First Time Builder!

[devldawg1986]

I am looking into building my first pc. I don't know a great deal about every component but I do know the basics. I need something that will run the programs I use for work and the games I play in my off time. I use 3D graphics programs, AutoCAD, Inventor, etc. The games I play consist of COD4, Crysis; high graphics, high action games. If anyone has any suggestions on which direction I should go towards, that would be greatly helpful. Thanks..

 

[jsc]

Budget?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

You need to read the stickies at the top of this forum and post your question in the recommended format to get any meaningful help. How are we supposed to suggest a build without knowing what hardware you need and what the budget is for this build?

 

[Kill@dor]

How much are you willing to spend...^_^

 

[devldawg1986]

How much are you willing to spend...^_^

$2,000 at most.

Preferably less than $1,500.

 

[aevm]

Does that $1500 include a monitor, or do you have one already?
Do you have a mouse, speakers, keyboard, Windows already?


So far it looks like you need a good quad CPU (i7 920, Q9550 or Phenom II 955 or Phenom II 940) and some serious graphics power.

Since it's a work machine, I'd stay away from overclocking. This means you won't need an aftermarket cooler.

 

[Kill@dor]

$1200 can give you a powerful system...

Operating System - Windows Vista Ultimate or Windows 7 RC

Case - COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail 149.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160&Tpk=cooler%20master%20haf%20932

CPU - Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor - Retail 279.99 (free shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

CPU Cooler - Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 120mm SSO CPU Cooler - Retail 79.99 (free shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608007

Motherboard - ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail 279.99 (free shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131365&Tpk=asus%20p6t%20deluxe%20v2

RAM - Mushkin 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail 89.99 (free shipping with rebate 79.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226034

Hard Drive - Your choice...i would recommend 500GBs Western Digital or if you are a tech enthusiast the new SSD's

Graphics Card(s) - SAPPHIRE 100269OCSR Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - OC edition - Retail 259.99 (rebates 239.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102831

Sound Card - Your choice or just use onboard sound...

Power Supply - COOLER MASTER RS-700-AMBA-D3 700W ATX12V V2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Power Supply - Retail 119.99 (free shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171037

Optical Drive - Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - OEM 25.99 (free shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030

All this is priced at $1284...not including the rebates and other parts suggested ^_^

What do you think?

 

[devldawg1986]

Thats great. Thnks for your help. I really appriciate it.

 

[Kill@dor]

I added a CPU Cooler and OS...i would recommend Windows 7 since is free right now LOL.

Had to keep editing...i put in the wrong cooler at first...my bad.

 

[aevm]

Sounds neat.

I'm not convinced that's a good PSU, honestly. I see it has 10 reviews and all 5 eggs, but still, it's a bit early IMO to decide that CoolerMaster has mended their ways...

Besides, even with the $20 combo discount (for the CoolerMaster PSU and Haf 932), it's still $100. For that money you can get a Corsair 750TX, which has 10A more and two PCI-E connectors more and it's well known to be good stuff.


Oh yeah, and I really dislike Sony. Their hardware may be good, but I can't trust them after that rootkit nonsense they did in 2005. I'd rather get this LG burner:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152


HDD: my favorite these days is the WD Caviar Black 1TB.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284&Tpk=wd1001fals
The 640GB version (WD6401AALS) is just as good too, but right now it costs more per GB.

 

[Kill@dor]

I've had my Sony 16x for at least 4 years now...but its IDE not SATA. So i could be wrong on that. All i have ever had are Sony hardware and they seem to last for me...

 

[aevm]

I added a CPU Cooler and OS...i would recommend Windows 7 since is free right now LOL.

Had to keep editing...i put in the wrong cooler at first...my bad.

@devldawg1986: that Noctua cooler is the best available, and well worth the $80. However, you only need it if you are going to overclock the CPU. If you don't intend to overclock, save the $80 and buy another HDD or something with it.

Frankly, I'd advise against overclocking in your case. You haven't done it before, have you? If something goes wrong, it may fry some hardware. Or it could cause instability, maybe make you lose some files you've been working on.

 

[Kill@dor]

Man, those stock coolers are terrible...even if he doesn't OC he can get something cheaper..but then he probably wouldn't get good cooling with a cheaper one either...

 

[aevm]

All right, how about this one then:

Scythe MUGEN-2 SCMG-2000 $37
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185093

BTW, if he gets that Haf 932 you recommended, he's going to have awesome cooling already.

 

[Kill@dor]

Thats a good one for cooling too...installing the fan is another issue ^_o but it shouldn't be too bad.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I agree with staying away from Sony. I originally built my computer with Sony drives. One drive died and I replaced it with a Samsung. The other one was so loud I pulled it out and replaced it with an LG. I like both the Samsung and LG drives a lot more than the Sony ones.

 

[devldawg1986]

What do you guys think about a couple of these monitors? A guy I work with has 2 of these in his office.

I-Inc iF251HPB 25" Widescreen Active Matrix TFT Display - 2ms, 1920x1080, HDMI, VGA - $229.99
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4312740&CatId=3774

 

[aevm]

I've never heard of that company. Could be risky.

Also, I don't like the 50/60 Hz specification. I bet it means 50 Hz refresh rate at the highest resolution (1920x1080), and that's a shame. It means you're limited to 50 fps even in games where your HD 4890 can deliver 60 fps or more. Mind you, 50 fps is still very good and you might not even notice a difference between 50 and 60 anyway.

That being said, I like the idea anyway. The price is good, and 24.6" at 1920x1080 is way easier on the eyes than the same resolution on a 22" or 23" monitor.

 

[devldawg1986]

Hey do you know where i can get a lien-li desk? I saw one once and i liked the way they look.

or any good lookin, usable desk for the house?

 

[aevm]

"Desk", as in furniture? Wouldn't shipping charges be horrible for such a thing?

Anyway, start here:
http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/product03.php?cl_index=4&sc_index=21

 

[Kill@dor]

What will you be inventing on that desk...LOL?

 

[devldawg1986]

"Desk", as in furniture? Wouldn't shipping charges be horrible for such a thing?

Anyway, start here:
http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/product03.php?cl_index=4&sc_index=21

Are you suggesting that i build one or whats your opinion?

 

[devldawg1986]

What will you be inventing on that desk...LOL?

My next child... Lol

 

[aevm]

I'd try to find a desk in a local store. Staples, for example.