My First Custom Rig (56k warning)

mwl5apv

n00b
Joined
Feb 18, 2011
Messages
35
Alright everyone this was my first time putting together a custom rig. Here are the specs and pics! Enjoy!

Case: Thermaltake V3
Fans: 4x Cooler master R4 blue LED 120mm......1x Thermaltake 120mm
Optical: ASUS 24x DVD Burner
PSU: Corsair tx650
Mobo: Asus M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3
CPU: AMD Phenom ll x4 955 Black Edition
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper N520
RAM: 8Gb Corsair 1333mhz
GPU: EVGA Geforce GTX 460
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black 500Gb
Monitor: Sansung SyncMaster B2230 (21.5" full HD 1080p)


OK, So here we go:
IMG_20110208_191430-1.jpg


IMG_20110209_113444.jpg


IMG_20110209_113428.jpg


IMG_20110209_114804.jpg


IMG_20110209_114818.jpg


Installed my front intake fan
IMG_20110209_114851.jpg


Installed my side panel intake fan and put on a fan grill to help camouflage those chrome screws
IMG_20110209_115019.jpg


Just to be on the safe side... yes I bought one of these
IMG_20110209_115251.jpg


Now the Optical Drive
IMG_20110209_115437.jpg


IMG_20110209_120015.jpg


IMG_20110209_120823.jpg


Now the Goodies :)
IMG_20110209_120850.jpg


IMG_20110209_121444.jpg


IMG_20110209_121503.jpg


IMG_20110209_121751.jpg


IMG_20110209_121803.jpg


IMG_20110209_121943.jpg


IMG_20110209_121951.jpg


IMG_20110209_122929.jpg


IMG_20110209_122948.jpg


IMG_20110209_123312.jpg


IMG_20110209_123326.jpg


IMG_20110209_123455.jpg


IMG_20110209_130440.jpg


IMG_20110209_130505.jpg


IMG_20110209_130515.jpg


IMG_20110209_121016.jpg


IMG_20110209_120956.jpg


IMG_20110209_121201.jpg


IMG_20110209_131053.jpg


IMG_20110209_131145.jpg


IMG_20110209_131155.jpg


IMG_20110209_133831.jpg
 
Like the guts, dislike the case. I have the v4(same case, different front) for my htpc and it is good for the price, but I'd rather spend a few more bucks next time and get something with a little better build quality. Have fun!
 
Nice work on your first build. Just be careful you don't get the itch like the rest of us... It never ends.

I just finished a build for someone in my family with almost identical parts. The only difference is I only got 4GB of RAM, a cheaper video card (HD5770), and a much less beefy PSU to save on some cost. I appreciate your choice of cost-effective components. It's fun watching all these other builds and daydreaming, but when it comes down to it, affording the top-notch performance parts is a bit of a challenge considering everyday living costs with a family. What you've got here is a very fast machine that will last years at a fraction of the cost of the latest and greatest technology. How do you like the performance of these components?

How do you like your CoolerMaster SickleFlow 120mm fans? I'm in the planning/purchasing phase of a mod on one of my old cases that I'm just waiting for the weather to turn around before I start working and star my work log, and I've ordered one of these fans for my front intake fan simply because I liked the look of the LED's in it. I hooked it up to test it and at first I was very impressed with the airflow, but a little disappointed with the noise level...
 
Nice build. How are you liking it so far? And be prepared to constantly be upgrading and altering. Not all, but many builders are constantly changing and upgrading their systems. I'm one of them. :D
 
You sure that's your first one? That build and your cable management is way better than most people who have plenty of PCs under their belt. Good work.
 
Well done. Cable management looks good (my pet peeve).

Looks very good for a first timer.
 
First, WELL DONE.

Looks great. I have to say, I have doubts this is your first build due to the level of detail and choice of components. Both of which to me is pretty pro. Or, you spent a great deal of time researching your first build. Regardless, much deserved props.

A trick a lot of rookies miss is how to properly clean greasy finger prints and smears. Very hard to completely remove. I cannot tell if you have any but chances are, you do. To give your rig that last bit of polish on the inside, you can use a lent free microfiber cloth or even cotton swabs along with stainless steel cleaner. This cleans nearly any metal surface 100% free of those nasty looking greasy left overs which I personally hate. Most of the guys here who show off their new builds have nothing by finger prints all over everything and to me that's totally un-professional.

Some other good advice, invest in a long long magnetic tipped screw drivers. The highest quality you can find, a small head for delicate work and a med head for motherboard screws and hard drives / dvd burners etc. Anyone here can tell you that top left motherboard screw near the PSU is a BITCH to get at.

Another thing I like to do which is very uber geeky is to wear a LED head band while you work. This gives you plenty of light on your work area. They are cheap and extremely handy.

I've got nearly $50,000 on Newegg for personal builds over the years. On my business account, I have nearly $230,000 in invoices. I've built A LOT of computers.

Again, nice job.
 
Last edited:
Well done, nice selection of affordable components. Let's hear how your overclocking goes after you get a few days of burn in.

Make sure you ask plenty of questions if you're unsure about something. And, welcome to the forum.
 
well done - nice job
There's only one issue - your specs are too good for a 1st time build - you'll get the itch again in 6 months.
 
You did an awesome job on the cable management. Unfortunately that is one thing I am terrible at. The only thing that I am not a fan of is the GTX 460 SE. It is not a bad card quality wise. I just personally prefer a little faster GPU.(But hey everybody has different needs)
 
whats the difference between the 460 se 1gb and regular 460 1gb? seems the price is cheaper with the se.
 
Color me impressed if that is your first build! I personally am not a fan of TT, but I cannot deny that you did a very good job for a first time. As someone else pointed out, your cable management skills are better than what most people attempt to do.

Again, nice build!

Some advise though:

Purchase and utilize zip ties or velcro straps for better cable management (particularly for the PSU cables and front-side cables).
Consider purchasing fans with washable dust filters to help keep your case clean and reduce canned air or air compressor cleaning cycles (suggested every 6 months).
Consider moving that case away from your bed :p
 
Yep nice work on a first build, also one of Thermaltake's more practical cases, do you have filtration on those intake fans, especially the bottom one?

I have found the filtration supplied with my Xaser VI, almost ineffective, if it wasn't for the mesh grills.
 
As PC enthusiasts, we tend to forget some of the necessities in life and although your build is a fine one, let us not forget what's really important:

I'm assuming you're a bachelor of the male variety. You should really invest in a mattress cover. From this angle, the mattress is a Sealy full/queen. To cover this, it should cost you less than 10 bucks. Because most women don't care whether it's a 460SE or a 460 FTW.

Also, that Rubix Cube has got to go. Ronald Reagan is no longer the president and if I were a woman in your bedroom, the bra is commin right back on with that thing on the desk.

With all due respect...of course.
 
Congrats on busting your "first build cherry." :D The satisfaction that comes from a first build is pretty awesome.
 
Congrats on your first build.

Soon you will be changing parts out like a mad man. :D I do at least every 6 months.

Need to update sig. Kinda lazy on that part lol.

Anyways, Congrats, and welcome to the [H]ard Party. Soon we will see you doing water cooling. :D
 
Awesome grats on your first build!!

Nice clean build. Nothing wrong with that at all. Not all the parts are parts that I would of chosen personnally, but they are all parts that should get the job done. I hope you had a good time and you should be proud of yourself.
 
awkward when another dude is scoping out your bed and room and your brand of lotion. A little too uncomfortable for me.
 
those lights at night if your pc is on is going to get annoying, i remember my 1st build i went all decked out with light fans then it got annoying, good job tho :)
 
Very nice!

I still remember my first build. AMD 2600+ XP w/ Thermalright heatsink, 512MB Corsair DDR400, ATi 9700 Pro, EpoX nForce 2, Yamaha CRW-F1 CD burner w/ Disc T@2 (weird precursor to LightScribe), 120GB Maxtor HDD, Chenming full-tower w/ window (same as the Alienware cases back then), 420W PSU, WinXP Pro. Only OC'ed to 2.3Ghz, the higher-numbered early XPs weren't great 'clockers --- built a 1700+ next that OC'ed 50% over stock...those were the days! Eventually rebuilt into a decent 939/K8 4000+ single core with a 7900GS that sailed off to charity in 2007.

This replaced a sad HP tower that didn't even have an AGP slot! If you do your research like this 1st-timer obviously has, you can build a system that will hold with the best of them. My original build was top-end back when SWG and HL2/CS2 graced my 19" CRT. All things considered, stay away from DIY water cooling on your 1st build...
 
NIce rig.

CompUSA? The OEM optical and hard disk packaging look like their stuff and corsair is usually the only decent ram they sell in store along with the Ultra accessories. I also see a corsair powersupply which they sell in store.
 
First build flashback.... I was 12 and she was a 486....

I won't bore you with the details. Good job for first build.
 
Congratulations!! You are the first person evar on this forum to use an anti-static wrist strap! Possibly also the first to actually have purchased one :D
 
First build flashback.... I was 12 and she was a 486....

I won't bore you with the details. Good job for first build.

Yeah, I don't exactly miss the days of ISA, EISA, VLB (VESA), and SIPP/SIMM memory... gag! My first was a 386 sx 33 with a Tulip 256kB video card and 4MB 70ns SIPP memory (16x256k SIPP modules). Again, gag...
 
Beautifully done, especially for being your first rig. The problem is, and a few others have already said this, now you will have the itch. Welcome to the club!!!
 
I wouldve gone AMD 970 3.5 ghz first of all and never never use nvidia with AMD.. intel and nvidia go together i wouldve gone again AMD 6970 2 gig Video. I prefer Antec cases but again this is just MY Opinion Nice otherwise :D
 
Back
Top