If perhaps you want to go a more hybrid route, GPU raytracing can yield ridiculous performance increase for very good quality, but you would need to get a graphics card with more memory.

I think Bruce was being cheeky, alluding to the rise of the machines

I'm very happy with the i7. I can multitask like a banshee and my mapping compiles are lightning fast, but also I'm not a big gamer, so...

Stu: good to know, I'll check out some samsungs

Bruce: do you think honey oil will still exist after the fall? I better start stocking up right now, just in case

LG monitors were very good once upon a time, but from what I've heard lately, everything LG sucks.

Samsung makes the best screens as long as they're not smart TVs. Actually, the screens are probably good on those too, it's just the rest (that being firmware) that's terrible.

Yeah rufee, I know that an i5 would be a better choice than an i7 if it's just for gaming, but I've already stated that I would like it to be good for both gaming and 3D rendering (and compiling, if that matters.) Otherwise I'd have changed the RAM to 8 GB instead of 16, and an i5 instead of an i7.

Then, for the monitor, I thought that the one I've chosen looks pretty decent, being a gaming monitor. These are the specs: Linky

I'm not very acknowledged on monitors, but 158€ is a pretty good price for such a monitor. If you think that this monitor isn't that good, would you be able to recommend me a better one with a similar price? Also because I've always used cheap and crap monitors for, approximately, 15 years; so I think that this one would be a lot better anyway, according to my personal experience with monitors. But I'd be glad if you could suggest me a better one in any case.

Thanks for your thoughts, rufee.

@Bruce: Laptop? No way.

@Stojke: I'm trying to save as much as I can. Actually, that RAM is one of the cheapest; 16 GB Corsair Vengeance Red (the one with high profile) was like over 200/220€. And I don't need more than this for an SSD to be honest, and that one is one of the cheapest too. 4000 series for i7 is probably too much for me. I don't even know if I can afford that one; that build is just "experimental".
I'm trying to save as much as I can without compromising the overall quality of the build (I want it to last at least 5 years.)

Also: crappy headset and cheap mouse? D: Do you really want to know how much costs my current headset and mouse? They both can't reach 30 € toghether lol. Roccat don't make shit stuff, that's for sure.

I would not waste money on crappy head phones and cheap ass mouse.
That is a whole lot money for an 120GB SSD, for that much you should be able to find an 240GB one.
That seems to be a good case for the money. Holy shit that RAM is expensive.
The motherboard is great.

Also, go for 4000 series of processors, that's my recommendation.

yeah you should try out 120hz screens, but better get a laptop since the end is near u wanna be portable

Its a preference thing, i find it that if the resolution is 1080p and its over 24 inches its just a small TV at that point. I would only recommend going over if you need 1440p or higher.

Of the top of my head i don't have any particular monitor in mind, LG makes decent affordable IPS'es.

Thank you for reminding me I myself need to upload my monitor Ruf, maybe if I get a letter out to Santa quick..

Can you recommend a particular model/brand you think is decent? Also, would you recommend going bigger than 23" or is it not worth it?

[/hijack]

Is this a pure gaming rig ?

If so get a Haswell core i5 since you won't be getting any benefit from an i7.
I can't tell what kind of a panel that monitor uses, but from the looks of it its TN which is utter crap for colors, better put in the money for a 120hz panel that will make your games run smoother than a baby's ass or get an IPS panel that your eyes will enjoy looking at.

Swap that WD Green for something better, like WD Black or Sea Barracuda.
A 120gb SSD is now borderline in terms of "enough space", strongly consider 200+ gb

Haha. Yeah CapT, but I was just looking at how much I would have to spend. I don't know if I can actually purchase such a build. Not now at least, that's for sure. So, before considering it an "upgrade" from my current system or "being happy" for me, it's still very early to say.

I can probably just purchase a temporary 100€ pre-built used PC I've seen on a site some days ago, and I'm still not sure if I can find 100€ for it lol. Which would still be better than my current one (like, a lot, actually...)
Just because I need a new PC so bad.

Same CPU as mine, so now we can be eskimo bros!? This is quite an upgrade from your current system, happy for you m8!

Haha. Well, that is what I would like to get, but I can't afford it at all right now. So the price could even decrease in the course of time (which is exactly what I'm hoping.)

Thanks for your feedback, Urbeh. Maybe Archie or someone else could tell me something about 3D rendering.

Out classes mine in all but the graphics card. I don't like that. I suggest you don't get it and I maintain my position as king of PC.

In all seriousness though, that seems like a very reasonable price at around £1270 GBP. Should easily run max settings on any modern title.

Couldn't tell you about 3D rendering though I'm afraid.

No prob!

Btw what's the issue? I might be able to offer a quick solution, which may help someone else

I was going to do this, but I've been getting a stupid little error, and now I don't have the time to get it working before I head to the coast tomorrow.
Apologies!

How dare you point out flaws in this perfect website! That's it, I'm taking you off the Affliates list, Archie!

D'awww, you're a darling. <3

And yes. Yes it is. Old images too for those websites. Will get Pebs to amend that at some point. >_<

I find this highly subjective.

True, plus with addition of some lyrics (Human voice) that's no too loud (louder than instruments) tends to relax me.

Usually I listen to some 2004-2007 house music (30H!3 Starstrukk), but some times I find a random DVD with music when I search for something in my room and play the songs from there (I have no idea how I got most of them).

I found that song on one of my old computer hard drives (which is now part of an Period Correct middle year 2000 build).

When I am trying to figure out some mechanics and general game play/level design specifics I mostly listen to known songs that fit the map theme.

I love to listen to some classic Serbian songs when resting like : Zravko Colic - Jedna zima sa Kristinom (One winter with Cristina)

Yeah, great choice. This sort of simple beat with great rhythmic flow has been a staple of working songs for decades; perhaps even centuries. The textile industry was built on a thumping beat and even sea shanties were used to get crews working in unison, not to mention the old railroad & cotton field working songs that would just about get slaves through the day. They all share similar characteristics.

A good beat is just a wonderful way to get a rhythm into your work, and mapping does seem to be especially susceptible to it.

ITT:
Your favourite mapping song.

Mine is a fairly recent addition to my library, but it's a track that really gets me into a flow with my mapping. Note the similarities to Stojke's. It's a very simple beat at its core with a thumping drum leading everything else, and at a similar tempo.

Eventhough i don't listen to this style of music myself, that did remind me of some other few mappers that do.

Good find Stojke

You guys write really well. You'll now be my alternative to XKCD's What If to read on my other monitor whilst rendering

Also, it has taken me since TWHL3 first appeared until now to finally notice that 'Affiliates' is mis-spelled on the sidebar.

Please report any basemap problems so I can fix them up ASAP =P

BTW here's the full version of the included audio, which has been crudely cropped/faded to prevent an audio crash in Half-Life.

Small Update

• Slight changes made to the tree
• Removed the red texlight from the tree skirt

Cool!

I know this post was made years ago so I'm not really expecting a reply but could you make another tutorial so they come in when you pass through a trigger rather than when the map starts. Please? Thanks! -Tech

Absolutely beautiful.

AN UNDERAPPRECIATED MASTERPIECE!

I LOVE IT TO DEATH!

Mister Plinkett would disagree. Check out his review of Titanic Ant if u haven't already

(Trying to post a link but my horrible phone is not cooperaring)