New guy, New build

A

astrob0y

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 7, 2009
Messages
218
Hey guys, just joined this forum, been finding a lot of useful info here so I decided to join to reap the full benefits here.:D I am finally going to start my first build. I'm not really a heavy user, just occasional gaming, movies, and school stuff. I'm still learning as I go!
My current rig is a Gateway FX7020 that I bought about 3 years ago and these are the specs:
AMD Phenom 9600
EVGA GeForce 8800 GT
3 GB RAM
500 GB HD

I'm planning to take the graphics card, cpu, maybe the ram and the HD for the new build. I only bought a few pieces for the new pc and it is:

CoolerMaster CM690 ATX Case
Ultra LSP750 750w Power Supply
Asus M3N72-D nForce 750a SLI AM2+ Motherboard
Another EVGA GeForce 8800 GT


I know im still missing alot of components, I've been looking at CPU heatsinks and will probably end up buying the S1283V Dark Knight HS. Still in the market for RAMs as my current RAM is only a PC5300 333Mhz, looking to upgrade it to probably 800Mhz with the new mobo. Haven't looked into any case fans yet so if someone can direct me to any good ones please let me know!

My current OS is Vista Premium 32-bit, when i get everything for my new rig I will upgrade it to Windows 7 64-bit. Still kind of confused on the process as I will be using my old HD on the new PC. By plugging the old HD to a new mobo will i have to fix something so it would run properly? BIOs? OS? If im upgrading the OS would it cause any other problems?

Any inputs would be great!

EDIT:
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Occasional gaming and photoshop, mostly web browsing, torrents, movies, and school stuff (words, excel, access)
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
Around $600 not including shipping and tax
3) Where do you live?
MA
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
Case, Mobo, HDD, PSU, Case fans, maybe HSF, maybe RAM
But bought a few pieces already (above)
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
CPU(Phenom 9600), possibly the stock HSF(not sure on the model but it's a Cooler Master), HDD(OEM 500GB), Sound card, CD/DVD drive
6) Will you be overclocking?
Maybe in the future when I feel more comfortable.
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
22" Westinghousing
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
No specific deadline, just buying as I am learning.
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
SLI support, HDMI output, more than 4GB ram support, can't really think of anything else, nothing too major.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license?
Have a full copy of Windows 7 64-bit



The stuff I bought/have so far:
Ultra LSP750 750-Watt Power Supply - 69.98
Asus M3N72-D Motherboard 750a - 119.99
Cooler Master CM690 Nvidia Ed. ATX Case SLI Ready - 99.99
EVGA Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT - 85.01 (off ebay)
AMD Phenom 9600
500GB HDD
CD/DVD Drive
Stock CPU HSF
Sound Card
 
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You dont' need to swap out the heatsink/fan (HSF) unless you're planning on overclocking, even then, you probably don't' need to swap it.

Same goes with memory, unless you're planning on overclocking, you dont' need to change out to 800MHz, just add more and you'll see as big a difference.

Putting in a new HDD, making it your primary (bootable hdd) and installing Win 7 on that, will leave all your old HDD content intact, it's the best way to upgrade OS's. You can eventually just wipe your old HDD and use it for storage or whatever.
 
Engine101 said:
You dont' need to swap out the heatsink/fan (HSF) unless you're planning on overclocking, even then, you probably don't' need to swap it.

Same goes with memory, unless you're planning on overclocking, you dont' need to change out to 800MHz, just add more and you'll see as big a difference.
Click to expand...

So I guess re-using the stock HSF would be sufficient and temps won't be an issue. i'll probably just buy a few more sticks of RAM.
Engine101 said:
Putting in a new HDD, making it your primary (bootable hdd) and installing Win 7 on that, will leave all your old HDD content intact, it's the best way to upgrade OS's. You can eventually just wipe your old HDD and use it for storage or whatever.
Click to expand...

So when i get the new HDD just pop it in, put the Windows 7 DVD in, power it up and the process will proceed? As long as i set the new HDD to primary the old HDD with the old OS wouldn't case any problems?

Thanks again. :)
 
I'd only swap heatsinks if the concern is noise, although in terms of performance, it isn't needed

other than that, I'd ditch the CM690 if you haven't purchased it already, grab a Lian-Li or Silverstone, something sturdy and better looking basically

also, wouldn't go with an Ultra PSU

those points aside, looks good
 
I should of mentioned this in my original post but my budget for this build is probably about $600, so far the case, psu, mobo, graphics card have cost me about 400.
 
ok, can you edit your first post to include the questions in the sticky, and list out the parts you've already bought w/ prices, and parts you're thinking about buying w/ prices? It'll help when people come back to this thread so they don't have to read every single post to get the full picture. ;) Help us help you.

Sticky: Asking for Build Help?: ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS FIRST
 
yeah i wouldnt go with that psu either. i would send it back for a better quality psu and since you have not gone over budget just yet can afford a better psu.
 
astrob0y said:
What PSUs do you guys consider good?
Click to expand...

A short list:
- All Corsair PSUs
- Antec (except for their Basiq line)
- BFG (Except for their GS and GX line)
- PC P&C
- Seasonic

If you can, try to return that Ultra PSU of yours. It's based on the same platform as this POS Ultra PSU 750W PSU:
http://hardocp.com/article/2008/02/06/ultra_x2_extreme_edition_750w_power_supply/

Just a FYI, to make SLI cost effective, you need to have at least a 24" monitor or play at 1920x1080+. So you do not need a SLI motherboard or SLI for your 22" monitor.

Unfortunately you've already gotten the second 8800GT card so might as well use it even though it would not be an optimal solution.

One of the best bang for the buck PSUs out now is this PSU:
$95 - Antec Truepower New TP-650 650W PSU
 
Ouch, I guess i gotta return it once it gets to my house. Glad you guys mentioned it though. :D

Well from time to time I hook up my 40" Samsung to my PC :cool:

So the Antec 650w would be sufficient for my set up?

Thanks guys keep those comments coming!
 
astrob0y said:
Ouch, I guess i gotta return it once it gets to my house. Glad you guys mentioned it though. :D

Well from time to time I hook up my 40" Samsung to my PC :cool:

So the Antec 650w would be sufficient for my set up?

Thanks guys keep those comments coming!
Click to expand...

yeah Antec would be fine
and I'd keep the second 8800GT, its like what, max $100? and will give your system a swift kick in the pants performance wise, especially for that TV
 
Yeah I bought the second one for 85.01 shipped :D Its used but the guy still has the original box and everything.

I was thinking about to just spend the extra 25 bucks to get the
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W With 20 dollars MIR but i know i should rely on that. Or you think its over kill?
 
8800GT in SLI would typically use less than 400W at full load. The Antec TPNew 650W is already overkill.
 
The Corsairs would probably stop a bullet, but it's up to you. I really doubt you would regret buying the Corsair or give it much thought in 3 months. Worst case scenario you have the warranty (or a deadly swinging club). Corsair is pretty conservative on the label power, i.e. going over the 620 or 750 can be survived.

But you could certainly find a buyer for a good condition Antec later. It just seems the Corairs are primo and almost all the 2006/07 ones are going strong.

Or Silencers, SeaSonic...
 
So my case, mobo and psu just came in today! But im going to return the ultra psu, and buy the antec one.

Okay here's my list of remaining components:
Antec TruePower New TP-650 - 94.95
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD753LJ 750GB - 59.99
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) - 62.99
MAYBE XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V - 44.98
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - 6.99

Still not sure whether I will need a new HSF or not.
 
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Get the CM Hyper 212 instead, since it'll allow you to mount it facing the rear on an AMD board. Also, if you want non-conductive thermal compound, AC MX-2 performs on par with AS5.
 
Everything came in today except for the Antec PSU and the AC MX-2. I ended up getting the CM Hyper 212. As for the thermal application what technique do you guys recommend? It's going on a AMD Phenom, I was thinking just a line down the middle and just put the HS on to spread it.
 
So everything came today and i'm in the process of putting everything together now. This is my first time doing this and I have a few more questions to ask, when everything is in and plugged do i just put in the Windows 7 cd and just turn on the computer? Will it boot the cd?
 
Did AMD ever sort out the bugs for the AMD Phenom 9600/9600BE with Windows 64bit OS?

~Edit~

Found the link to the thread. Looks like Windows 7 runs fine on the AMD X4 9600 and not Vista 64bit.
 
okay btw that AMD X4 9600 is really slow and worth about $30 at the moment. I know I have one.

get a new X4 or X2 that is a socket AM3

they are inexpensive and will give a better boost than a new GPU. you old GPU is faster than that CPU.


it really sucks..

this is at 2.6 X2 $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103688

or the new Aii X4 that is at 2.6 also $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103706

both of these will be MUCH faster than the 9600
here is a good review showing game play with a 9600 v new Aii X4 620
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1073/10/
 
Well I started my computer today and everything ran fine, when windows booted it started to look for drivers to install because of the motherboard and im still using my old hdd from the gateway. Everything worked fine besides the ethernet, it couldnt find a driver to make it work? I dont know why.. Another issue i am having is that i bought another SATA hdd (samsung) but it doesn't get detected, I don't know why. But heres the bigger problem, the computer frozed so i turned it off and turned it back on and the monitor stays blank and the mouse doesn't work. and every few secs i hear a click from the cd drive.. I can't figure out what has happen... Can any one help? :(
 
astrob0y said:
Well I started my computer today and everything ran fine, when windows booted it started to look for drivers to install because of the motherboard and im still using my old hdd from the gateway. Everything worked fine besides the ethernet, it couldnt find a driver to make it work? I dont know why..
Click to expand...
That's the problem right there. Do a clean install of Windows.

astrob0y said:
Another issue i am having is that i bought another SATA hdd (samsung) but it doesn't get detected, I don't know why.
Click to expand...
Make sure that the drive is initialized, formatted, and assigned a drive letter under Disk Management

astrob0y said:
But heres the bigger problem, the computer frozed so i turned it off and turned it back on and the monitor stays blank and the mouse doesn't work. and every few secs i hear a click from the cd drive.. I can't figure out what has happen... Can any one help? :(
Click to expand...
Are you using the crappy Ultra or the new Antec PSU? Also, are you sure it's coming from the CD drive? Also, hit up the stickied Basic Troubleshooting Guide on what to do when the system doesn't POST.
 
Just before I went to sleep last night it started working again, not sure what happened but I don't think the usb ports on the front of the case are working, I gotta check that.
Can anyone point me to the right direction about intializing, formatting and assign a new hdd?

I want to install windows on the new hdd so I don't have to wipe my old one.
 
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