Let's chip in to get Baratron a machine that can run ESO!

[Deandra]

This thread is for people to organize their thoughts and ideas regarding:

How can we best fund a new machine for our friend Baratron?

[NyarlathotepJr]

OK, my idea is this:

pcpartpicker.com, look for the "Completed Builds" header, click it.
In that area, on the left, is a cost slider. Move it to the $750 - $1k range. There are many machines in there, and we can start with that.

Amazon has Amazon UK, so if we limit to Amazon and its minions, no sweat on the import front.

Thoughts?

[NyarlathotepJr]

For example, this one:

https://pcpartpicker.com/b/bqgscf

ran the guy $725 minus the OS. Of course, limiting to Amazon may amount to more, but it is a good example of how little it might take to make a huge difference.

[NyarlathotepJr]

For example, this one:

https://pcpartpicker.com/b/bqgscf

ran the guy $725 minus the OS. Of course, limiting to Amazon may amount to more, but it is a good example of how little it might take to make a huge difference.

Going a little nuts here - probably the percocet for my teeth - anyway, Bara may be able to use her laptop screen, which would save some money.

[OneofLittleHarmony]

Bargain bin build that will run the game at at least high settings for 307 dollars: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3hQxmG

A build with well known components for 412 dollars: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/DfwKLk

Build that doesn't compromise at all (i5 and GTX960) 594 dollars: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ym9vFT

I should caution you that the price of components changes daily, and another component might be a better fit for whatever day they are being bought but this should illustrate approximately what you can get for a certain price on the cheap.

Things not included in builds:
SSD
Operating system
Monitor

Each of these will be about 80 bucks if they are needed,but are best acquired other ways: monitors at garage sales, SSDs on heavy sale days (4th of july) and OSes for free from people who have extra keys!

Also, shipping will probably be about 30-50 dollars.

[SCarverOrne]

Last night I thought this was funny, now I see this here and think it's even funnier.

Can we get a kickstarter or gofundme going? Then everyone could donate a little, which would become a lottle.

[NyarlathotepJr]

Bargain bin build that will run the game at at least high settings for 307 dollars: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3hQxmG

A build with well known components for 412 dollars: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/DfwKLk

Build that doesn't compromise at all (i5 and GTX960) 594 dollars: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ym9vFT

I should caution you that the price of components changes daily, and another component might be a better fit for whatever day they are being bought but this should illustrate approximately what you can get for a certain price on the cheap.

Things not included in builds:
SSD
Operating system
Monitor

Each of these will be about 80 bucks if they are needed,but are best acquired other ways: monitors at garage sales, SSDs on heavy sale days (4th of july) and OSes for free from people who have extra keys!

Also, shipping will probably be about 30-50 dollars.

The "no compromise" build got a great deal on the GTX 960. I'm jealous.

So, do any of us have the time/expertise to set up a fund, preferably UK based? Ways to avoid killer VAT?

[NyarlathotepJr]

To follow up, a few minutes research pulled up these options:

http://www.marriagegiftlist.com/how-it-works
https://www.notonthehighstreet.com/user/new

culled mainly from here:

http://www.daydreamingbride.com/2015/02 ... -websites/

Yes, we are aware that Bara is married. The point is, this approach seems well-developed. Of course, you may have a better idea. Bring it.

If none of these will do, there is always Amazon UK. They may not always have the best prices on components, but they are generally competitive. And no, I am not shilling for them because I live in the Seattle area.

Feedback, anyone? If we are doing this thing, we ought to do this thing. As it were. I like the idea of a gift registry, because it allows people with money to get something high-end, e.g. graphics card, and the rest of us could afford to throw in enough for a case, memory, etc. It also obviates the need for trust, because we do not need to take in money as such. Money makes things, um, messy, sometimes.

[Deandra]

This looks great. I agree that the wedding registry is a great way to do it.

[NyarlathotepJr]

Bargain bin build that will run the game at at least high settings for 307 dollars: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3hQxmG

A build with well known components for 412 dollars: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/DfwKLk

Build that doesn't compromise at all (i5 and GTX960) 594 dollars: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ym9vFT

I should caution you that the price of components changes daily, and another component might be a better fit for whatever day they are being bought but this should illustrate approximately what you can get for a certain price on the cheap.

Things not included in builds:
SSD
Operating system
Monitor

Each of these will be about 80 bucks if they are needed,but are best acquired other ways: monitors at garage sales, SSDs on heavy sale days (4th of july) and OSes for free from people who have extra keys!

Also, shipping will probably be about 30-50 dollars.

Here is a slightly more complete build based on the super helpful base provided above:
http://pcpartpicker.com/user/pssc.digip ... iew=4X7H99

It is more, since it includes a DVD drive (for those Oblivion disks) and an OS. In my experience, getting an extra key from people can be an issue, plus it is very handy to have a disk. Also, Windows 8.1 will almost certainly be upgradeable to Windows 10 when it is liberated. I also picked a different case, with USB 3.0 on the front. And blue lights! She would still need to supply a screen, but the 750 Ti (love that card) has an HDMI port, which may fit her TV.

That said, the list of costs runs from around $15 to around $120 or so. Something for everyone. If we use a UK wedding registry we might then catch a break on some of the shipping costs. There remains the issue of taxes and such.

Anyone know about educational or research exemptions in the UK? Their website was helpful, but I would like a second opinion, preferably from a native. We could set up an NGO? That seems a bit much, but it may be easy ...

[baratron]

All right, you crazy people.

I'm looking at a couple of "extreme gaming" laptops online. (I don't know what "extreme gaming" is - I've been assuming it's like extreme ironing. In which case I don't need to worry too much because my physical limitations prevent me from climbing narrow rocks in order to play my video game at the top of them.)

Since laptops are not easily upgradable, one must start with the best possible spec now in order to make sure that the machine is still usable in 5 years time.

I've got it down to 2 possibilities. One has a better screen (GLOSSY 3840 x 2160 rather than matte 1920 x 1080), the other has twice as much video RAM (8 GB vs 4 GB). The one with the better screen and less video RAM is also lighter (2.5 kg vs 3.1 kg). My MacBook Pro is something like 2.7 kg including its fancy case, so I know I can just about lift that much.

Here's the spec:

• 15.6" glossy 4K PLS LED widescreen (3840 x 2160) - sounds like insane resolution to me but it's the only glossy screen that was offered.
• Intel (R) Core(TM) i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-4720HQ (2.60 GHz, 3.5 GHz Turbo)
• 16 GB Kingston SODIMM DDR3 1600MHz (2 x 8 GB)
• NVidia (R) GeForce (R) GTX 980M - 4 GB DDR5 Video RAM - DirectX (R) 11
• 250 GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD, Sata 6 Gb/s (upto 540 MB/sR |520 MW/sW)
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit /w SP1 - inc DVD & License (YES! Not Windows 8.1!)
• Various warranties, various ports, etc.

Does that sound good? I hope it should last for the life of ESO, anyway.

[Deandra]

I personally don't like glossy screens that much because I'm the sort of person who will poke my screen with fingers of questionable cleanliness when showing things to other people. But that laptop's hardware looks like it should be amazing for ESO.

[NyarlathotepJr]

All right, you crazy people.

I'm looking at a couple of "extreme gaming" laptops online. (I don't know what "extreme gaming" is - I've been assuming it's like extreme ironing. In which case I don't need to worry too much because my physical limitations prevent me from climbing narrow rocks in order to play my video game at the top of them.)

Since laptops are not easily upgradable, one must start with the best possible spec now in order to make sure that the machine is still usable in 5 years time.

I've got it down to 2 possibilities. One has a better screen (GLOSSY 3840 x 2160 rather than matte 1920 x 1080), the other has twice as much video RAM (8 GB vs 4 GB). The one with the better screen and less video RAM is also lighter (2.5 kg vs 3.1 kg). My MacBook Pro is something like 2.7 kg including its fancy case, so I know I can just about lift that much.

Here's the spec:

• 15.6" glossy 4K PLS LED widescreen (3840 x 2160) - sounds like insane resolution to me but it's the only glossy screen that was offered.
• Intel (R) Core(TM) i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-4720HQ (2.60 GHz, 3.5 GHz Turbo)
• 16 GB Kingston SODIMM DDR3 1600MHz (2 x 8 GB)
• NVidia (R) GeForce (R) GTX 980M - 4 GB DDR5 Video RAM - DirectX (R) 11
• 250 GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD, Sata 6 Gb/s (upto 540 MB/sR |520 MW/sW)
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit /w SP1 - inc DVD & License (YES! Not Windows 8.1!)
• Various warranties, various ports, etc.

Does that sound good? I hope it should last for the life of ESO, anyway.

That looks <bleeping> amazing. Personally, I would go with more screen pixels. So are you getting this critter?

Oh, hey, it has just the SSD as the main drive? You can dump movies and other large items onto a USB3 external drive: that would work.

[baratron]

I haz my new computer now.

Some side-by-side comparisons. Click the pictures to get them full-size.
Old laptop (on Minimum graphics):


New laptop (on Ultra-high graphics):


Also
Old laptop:


New laptop:


Yeeeaaaaahhh .

My mum says she can't see the difference, which has to be a comment on her eyesight more than anything else.

[likelolwhat]

That is quite the difference!