[eLuong]

So I have decided to build a new computer as my current one is completely outdated. My goal is to have a rig that I can game, watch HD movies, word process, and do everyday browsing on, as well as stay future proof for as long as possible and stay reasonable price-wise.

However, I have never tried building a computer before, and I have no idea how to shop for certain parts (mobo, cases, cooling systems, etc.) Any improvements and recommendations are welcome.

Here's what I have so far for parts (keep in mind that I am Canadian, so prices are different here.):

Zotac GeForce GTX 460 Fermi 675MHZ 768MB GDDR5 Dual DVI Mini-HDMI PCI-E DX11 Video Card
http://www.ncix.com/...nufacture=Zotac

Mushkin Enhanced Silverline Stiletto 8GB 2X4GB PC3-10666 DDR3-1333 9-9-9-24 Dual Channel Memory Kit
http://www.ncix.com/...ed&promoid=1365

Western Digital WD20EARS Caviar Green 2TB SATA2 3Gbps 64MB Cache 3.5IN Hard Drive OEM
http://www.ncix.com/...WD&promoid=1365

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Quad Core Processor 3.2GHZ AM3 8MB Cache 125W Retail Box
http://www.ncix.com/...MD&promoid=1365

MSI P67A-G43 (B3) P67 ATX LGA1155 DDR3 2PCI-E16 3PCI-E 2PCI CrossFireX SATA3 USB3 Motherboard
http://www.ncix.com/...e=MSI/MicroStar

OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W ATX 20/24PIN SLI Ready Modular Cables 135mm Fan 80PLUS Power Supply
http://www.ncix.com/...gy&promoid=1365

Corsair Cooling Air Series A50 Performance CPU Cooler LGA775 LGA1155 LGA1156 LGA1366 AM2 AM3
http://www.ncix.com/...facture=Corsair

Antec Three Hundred Mini Tower Gaming Case 300 ATX 3X5.25 6X3.5INT No PS Front USB & Audio
http://www.ncix.com/...ec&promoid=1365

LG GH24LS70 24X SATA Lightscribe Internal DVD Writer Burner DVDRW Optical Drive Black OEM
http://www.ncix.com/...=LG Electronics

First of all, I'm not completely sure if the parts are all compatible with each other (I hope they are) and if I am buying the best products on the market. I think I have every part I need, but there's a slight chance I might be missing something. This rig comes out to $580.39 CAD + HST, which is pretty good in my book. I'm a little tight on budget, but I'd be willing to shell out up to 700 bucks for a rig that will last me a long time.

Sorry for being a beginner, thanks in advance!

Edited by eLuong, 20 August 2011 - 09:43 PM.

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Hi eLuong
Couple of things that I have noticed and will put them in order of importance and offer some guidance;
1: The MB and CPU are not compatible, the MB is an Intel platform LGA 1155 but the CPU is an AMD AM3 platform.
2: You have included a non standard CPU cooling fan on your list, this will invalidate the warranty offered by both Intel and AMD.
3: You have not included the cost of an operating system such as W7, you cannot use an OS disk that is tied to another PC/MB (OEM) it would be illegal.

A1: Stay with the Intel LGA 1155 platform and purchase the correct CPU.
A2: Only fit the stock cooler that is bundled with the CPU when purchased, they are tested and proven over and above what is required of them and most importantly will not invalidate your warranty if fitted correctly.
A3: If you do not already have a full retail version OS disk allow for a system builders version of W7 in your budget.

Items also worth mentioning are consider having two smaller HDDs, one with your OS and general data on it and one for backing up all important data, if you lose a single 2TB HDD you lose everything, do not decide on a PSU until all other components are chosen and confirmed as compatible, a PSU calculator can then be used to make sure that you will have enough good clean and stable power.
To help you here are a couple of tutorials courtesy of Troy/Artellos and Digerati respectively;
http://www.geekstogo...r-own-computer/
http://www.geekstogo...rface-material/
Meanwhile I will do some research for you and see if I can recommend the appropriate components.
** I had to admit defeat getting anywhere near an equivalent price for 2TB of storage space but have included something anyhow + the case you have listed appears to be the best option for the price.

MB: http://www.newegg.ca...N82E16813138319 $99.99 free shipping.
CPU: http://www.newegg.ca...N82E16819115076 $179.99 + $4.99 shipping.
Ram: http://www.newegg.ca...N82E16820231308 $44.99 + $9.99 shipping.
HDD: http://www.newegg.ca...N82E16822136793 $94.99 free shipping.
HDD: http://www.newegg.ca...N82E16822136795 $59.99 + $11.49 shipping
CD/DVD Burner http://www.newegg.ca...N82E16827135204 $20.99 free shipping
GPU: http://www.newegg.ca...N82E16814127571 $79.99 + $10.79 shipping.
PSU: http://www.newegg.ca...N82E16817139005 $99.99 + $5.99 shipping (example only)
Total = $723.17 - $10 mail in rebate on PSU = $713.17 this however does not include the cost of the case.

Should you require it W7 Sp1 64-bit OEM http://www.newegg.ca...N82E16832116986 $109.99 + $6.99 shipping, and don`t forget to make sure you have some TIM.

Thanks for the input Digerati
With this advice in mind you can check out both the CPU support and Memory support for the MB @ http://www.biostar.c...nt.php?S_ID=546 and the feedback of a verified owner of the MB with the suggested Ram fitted;

Ripper
8/9/2011 10:41:11 AM
Tech Level: 5/5
Ownership: 2/5
Verified Owner
Rating: 5/5These Babies are awesome...
Pros: Easy install, great price, worked with no problems. Bios recognized after hitting the power on button. Rip it up with the Ripjaws!!

Cons: NONE

Other Thoughts: Specs:

~ Intel Core i5 2500 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHZ
~ BIOSTAR TZ68A+RCH
~ ATI / AMD RADEON 5750 DDR5- 3 Monitors!
~ 16GB G.SKILL Ripsaws DDR3 - 1066 (PC3 8500)
~ AzzA 850w power supply
~ Corsair Force 3 Solid State Drive 120gb

Edited by phillpower2, 21 August 2011 - 12:28 PM.

[phillpower2]

Hi eLuong
Couple of things that I have noticed and will put them in order of importance and offer some guidance;
1: The MB and CPU are not compatible, the MB is an Intel platform LGA 1155 but the CPU is an AMD AM3 platform.
2: You have included a non standard CPU cooling fan on your list, this will invalidate the warranty offered by both Intel and AMD.
3: You have not included the cost of an operating system such as W7, you cannot use an OS disk that is tied to another PC/MB (OEM) it would be illegal.

A1: Stay with the Intel LGA 1155 platform and purchase the correct CPU.
A2: Only fit the stock cooler that is bundled with the CPU when purchased, they are tested and proven over and above what is required of them and most importantly will not invalidate your warranty if fitted correctly.
A3: If you do not already have a full retail version OS disk allow for a system builders version of W7 in your budget.

Items also worth mentioning are consider having two smaller HDDs, one with your OS and general data on it and one for backing up all important data, if you lose a single 2TB HDD you lose everything, do not decide on a PSU until all other components are chosen and confirmed as compatible, a PSU calculator can then be used to make sure that you will have enough good clean and stable power.
To help you here are a couple of tutorials courtesy of Troy/Artellos and Digerati respectively;
http://www.geekstogo...r-own-computer/
http://www.geekstogo...rface-material/
Meanwhile I will do some research for you and see if I can recommend the appropriate components.
** I had to admit defeat getting anywhere near an equivalent price for 2TB of storage space but have included something anyhow + the case you have listed appears to be the best option for the price.

MB: http://www.newegg.ca...N82E16813138319 $99.99 free shipping.
CPU: http://www.newegg.ca...N82E16819115076 $179.99 + $4.99 shipping.
Ram: http://www.newegg.ca...N82E16820231308 $44.99 + $9.99 shipping.
HDD: http://www.newegg.ca...N82E16822136793 $94.99 free shipping.
HDD: http://www.newegg.ca...N82E16822136795 $59.99 + $11.49 shipping
CD/DVD Burner http://www.newegg.ca...N82E16827135204 $20.99 free shipping
GPU: http://www.newegg.ca...N82E16814127571 $79.99 + $10.79 shipping.
PSU: http://www.newegg.ca...N82E16817139005 $99.99 + $5.99 shipping (example only)
Total = $723.17 - $10 mail in rebate on PSU = $713.17 this however does not include the cost of the case.

Should you require it W7 Sp1 64-bit OEM http://www.newegg.ca...N82E16832116986 $109.99 + $6.99 shipping, and don`t forget to make sure you have some TIM.

Thanks for the input Digerati
With this advice in mind you can check out both the CPU support and Memory support for the MB @ http://www.biostar.c...nt.php?S_ID=546 and the feedback of a verified owner of the MB with the suggested Ram fitted;

Ripper
8/9/2011 10:41:11 AM
Tech Level: 5/5
Ownership: 2/5
Verified Owner
Rating: 5/5These Babies are awesome...
Pros: Easy install, great price, worked with no problems. Bios recognized after hitting the power on button. Rip it up with the Ripjaws!!

Cons: NONE

Other Thoughts: Specs:

~ Intel Core i5 2500 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHZ
~ BIOSTAR TZ68A+RCH
~ ATI / AMD RADEON 5750 DDR5- 3 Monitors!
~ 16GB G.SKILL Ripsaws DDR3 - 1066 (PC3 8500)
~ AzzA 850w power supply
~ Corsair Force 3 Solid State Drive 120gb

Edited by phillpower2, 21 August 2011 - 12:28 PM.

[Digerati]

As for the OS, with 8Gb of RAM make sure you get a 64-bit OS. And I don't see a keyboard, mouse or monitor listed. I hope you have them already, or they - the monitor anyway - will bust your budget.

But clearly, the big issue is the AMD CPU for an Intel based motherboard. As noted, that won't work. You need to change the board, or the CPU - or both! Regardless your decision, all motherboard makers post (or should post) QVLs - qualified vendor lists - on the motherboard's webpage. The QVL for CPUs will list the compatible CPUs for that specific board. Make sure you buy from that list of compatible CPUs.

They also will a QVL for RAM. However, there are just too many RAM makers and too many models to test and list them all. You do NOT have to buy from the RAM QVL, but you must ensure you buy RAM with the same specifications as RAM listed on the QVL.

[eLuong]

Hey thanks for the replies guys, I really appreciate it. I forgot to mention that I have already bought Win7 x64 bit in stores to use as my OS, so I don't need to order it online.

You really went above and beyond by finding me components to use, thanks a lot! I'm going to use the parts you have recommended to me, however I have a couple questions regarding them:

1)Is the Intel Core i5-2300 Sandy Bridge 2.8GHz more powerful than the AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Quad Core Processor 3.2GH?

Would you recommend using this combination instead?

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Quad Core Processor 3.2GHZ AM3 8MB Cache 125W Retail Box
and
Gigabyte GA-990XA-UD3 AMD 990X AM3+ ATX DDR3 3PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 2PCI SLI SATA3 USB3.0 Motherboard
http://www.ncix.com/...acture=Gigabyte

2)Does the GeForce GT 440 have any advantages over the GeForce GTX 460? From all my research, it seems as if the GTX 460 is much more powerful.

3)Would you recommend using this power supply?
http://www.ncix.com/...manufacture=XFX
It's more powerful than the one you listed, as well as more cost efficient.

Thanks again for the help guys, you rock!

[Digerati]

I prefer Intel so that's what I would go with. However, AMD makes excellent CPUs so either make for great computers.

Remember, Google is your friend - gt 440 vs gtx 460

[eLuong]

Would you recommend using a SSD as a boot drive, and having a 2TB HDD as a storage drive? Would a 1TB 7200RPM HDD be sufficient to use as a all around drive?

[Digerati]

A lot of people (and more and more notebooks) are using SSDs for boot drives with no problems. 1Tb drives are HUGE! Unless you will be storing tons of songs or videos, that will be plenty big for a long time to come.

[eLuong]

Thanks for the help guys.

This is the rig that I'm hoping to buy, I just want some more input on it, and see if I can make any final improvements to it:

Zotac GeForce GTX 460 Fermi 675MHZ 768MB GDDR5 Dual DVI Mini-HDMI PCI-E DX11 Video Card
Mushkin Enhanced Silverline Stiletto 8GB 2X4GB PC3-10666 DDR3-1333 9-9-9-24 Dual Channel Memory Kit (x2)
Western Digital WD Caviar Blue 1TB SATA 6GB/S 7200RPM 32MB Cache 3.5IN Hard Drive OEM
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Quad Core Processor 3.2GHZ AM3 8MB Cache 125W Retail Box
Gigabyte GA-990XA-UD3 AMD 990X AM3+ ATX DDR3 3PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 2PCI SLI SATA3 USB3.0 Motherboard
OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W ATX 20/24PIN SLI Ready Modular Cables 135mm Fan 80PLUS Power Supply
Antec Three Hundred Mini Tower Gaming Case 300 ATX 3X5.25 6X3.5INT No PS Front USB & Audio
LG GH24LS70 24X SATA Lightscribe Internal DVD Writer Burner DVDRW Optical Drive Black OEM

This is going to run Win7 x64bit.

Cost: $610.3 CAD

Does that price sound fair for this computer?