First time build, 900$

[walter_j]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: today if possible BUDGET RANGE: no more than 950 canadian after rebates shipping and taxes

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, editing HD videos

PARTS NOT REQUIRED:keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS:i guess newegg or whatever has the best deals COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada

PARTS PREFERENCES: would like a intel processor

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1280x1024

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: would like some degree of future proofing

 

[Guest]

Here's what I recommend:

Intel i5 750 - $219.99
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215&Tpk=750

GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD4 LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail - $159.99
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128404&Tpk=GIGABYTE%20GA-P55M-UD4

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series DDR3 4GB (8-8-8-21) - $97.99
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231275&cm_re=G.SKILL_Ripjaws_Series-_-20-231-275-_-Product

(They're out of Samsung F3 500GB so the next best thing...)

Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB - $74.99
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319&cm_re=640gb-_-22-136-319-_-Product

Antec Earthwatts 650W (probably a bit overkill but right now $20 less than the 550W version) $79.99
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015&cm_re=antec_psu-_-17-371-015-_-Product

XFX HD-575X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5750 1GB - $146.99
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150448&cm_re=5750-_-14-150-448-_-Product

Edit:
Based on dndhatcher's suggestion I have added the 5770:

Sapphire 5770 1GB - $169.99
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102864

Cases tend to be personal preference so you can choose one.
Total w/o case, shipping/handling, taxes or rebates:
$779.94 (w/ the 5750)
or
$802.94 (w/ the 5770)

 

[dndhatcher]

Its not much more to get a 5770 instead of a 5750 and the 5770 is about 50% faster.

 

[Guest]

Edited my first post to include the 5770 in comparison.

 

[walter_j]

Thanks guys for the input! : )

ya i think ill got with the 5770

I'm not sure what I want for the case, i heard this was good http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066 is there anything thats cheaper and will perform the same?

also, my friend suggested i get two hard drive and put RAID.. does anyone back up this idea?

I also need like a dvd drive, and i was wondering if i can take the one i have in here http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=PCVRS320 (click on marketing specs) and will this computer still work if i take it out?

thanks

edit:
also what about this processor http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103692 its a little cheaper and i heard it will perform about the same? :S

 

[akash3656]

Um, I would suggest to stick with the i5 build Rokez suggested except change the motherboard to something that has USB,SATA 3.0... This model... It can't do Crossfire/SLI
GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128412&cm_re=ga-p55a-_-13-128-412-_-Product
This one can do CF/SLI but much more pricier:
GA-P55A-UD4P
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128409&cm_re=ga-p55a-_-13-128-409-_-Product

Its your choice...

The CD/DVD should work, but I think you should get a new one... Because old drives use IDE interface which takes more time to load at the BIOS + its going to be slow... A new Burner will be a good buy because it will be faster, quieter and its only 30 $ to buy a new one... Get this one:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030

Raid isnt really usefull unless you do heavy copy/paste work (i think then it will make a difference)
PS: Try to get your stuff from newegg.ca because newegg.com follows the US pricing,
I am not good (at all) with cases, so please do not ask me...

 

[akash3656]

Found a good GPU/CPU combo... don't worry its still the EXACT SAME i5 + 5770 but you save 30 $ (Another reason for you to get a new DVD Burner then... )
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.301184

 

[walter_j]

um... that combo "deal" cost 700$?
anyways thanks for all the help guys, but this build is gone over my budget

Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - 69.99

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - $74.99

SAPPHIRE 100283-2L Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail - $166.99

Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified ... - Retail - $79.99

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBRM - Retail - $97.99

GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD4P LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard w/ USB 3.0 & SATA 6 Gb/s - Retail - $199.99

Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I5750 - Retail - $219.99

with everything it comes out to $1,063.36... i need to trim off like 150$ : /

is this combo any good http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.306545

if i use that plus the 5770 graphics card i can get the price down to $993.99 which is a little more feasible

 

[1898]

Go with AMD.
For less money you get a far superior system for gaming.

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=12756172
$953.72
-$20 MIR
-$20 MIR
$913.72

 

[Silmarunya]

Go with AMD.
For less money you get a far superior system for gaming.

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=12756172
$953.72
-$20 MIR
-$20 MIR
$913.72

That is a gaming system that will turn anything mentioned above to rubble. The HDD is a lot faster than WD's old tech, you've got a beastly GPU compared to the 5770 and the GPU is just as good for gaming. Everything you picked is pound for pound what I'd take.
However, for just a little premium the 955 can be had. It's a black edition, making it easier to overclock it and it's a noticeable improvement given its tiny price increase.

At the OP: take this build or you will be eaten

 

[walter_j]

ooooohhh i should mentioned that those prices were after taxes and in canadian dollars... lol

1,063.36 one is 909.93 $

and the $993.99 is $832.98

so that AMD build is a little out of reach... something that is 800 - 850 before taxes canadian would be good

but AMD does seem cheaper so i would be fine to make a AMD build

 

[1898]

Aw right, Canadian.
Well in that case, simply swap the 5850 with a 5770. Will still be cheaper but not better than the i5.
As Silmarunya said, you will want a Spinpoint F3 because they're faster. Also has he said, for better ocing the BE edition is the way to go but it's $20 more.

Hm.. you also could get an X3 and keep the 5850, might fit into your budget and if you are lucky your 4th core will be unlockable.

 

[Guest]

Alright if AMD is fine with you this could be perfect just keep everything but swap...

The CPU for:

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition - $179.99
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674&cm_re=amd_955-_-19-103-674-_-Product

The motherboard for:

GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - $139.99 (this if you want to crossfire)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128398

or

ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - $104.99 (this if you won't crossfire in future)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131406&cm_re=asus_785-_-13-131-406-_-Product

Plus you can overclock that CPU with this cheap, but comes with good thermal paste, heatsink.

Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120 mm Core-Contact Freezer CPU Cooler W/TX-2 - $36.99

Everything else is fine.
Total now with your case but w/o taxes/rebates ($15 rebate on heatsink!):
846.92 w/Gigabyte board (you can remove the heatsink to save a few dollars off if you want)
or
$811.92 w/Asus board

If you want to stay with the intel build and you are comfortable with shopping around for separate parts then I recommend you go search them up at Price Canada for the best deals.
http://www.pricecanada.com/c.php/Desktop-Components-14/

 

[walter_j]

Thanks guys! : )
i think Rokez has made the perfect build for me

keep in mind i will be overclocking and crossfire will be added later on... does anyone see anything wrong with the build? Or anyway i could alter it for the better?

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series DDR3 4GB (8-8-8-21) - $97.99
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231275

Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB - $74.99
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

Antec Earthwatts 650W $79.99
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

Sapphire 5770 1GB - $169.99
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102864

GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - $139.99
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128398

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition - $179.99
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674

Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120 mm Core-Contact Freezer CPU Cooler W/TX-2 - $36.99
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835207004

Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - 69.99
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

If not i think this will be my build and ill probably around the parts off of newegg in a day or two.

hope i didn't forget anything : P

thanks!

oh yeah can someone verify that everything will fit in the case... the heat sink especially : P

EDIT:
link wasnt working : P

 

[walter_j]

sorrry for double posting.. but, i was just wondering if i could actually swap out the phenom 955 and the cpu cooler, and just put in the 965 with no cooler? Would the 965 with no overclocking or or cpu cooler be faster than the 955 with the cpu and overclocking?

 

[Guest]

Stick with the 955 and the cooler than the 965 without a cooler because you can just overclock the 955 to the same speed as the 965 CPU.

The AMD 965 is a complete waste of money IMO since you pay $31 extra just for a guaranteed overclock of only 200MHz. With the 955 and the cooler, as long as you get a decent CPU (some CPUs overclock better than others) you can get a faster and cooler CPU than just the 965 alone.

The 965 should only be an option for people that are seriously never going to overclock.

The CPU cooler should fit:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=35-207-004&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&SelectedRating=-1&PurchaseMark=&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&Keywords=300

 

[walter_j]

Thanks, so i guess ill go with the 955.

one last thing, is it worth it to find a mobo that supports usb3.0? Or will that technology only be mainstream after an upgrade is needed?

 

[Guest]

Personally I don't think USB 3.0 isn't necessary as there isn't a lot of stuff that support it but the things that do are pretty fast from what I hear so unless you are gonna get them, you are paying a premium for something you may not use yet. I think in like two-three years, USB 3.0 will be mainstream and that would probably be a good time to think about upgrading as well.

 

[walter_j]

alright ill stick with the same mobo.

http://www.sunbeamtech.com/PRODUCTS/cooler/Core-ContactFreezer.html

on the site it doesn't list the processor under compatibility? :S

EDIT: Nvm i read through the reviews, its compatable : )

so ill be ordering my parts today, thanks everyone for the help!