Custom Computer Build Help

[DJAcidice]

I am new to this but my friends have experience putting PC's together and will help me assemble it. I prefer Newegg and Tiger Direct but I will go to Microcenter if it will save money. I want a quad core processer.

I have posted this before but I did not get a chance to take advantage of the deals. I was going to buy this set up now within the next two weeks so I was wondering if a different build is available at a better price.

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming, StarCraft II, Crisis 2, The old Republic (when it comes out), Mass Effect 3. Prefer all on high settings.
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
$600-700
3) Where do you live?
Longmont, CO
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
HDD (Spinpoint F3 1TB?), CPU(Phenom II x4 or i5 750?), GPU (want HDMI or mini HDMI out), DVD burner, Case (needs interior lights), RAM (4gb DDR3), MoBo, PSU, WiFi card (as fast as possible).
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
I have no parts to reuse
6) Will you be overclocking?
Probably to 3.6Ghz or higher.
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
42" Plasma (720p) May get a 1920x1080 one in 6 months
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
By the end of March (probably within 2 to 3 weeks)
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? etc.
I only want one video card at a time and have no other preferences
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
I have Win7 64 bit

 

[AnarkAtPlay]

There is a combo on the egg right now that should fit most of your needs, Combo: 573823. price is $732.00 +s/h -$30 for MIRs

1. Cooler Master RC-922M-KKN1-GP :$109.98
2. GIGABYTE GA-870A-UD3 :$104.99
3. GIGABYTE GV-N460OC-1GI :$189.99
4. Cooler Master RS-700-AMBA-D3 :$89.99
5. AMD HDZ965FBGMBOX :$159.99
6. G.SKILL F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM :$64.99
7. Western Digital WD5001AALS :$59.99
8. SAMSUNG SH-S223C :$19.99

You should be able to hit 3.6ghz with the stock cooling, in the future if you want to get quiet or want more oc room you can get an aftermarket cooler.

 

[Dangman]

$194 - AMD Phenom II 1055T CPU + Gigabyte GA-M4A&8LMT-S2 AMD 760G mATX Motherboard (tax already factored in)
$41 - G.Skill Ripjaw Series F3-10666CL9S-4GBRL 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM
$175 - PowerColor AX6850 1GBD5-DH Radeon HD 6850 1GB PCI-E Video Card
$65 - Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$18 - LG iHAS124-04 DVD Burner
$80 - Antec Truepower New TP-650 650W PSU
$60 - Cooler Master HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 ATX Case
$28 - Asus PCE-N13 Wireless Adapter
----
Total: $661 shipped

Key differences between AnarkAtPlay's and my proposed setup:
- The above setup has a better PSU
- The above setup has a faster HDD
- The above setup has a slight better bang for the buck GPU
- The only real advantage AnarkAtPlay's has over my setup is that he has a better motherboard and better case.

 

[m_isom]

I like Danny Bui's build with a few tweaks

First the case, you want a lighted case, so I think you might want one with a large window like the COOLER MASTER Elite 430 RC-430-KWN1 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119227 it comes with a Blue fan, so get two Blue cathodes for the inside to show off the components. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16800888031&cm_re=cathode-_-00-888-031-_-Product

If you don't like blue search newegg for cathodes to see the other colors and pick up a matching case fan to replace the cooler master's blue one.

Second, the mainboard and CPU selection, its easier to overclock with black edition. I'd go with microcenter also, but choose from the X4 965 black or the x6 1090T with either CPU I'd also select the step up for $19.99 option of the MSI 880G-E45 full sized ATX board in a windowed case. 4 core for $170 or 6 core for $220 before tax. http://www.microcenter.com/specials/promotions/AMDbundlePROMO.html

Third, since you are going to overclock get at least a COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065&Tpk=cooler master 212

 

[AnarkAtPlay]

Danny is right. You might also want to look at the 1090T Black Edition, when in a combo with a SAPPHIRE 6850 it's $349.98 -$15MIR and 2x$10 Newegg promo gift cards.
There is also a good deal on the Corsair CMPSU-650HX psu when bundled with 4gb of XMS3 ram CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 it comes to $134.98 plus there are 2MIR's, one for $15, and one for $20
The samsung drives are great, I'm running 2 in raid 0 in my pc, and I almost got the HAF912 for a build I did the other day for someone at work.

 

[Dangman]

Second, the mainboard and CPU selection, its easier to overclock with black edition. I'd go with microcenter also, but choose from the X4 965 black or the x6 1090T with either CPU I'd also select the step up for $19.99 option of the MSI 880G-E45 full sized ATX board in a windowed case. 4 core for $170 or 6 core for $220 before tax. http://www.microcenter.com/specials/promotions/AMDbundlePROMO.html

Unfortuantely the 965 is sold out at the Colorado MC. otherwise I would have chose that.

The 1055T is just as easy to OC as the 1090T:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/amd-phenom-ii-x6-1055t-overclocking.html

 

[m_isom]

I said black was easier to overclock, that article emphasizes it more on page 5

'Phenom II X6 1055T is far not the only processor that can work at 4.0 GHz during overclocking. You can overclock the quad-core AMD Phenom II X4 965 processor to the same exact frequency. Moreover, this CPU belongs to the Black Edition series of processors, which means that it offers a much easier way of increasing its clock speed.'

The 1055T and 1090T have the same potential being the same core design and stepping. But there are more settings to tweak on non black processors.

 

[Dangman]

I said black was easier to overclock, that article emphasizes it more on page 5

'Phenom II X6 1055T is far not the only processor that can work at 4.0 GHz during overclocking. You can overclock the quad-core AMD Phenom II X4 965 processor to the same exact frequency. Moreover, this CPU belongs to the Black Edition series of processors, which means that it offers a much easier way of increasing its clock speed.'

The 1055T and 1090T have the same potential being the same core design and stepping. But there are more settings to tweak on non black processors.

But reading through the article, even for a newbie, it's not that hard to OC a 1055T. As such, I think that the 1090T is a waste of money.

 

[m_isom]

So yes both are easy since its setting bios options. Save money and follow the article. I realized something about the ram choice, is that single 4gb stick on purpose or did you meant to get a dual channel 2x2gb? $50 minus $5promo code EMCKGKB23 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

 

[Dangman]

So yes both are easy since its setting bios options. Save money and follow the article. I realized something about the ram choice, is that single 4gb stick on purpose or did you meant to get a dual channel 2x2gb? $50 minus $5promo code EMCKGKB23 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

On purpose. I'd rather have more room for RAM upgrades and therefore more RAM than a mere 5% at most performance increase with dual channel.