First Build, Need Help :]

[Ajemuro]

Hey there, this is my first post here. I've been looking through the forums and decided to ask for help because it seems you all know a lot about computers and I don't.

I'm trying to build a gaming pc that I'll still be able to use applications like Photoshop CS3 and Dreamweaver and such. I'm going to college for Graphic Design but I'd like to learn web design, so I want a pc that is pretty fast and will be able to handle such tasks.

I have a $1500 budget. I've been hearing about overclocking and I'm not sure how to do it yet, but once I learn, I plan on it. I want to run Vista if I can, I'll have to buy it and this will have to be included in the budget. I have speakers, a mouse, a keyboard, and a monitor, but if I can fit a nicer monitor and speakers into my budget I'd like that.

So basically, I'm looking for help on the components I'll need and what will be best for me with my budget.

Please and thanks!
-Aje

 

[aevm]

What country are you in?

So your budget has to include O/S and monitor and speakers, right?

I can't help you find a nicer monitor than you have already, if you don't tell me what monitor you have You can get a 24" monitor under $400 (in the USA, at least). Also, what speakers do you have?

Which games do you play?

 

[dirtmountain]

Here's a generic type build. At about $1158 before shipping and rebates still room for upgrades or areas you can downgrade for cost savings or to upgrade monitor.

CPU- Q6600 oem at $195
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115018
alternate CPU- Q9450 at $330
Motherboard-Asus P5Q P45 at $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131295
GPU- HD4870 at $295
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129113
PSU- Corsair 650TX at $90 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
RAM- Mushkin 2x2 DDR2 800 at $65 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146731
HD WD 640GB at $90 (i'd sure get back up storage)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218
Case- Antec 300 at $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042
Cooler- Xigmatek $27 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003
Xiga mounting bracket $7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233020
Burner- Samsung SATA- $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171
OS Vista home premium 64 $110 (probably get this cheaper through college)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

 

[Ajemuro]

What country are you in?

So your budget has to include O/S and monitor and speakers, right?

I can't help you find a nicer monitor than you have already, if you don't tell me what monitor you have You can get a 24" monitor under $400 (in the USA, at least). Also, what speakers do you have?

Which games do you play?

Actually I'm okay with my monitor for now, but some speakers would be nice to have. I live in New York. My speakers are so old, anything would be an upgrade.

And thanks dirtmountain, i'm taking some of those into consideration.

But is it better to have ram that's ddr2 800 or ddr2 1066 or something, I don't really know the differences with all that.

 

[aevm]

I'd just get DDR2-800. The DDR2-1066 is better if you're going for a major overclock, but you don't sound like you're planning that.

All right, let's skip the monitor, include speakers, and upgrade a few things in dirtmountain's list. That's a great list, btw.

750TX instead of 650TX - costs $20 more, but supports Crossfire better (i.e. ability to add a second video card)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=750tx

Gigabyte GA-X48-DS4 or Asus P5E, $235 - same thing, better support for Crossfire
(The P5Q was $139 including shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128336&Tpk=GA-X48-DS4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131219

Logitech Z-2300 2.1 $101 with free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121122

So we're now at $1158+20+96+101 = 1375.

Drop the $295 HD 4870 and get two HD 4850 instead for 2*170 = $340.

Include shipping for CPU/RAM/HDD/burner/case/cooler and I think you're still in the budget.

You could also go ahead with the HD 4870 and buy a second HD 4870 next year or whenever you have more money and want more GPU power. Check some benchmarks on the Web for HD 4870, HD 4850 Crossfire and HD 4870 Crossfire and then decide.

 

[Ajemuro]

Xiga mounting bracket $7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233020

That mounting bracket is out of stock, it wouldn't hurt if i switched to this other one right?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019

@ aevm:
I think i'ma go with the hd 4850 Crossfire.

So everything should be okay to go with that case i have selected yeah?

 

[aevm]

Actually, I'd rather get an Antec 900. It's $6 less after shipping today at newegg compared to the Antec 300, it's a bit larger, and it has 3 fans instead of 2. You need really good cooling for HD 4850 CF, and the Antec 900 is a champ at that.

Yes go ahead, get the bracket you linked, the XIGMATEK ACK-I7751. The HDT-S1283 has 3 pipes, not 4

 

[Ajemuro]

Actually, I'd rather get an Antec 900. It's $6 less after shipping today at newegg compared to the Antec 300, it's a bit larger, and it has 3 fans instead of 2. You need really good cooling for HD 4850 CF, and the Antec 900 is a champ at that.

Yes go ahead, get the bracket you linked, the XIGMATEK ACK-I7751. The HDT-S1283 has 3 pipes, not 4

Alright, well everything together, became a little bit pricey, about 1650 [before rebates of course] So I'm thinking of taking off one of the graphics cards, but staying with the single 4850 until i can afford another one, everything should still be pretty good with the single card, at least for a couple months, and i'll be able to install it easily when i can afford it.

 

[aevm]

Sounds smart. The second card will be $30 less in three months, I bet. You might get some rebates back by then too. Good luck!