My first build thread

[Krombie]

I'm planning on building my first desktop. I have been searching forums and doing some research and have compiled the hardware necessary to build a desktop. For reference I am a gamer looking to build a good gaming computer for around $1000 (around $800 on the tower). Here is what I have come up with, please let me know what you would change and/or keep. Thanks for the help.

CPU - Phenom II X4 965 BE
Mobo - Asus M4A87TD EVO
Video - EVGA GTX 460 S.C.
RAM - G. Skill Sniper 8GB (2x4GB)
Hard Drive - WD 500GB
Antec 300
Windows 7 home premium
Power supply - looking for around 600watt supply

 

[Realee]

Any preference to AMD?
The Sandy CPU's from Intel are well ahead.
Also - you're shooting yourself in the foot not going AM3+ with the upcoming CPU's available (Bulldozers)

What are you planning on using it for? Gaming? Video Editing? Staring at the monitor while turned off?

 

[Krombie]

I was going with AMD just because its cheaper and I have heard good things.
My intentions are for this to be a gaming computer. Sadly for me money is an object and I need to budget a little so I am looking for what is going to be the best for what I can afford.
So would the Intel i5 2400 Sandy be a better option (obviously a mobo change also)

 

[Realee]

Whats your price range?

If you want to stick with AMD - at least grab an AM3+ board over the AM3 so you can get a Bulldozer as an upgrade later down the track.

The 2400 and the 2500K are only $40 difference.
It would also allow you to over clock a bit.

 

[Krombie]

I would like to keep it between $800-$1000 (trying to keep just the tower around $800). What about the AMD 970? I was mostly going on the reviews for the 870.

 

[Realee]

Your price range was in the first post too! My Bad!

Something like the above. Gives you $100ish to upgrade the video card if you want.


Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $59.45
Western Digital Caviar Black WDBAAZ0010HNC-NRSN 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $94.99
EVGA 02G-P3-1386-KR GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 $214.99 (After $20 Rebate)
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V $94.99 (After $10 Rebate)
2x G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) $79.98
GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD3-B3 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard $129.99
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W $219.99

Subtotal: $894.38

 

[Krombie]

are you saying to upgrade the video card I already have listed or just in general later down the road?

 

[Realee]

BAH - Silly internet here!

You could upgrade the video card purchase. to a GTX580 or something like that.

 

[SeeThruHead]

2500k
70 dollar gskill ripjaws 4gb cl6 ddr1600
corsair tx650 (for later upgrading)(on sale at newegg)
p8p67pro
samsung f3 1tb hd
cooler master 212 cooler
reference 6950

fairly standard budget gaming computer right now. what i would consider minimum if you're buying a new system. if you dont have the money, just wait until you do. this is under 1000 at newegg and maybe less if you shop around.
unlock that 6950 and get a second one a couple months down the road to crossfire and you're all set.

EDIT: i haven't been keeping up on it but i hear you can't flash the newer 6950's anymore. I'd still get the 6950 though.

this model of ram:
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL6D-4GBXH
cheaper and tighter timings than the one in that build up above

 

[Theocnoob]

I would like to keep it between $800-$1000 (trying to keep just the tower around $800). What about the AMD 970? I was mostly going on the reviews for the 870.

955 965 975 same CPU

1055 1075 1095 1100 same CPU

different stock multis. The 1055/75 does not have an 'unlimited' unlocked multiplier like the others.

If you want AMD right now get either a 955 or a 1055 for optimal $>performance. Get an AM3+ motherboard so you can switch to Bulldozer when it comes out.

If you want Intel, which will give you faster performance currently, get a 2500K.

 

[Tokae]

Your price range was in the first post too! My Bad!

Something like the above. Gives you $100ish to upgrade the video card if you want.


Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $59.45
Western Digital Caviar Black WDBAAZ0010HNC-NRSN 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $94.99
EVGA 02G-P3-1386-KR GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 $214.99 (After $20 Rebate)
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V $94.99 (After $10 Rebate)
2x G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) $79.98
GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD3-B3 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard $129.99
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W $219.99

Subtotal: $894.38

This build is excellent, but you could save some more cash..


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

65.00 vs 95.00 for the HD..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130570

160.00 vs 215.00 for the GPU...

saves you another 85 bucks!

Good luck with the build and keep us updated!

 

[Theocnoob]

The 460 listed initially was 2GB but ^ 460 is 1GB.

 

[cw823]

Thread title edited to something a little more appropriate.

 

[Tokae]

The 460 listed initially was 2GB but ^ 460 is 1GB.

Indeed, I forgot to point that out. For a single screen gaming rig, 1gb is more than enough memory, hence why I priced that card out..

 

[Krombie]

I will probably go the 460 1GB route first to save a little cash and it sounds like it should do what I need.
Also I have not decided yet but if I were to go the AMD route and went with the 955 cpu, which board would you recommend? I had been looking at the ASUS m5a97 AM3+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131767

 

[Knufire]

The point of going AMD would to get a Bulldozer CPU when it comes out. You'd be building this to upgrade, meaning you need to save up for a new CPU and GPU when it comes out.

I don't understand why he needs to build something to upgrade in the future. $800 can get you a perfectly adequate build. This OCed 560Ti performs the same as a unlocked/OCed 6950 or a stock 6970.
http://tpucdn.com/reviews/Zotac/GeForce_GTX_560_Ti_Amp_Edition/images/perfrel.gif

 

[Tokae]

Hitachi Deathstar! ACK

Kidding.. I know the old drives (circa early 2000) were bad.. I wonder what the new ones are like?

 

[Krombie]

Other than newegg.com where else should I be checking for good prices?

 

[Krombie]

Would the ZOTAC GTX 550 Ti be worth the $100 savings I would get over the GTX 560 Ti over would it be in my better interest to spend the extra on the 560?

 

[Theocnoob]

The 550 is a horrible pokey dog of a GPU.

If you want a more affordable GPU get a discounted GTX460 for about 120 something after rebate

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_559&item_id=037518

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130600
(no idea what recertified means. My guess is it was returned, tested, checked out, now it's 129)

Remember, just because the card is a 5 series doesn't automatically make it faster than a 4 series. The 6770 is marginally faster than the 5770 for a lot more $. The 9800GT and 8800GT were the exact same.

560Ti>460
460>550

It's all fun and confusing.