Building my 1st Computer

G

Graffight

n00b
Joined
Oct 12, 2008
Messages
33
How's it going,

I plan on going back to school online for computer animation and i need a new comp.
i configured a computer on NewEgg, but i've never done it before so i'd like some cratique and suggestions

Here's the stuff i need,

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
photoshop, 3ds Max, Video Editing, gaming, HD Video watching, i would also like to dual boot Ubuntu on it
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
around $2000 before tax's/shipping
3) Where do you live?
Pittsburgh PA
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.

Everything:
Case
Power Supply
CPU
Motherboard
Memory - 8 gigs
Video Card x2
SS Hard Drive
Storage Hard Drive x2
Monitor
Keyboard/Mouse
6) Will you be overclocking?
huge maybe
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
2x24", 1900x1200
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Within the month
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
SLI Support
I think i want to raid 2x1TB storage drives
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? 32bit or 64bit?
Yes Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

My current configuration

1 XCLIO Windtunnel Fully Black Finish 1.0 mm SECC Chassis ATX Full Tower Computer Case

2 GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

3 GIGABYTE GV-N98TOC-1GI Rev 2.0 GeForce 9800 GT 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

4 BFG Tech GS-550 550W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V V2.8 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power Supply

5 Intel Core2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80580Q9400

6 Kingston HyperX T1 Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KHX8500D2T1K2/4G

7 Intel X25-V SSDSA2MP040G2R5 2.5" 40GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

8 HITACHI Deskstar HD31000 IDK/7K (0S00163) 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

9 ASUS VW246H Glossy Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor

10 LG Black 8X Blu-ray Burner SATA Model WH08LS20

11 Logitech Wave Pro Desktop Black USB 2.4 GHz Wireless Keyboard & Mouse Combo

Total Cost = $2,024.74 before tax/shipping
 
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Why 2 videocards? What kind of raid array for the storage drives? Gaming?
 
$2,000 budget with monitors, I'd go with the 2 x Dell U2410 24" displays for Photoshop. This would eat up a good $1,000 though. Since you haven't mentioned gaming, I would just reuse the 9800GT. Not sure why you need two video cards also. Unless you plan on having more than 2 displays connected to the pc.
 
HardwareGuru said:
$2,000 budget with monitors, I'd go with the 2 x Dell U2410 24" displays for Photoshop. This would eat up a good $1,000 though. Since you haven't mentioned gaming, I would just reuse the 9800GT. Not sure why you need two video cards also. Unless you plan on having more than 2 displays connected to the pc.
Click to expand...

oops thought i put gaming in there :) yeah i plan on having 2 monitors
 
A single 5850/5870 would be able to do both monitors.

Illusion / EA650 $122
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.335362

X3440 $240
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117225&cm_re=x3440-_-19-117-225-_-Product

GA-P55-UD3L $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128406

DDR3 1600 $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193

Asus DVD $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Win 7 $100
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10011180

XFX Black $319.99
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10011646

X25-M $290
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167016

500AAKS $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

+ monitor
 
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What will you do with your current setup? I'd use the ASUS 24" monitor for gaming and get 1 x Dell U2410 24" for the graphics and photoshop work. Run these 2 x displays in Dual Monitor setup. This allows you to have more $$$ to focus on the computer.

Oops sorry. LoL I thought the current configuration you posted is the computer that you already have.
 
Pretty bad build for the following reasons:
- Shitty PSU
- CPU + Mobo + RAM is horribly outdated and outperformed by cheaper AMD Phenom II based setups and equal costs Core i5 750 setup
- Case is so-so
- Overpriced 9800GT. You can get the faster HD 5750 for the same price.

Better setup for the price:
$216 - AMD Phenom II X4 945 CPU + Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P AMD 770 Motherboard
$105 - G.Skill Ripjaw Series F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL 2 x 2GB DDR3 1600 RAM
$160 - XFX HD-577X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 1GB PCI-E Video Card
$130 - Intel SSDSA2MP040G2R5 2.5" 40GB SSD
$100 - Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$80 - Cooler Master RC-690-KKN1-GP ATX Case
$80 - Antec NEO ECO 620C 620W PSU
---
Total: $871 plus tax and shpping.

Key differences:
- CPU/Mobo/RAM combo is as fast if not faster than the Q9400 setup you have
- Significantly faster video card for gaming
- Significantly better quality PSU
- Slightly faster 1TB drive
- Missing the Blu-ray burner as I'm not quite sure that you'll actually be buring Blu-ray discs
 
Danny Bui said:
Pretty bad build for the following reasons:
- Shitty PSU
- CPU + Mobo + RAM is horribly outdated and outperformed by cheaper AMD Phenom II based setups and equal costs Core i5 750 setup
- Case is so-so
- Overpriced 9800GT. You can get the faster HD 5750 for the same price.

Better setup for the price:
$216 - AMD Phenom II X4 945 CPU + Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P AMD 770 Motherboard
$105 - G.Skill Ripjaw Series F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL 2 x 2GB DDR3 1600 RAM
$160 - XFX HD-577X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 1GB PCI-E Video Card
$130 - Intel SSDSA2MP040G2R5 2.5" 40GB SSD
$100 - Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$80 - Cooler Master RC-690-KKN1-GP ATX Case
$80 - Antec NEO ECO 620C 620W PSU
---
Total: $871 plus tax and shpping.

Key differences:
- CPU/Mobo/RAM combo is as fast if not faster than the Q9400 setup you have
- Significantly faster video card for gaming
- Significantly better quality PSU
- Slightly faster 1TB drive
- Missing the Blu-ray burner as I'm not quite sure that you'll actually be buring Blu-ray discs
Click to expand...

I appreciate this,

can similar be done with an intel/GForce set up?
 
Graffight said:
can similar be done with an intel/GForce set up?
Click to expand...

An Intel based setup will cost at least $75 more. As for the Nvidia card, no. Right now, Nvidia's cards are either outperformed or outpriced by ATI's lineup. So in other words: Nvidia cards have crap bang for the buck value.
 
HardwareGuru said:
What will you do with your current setup? I'd use the ASUS 24" monitor for gaming and get 1 x Dell U2410 24" for the graphics and photoshop work. Run these 2 x displays in Dual Monitor setup. This allows you to have more $$$ to focus on the computer.

Oops sorry. LoL I thought the current configuration you posted is the computer that you already have.
Click to expand...

I agree, and I even thought the same thing, lol, but was confused cuz the topic said "building my first comp" lol. Anyhow, I agree with HG. Go with g's build and add the U2410. If the Samsung F3 500GB or 1TB is in stock, go for either of those instead of the Caviar Blue/Black drives (they go in and out of stock, so if not in stock, stick with caviar blue or black, 640gb or 1TB).

If you'd rather get two U2410 monitors, then you'll have to sacrifice performance and go for an AMD build. Danny's AMD build is good. Note that AMD Phenom II X4 is as good as Core2Quad. AMD has nothing to compete with Core i5-750, i7-860, nor i7-920. If you spend more than $871, go for an Intel build.
 
Danny Bui said:
An Intel based setup will cost at least $75 more. As for the Nvidia card, no. Right now, Nvidia's cards are either outperformed or outpriced by ATI's lineup. So in other words: Nvidia cards have crap bang for the buck value.
Click to expand...

+1, definitely stick with ATI until Nvidia gets their act together. Fermi is still speculation to me until they actually ship the first card. @ OP, why do you want Intel/Nvidia over what Danny posted? His build is quite good...
 
Shadowssong said:
+1, definitely stick with ATI until Nvidia gets their act together. Fermi is still speculation to me until they actually ship the first card. @ OP, why do you want Intel/Nvidia over what Danny posted? His build is quite good...
Click to expand...

i've only heard that nvidia supports Linux better than ATI generally, but i'll probably go with Danny's build :)
 
So i decided to go with Danny's build, I kept the 2 ASUS monitors because they are less expensive, i might go with the Dell later on

also i have a question, With the XFX HD-577X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 , it takes up a lot of space, if i do want to go with sli, or corssfire or whatever. how will it fit on my mobo?

Finished build

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Antec NEO ECO 620C 620W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor Model HDX945WFGIBOX

GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard

XFX HD-577X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

x2 - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL

Intel X25-V SSDSA2MP040G2R5 2.5" 40GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

x2 - Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

LG Black 8X Blu-ray Burner SATA Model WH08LS20

x2 - ASUS VW246H Glossy Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor

Final Price - $1,715
 
You can't crossfire, sli or whatever on that board - it has only 1 PCIE X 16 slot
 
Graffight said:
could i change this board and nothing else? any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Yes but'll be a slight increase in costs:
$237 - AMD Phenom II X4 945 CPU + GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard combo
 
if photoshop and video editing are higher priority than gaming, then i'd highly suggest what i said earlier, g's build and HG's suggestion of re-using your current TN for gaming and adding the U2410 for video/photo. if gaming is a higher priority, then your plan w/ danny's build and another TN panel is fine.
 
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If 2 x Dell U2410 would be out of your budget, I would just settle for 1 X Dell U2410 and then maybe buy a second one later. For what you do, you need a better monitor.

Watch this video and you will see the difference between a TN panel (ASUS 24") vs the IPS panel (Dell 24")
 
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HardwareGuru said:
If 2 x Dell U2410 would be out of your budget, I would just settle for 1 X Dell U2410 and then maybe buy a second one later. For what you do, you need a better monitor.

Watch this video and you will see the difference between a TN panel (ASUS 24") vs the IPS panel (Dell 24")
Click to expand...

That makes so much more sense now...i think i'll go with 1 dell pannel for now and get a second one later! Thanks for the heads up :)
 
Ok so i just got my computer and after about 3 or 4 hours it's finally all put together. Windows runs but i'm having a couple of problems.

1st my video card (radeon hd 5770) for some reason won't run the drivers. The first time I installed windows it worked fine, but something happened and i had to reinstall windows (not quite sure why) and now when i put in the driver CD for the video card it won't run...i tried downloading them online, and they installed, but its still not recognizing the video card. any suggestions

2nd my 1TB hard drive when i put it in says that it's a 99MB hard drive.

any help would be greatly appreciated

BTW thanks to danny for a great build!
 
Fixed the first problem, but still having issues with windows 7 recognizing the correct capacity of my hard drive.
 
It's 1TB but it says that it's 99MB's and i reformated it, but it still looks like it's almost a quarter full when i check it in "my computer"
 
Well i figured out the hard drive...i had to partition the whole thing to make it read...anyway here's the finished product

P2261623.jpg
 
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