Update November 4th 2009: I've tweaked with the build quite a bit after considering the advice given and revised some questions. Different computer build!
Hey gang.
This is my first build ever. I claim not to be knowledgeable regarding computer hardware; on the contrary, my primary home computer took a nosedive hardware-wise a week ago and for the past week I've gone from not knowing/caring to learn about computer hardware and willing to go to BestBuy and just grab a tower off of the shelves to caring about the differences between AMD and Intel and caring about the L3 Cache in the CPUs. I have a ton of questions, but I'll toss them at you after I show you the spec.
I really appreciate all and any thought into this; you guys seem to be a very helpful, fast and intelligent community, something sorely lacking on the internets.
===============
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Within 2 weeks!
BUDGET RANGE: ~$700 max!
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: "Gaming" (WoW,TF2,L4D,CS), surfing the web, multimedia (netflix, music a la Winamp/iTunes), MS Word/Excel
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg.com
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
PARTS PREFERENCES: [strike]I'd like to stay in the Intel family after several friendly recommendations.[/strike] The AMD Phenom is such a great value to ignore! AMD for me!
OVERCLOCKING: Nah.
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Excuse me?
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I don't mind it if it's a bit loud. The noise I could care less about; I'm a heavy sleeper and as long as it isn't like a machine gun going off when I fire up the computer I'll manage.
THE BUILD:
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ955FBGIBOX ($175)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674
[strike]Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I5750 ($200)[/strike] - I swapped for the Phenom. For my needs the AMD CPU will do me just fine and cheaper than than the i5, too!
GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard ($75)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128392
[strike]Intel BOXDP55WB LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard ($100)[/strike] - New CPU = New Mobo. $25 cheaper too!
XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card ($155)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150436
[strike]EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card[/strike] - There are too many good things to say about the Radeon HD 4870 when comparing what I am looking for and the price.
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT ($69)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231253
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive ($55)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181
Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply ($110)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024
[strike]RAIDMAX SMILODON Extreme Black ATX-612WEBP 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case With 500W Power Supply[/strike] - I don't know too much about cases still, but the new case is highly rated and reviewed. Looks like it's a good PSU too!
==================
Questions, questions, questions! These are listed from most important to least.
1: Overall, how does the system fare? Are there any glaring, really obvious "HOLY-CRAP-ARE-YOU-SERIOUSLY-THAT-STUPID" mistakes in the build? ie wrong socket type, wrong RAM type, "it's still an AGP slot motherboard, doofus"
[strike]2: Could I do better in spending less but keeping the same level of quality?[/strike] Omitted because it's a silly question to ask.
3: Does all this stuff fit in the case?
[strike]4: What is crucial ram?[/strike]
Answered: A manufacturer who makes RAM.
5: Do I have enough power? I'm using the stock power supply with the case, but will it be enough for the entire system?
6: Will there be adequate cooling in this system?
7: How would you rate this computer? Mid-line? Mid-high? Mid-low? And seeing my primary system uses, is the system complete overkill for what it will be handling? Did I go too high-line?
==================
Thanks for your time, guys.
Hey gang.
This is my first build ever. I claim not to be knowledgeable regarding computer hardware; on the contrary, my primary home computer took a nosedive hardware-wise a week ago and for the past week I've gone from not knowing/caring to learn about computer hardware and willing to go to BestBuy and just grab a tower off of the shelves to caring about the differences between AMD and Intel and caring about the L3 Cache in the CPUs. I have a ton of questions, but I'll toss them at you after I show you the spec.
I really appreciate all and any thought into this; you guys seem to be a very helpful, fast and intelligent community, something sorely lacking on the internets.
===============
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Within 2 weeks!
BUDGET RANGE: ~$700 max!
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: "Gaming" (WoW,TF2,L4D,CS), surfing the web, multimedia (netflix, music a la Winamp/iTunes), MS Word/Excel
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg.com
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
PARTS PREFERENCES: [strike]I'd like to stay in the Intel family after several friendly recommendations.[/strike] The AMD Phenom is such a great value to ignore! AMD for me!
OVERCLOCKING: Nah.
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Excuse me?
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I don't mind it if it's a bit loud. The noise I could care less about; I'm a heavy sleeper and as long as it isn't like a machine gun going off when I fire up the computer I'll manage.
THE BUILD:
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ955FBGIBOX ($175)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674
[strike]Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I5750 ($200)[/strike] - I swapped for the Phenom. For my needs the AMD CPU will do me just fine and cheaper than than the i5, too!
GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard ($75)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128392
[strike]Intel BOXDP55WB LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard ($100)[/strike] - New CPU = New Mobo. $25 cheaper too!
XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card ($155)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150436
[strike]EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card[/strike] - There are too many good things to say about the Radeon HD 4870 when comparing what I am looking for and the price.
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT ($69)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231253
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive ($55)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181
Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply ($110)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024
[strike]RAIDMAX SMILODON Extreme Black ATX-612WEBP 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case With 500W Power Supply[/strike] - I don't know too much about cases still, but the new case is highly rated and reviewed. Looks like it's a good PSU too!
==================
Questions, questions, questions! These are listed from most important to least.
1: Overall, how does the system fare? Are there any glaring, really obvious "HOLY-CRAP-ARE-YOU-SERIOUSLY-THAT-STUPID" mistakes in the build? ie wrong socket type, wrong RAM type, "it's still an AGP slot motherboard, doofus"
[strike]2: Could I do better in spending less but keeping the same level of quality?[/strike] Omitted because it's a silly question to ask.
3: Does all this stuff fit in the case?
[strike]4: What is crucial ram?[/strike]
Answered: A manufacturer who makes RAM.
5: Do I have enough power? I'm using the stock power supply with the case, but will it be enough for the entire system?
6: Will there be adequate cooling in this system?
7: How would you rate this computer? Mid-line? Mid-high? Mid-low? And seeing my primary system uses, is the system complete overkill for what it will be handling? Did I go too high-line?
==================
Thanks for your time, guys.