[Skooby]

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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: (Within the next two months) BUDGET RANGE: ($900-$1200 After Rebates)

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: (Downloading movies/music, editing home video, browsing internet, regular pc stuff with word/excel,access, possible minor gaming in another year when i'm done with school)

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: (Everything required)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: (newegg.com, tigerdirect.com, any others reccommended) COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: (United States)

PARTS PREFERENCES: by brand or type (Intel CPU)

OVERCLOCKING: (Maybe) SLI OR CROSSFIRE: (Maybe)

MONITOR RESOLUTION: (Don't know)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: (Would like for it to be fast and quiet and not run hot)

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CPU – i7-860: $200
INTEL
http://microcenter.c...duct_id=0317378

MOBO – LGA 1156: $143
GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3 LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
SATA 3.0, USB 3.0, 3x USB power
GIGABYTE
http://www.newegg.co.....-P55A-UD3 LGA

GPU – ATI Radeon HD 4650: $60
Gigabyte Radeon HD 4650 Video Card - 1GB DDR2, PCI Express 2.0, CrossFireX, Dual-Link DVI, VGA, HDMI
GIGABYTE
http://www.tigerdire...e...&CatId=3670

CASE W/460W POWER SUPPLY: $80
& 120MM FAN
Cooler Master Elite 330 Black ATX Mid-Tower Case & Cooler Master Extreme Power 460W Power Supply & Ultra Performance 120mm Case Fan Bundle
Cooler Master
http://www.tigerdire...e...&CatId=1509

HDD - 320GB: $73
*Main Drive*
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KSRTL 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive -Retail
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822136073

HDD - 500GB: $65
*Music/Movies/Etc.*
Western Digital WD5001AALS Caviar Black Hard Drive - 500GB, 7200 rpm, 32MB, SATA-3G
http://www.tigerdire...e...0&CatId=139

RAM - 4GB (2 x 2GB) $110
CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2A1600C9
http://www.newegg.co...5-260-_-Product

DVD Burner – $29
Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner with LightScribe LightScribe Support - OEM
SONY
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16827118032

Operating System – Windows 7: $105
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders – OEM
http://www.newegg.co...6-754-_-Product

Monitor – 21.5” HD: $160
ASUS VH226H Black 21.5" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen 16:9 Full HD 1080P LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 12000 : 1) Built in Speakers - Retail
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16824236051

Keyboard and mouse combo: $30
Microsoft Business Hardware Pack Keyboard and Mouse Combo
MICROSOFT
http://www.tigerdire...e...&CatId=1482

Fan & Heatsink: $38
*Get an extra fan??*
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long life sleeve CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835103065

Total: $1,093

Critique away. Do I need the extra fan & heatsink? I was hesistant on my GPU, HDD and Case & PSU picks.

My first build in over ten years. My dad doesn't think I can do it...i'm going to prove his [bleep] wrong.

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Everything thing looks pretty good, except the case/power supply combo. That PSU is NOT 80 Plus Certified, and this is something I always recommend as it provides clean stable power to your components providing longer lasting system, and the power supply will be quieter under load.

The best brand out there is Corsair, followed closely by Antec, Seasonic, and a new company called OCZ. There are others, but that's just who I prefer. (Corsair widely being accepted as the best though). Whichever you go with, I would recommend a 80 Plus Certified Power Supply... like this by Corsair 450watt, or OCZ 500 watt. Both have over 30amps on the +12v rails which is pretty nice for the price.

Here is a combo deal with the OCZ PSU and a CM Centurion Case.
Combo deal with the OCZ PSU and your CD/DVD Drive.
I didn't see a combo deal with the Corsair PSU that fit your system.

Also, I noticed you have a faster/better Hard Drive as your secondary drive... since it has 32mb cache, is this what you wanted?

Do I need the extra fan & heatsink?

Really you only "NEED" one when you are overclocking, or doing a lot of Gaming. However, it will keep the CPU cooler over it's lifetime which can provide longer life of the CPU. I'm not familiar with the heatsink and fan you linked too, but one that is very nice and affordable is the Xigmatek Dark Knight which is similar looking/same technology as the CM one you linked too. However, they have not provided the compatible i5/i7 1156 brackets with it, so you would need to buy that extra bringing the cost a little higher.

Other than those recommendations, your build looks really nice and will be very fast. Do you have any questions?

[Ferrari]

Everything thing looks pretty good, except the case/power supply combo. That PSU is NOT 80 Plus Certified, and this is something I always recommend as it provides clean stable power to your components providing longer lasting system, and the power supply will be quieter under load.

The best brand out there is Corsair, followed closely by Antec, Seasonic, and a new company called OCZ. There are others, but that's just who I prefer. (Corsair widely being accepted as the best though). Whichever you go with, I would recommend a 80 Plus Certified Power Supply... like this by Corsair 450watt, or OCZ 500 watt. Both have over 30amps on the +12v rails which is pretty nice for the price.

Here is a combo deal with the OCZ PSU and a CM Centurion Case.
Combo deal with the OCZ PSU and your CD/DVD Drive.
I didn't see a combo deal with the Corsair PSU that fit your system.

Also, I noticed you have a faster/better Hard Drive as your secondary drive... since it has 32mb cache, is this what you wanted?

Do I need the extra fan & heatsink?

Really you only "NEED" one when you are overclocking, or doing a lot of Gaming. However, it will keep the CPU cooler over it's lifetime which can provide longer life of the CPU. I'm not familiar with the heatsink and fan you linked too, but one that is very nice and affordable is the Xigmatek Dark Knight which is similar looking/same technology as the CM one you linked too. However, they have not provided the compatible i5/i7 1156 brackets with it, so you would need to buy that extra bringing the cost a little higher.

Other than those recommendations, your build looks really nice and will be very fast. Do you have any questions?

[Skooby]

Everything thing looks pretty good, except the case/power supply combo. That PSU is NOT 80 Plus Certified, and this is something I always recommend as it provides clean stable power to your components providing longer lasting system, and the power supply will be quieter under load.

The best brand out there is Corsair, followed closely by Antec, Seasonic, and a new company called OCZ. There are others, but that's just who I prefer. (Corsair widely being accepted as the best though). Whichever you go with, I would recommend a 80 Plus Certified Power Supply... like this by Corsair 450watt, or OCZ 500 watt. Both have over 30amps on the +12v rails which is pretty nice for the price.

Here is a combo deal with the OCZ PSU and a CM Centurion Case.
Combo deal with the OCZ PSU and your CD/DVD Drive.
I didn't see a combo deal with the Corsair PSU that fit your system.

Also, I noticed you have a faster/better Hard Drive as your secondary drive... since it has 32mb cache, is this what you wanted?

Do I need the extra fan & heatsink?

Really you only "NEED" one when you are overclocking, or doing a lot of Gaming. However, it will keep the CPU cooler over it's lifetime which can provide longer life of the CPU. I'm not familiar with the heatsink and fan you linked too, but one that is very nice and affordable is the Xigmatek Dark Knight which is similar looking/same technology as the CM one you linked too. However, they have not provided the compatible i5/i7 1156 brackets with it, so you would need to buy that extra bringing the cost a little higher.

Other than those recommendations, your build looks really nice and will be very fast. Do you have any questions?

Thanks for the PSU links/notes.

I did not intend for my secondary drive to be slower. That was a mistake on my part. Do you think I really need two harddrives? I want one just for music/movies I download...but is it necessary?

[Ferrari]

Do you think I really need two harddrives? I want one just for music/movies I download...but is it necessary?

It sounds like all you would want then is two separate partitions on one drive. Windows 7 lets you do this during the install process I believe (only installed 7 about 3 times). Or you can use disk management after you install windows to create/resize partitions after you install windows. It's like having two hard drives, but all on the same drive. I wonder if you'd rather have one large drive then: Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black

Navigation to Disk Management in 7:

• Click Windows Orb(Start)
• Click Control Panel
• Click Administrative Tools
• Double Click Computer Management
• Click Disk Managment

After a few seconds of loading, disk/partition information will show. Whichever way you choose, if you need help use Google to find instructions on how to create, resize, and delete partitions. Or just post back here.

During the Install



Disk Management

Edited by Ferrari, 16 February 2010 - 07:58 AM.

[Skooby]

Thanks. I'm going to go the one harddrive route then. I'll come back if I have questions.

Edited by Skooby, 17 February 2010 - 07:24 AM.

[Skooby]

Sound

Edited by Skooby, 17 February 2010 - 09:27 AM.

[Ferrari]

Sound

Can you elaborate? I'm not sure what you mean.

[Skooby]

Sound

Can you elaborate? I'm not sure what you mean.

It was a mistake. I was going to ask about a sound card. But i'll take what I have in the motherboard.

[Ferrari]

But i'll take what I have in the motherboard.

Sufficient for most people, the only time I think a dedicated sound card is necessary or worth looking at is if the computer is being used by a DJ or Recording Artist of sorts. Some hardcore Gamers prefer excellent sound and all, but with that said, I'm not either of those, so I don't know much about sound cards anyway...