Building New Gaming Desktop. Need bit of help

[alexoldshane]

New Desktop Gaming build. Any improvements and such will be appreciated.



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Harddrive:
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

Video Card: (x2)
EVGA 01G-P3-1155-TR GeForce GTS 250 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130469

Power Supply:
OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022

RAM:
OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1600LV6GK
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381

MotherBoard:
ASUS P6T LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131359

Processor:
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

Cooler:
XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029


Case:
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

DVD Burner:
LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152

Monitor:
ASUS VW246H Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236049

OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders
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[theAnimal]

If you're going to get a second video card, change the PSU to Corsair TX850. If not then BFG LS550. Both are better quality than the CM as well as cheaper.

Change the RAM to 4GB of G.Skill Pi Black.

Intel mobos are very good, but if you're planning to OC I'd recommend the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P (CF) or UD3R (no CF).

The Xigmatech Dark Knight is a better cooler for $10 less.

 

[dirtmountain]

While HEC (Compucase) makes some decent budget cases, their power supplies are low quality. The case you picked comes with an included power supply that's really a waste of money, especially if you're also getting a different power supply. One place you should start your research is the System Builder Marathon articles here at Tom's. They have several builds at the $625, $1,250 budgets with good benchmarks showing performance for different processors and graphic cards.

$1,250 systems (not including operating system, monitor, keyboard or mouse.)
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-2-overclock,2146.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i7-overclock,2112.html

$625 systems, not including OS, monitor, keyboard and mouse
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/overclock-e5200-radeon,2144.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-2-overclock,2113.html

 

[xthekidx]

Give us a general idea of how much you want to spend, what you need (mouse, keyboard, speakers...?), and the size of monitor you will use with it (monitor resolution is very important when considering a gaming build). We can build you the best PC for you price range if you give us this info, but saying that price isn't too much of an issue makes us tend to get overenthusiastic about building the best system out there, rather than something more practical and reasonable

 

[Onus]

All good advice. One missed point though, you've selected a Micro-ATX case, which is too small for a regular ATX mobo.
For budget cases, I've used both Coolermaster and Rosewill. I much prefer the cheap Rosewills, any of them. Every Coolermaster had build issues, from untapped screwholes to ill-fitting tool-free pieces and misalignment. No Rosewill had any of those problems, but they are budget cases, so they may feel flimsy when apart.

 

[alexoldshane]

Basically need everything. Haven't actually started buying anything, and since left my computer with my parents before I left, don't have anything to start off with. Monitor not included, probably looking to spend no more than 13-1500... So hoping for a final end price of roughly 17-2000 max.

Monitor size, probably around 20-22in. But basically, feel free to max out on it within those ranges I guess.

 

[xthekidx]

$USD? If that is canadian or australian dollars, you are looking at the right components...but in USD you can do much better than what you are looking at. You could do something like this:
https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?ID=10694326
I would then upgrade the PSU to Corsair 850tx and Case to CM 690 if you felt you could spend a little more.

Monitor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236049
Mouse:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104076
Keyboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126009

Thats probably about $1800...sorry too lazy to actually do that math.

 

[alexoldshane]

Yes, USD. Sorry.

And as for the list, I read that Intel usually a lot better than ATX

 

[kenseito]

I am a fan of the no-nonsense Antec 300 case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=antec%20300

It is priced around the same as the one you first selected.

If you are going to use Vista as your OS you probably want to bump your Ram up to 4gigs. Mushkin is what I use

 

[alexoldshane]

Yes. Very likely using Vista. 64 & premium. And Ram will probably try to max out until reaches point of where doesn't matter so much anymore how much i have.

 

[xthekidx]

And as for the list, I read that Intel usually a lot better than ATX

...I'm not sure what you are talking about here...ATX is not a brand name, its the size of the motherboard. That Asus mobo in that build is a very good one. Intel makes some very decent mobo's, but I prefer a third party for mobo's because I feel that intel charges too much for what they offer, and you can get just as good build quality from somewhere else.

 

[mpain55]

Alex,

You have a microATX case and a ATX motherboard, Those are not compatible with each other. Also that motherboard is ddr3 standard, and the ram you listed is ddr2 Those are not compatible . Also i think you could of made a lot better choices. I disagree with buying a lot of the things you listed. Their are much better alternatives. For one the evga gtx 260 core 216 out performs that 4870 1gb at the same price. 2nd the q9550 is nearly 300$ basically the same price as a much more superior core i7 920. If i were you i'd rethink all this and maybe go with an i7build, you can make a good build for around 1,000$. Note to self, don't buy a cheap motherboard or case, at one point your going to want to overclock and if your case isn't cool enough or your motherboard is weak, you won't be able to do much overclocking at all.

Intel branded motherboards are not recommended for system builders just because they are not exactly made with overclocking in mind compared to other boards. You should get something a bit more classy like a Asus, XFX, or Evga. The three i listed are all good overclockers.


It looks like you still have a lot to learn, your list includes items that are not compatible with each other. However you will learn overtime, just don't go cheap on the motherboard or case. And really think about going with I7 its the best future proof available, because it uses ddr3 along with the new socket 1336 (I7).

 

[alexoldshane]

Sorry, like i said, new to building computers so kinda just threw together what sounded decent from the very little i do know. =/


So, anyone want to make a hypothetical gaming computer ranging from 1300-1500 USD? Not including monitor/keyboard/mouse/speakers

 

[xthekidx]

Did you look at the link I posted? That was a build for you to go off of, and you probably can't do much better than that build.

 

[mpain55]

Core i7 920
Evga Motherboard x58 either the 300$ one or the 270$ one
Antec 900 case
Video card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130433
Ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227408

 

[alexoldshane]

I just looked at it. Sorry, was in class at the time and wasn't able to look at it very well before hand. As stated before, would the Ram be needed to be put up to 4gigs with the Vista 64Bit Premium? Also, what would the difference be between regular vista, and for system builders?

 

[xthekidx]

32bit OS will only see up to 4gb of ram. Vista Home Premium 64 will see up to 16gb of ram. The difference between regular vista and the system builders is that you don't get phone support from Microsoft.

 

[alexoldshane]

okay. so...if using premium 64, will the 6gig be sufficient?

and, not 100% software computer savvy. like, never had to call microsoft for phone support but NEVER had a problem with XP that I couldn't figure out, and if difference is no phone support then my guess would make system builder edition bit more versatile in the personalization i'm guessing?

 

[mpain55]

I just looked at it. Sorry, was in class at the time and wasn't able to look at it very well before hand. As stated before, would the Ram be needed to be put up to 4gigs with the Vista 64Bit Premium? Also, what would the difference be between regular vista, and for system builders?

here is the link to the ram http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227408

You want to get the system builder edition, all that means is that its the OEM, which means without the retail box. Most people buy the system builder edition, theres no need to have the retail box. Also make sure you get the 64 bit edition.

When building you first start up vista in some cases it will not see that you have 6gb of ram, this is a bug in vista, it might actually be fixed by now. All you have to do is when you build the pc start with just one 2gb stick then once vista is installed and running you put the other 2 in and everything will be fine. There is no limitation on the amount ram, i believe the highest you can get so far is 12gb of ram. As far as phone support goes i never heard of that before, if you call MS i doubt they would hang up on you.

 

[xthekidx]

and 32 bit vs 64bit doesn't pose a maximum on your ram like that last poster said. I'm actually running 32 bit with 8gb of ram so obviously 4gb is not the maximum. Thier is never a maximum amount of ram, your are limited to what is available, maybe when vista was released their was no such thing as 2gb sticks of ram.

LOL You are an idiot. Of course you can install 8gb of ram using a 32 bit. But you won't be able to use it. 2gb sticks of ram have been around for a long time. 4gb is the cap using a 32bit OS, if you go with a 64 bit then it varies from 8gb on home basic to 128gb on ultimate. Check your system configuration. If you are using a 32bit os, then it will say you have between 3 and 4gb of system memory, depending on how much memory your GPU has. If it says you have 8gb, then you have a 64bit OS.

 

[alexoldshane]

Hmm...well, I've got everything sitting in my cart now. Roughly around 1900 total. Monitor, and everything like that. Now, just need to find a set of speakers that aren't garbage. So, now where can i find some type of info/guide type deal that can instruct me as to how i need to go about putting it all together? would rather not break anything as i'm assembling it. =/

 

[mpain55]

just watch youtube videos of people building, thats what i did when i started. Its actually very easy. search things like how to install a new cpu, or how to install a video card etc.

 

[alexoldshane]

hmm...okay cool. ty.

well, not going to purchase for a bit, but figured having the info i need and products at hand be a good idea for a bit later. any additional info feel be helpful would appreciate. definitely going to lurk around a bit so will not go to waste.

 

[xthekidx]

okay. so...if using premium 64, will the 6gig be sufficient?

and, not 100% software computer savvy. like, never had to call microsoft for phone support but NEVER had a problem with XP that I couldn't figure out, and if difference is no phone support then my guess would make system builder edition bit more versatile in the personalization i'm guessing?

A 64bit OS does not require more memory, it just allows you to use more memory...whether or not 6gb of memory is sufficient is dependant on what apps you use on your PC. For gaming, its plenty. For Video editing, maybe you want more. If you have a problem with your install or something then Microsoft will not troubleshoot for you over the phone with an OEM, but that's it really. Getting the OEM system builders is what I would do.

 

[darkside_gamer7]

Man o man...This subject is going to go on for a while. Alex you came to the right place for learning about computers. Your are in for one Hell of an education though. Grab a pen/pencil and tablet and start taking notes from these guys. You will need everything you can get from them and Remember...No such thing as a "Stupid ?"...Just the "Wrong ?".