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[noob] Building my First Computer


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#1
cfitz

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Hey Guys, First post here!

I am looking to build my first desktop. I would either buy all parts and get somebody to build it, or be willing to try myself.

I don't really have a budget set in stone at the moment, but I would work around €700 .I am living in Dublin, Ireland so take that into consideration if linking shops.
I don't know much about a lot of the parts or what is best performance/price wise. I have looked through a few websites like cpubenchmarks etc.

I am primarily looking for a gaming pc. I play WoW and would like to play new games on high-ish settings. Games I am interested in would be BF3, Skyrim, Dishonored, Borderlands 2 etc... if you catch my drift!
I have started a computing course this year so may do programming/web design also.



After some browsing this is what I have come up with so far: (with performance/price being the main factor)


  • Case - ?? (Would like the possibility to upgrade Processor/Video card in the future!)
  • Power Supply - ??
  • Motherboard - ??
  • Processor - AMD Phenom II X4 955
  • Heatsink/Fans - ?? (I will be using the pc a lot, 6hr+ sessions.)
  • Memory - I was thinking 2x4GB.
  • Hard Drive - Was thinking a small internal SSD. (60-120gig depending on price. And a larger internal HDD at a later time if good value.)
  • DVD or Blu-ray Drive - ?? (Any standard one would be okay. I dont plan on making cd's and have a bluray dvd played already.)
  • Video Card - Radeon HD 6850
  • Sound Card - ?? (Will probably use headphones and pickup speakers if I see a good deal in the future!)
  • Network Card - ?? (Currently with UPC - 100Mbps D/L)

(If I forgot anything please let me know)

I can pick up KB + mouse locally (unless you recommend a good deal online!)
I don't "need" a screen, have a 1360x768 LG TV (uses HDMI adapter), but will probably get one at a later time, and would like to dual monitor! (Single/Dual 1920x1080??)
I should be able to get my hands on a copy of W7. (Opinions on W8?)

(Basically I am hoping to get the essential parts with this order. Leaving any unnecessary parts for another bill!)

Thanks for reading! :)
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#2
Zolton33

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Over getting a phenom i would recommend the new a10-5800k apu from amd and the newer fm2 socket. That cpu comes with a HD 7660d built into the cpu (better then the hd 6850 you chose) so no need to get a discrete gpu right away.

Here is the gaming cpu hierarchy as of Sept :

http://www.tomshardw...ock,3106-5.html

Note that the a10-5800k is not listed there yet as it released on Oct 2. But it compares and beats the i3 3220 so it would fit about there in the cpu tier for amd. The 5800k is a great deal for a low budget build. And you would be hard pressed to beat it at its cost vs performance ratio. Only way to beat it would be to go with an intel i5 quad and a discrete gpu. Plus since it uses the new fm2 socket you will have some upgrade choices in the future as far as cpus. And it supports crossfire. All that plus it is a quad cpu at 3.8ghz for about $130.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/jPAR that be my recommended build with parts grand total? $516.90 You could move a few parts up or down. I chose the 2400 memory as the apus improvements are much higher with the higher clocked ram. You could drop them down to any 800/1066/1333/1600/1866/2133 ram but at around 60 for the faster ram i think would be worth it. I chose the cooler master case 922 as not only does it have great cooling it also supports usb 3.0 so worth the bit extra cost. If i had the extra cash to pay out all at once this is the build i would make with the added cost of windows 7 though which would cost about an extra 100 bucks. And it will game circles around most builds with the only exception being an i5 quad core build.

Another build i put together for under 500 bucks that includes windows 7 http://pcpartpicker.com/p/jIlh Only thing i dislike in it is the case as it is real cheap and you get what you pay for. And i wish i had added the extra 2400 ram rather then the 1866 for about $15 more. But both are pretty solid builds.

Edited by Zolton33, 09 October 2012 - 11:44 AM.

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#3
phillpower2

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:welcome: cfitz

Slightly over your budget http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/p/jPEn downgrading the case will get you under it http://www.amazon.co...W/?tag=pcp0f-21

Let us know what you think.
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#4
Zolton33

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http://pcpartpicker.com/p/jPJO an intel build to consider. I did not include an os or optical drive or an after market cpu cooler for ocing but the price is $889.81 and it is the best gaming rig you can build right now with price and performance. The i5 quad is hands down the best gaming cpu at the moment. And if it is within your budget is the best obvious choice for gaming. But with that power comes the higher costs my first 2 builds were around

€401 for the first build and €378 for the second one and the intel build hits €689 to break the prices to your currency.
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#5
cfitz

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Thanks for all the builds/info! I tried my best to go through them all and consider the suggestions. Quite a lot of information for me to sink in.

I don't know too much about the integrated graphics cards. Feel free to persuade me but I would rather stick with a dedicated graphics card so it is upgraded easier. And from what I found on the web they are more for general use and not heavy gaming :P


I see you both agree on the 7850 2GB, how do the HIS and MSI differ? (As I was selecting one for the build I noticed there are many more...)

And I was looking on cpubenchmarks which shows the i5 blowing the FX-4100 out of the water. What sort of impact would these cards have on gaming by choosing one over the other?

As for the cheaper builds I would rather spend more for a better machine. And the website newegg don't deliver to Ireland unfortunately which would complicate things.

To keep the price down a bit more I would rather get a good priced SSD for now and at a later stage pick up a large hard drive.

This is what I have put together based on your suggestions!

http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/p/jQtU

I left motherboard blank because I am not sure about how to pick a suitable one.
Video card I am not sure about the variations of the radeon hd 7850.
Do I need a sound card? I said I am fine using plug-in headphones. Do they not need a sound card? If I bought speakers at a later date I presume I will need a sound card...?
I noticed the Cooler Master HAF 922 (Black) does not have an internal slot for 2.5" SSD. So I went with the Antec Nine Hundred Two V3.
Power supply I do not know how to pick a "good" one.
As for optical drive, I presume I can add one at the end for a low price?
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#6
phillpower2

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If your budget will allow it I would go for the 3570K CPU.
We will help you choose a MB.
Look at the price to performance ratio and the * rating for the video card http://pcpartpicker....ideo-card/#c=81
Most MBs have very good integrated 7.1 channel audio chips and only spending a silly amount of money on a top of the range card will produce any improvement.
The Antec is a better case.
Don`t worry about choosing a PSU until you have decided on all of your hardware and then use a PSU calculator like the example @ http://images10.newe...tage-Calculator
You will need a DVD drive to install Windows 7 and a decent quality brand will cost you only a small amount of cash.
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#7
Zolton33

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGA_1155 shows the mobo for both sandy and ivy. For gaming wise i would be looking at the z75 or z77 mobo. http://pcpartpicker....ard-z77extreme4 thatwould be the ideal mobo if you can get it. And yes the 3570k is best if you can get it more powerful and uses less power and runs cooler.
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#8
cfitz

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I think I will go for the MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card for now.

I am looking between http://pcpartpicker....erboard-z75pro3 and http://pcpartpicker....erboard-z77ag43
One is z75 and the other z77. Both roughly the same price. How would I go about choosing between them two?

Do they have the integrated sound cards? I don't plan on buying a separate sound card.

I guess im working off something like this now: http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/p/jQWT

How about extra fans? This desktop would be turned on for long periods of time, regularly.
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#9
phillpower2

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Both are good MBs and there is not much between them, the Z77 platform is supposed to be a notch up from the Z75 though.
Both MBs have integrated audio chips so no add on card is required.
I like your list of parts :thumbsup:
If you go with the Antec case it has more than adequate cooling fans fitted as standard.
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#10
cfitz

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Thanks again!
Ok I changed the RAM. It would be easier getting this one from amazon.co.uk like most of the other items.
http://www.amazon.co...I/?tag=pcp0f-21

I still need to add a PSU. The cheaper the better because price is starting to get a bit high. Ill see how it is when I have everything picked out and maybe see if there is anything I can cut back on.
Would http://pcpartpicker....ly-cmpsu600cxv2 be sufficient?

http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/p/jRmW
I changed the OpticalDrive so I could get it off amazon.co.uk

So far, I can get everything but the gpu from amazon.co.uk which is fine. The gpu I can get from scan.co.uk which will deliver to Ireland.

Would this wireless card be compatible? http://www.dabs.ie/p...ess card&src=16


And if there is anything else I am forgetting to add to this I have not mentioned please tell! :)

Edited by cfitz, 10 October 2012 - 03:28 AM.

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#11
phillpower2

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As long as you have confirmed that the Ram is compatible swapping it for convenience makes sense, the same with the optical drive :thumbsup:

That PSU is fine as after allowing for 2 HDDs due to the SSD and all of the other selected hardware the minimum recommended output was 417W, having the additional headroom is beneficial as it will allow for further upgrades such as additional HDDs etc.

The wireless card is fine as your MB has a PCI-E X1 slot that is required.

And if there is anything else I am forgetting to add to this I have not mentioned please tell! :)


From your OP:

I should be able to get my hands on a copy of W7. (Opinions on W8?)


Please clarify what you mean by "a copy of W7" as in where and what type of copy/disk please.
I like W8 + it is fast :happy:
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#12
cfitz

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Yes the RAM and mobo says "Computer Memory Type DDR3 SDRAM".
I was thinking of getting rid of the SSD for now. I will just get a HDD to drop the price, and pickup an SSD in the future.
I can get one off software4students.ie or I can ask a friend to get one on disk.
I was having a look at the case and cd drive. The cd drive is 5.25" and the case has only External 5.25"(Do I not need an Internal one?). (At least thats what im getting from it) http://www.amazon.co...C/?tag=pcp0f-21


Updated list of parts:
http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/p/k1PX
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#13
phillpower2

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The cd drive is 5.25" and the case has only External 5.25"(Do I not need an Internal one?).

I understand the confusion so let me explain, what it means by external is that the drive slides in and can be accessed from the outside of the case, what you do is pop off one of the oblong panel fronts to slide in the optical drive, when you are ready you then plug in the internal SATA and power connections for the drive, I hope this clears it up for you.
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