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| Building my own PC [message #419256] |
Fri, 05 February 2010 16:28  |
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slosha
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Location: North Dakota FTW
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Alright, I've decided to go ahead and build my own PC for the first time. I thought I would post here to make sure everything checks out, and that I have everything I need. I'm trying to keep everything on Newegg so I can buy it all in one purchase just to be sure I remember to order everything.
I still need to find the right power supply, so if anyone could tell me the proper one, that would be great.
I'll be looking for a keyboard, mouse, and monitor at a later date since I already have good enough ones for now.
Just to be sure, my video card will support 1920x1080 correct?
I found a guide, and I think I have everything I need. The only thing I'm wondering is how will I connect to the internet? What part am I missing, or is that built-in to the motherboard?
Also, I won't be buying anything for a few months since I still need to get a job.
Here's what I have so far:
(1) AZZA Solano 1000 ATX Full Tower
(2) Western Digital 1TB Internal HDD
(2) HIS H467QS1GH Radeon HD 4670
(2) CORSAIR XMS3 4GB DDR3
(1) GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3 Motherboard
(1) Intel Core i5-660 (i7 seems a little too expensive)
(1) ASUS Blu-ray Drive
The road I cruise is a bitch now, baby.
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| Re: Building my own PC [message #419257 is a reply to message #419256] |
Fri, 05 February 2010 16:40  |
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nikki6ixx
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Registered: August 2007
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If you're getting it in a few months yet, chances are the ATI 4670 won't be around because the 5-series is taking over.
However, if you want to game at 1920x1080, you'd want a considerably beefier card. The 4670 would support that resolution, but then you'd have really horrible framerates. The best bet is to ask again when you're ready to order, because prices change and competition is fierce in the GPU department.
Heck, if you're primarily concerned with gaming, maybe consider an AMD based system. Their Phenom quads are cheaper than Intel's, and while not as fast for things like encoding, are more than fast enough for games. The money saved can go to a better GPU.
Your HD is a Caviar Green, so it won't be the fastest around. If you don't need 1.5GB, then pick one of these up instead:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&cm_re=samsun g_spinpoint_f3-_-22-152-185-_-Product
The Spinpoint F3 is really, really fast for its class, and considerably cheaper than the WD you posted.
Edit: Yes, internet connectivity is built into the board.
Renegade:
| Aircraftkiller wrote on Fri, 10 January 2014 16:56 |
The only game where everyone competes to be an e-janitor.
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[Updated on: Fri, 05 February 2010 16:46] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Building my own PC [message #419259 is a reply to message #419256] |
Fri, 05 February 2010 16:57 |
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slosha
Messages: 1540
Registered: September 2008
Location: North Dakota FTW
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General (1 Star) |
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Gah, I didn't even realize time was that big of a factor. I guess it's a good thing I asked then. I'll keep this thread in my bookmarks so I can take a look before compiling my next list.
Thanks for the help.
The road I cruise is a bitch now, baby.
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| Re: Building my own PC [message #419276 is a reply to message #419256] |
Fri, 05 February 2010 20:52 |
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nikki6ixx
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It's also good that you're going to do it in a few months as opposed to now, because the prices of memory have gone up as of late due to supply issues. Plus, it's good to state a budget, because eagle-eyed enthusiasts around here may be able to spot a couple deals that'll maximize your dollar. Also mentioning what you want to do with it, like encoding video, storing tons of movies, etc or just gaming helps a ton.
You'll wanna check out these sites' suggested builds, too.
http://www.techspot.com/guides/buying/
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/buyers-guide/2010/02/03/what-hardware-should-i- buy-february-2010/1
Bit-Tech updates theirs on a monthly basis, so it's a good one to check out. Also, TomsHardware and Hardware Canucks are both great resources for reviews.
Renegade:
| Aircraftkiller wrote on Fri, 10 January 2014 16:56 |
The only game where everyone competes to be an e-janitor.
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[Updated on: Fri, 05 February 2010 20:54] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Building my own PC [message #419278 is a reply to message #419256] |
Fri, 05 February 2010 21:25 |
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slosha
Messages: 1540
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Location: North Dakota FTW
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My budget is hopefully around $1,500-$2,000. I want to game and hopefully get a nice rig that can play most if not all games on very high to max settings. I probably won't be doing much else than downloading music, movies, and browsing. I would also like a blu-ray drive.
Also, I don't think I'm too interested in SSD right now since the price is so fucking high right now. I'll just get one down the road when prices come down.
Another thing, is crossfire/sli a must? With the higher end cards, it gets pretty expensive, so is it really necessary with high end cards?
Is i7 really worth it? It seems I can get a much faster i5 for much cheaper. If there aren't many advantages, I don't really want to spend money for a slower cpu.
The road I cruise is a bitch now, baby.
[Updated on: Fri, 05 February 2010 21:53] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Building my own PC [message #419304 is a reply to message #419256] |
Sat, 06 February 2010 12:05 |
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nikki6ixx
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Registered: August 2007
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I have a 4870, and it's a great card. But it's more or less gone from retail now and has been replaced by the 5770. For what you want, a 5850/5830 would be up your alley.
If you're not planning to overclock, than I'd recommend the AMD Phenom 955/965 over the Intel i5 for the sheer GHz, and the reasonable cost. But, if you intend to OC, and get monster numbers, then the i5 is for you. I use an AMD system with a 955 for gaming, and it's still way overkill for my needs.
As for your budget, it's huge. In fact, I think you can get a really awesome system for $1200, if not less, if you swing it. Heck, if you look around, you could add an SSD into the mix. My PC has two SSD's, and it's simply awesome.
Renegade:
| Aircraftkiller wrote on Fri, 10 January 2014 16:56 |
The only game where everyone competes to be an e-janitor.
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| Re: Building my own PC [message #419309 is a reply to message #419304] |
Sat, 06 February 2010 14:25 |
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slosha
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| nikki6ixx wrote on Sat, 06 February 2010 13:05 |
I have a 4870, and it's a great card. But it's more or less gone from retail now and has been replaced by the 5770. For what you want, a 5850/5830 would be up your alley.
If you're not planning to overclock, than I'd recommend the AMD Phenom 955/965 over the Intel i5 for the sheer GHz, and the reasonable cost. But, if you intend to OC, and get monster numbers, then the i5 is for you. I use an AMD system with a 955 for gaming, and it's still way overkill for my needs.
As for your budget, it's huge. In fact, I think you can get a really awesome system for $1200, if not less, if you swing it. Heck, if you look around, you could add an SSD into the mix. My PC has two SSD's, and it's simply awesome.
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What's overclocking and what would I benefit from that? As for the 4870, which brand would be best? Sapphire is the cheapest one, but is cheap good, or am I losing quality?
| (SSnipe) -BLU3Y3Z- wrote on Sat, 06 February 2010 13:05 |
Artec 1200 full tower atx case...bets ever
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Yeah, I'm actually for a case like that. A black case with Blue LED's is kick ass.
The road I cruise is a bitch now, baby.
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| Re: Building my own PC [message #419310 is a reply to message #419256] |
Sat, 06 February 2010 14:40 |
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nikki6ixx
Messages: 2545
Registered: August 2007
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Basically, overclocking is tweaking your components to go faster than their defaults. It may mean you get better performance overall, like higher framerates in games.
However, it does void your warranty, and carries a sizeable risk of hardware damage if you do it improperly. Also, it can shorten the life of the components, depending on how much you stress the hardware.
As for the 4870, I don't think any brand is terrible. XFX has a warranty that is really flexible, and even lets you transfer it to another individual providing you register the card after you have purchased it. This may let you resell it for a slightly higher price because XFX's reputation with the warranty is very high.
I'd still recommend looking for a 4890 at the very least, for 1920x1080. ATI's upcoming 5830 will replace it, and support DirectX 11. Even better would be a 5850.
Renegade:
| Aircraftkiller wrote on Fri, 10 January 2014 16:56 |
The only game where everyone competes to be an e-janitor.
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[Updated on: Sat, 06 February 2010 14:43] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Building my own PC [message #419311 is a reply to message #419310] |
Sat, 06 February 2010 15:01 |
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slosha
Messages: 1540
Registered: September 2008
Location: North Dakota FTW
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| nikki6ixx wrote on Sat, 06 February 2010 15:40 |
Basically, overclocking is tweaking your components to go faster than their defaults. It may mean you get better performance overall, like higher framerates in games.
However, it does void your warranty, and carries a sizeable risk of hardware damage if you do it improperly. Also, it can shorten the life of the components, depending on how much you stress the hardware.
As for the 4870, I don't think any brand is terrible. XFX has a warranty that is really flexible, and even lets you transfer it to another individual providing you register the card after you have purchased it. This may let you resell it for a slightly higher price because XFX's reputation with the warranty is very high.
I'd still recommend looking for a 4890 at the very least, for 1920x1080. ATI's upcoming 5830 will replace it, and support DirectX 11. Even better would be a 5850.
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Yeah, I don't think I'll be wanting to overclock, so the Phenom sounds good to me. When will those upcoming cards be released?
The road I cruise is a bitch now, baby.
[Updated on: Sat, 06 February 2010 15:13] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Building my own PC [message #419312 is a reply to message #419256] |
Sat, 06 February 2010 15:09 |
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nikki6ixx
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The 5850 and 5870 are out now. Ditto for the 5770. The 5830 is supposed to be out like, a week ago but I've no idea what the deal is.
nVidia is debuting their new series of cards sometime soon, so when the time comes, ATI will likely drop their prices a bit. You should have quite a few options from either nVidia or ATI.
Don't discount the Intel route, because I've looked up some benchmarks, and it seems the 'slower' i5-750 outpaces the 965 in quite a few applications. Your best bet is to just find the best deal, because really, you can't go wrong with either brand.
Renegade:
| Aircraftkiller wrote on Fri, 10 January 2014 16:56 |
The only game where everyone competes to be an e-janitor.
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| Re: Building my own PC [message #419313 is a reply to message #419256] |
Sat, 06 February 2010 15:13 |
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slosha
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Location: North Dakota FTW
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Ok, now what kind of motherboard should I choose? I'd like one that's capable of Crossfire so I can still have that option down the road. Depending on which processor I get, what would the best option be for the Intel or AMD?
The road I cruise is a bitch now, baby.
[Updated on: Sat, 06 February 2010 15:15] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Building my own PC [message #419325 is a reply to message #419256] |
Sat, 06 February 2010 20:39 |
tactic356
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If your budget is that much you might as well go with an i7. And you ought to ask yourself if you really need a Blu Ray drive. You also need to look into a PSU.
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| Re: Building my own PC [message #419327 is a reply to message #419325] |
Sat, 06 February 2010 21:18 |
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slosha
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| tactic356 wrote on Sat, 06 February 2010 21:39 |
If your budget is that much you might as well go with an i7. And you ought to ask yourself if you really need a Blu Ray drive. You also need to look into a PSU.
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Before I decide, I need to look at motherboards too, which I still need help on. That first list is basically worthless now. You also make a good point, I already have a PS3, so no, I don't need one. I also thought that getting the rest of my parts right would be best before choosing a PSU.
The road I cruise is a bitch now, baby.
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| Re: Building my own PC [message #419328 is a reply to message #419256] |
Sat, 06 February 2010 21:51 |
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nikki6ixx
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Thing with multi-GPU configurations is that you'll have to be careful to make sure that the PCI-e x16 slots do not split to x8/x8 when two cards are present.
It's not a terribly huge problem right now, with the difference being a few frames per second, but in the future it may be more of a concern, especially if you want the best of the best, and are gaming at higher resolutions.
The Intel P55 and AMD 790X/790GX boards will go x8/x8 with two cards. Intel's X58 and AMD 790FX chipset will supply x16 to each of the two cards.
With that being said, I don't think you should place too high a concern on Crossfire or SLI. In order to maximize their usefulness, you'll have to wait for drivers to support the newest games. Instead, find a board that has the features and reliability and support you want, and if it's great for running two GPU's, then that's just fringe benefit.
As for suggesting a board, you'll have to do some research on what's out there, before we can help much in that department.
These articles will be a good place to start:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/lga-1156-motherboard,2463-19.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/790fx-socket-am3,2277.html
Renegade:
| Aircraftkiller wrote on Fri, 10 January 2014 16:56 |
The only game where everyone competes to be an e-janitor.
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| Re: Building my own PC [message #419330 is a reply to message #419256] |
Sat, 06 February 2010 22:57 |
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slosha
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Ok, I noticed something about northbridges and southbridges. I also noticed that the ASUS P7P55D PRO does not have a southbridge. If I got my facts right, that means I have no connectivity to the HDD. So, the MSI 790FX-GD70 looks to be the better choice, correct? Plus, the MSI 790FX-GD70 seems to have more features, so should I go with that one?
The road I cruise is a bitch now, baby.
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| Re: Building my own PC [message #419331 is a reply to message #419256] |
Sat, 06 February 2010 23:43 |
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nikki6ixx
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No, the Asus has a southbridge. :/
You might be thinking of the northbridge, and the reason it's not on the board is because it's integrated into the P55's CPU's.
http://fastrackcomputing.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2656&stc=1&am p;d=1204891452
The MSI 790FX board is a good one. However, it may not be as user friendly as the Asus because MSI's customer support is not as great as either Asus' or Gigabyte's. Gigabyte would get a hearty recommendation from a lot of enthusiasts, because they're known for their quality and stability. As for 'features' , both the Asus and MSI are pretty jam packed with goodies.
Do keep in mind that the 790FX will be replaced by the 890FX pretty soon. Not to knock the GD-70 though, because that's the board I own.
Renegade:
| Aircraftkiller wrote on Fri, 10 January 2014 16:56 |
The only game where everyone competes to be an e-janitor.
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| Re: Building my own PC [message #419346 is a reply to message #419256] |
Sun, 07 February 2010 10:43 |
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slosha
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Ok, so if I got the Gigabyte P55 and an i7 CPU there would still be a southbridge? Just for the fact of the customer service, I think I'll go with that and the i7. Now, does it matter which one I get, or do I just pick the fastest one?
The road I cruise is a bitch now, baby.
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| Re: Building my own PC [message #419350 is a reply to message #419256] |
Sun, 07 February 2010 13:15 |
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slosha
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Alright, I'll probably take that deal. Is 2.66 Ghz still good enough to play on high settings? What would be a good CPU that is 3.0 Ghz+? So this in combination with the HD 5870 would be good?
The road I cruise is a bitch now, baby.
[Updated on: Sun, 07 February 2010 13:22] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Building my own PC [message #419355 is a reply to message #419256] |
Sun, 07 February 2010 15:00 |
tactic356
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the GHz don't matter a ton its more about how good the actual CPU is and how it is integrated. You probably want the cheapest i7 because you could overclock (you shouldn't close yourself off to it). Playing on highest settings is something a $1000 or so rig will do for like 2 years.
If I were you i'd go with the i7 for sure
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| Re: Building my own PC [message #419356 is a reply to message #419309] |
Sun, 07 February 2010 15:08 |
_SSnipe_
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| Glock~ wrote on Sat, 06 February 2010 13:25 |
| nikki6ixx wrote on Sat, 06 February 2010 13:05 |
I have a 4870, and it's a great card. But it's more or less gone from retail now and has been replaced by the 5770. For what you want, a 5850/5830 would be up your alley.
If you're not planning to overclock, than I'd recommend the AMD Phenom 955/965 over the Intel i5 for the sheer GHz, and the reasonable cost. But, if you intend to OC, and get monster numbers, then the i5 is for you. I use an AMD system with a 955 for gaming, and it's still way overkill for my needs.
As for your budget, it's huge. In fact, I think you can get a really awesome system for $1200, if not less, if you swing it. Heck, if you look around, you could add an SSD into the mix. My PC has two SSD's, and it's simply awesome.
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What's overclocking and what would I benefit from that? As for the 4870, which brand would be best? Sapphire is the cheapest one, but is cheap good, or am I losing quality?
| (SSnipe) -BLU3Y3Z- wrote on Sat, 06 February 2010 13:05 |
Artec 1200 full tower atx case...bets ever
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Yeah, I'm actually for a case like that. A black case with Blue LED's is kick ass.
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i OWN one and trust me the features, space, strength, fans, compatibility, water cooling capable, whole bakc area for all the wires, 12 bays, or 1 fan for 3 bays, lot of connections, fan filters to clean out the dust, side fan,top fan, psu on bottom of case,fans have low med high setting, reset button and front panel buttons, etc
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