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New PC

S

Stumpeh

n00b
Joined
May 21, 2011
Messages
4
So I'm currently working on my first custom build and wanted to get it checked over before i go ahead and order anything. Also since this is my first build I would like to know if there is anything I would need to otherwise get to do the build (ie. grounding strap, thermal paste, etc.)

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming
$1000-$1200 is target goal with an absolute max of $1500
3) Where do you live?
US
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.
Case, Motherboard, CPU, HDD, GPU, Blue-ray, RAM, PSU
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
None
6) Will you be overclocking?
No
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
24"
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
ASAP
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support?
Nothing specific really
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Windows 7, 64bit

COOLER MASTER Storm Scout SGC-2000-KKN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$89.99
ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 AM3 AMD 890GX HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
$139.99
AMD Phenom II X6 1100T Black Edition Thuban 3.3GHz, 3.7GHz Turbo 6 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor HDE00ZFBGRBOX
$199.99
CORSAIR XMS 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model CMP8GX3M4A1333C9
$119.99
Seagate SV35 Series ST31000526SV 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -
$74.99
SAMSUNG Black 12X BD-ROM 16X DVD-/+R 48X CD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Drive Model SH-B123L/RSBP LightScribe Support (Retail)
$64.99
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750 V2 750W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply
$104.99
XFX HD-687A-ZDFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
$197.99
 
I recommend this build instead:
$330 - Intel Core i5-2500K CPU + Gigabyte GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 Intel Z68 ATX Motherboard
$70 - Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 996770 2 x 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM
$245 - Gigabyte GV-R695UD-1GD Radeon HD 6950 1GB PCI-E Video Card
$65 - Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$105 - Corsair 750TX V2 750W PSU
---
Total: $815 plus tax and shipping

Key differences between the above build and your build:
- Significantly faster CPU
- Significantly faster GPU
- Significantly faster hard drive
- Capability to upgrade to 16GB of RAM without having to replace any RAM

That leaves you $185 for your case and blu-ray drive. I highly highly recommend these cases over that Coolermaster Scout case:
$70 - Lian Li Lancool PC-K58W ATX Case
$90 - Lian Li Lancool PC-K56 ATX Case
$90 - Cooler Master CM690 II Advance ATX Case
$100 - Cooler Master HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP ATX Case
$90 - Lian Li Lancool PC-K7B ATX Case
$106 - Lian Li PC-7B Plus II ATX Case
$127 - Fractal Design Define R3 Black ATX Case
$110 - NZXT Whisper WHI - 001BK ATX Full Tower Case
$120 - Velocity Micro GX2-W Silver Classic Aluminum Case with Side Window
$140 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-001WT White Full Tower ATX Case
$140 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-001BK Black Full Tower ATX Case
$140 - Cooler Master HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP ATX Case
$165 - Corsair Graphite Series 600T ATX Case
$160 - Silverstone RV02B-W ATX case
$220 - Corsair Obsidian Series 650D ATX Case
 
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ok comparing cpu's it looks like the intel runs on the same operating frequency and has most of the same specs as the one i picked out with 2 fewer cores and it costs $25 more, how exactly is that an improvement or am i completely missing something

also if you are going to recommend changing cpu can you give me a new suggestion for motherboard since the one i listed is not intel compatible
 
$330 - Intel Core i5-2500K CPU + Gigabyte GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 Intel Z68 ATX Motherboard



Danny did give you a motherboard to go with the cpu.
 
thanks for the benchmarks thats alot more helpful

And yes i did notice the motherboard after i posted. I was just assuming one item per line and missed it, my bad.
 
Stumpeh said:
ok comparing cpu's it looks like the intel runs on the same operating frequency and has most of the same specs as the one i picked out with 2 fewer cores and it costs $25 more, how exactly is that an improvement or am i completely missing something
Click to expand...
Yeah you're missing something: CPU design. You cannot compare CPUs of different brands by specs alone. You actually have to read the reviews of those CPUs. The benchmarks that noteworthy posted are a good explanation why you don't judge solely on specs. Also check out this review as well:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/core-i5-2500-2400-2300_7.html#sect0

So yes, despite having two less cores and the same operating frequency, the Core i5 2500K still beats the Phenom II 1100T in a majority of applications due to its better CPU design and the simple fact that the majority of current games do not take advantage of the six-cores. As such, when it comes to gaming, those extra cores do not help at all. Then again, even in situations where multiple cores should be better than a lesser number of cores (video/media rendering), the Core i5 2500K's superior CPU architecture allows those four cores to perform faster, if not just as fast, then the Phenom II 1100T's six cores.
 
Last edited:
Sorry bout the bluntness last night... Was pretty intoxicated lol.... See someone already posted the why...
 
Danny's syggested build is def awesome for ur needs.. His case suggestions are good too.. Lowest id go with is the haf922 for $100.. Personally I love the nzxt phantom for $140.00 I kinda liked it when I bought it.. Now after owning it im completely in love with it.. + it has an immense amount.of airflow with the 4 stock fans.. u can also add 3 more huge fans.to it. U can see my build below...
 
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