First Build

[Eccentrix]

All of you should have no idea who I am because I just recently joined, but here is just a small introduction.

I am 15 years old. I began being fascinated with computers, electronics, and just working with my hands when I was about 10. I started web programming/designing when I was about 12, learned HTML, CSS, and PHP, started a few websites that never took off, etc. I haven’t coded or designed anything in a while. When I was about 13, I really got interested in how computers worked, and the hardware and everything about it. I probably got this from my grandpa who is really good with all electronics and computers. He’s been building them for almost 20 years and been working with electronics his entire life.

Anyways, enough about me. I’m starting to build my first computer (which is obviously exciting for me). I’ve got a few parts so far, but I only visit Micro Center maybe once a month so please don’t lose interest as I probably won’t update this very frequently (I just wanted to get a thread started). The parts I have so far are:

Case: Centurion 5 (~$50)
Motherboard: Asus P5Q SE2 (~$120)
Memory: OCZ DDR2 4GB (~$50)
DVD Drive: I believe it’s a Samsung, doesn’t matter much. (~$25)

Total Cost: ~$245

Planning on probably an 160gb or 320gb (don’t need anything massive), either a decent Core 2 Quad or a good Core 2 Duo (depends on the price I can find at the time), a 9800gtx or GTX 260, 280, 295 (also depends on the price at the time) and some 600 watt PSU.

Some pictures:
Case:

Motherboard:

Memory:

Motherboard mounted:

Comments/Suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[voklskier4452]

looks like a solid beginning.. what type of gaming will you be doing on this.. because if its mostly light i would go with either the 9800gtx or the 260

also dont skimp on the powersupply.. go with a good brand (corsair, coolermaster, pc power&cooling, etc)

 

[Eccentrix]

Just some moderate gaming. Most likely I will get the 9800gtx. If I have the extra cash at the time I'll get the 260 but probably not the 285 or 290. Nothing extreme or I would have gotten more of a gaming motherboard.

And thanks on the advice on the power supply.

 

[voklskier4452]

no problem and a 9800gtx should serve you well in everything but crysis

 

[Dangman]

And thanks on the advice on the power supply.

If the PSU you're planning on buying is not a Corsair, PC P&C, Antec (Not their Truepower I and II series, Smartpower, Trueblue) or Seasonic, just go ahead and ask about it in the PSU subforum.

Any chance of returning that P5Q SE mobo if you actually paid $120 for it? Because you can get the significantly better quality P5Q Pro for the same price:
$120 - Asus P5Q Pro Intel P45 Motherboard

 

[Eccentrix]

^^ Unfortunately there's not. I'm not doing the shopping online. Although the next computer I build will definitely be on Newegg

 

[lkiller1231]

Very nice, planning to overclock?

 

[Eccentrix]

Maybe a small amount. Nothing major. Probably won't be using the stock fans.

 

[Impulse]

I'm surprised you have the patience to build it up piece by piece at that age (no offense) and it being your first build, heh... The first one or two systems I built (early in high school) were the complete opposite of cost-effective, I was basically trying to get the best possible part for every component, ironically those were some of the most troubled systems I built (and I don't think it had anything to do w/the OS install or my skills).

The first one was a Dell I basically picked up as a barebones kit and I added 2x 3dfx cards to it, then later a Riva, then a TNT, etc... Diamond Monster sound card, so on and so forth. 'Least I got to play with stuff like a SCSI card (for an early CD-R drive + Zip drive!), might've never touched that stuff in my lifetime otherwise. The second one was probably the 'least cost-effective system I ever built though, built from the ground up but I went for like the just-released socket P3 933MHz (they were still largely slot-based then I think), a 75GB IBM 75GXP (the doomed Deathstar series, thing barely lasted 6 months), just terrible, heh...

Oh and the case was the worst part, it's the one area where I skimped on but it made everything a PITA, the PSU would hang over the TT Golden Orb (you could barely fit your finger in between). I think I still have that case somewhere, I ripped out one of the drive cages (which also hung from a cross-beam support btw, lol) and I was using it to hold drives on my desk when I was yanking stuff out of 'em for clients or w/e.

Anyway, sorry for the nostalgic hijack, looking good so far... As far s the vid card, idk how Microcenter prices are right now, but on Newegg the cheapest 9800+ GTX are only like $20-40 cheaper than a GTX 260, definitely not worth it as the GTX 260 will last ya much much longer. I'd even go so far as to opt for a C2D rather than a C2Q (much bigger savings there, $100+) rather than going for the 9800 over the 260. Shame you can't order online as there is a terrific deal on the front page right now for a BFG LS-450 for $50 with free shipping and all (probably the best PSU in that range, right up there w/Corsair's).

 

[master noran]

OP, take a look in the FS/FT section. You can get some new or almost new parts for WAY under retail. Also, I could sell you a second 4850 I have, that was only opened to test it against mine.

 

[Deleted member 184142]

I am guessing this will be mostly for gaming? Even so, don't skimp on the HDD, wile it might not get you any more FPS, it can be the difference of a computer being a pleasure to be on or not. And with the price of drives like the WD 640's being so low, there's not much reason not to get them. Don't need the space? Shortstroke it and get better access times.

I remember my first build, when I went cheap on the HDD....Never again.

 

[302mazda]

no problem and a 9800gtx should serve you well in everything but crysis

I played Crysis and Crysis Warhead on my 9800 gtx+ With pretty high settings, played it great. I also play Left4Dead at full settings and get 90 fps all the time.

 

[Eccentrix]

Thanks for the replies guys! Yesterday I went out and got 3 new parts. A C2D E7400. MicroCenter had a very small selection of processors it was either this for $100 or a C2Q for I believe $180. I'm satisfied with the processor though. I also picked up a 360gb Western Digital HD and a Coolmax 500w PSU (I know, I know it was cheap, actually $30 to be exact, but I will probably upgrade it around Christmas time so it should be fine by then.

Case: Centurion 5 (~$50)
Motherboard: Asus P5Q SE2 (~$120)
Memory: OCZ DDR2 4GB (~$50)
DVD Drive: I believe it’s a Samsung, doesn’t matter much. (~$25)
Processor: Intel C2D E7400 (~$100)
HDD: Western Digital 360gb (~$90) (I look around newegg and see I could have gotten a much bigger one for cheaper. But oh well)
PSU: Coolmax 500w (~$30)

Total Cost: ~$465

@Impulse - Greatly appreciate the long reply, I love reading them. Unfortunately MicroCenter tends to have a big selection of 94 and 9500's instead of 96 and 9800's. If I can find a gtx 260 for a maximum of $50 more I won't hesitate to buy it.

@BlueFireIce - There will be gaming played on it. But not MASS amounts. I'm planning on getting Crysis and a few other games.

@Master Noran - How much can you sell the 4850 to me for?

I'm almost embarrassed showing the power supply I got, but no biggie, it should do fine for now.

I know the power supply is EPS but I looked up a lot about it and it seemed compatible:

Everything mounted (except processor, picking up thermal compound next trip, no biggie)

Back of the case so far:

Only need the graphics card and the OS which I should be picking up this weekend.
Like I said, probably getting a 9800gt. I don't think MicroCenter has any 9800gtx's but a gt should serve me just fine. Is there a big difference between the 9800gt and 9800gtx? Would I be able to see a difference if I got one over the other?

Again all comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated!

 

[Greg-O]

Hey man nice build you got going on here, but one thing I would suggest is that if you ever think about using you computer to store media on such as, cd/dvd iso's, dvd rips, music, anything like that I would suggest you get a second larger hard drive to use. I say this because i have 2 seagate 160gb hard drives in a raid and its already full and its a pain.

Good build though, I like it.

 

[Dangman]

A Coolmax 500w PSU (I know, I know it was cheap, actually $30 to be exact, but I will probably upgrade it around Christmas time so it should be fine by then.

PSU: Coolmax 500w (~$30)

I'm almost embarrassed showing the power supply I got, but no biggie, it should do fine for now.

I know the power supply is EPS but I looked up a lot about it and it seemed compatible:

The Coolmax may not last that long. $30 was waay too much for that PSU:
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=72

I highly recommend getting a better quality PSU ASAP. If you have to get the PSU locally, this is cheapest but still decent enough PSU I could find at Microcenter:
http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0276315

Do you have a Fry's nearby? See if you can return the Coolmax PSU. It's totally not worth it to use that PSU with your system.

Is there a big difference between the 9800gt and 9800gtx? Would I be able to see a difference if I got one over the other?

The 9800GTX is roughly 10 to 15% faster than the 9800GT. You'll probably not notice a difference.

 

[Eccentrix]

^^ I can't say I've actually heard of a Fry's. I'll look into returning it and getting a better quality one. Thanks for the feedback.

On another note. If the XFX GTX 260 is still $170 on Newegg on Friday I'll be ordering it. Before I said I couldn't do online shopping which was when I was dead set on shopping local. Due to Microcenter not having a very big selection of video cards I decided that it would be much smarter to just buy this 260 on Newegg. So let's hope the deal is still there Friday.

 

[Deleted member 184142]

If your going to order the video card offline now, you might think about getting the PSU there as well, you can often find much better parts for cheaper online than you can at box stores.

 

[skyline889]

That psu is chalk full of fail. I had the exact same one in my old pc build. It's loud for a 120mm cooled psu and it isn''t very reliable. I keep mine around only to test for dead components.

 

[Eccentrix]

Received a box today. What could it be?
Sorry for crappy pictures, don't have my camera for a week using my phone.

New power supply! Hoping for it to be much better than the other coolmax. Hopefully ordering the graphics card this weekend.
Will post more pics when I install it.

 

[Dangman]

That says Apower AK series?

if so, you bought another low quality PSU. Stick to Antec (not their Basiq line) or Corsair