Help/Advice For Bulding My First Gaming Computer

[Opal]

Hello,

This is my first time building my gaming computer and before I roll up my sleeves and start building, I wanted some help/advice on the hardware that I chose to build with.

Purchase date: Within the next 2-3 months.

Budget Range: not to exceed $1050-1200

System usage: Gaming, surfing, making music cd's, movie dvd's, word processing, watching movies.

Preferred website for parts: No preference.

Parts preference: ATI Radeon.

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe Crossfire

Monitor resolution: 1920x1080 or 1920x1200

Case: Antec 1200 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041

Motherboard: Gigabyte LGA 775 Intel P45 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128369

Memory: G.Skill 4GB 240 Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231200

Power Supply: Corsair 750W ATX 12V/EPS12V - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

Hard Drive: Western Digital Black 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

Monitor: Acer Black 23" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009163

CPU Cooler: Xigamatek Dark Knight 120mm - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

Video Card: Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0x16 HDCP Ready Crossfire supported - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161259

Speakers: Logitech Z-5500 505 Watts 5.1 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121120 or

Logitech Z-5300e THX Certified 280 Watt 5.1 Surround Sound PC and Gaming Speaker System - http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Z-5300e-THX-Certified-280-Watt-Surround/dp/B0002SQ0AE


This is what I have chosen so far. If anyone has any suggestions or think that I should add some components to the list, please let me know. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[xaira]

trust me when i say u dont need anything more than an x540 for speakers

another thing, this is a gaming build, ull need more than a 4850 to agme with a 1080p monitor, maybe 2 4890s

 

[Outlander_04]

Your mb is a deactivated item

It may never be in stock again because intel is stopping making socket 775 processors

You can save money by buying an AMD quad

AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz $179
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103675

and for single gfx card computers
GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128392

The money you have saved over the intel cpu/mb can go towards a better gfx card , and that will give you a better gaming experience

 

[hunter315]

1 4890 should be sufficient, also the board you listed has been deactivated and you can likely get a better value through an AMD build which will be upgradable longer.

 

[Opal]

Oh wow, I didn't even realize that that motherboard had been deactivated!

Thanks for your input!

Ok, so which combo would be the best to switch to:

CPU: Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

Motherboard: ASRock X58 Extreme LGA 1366 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157163

OR

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674

Motherboard: GIGABYTE AM3 DDR3 AMD 790FX - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128377

Video Card - SAPPHIRE 100269SR Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102830

 

[JDV28]

Go with the AMD, it will save you money.

 

[Opal]

Thanks for your input, JDV28!

Should I purchase internal storage other than the hard drive or is that not necessary?

Am I missing anything?

 

[dirtmountain]

If you're going to get the Antec 1200 case, look into this combo deal for the CP850w power supply. It's only $10 more then the Corsair 750w PSU after the combo deal, but of a higher quality.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.216977

2 reviews of that power supply.
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=142
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/736

 

[Opal]

trust me when i say u dont need anything more than an x540 for speakers

another thing, this is a gaming build, ull need more than a 4850 to agme with a 1080p monitor, maybe 2 4890s

Why do you say that about the speakers?

 

[xaira]

ive had friends whove had z5500, and if its just for 1 room, unless u need the whole range of features the z5500 provides, its not worth it, my x540 annoys my neighbours and the distance between houses here is like 20 feet

 

[xaira]

onlyproblem i have with it is the length of the cables on the rear speakers, but u can just get xtenders and solve that issue

 

[Opal]

Any more input is welcome! I want to be extra sure that everything is right before I start buying.

 

[Opal]

Any more input is welcome! I want to be extra sure that everything is right before I start buying.

 

[Opal]

Any more input is welcome! I want to be extra sure that everything is right before I start buying.

 

[Opal]

Is an Intel motherboard better than an AMD or does it matter?

 

[hunter315]

You need to be more specific than 'better', some x58 boards can do SLI and support 3 card solutions, however they are also more expensive.

 

[Opal]

I meant for my system. I know you mentioned, hunter, going AMD, 'cause it'll save money and be upgradable longer. Would AMD be the best for what I'm trying to build or Intel...or does it matter in this case?

 

[hunter315]

If going for an i7 is going to limit the GPU you can put into the build i would get the AMD, if you are going to put the same GPU in no matter what, the i7 is stronger. The x58 chipset does have more functionality compared to the 790FX chipset but only if you can afford the price premium, it wasnt worth it to me so i got an AMD build and i am quite happy with it.