FIRST BUILD ABCs

[wizlow]

Hello Everyone,
I am also looking to try my hand out at a first build, and had a few questions to start off.
1 - How do i determine if the system I am building will be a 32 bit or 64 bit (would like the latter for durability)?
2 - I looked through a number of first build settings posted on the site, but never see anyone ading info on sound cards. Is there a reason why these ar never included?
3 - Are there some common mistakes made in first builds and some compatibility guidelines to follow? To what extent is it necessary to include cpu/ram/graphic card fans and so on?
4 - Anyone know the best place to buy components - Retail / OEM / Online (I live in Brussels, Belgium).

Below I add a couple of set ups for Intel and one AMD from internet searches (think they are all 64bit), anything good/bad?
Thanks to everyone,
Wizlow

INTEL BUDGET

MTB - Asus P7P 5DD
PCU - Intel Core I5 750
Case - Antec Three Hundred or Coolmaster HAF 922
GCrd - Gigabyte GV-N50ZL-1Gb
SCrd - Creative XFI- Titanium or Azuentech X-Raider-7
PowerS - Coolmaster Silent Pro M 600W or Corsair HX 650
HDD - Segate Barracuda 7200 12 1000Go 32mo
DDR3 - G.Skill Kit Extreme 2x2 Go 12800 rip Jaws
DVD - Samsung SH-S223i
NtwCrd - Dlink DGE-528T
Wifi - Dlink DWA-547 wireless
Tv tuner - Avermedia Avertv hybrid Super 007
Case fan - Antec tricool 120
Ram Cooler - G.Skill Turbulence fan

-------------------------------------------------------

INTEL Mid Range

MTB - Gigabyte EX58-UDR3
PCU - Intel Core I7 920
Case - Antec Twelve Hundred or Coolmaster HAF 932
GCrd - Gigabyte GV-N260SO-896i (to be upgraded later to maybe XFX Radeon HD 5850 1Gb Black)
SCrd - Azuentech XFI Forte 7.1
PowerS - Antec True Power New 750W or Corsair HX 850W
HDD - WD Black Caviar 1000Go 32mo
DDR3 - G.Skill Kit Extreme 3x2 Go 15000 Trident Series
DVD - Samsung SH-S223i
NtwCrd - Dlink DGE-528T
Wifi - Dlink DWA-547 wireless
Tv tuner - Avermedia Avertv hybrid Super 007
Case fan - Antec tricool 120 or Coolmaster Megaflow 200 led silent fan
Ram Cooler - G.Skill Turbulence fan

----------------------------------------------------------

AMD Mid Range

MTB - Asus Crosshair III Formula or Gygabyte MA790FXT-UD5P
PCU - AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition
Case - Antec Twelve Hundred or Coolmaster HAF 932 AMD Edition
GCrd - Gigabyte GV-N260SO-896i or XFX Radeon AD5770 ATI Dir 11 Eyfinity (later update possible)
SCrd - Azuentech XFI Forte 7.1or Asus Xonar Essence STX
PowerS - Antec True Power New 750W or Corsair HX 850W
HDD - WD Black Caviar 1000Go 32mo or Segate Barracuda 7200 12 1000Go 32mo
DDR3 - G.Skill Kit Extreme 3x2 Go 15000 Trident Series
DVD - Samsung SH-S223i
NtwCrd - Dlink DGE-528T
Wifi - Dlink DWA-547 wireless
Tv tuner - Avermedia Avertv hybrid Super 007
Case fan - Antec tricool 120 or Coolmaster Megaflow 200 led silent fan
Ram Cooler - G.Skill Turbulence fan

 

[Gandalf]

Question for you - how much can you spend?

Answers:

1 - How do i determine if the system I am building will be a 32 bit or 64 bit (would like the latter for durability)?
For your first build I'd go with a 32 bit system unless you have a special purpose with software that supports 64bit.

2 - I looked through a number of first build settings posted on the site, but never see anyone adding info on sound cards. Is there a reason why these are never included?
My case came with a sound card that works fine for me. Some people are into making and recording sound and want special cards, but most people I think are happy with the default sound that come this a system.

3 - Are there some common mistakes made in first builds and some compatibility guidelines to follow? To what extent is it necessary to include cpu/ram/graphic card fans and so on?
1 - Heating is always a potential problem with a custom build system. The more good fans you can put into your case the better.
2 - Don't forget your thermal compound -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007&cm_re=grease-_-35-100-007-_-Product
3 - Go with DDR3 RAM, if you can afford it, and be sure your motherboard supports DDR3.
4 - Make sure your motherboard supports your CPU LGA socket.

4 - Anyone know the best place to buy components - Retail / OEM / Online (I live in Brussels, Belgium).
While Newegg.com does not current ship outside of the USA, they are still an informative website for selecting components.

Use URLs like this to help develop your system. You'll also get a lot of info from reading the specs at these links.

Motherboards -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131404
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128375&cm_re=Gigabyte_GA-EX58-_-13-128-375-_-Product

Well this will get you started. Good Luck.

 

[wizlow]

Thank you Gandalf,

Your input is very useful.

To your question, I would rather go for a two step process just to be safe. I would think initially I would go for roughly 1000 EUR (excluding screen/programmes/other accessories). Guess this would mean getting the right CPU-motherboard-case-power combination that would allow some good upgrades in the near future.

Will not go for a soundcard (thanks for the advice) but wait and see how good the case one is, and graphics card I'd like something good but not top end, as i may choose to upgrade it later. for DDR3, not sure if i should go for good ones immediately (maybe 2x2 GB) or go for lower-end and bring it up to a 3x2GB.

Possibly this set-up (though its a little more expensive than envisaged for a first stage...):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160&cm_re=haf_932-_-11-119-160-_-Product (160 USD)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131624&cm_re=asus_motherboard-_-13-131-624-_-Product (200 USD)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115214&cm_re=intel_i7-_-19-115-214-_-Product (280 USD)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011&cm_re=corsair_power_supply-_-17-139-011-_-Product (180 USD)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150447 (170 USD)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284&cm_re=black_caviar_western_digital-_-22-136-284-_-Product (100 USD)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231259&cm_re=gskill_ddr3-_-20-231-259-_-Product (120 USD)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106335 (32 USD)

Let me know and feel free to add suggestions,
Wizlow

 

[Gandalf]

You need Monitor, Keyboard, and Mouse.

There are three things you should always get good ones ... the PSU, CPU and the RAM.
Other things you can upgrade later.

 

[wizlow]

Thanks you Gandalf,

As a core, what do you think of:

PSU - Corsair HX 850 W (or downsized to Corsair HX 650)
PCU - Intel i7 860 Lynnfield 2.8Ghz 8mb L3 cache (could go for an Intel i7 920 but would mean going for a 1366 LGA socket rather than an 1156, and not sure saving 40 USD on an i5 would make a lot of sense, as then if price is the consideration i guess the AMD Phenom II x4 965 black edition is probably more powerful)
RAM - G.skill ripjaws 2x2`Go 12800 (could upgrade to G.skill 3x2 Go 15000 Trident series).

Last question on the motherboard: to what extent is investing an extra 50 USD on it worth having 2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 ports rather than just one on a cheaper board?

Thanks again for all your help,
Wizlow

 

[Scotteq]

I disagree on 'start with 32 bit', rather than a 64 bit OS - and would simply state that the OP should install the OS that supports his configuration. So if he's sticking with 3GB of ram, then 32. 4 or 6GB? Go 64.

Why do I say that? The installation process is exactly the same. They are the same in look and feel and operation. The only real 'differences' are that you use a 64 bit device driver rather than a 32; you ahve 2 'Programs' folders (that most users don't ever need to touch); and you end up with 2 versions of Internet Exploder.


I would also add Motherboard to Gandalf's list of "Components Never To Cheap Out On".


Think about what you are going to use the computer for: i7/1366's are generally nich'd into the higher end and also for people (like me ) who convince themselves they somehow 'need' it. For general computing/gaming use an 1156 (Intel) or an AM3. Gamers are usually best off weighting their money on the graphics side. By this I mean when you have to decide between a slightly cheaper processor with a better GPU, or a slightly cheaper GPU and a better processor; then you're usually better off with the better GPU.


If you're wondering about Processors, here's 131 AMD and Intel Processors Compared.

And, of course: Graphics Card Comparisons here at Tom's

 

[jsc]

Advice for first time builders:
Our standard checklist and troubleshooting thread:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-read-posting-boot-problems

My keep you from making some of the noobish mistakes that first time builders frequently make.