First time computer build

G

gamer751

n00b
Joined
May 5, 2009
Messages
2
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
-Gaming and general use (websurfing, word processing, etc.)
3) Where do you live?
-Washington State
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
-Possibly the optical drive
6) Will you be overclocking?
-Do not intend to
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
-Still looking into that one, thinking something that will support HD
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
-As soon as I get all the parts figured out
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
-Looking to set up a RAID, and possibly go SLI in the future.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license?
-yes

So with that in mind here is where I am so far:

Motherboard:
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R-SLI LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128386

CPU:
Intel Core i7 940 Nehalem 2.93GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146047

RAM: (four of these)
Crucial Ballistix 1GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1800 (PC3 14400) Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148292

Hard Drive:
Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320

Video Card:
EVGA 896-P3-1258-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 SSC Edition 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130441

Audio Card:
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional 70SB088600002 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Express Interface Sound Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102019

Network Card:
EVGA Killer Xeno Pro 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI-E 1x (PCI-E 2.0 Compliant) Network Adapter 1 x RJ45 , 1 x USB 2.0
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833188001

Power Supply:
ENERMAX REVOLUTION85+ ERV850EWT 850W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194041

Case:
NZXT TEMPEST Crafted Series CS-NT-TEM-B Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146047
 
Post your budget.

And, you don't need this

Network Card:
EVGA Killer Xeno Pro 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI-E 1x (PCI-E 2.0 Compliant) Network Adapter 1 x RJ45 , 1 x USB 2.0
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833188001


I have to leave, but your build is overpriced for the performance you'd be getting. I suspect you're kind of a newbie to actual PC building. >_< Don't take offense!

*Yep I read the title, hehe.*
 
I have some recommendations gathered from lots of information posted in other threads by much more knowledgable people than me.

Get the I7 920 and something like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029. I would also buy this paste to use w/ that HS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020&Tpk=Arctic%20Cooling. You may not want to OC (thought I wouldn't either, but as you will find, it's quite easy to get quite a bit of free performance on these chips) You can easily OC to what a I7 940 stock will offer for a much better price. I kid not, you can probably just change CPU host freq to net you 2.9 ghz (what the 940 is) and keep everything else on auto.

The RAM doesn't seem worth it, if your not gonna go for really high OC's I don't see the point for 1800 RAM. Most recommend this kit http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231225, I have it and it works just fine. You will get more memory at a better price and it will give you the headroom needed if you do decide to OC in the future.

Do you need that PSU? Seems expensive and alot of people recommend this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006 I also have this and it powers a similar system just fine (don't have RAID though)

Alot of people don't recommend going SLI in the future(basically do it now if your gonna do it as their will probably be a better single slot solution when you decide to), so w/ the money you saved above, maybe go for a Nvidia 280GTX and pair it w/ a 24 in LCD.

Cases are personal preference, and that one looks pretty nice.
 
Last edited:
Give us a budget amount. Though the following recommendations are designed to save you money, we still need to know how much, at most, you're willing to spend.

However, you should replace the processor and RAM because, as mMike01 mentioned, you could get similar performance using cheaper components. You won't see much difference performance wise between the Core i7 920 and the i7 940 at stock speeds. Corsair Dominators are overpriced compared to other available RAM kits, and you don't need DDR3 1800 RAM, especially if you have no intentions of overclocking. DDR3 1333 RAM is a good compromise, as it will run at stock speeds and enable you to overclock (later on, should you decide to go that route) to a modest level.

Also, DDR3 RAM works best in tri-channel mode, so get one 3x2GB kit. Several are available for under/around $100. Get RAM that runs between 1.5V and 1.6V, as lower voltage means less heat (and less stress on the motherboard while overclocking).

Additionally, you don't need any external NIC as it won't make enough of a difference to justify the added costs. And you don't need a $250 power supply when the Corsair TX750, at about half of its cost, can get the job done just as well.

In a roundabout way, what I'm saying is that you should listen to AMDXPCottonFire22 and mMike01.
 
gamer751 said:
So I changed the RAM to a 3X2G set up(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231225), and I am looking into a fan for the CPU. The network card is gone from the set up and I am probably going to use the money saved to up the video card.

Thanks for the comments guys, please keep em coming if you think of anything else.
Click to expand...

You still haven't answered the KEY QUESTION that tiraides and PC_User asked: WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET?

Oh and please figure out what size monitor you are going to get. The size of the monitor determines what video card you need
 
gamer751 said:
So I changed the RAM to a 3X2G set up(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231225), and I am looking into a fan for the CPU. The network card is gone from the set up and I am probably going to use the money saved to up the video card.

Thanks for the comments guys, please keep em coming if you think of anything else.
Click to expand...

For cpu fan, the typical best performers are the cubic bricks with fans such as the one here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608007
 
If he doesn't intend to OC, then why does he need a third party HSF?
 
Alai said:
If he doesn't intend to OC, then why does he need a third party HSF?
Click to expand...

He doesn't, but since one was suggested, I suggested a cheaper alternative. One reason non-overclockers would buy a 3rd party fan is for the quieter operation over the stock HSF. Also, its good to be prepared once you learn how easily overclockable these chips are... after all, we are at [H].
 
gamer751 said:
Motherboard:
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R-SLI LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128386
Click to expand...

Good choice for a budget $200 motherboard.

gamer751 said:
CPU:
Intel Core i7 940 Nehalem 2.93GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146047
Click to expand...

NO reason to go with the i7 940. Go with the i7 920. Otherwise you will be paying twice as much for 300 MHz.

gamer751 said:
RAM: (four of these)
Crucial Ballistix 1GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1800 (PC3 14400) Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148292
Click to expand...

Don't get 4 x 1GB sticks when you can get 3 x 2GB sticks with this good kit and run them in triple channel.

gamer751 said:
Hard Drive:
Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320
Click to expand...

The Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB is only $5 more. Well worth it.

gamer751 said:
Video Card:
EVGA 896-P3-1258-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 SSC Edition 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130441
Click to expand...

Here's a GTX260 Core 216 for $180 (much cheaper than the EVGA you selected). If you want to spend in the $240 price range, I recommend you go with the ATI Radeon 4890 for $235 with $20 rebate.

gamer751 said:
Audio Card:
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional 70SB088600002 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Express Interface Sound Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102019
Click to expand...

Good sound card AFAIK.

gamer751 said:
Network Card:
EVGA Killer Xeno Pro 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI-E 1x (PCI-E 2.0 Compliant) Network Adapter 1 x RJ45 , 1 x USB 2.0
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833188001
Click to expand...

Why do you need a network card? The motherboard has a built-in NIC.

gamer751 said:
Power Supply:
ENERMAX REVOLUTION85+ ERV850EWT 850W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194041
Click to expand...

Good modular PSU. However, the Corsair 1000HX is $10 less. I would definitely choose that unit over the Enermax. If you don't need a modular unit, look into the Corsair TX850 and save $100 in the process.

gamer751 said:
Case:
NZXT TEMPEST Crafted Series CS-NT-TEM-B Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146047
Click to expand...

This is a personal choice.
 
Oh, also, 3rd party HSFs that are typically recommended here also have better mounting mechanisms, with backplates and bolts... instead of that plastic intel push-pin crap. ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top