$1400 build - first time

aeeron

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Sep 9, 2010
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18,510
I am pretty sure all of the parts I've picked out are good deals/compatible with everything but I'd just like some reassurance. This will be my first build, I've replaced almost everything in my current PC besides a CPU though.

Case - Xclio Blackhawk Color Full Tower http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811103037
I really like this case, I don't know if its a cheap piece of $$$$ though. I know some people will recommend the HAF but I don't like the way it looks.

motherboard - Asus p55 intel 1156 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131405
I'm not that concerned with no usb 3.0 or tri-channel support. Unless I can find something 20-30 dollars more I think I'll stick with this unless its not good.

cpu - i7-860 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115214

ram - corsair xms3 4gb (2 x 2GB) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260
probably will buy more eventually again I don't think the motherboard I have above supports tri-channel so this seems logical to me.

psu - corsair cmpsu 750w http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006
might be over kill i don't know but i'd like some flexibility for the future

video card - evga gtx 470 (fermi) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130550
I was told this is the best value around $300 right now, and i would like the free mafia 2

hard drive - WD caviar 1tb 7200 rpm http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533
I don't need anything special here, just something reliable.

then a random dvd/cd drive for $20

puts the grand total currently at $1,189.92


Something I might add is I only plan to play games on this, WoW, CoD Black Ops, Mafia 2 are just some. Would a i5 be a better value? if so please give me a link and if its a significant price change maybe show me what I can upgrade?

I need advice on a monitor, I currently have a 19' acer monitor that supports 1600 x 900, i feel like spending $300 on the gtx 470 is a bad investment with a monitor that only goes to this resolution. What do you guys think? I Left room in the grand total for a monitor preferably 21'.

Also i've never dealt with fan controllers and stuff on the case, how much of a hassle is it going to be with the case i picked out as a first time builder?
thanks guys I really appreciate.

I will be buying everything by this time next week.
 

calguyhunk

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Jul 6, 2010
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Few things that immediately jump out from your build ---

1. Just $10 more - $290 Core i7-870

2. Faster Corsair RAM : $95 CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB)

3. Do you really need a $130 Full tower? What I see of your build, a Mid-Tower will do just fine. You'll also get to save 'bout $70 odd. Cases are of course a personal preference thing so if you wanna change it, I might come up with a suggestion or two.

4. If you're not thinking of SLI'ing the 470 then you can save a bit by going with a 550 Watt unit - $45 OCZ Fatal1ty 550W or at most a 650 Watt unit - $80 CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX. There's no way you'll be needing more than that.

5. Cheaper yet faster 1TB drive - $75 SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 1TB

Assuming that you go with these changes, you've already saved $120 for a faster system than the one you had.

Monitor - You didn't give your budget but this should fit right in, seeing as you'll be spending $120 less - $230 SAMSUNG 24"

Better contrast, 2 X HDMI - $290 Samsung 24" 1920x1080
 

wielander

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Sep 1, 2010
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An i5-750/760 would be a much better value; they are all the same processor just clocked differently. You could easily and safely overclock an i5-750 to the same performance level as the i7-860 using the stock cooler (you will need to overclock anyway to make full use of the ram).

For what you're spending there you can get a full on i7-930 build, though. Switching to an i7-930 you get triple channel memory and more fully featured motherboards. LGA1366 doesn't have the same PCI-E problems as LGA 1156; Crossfire and SLI aren't crippled by half speed PCI-E slots.


Intel Core i7-930
GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard (SLI, Crossfire, USB 3.0, SATA III)
$439 with promo code MBTEN92

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492640


If you really like the looks of that case, stick with it. I do think it's alot of money for plastic on steel, though.
$150


XFX 850W Powersupply (Highest quality, 80 plus silver certified, modular) This is a great deal, and would provide plenty of headroom for you to add a second GTX 470 later in SLI.
$107 with promo code XFXPOWER after $20 rebate

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207001&Tpk=xfx%20850w


6GB OCZ DDR3 1600 CL7
MSI GTX 470
$369 after $50 in rebates

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.499475


Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB
$75

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&Tpk=samsung%20spinpoint%20f3%201tb


$18 Lite-On DVD Burner

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289&cm_re=lite_on_24x_sata_dvd_burner-_-27-106-289-_-Product


Total: $1158 (including shipping and rebates)
 

aeeron

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Sep 9, 2010
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Thanks for the replies. I'm going to go with the above suggested i7/mobo/ram with the 650W corsair because I don't think i will do SLI.

As for the case I really don't know, I usually don't like gimmicks but the color changing fans look pretty cool. (lol) I see what your saying about $130 for some plastic though.

I was told by a friend who builds his own that he hated using his antec 900 mid tower case to build in and it was very hard for him his first time around.
Perhaps some $70-$120 suggestions for a mid tower that has PLENTY of room? although I won't be using SLI or raid or anything i really want a case easy to work in for my first time around.

 

wielander

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Sep 1, 2010
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A lot of people recommend the Cooler Master 690 and it gets good feedback on Newegg.
$83

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137&cm_re=cooler_master_690-_-11-119-137-_-Product


LIAN LI PC-7FNW Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $120
This probably isn't what you're looking for, but I think it's worth comparing. All aluminum construction (sturdy and like half the weight), very very well built (no rough edges to cut your fingers on), and very easy to work with (all panels are detachable).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112250
 

aeeron

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Sep 9, 2010
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what kind of performance different am i looking at from the i5-760 and the i7-930?

i don't want to do SLI, maybe if i ever need it i will but the games i want to play are never going to be that demanding.

right now im planning on

cpu/mobo - i7-930 and gigabyte x58 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492640

ram/video card - gtx 470 (from either msi or evga and the ocz ram - http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.499475

psu - 650w corsair cmpsu - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

hard drive - samsung recmmonded one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

optical - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136168&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=4gkvnxgjp2


I'm pretty sure I will be purchasing a monitor as well, so if going for the i5-760 shaves a bit of cash without a huge performance loss I won't mind one bit
 

calguyhunk

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The - Core i7-950 - costs only 15 bucks extra. It's a must buy if you've decided to go with 1366. 300 Mhz is a gr8 value for just $15 extra.

Change the Mobo to - $190 ASUS Sabertooth - better board, best brand, & overall 950 + Sabertooth is much, much better value than 930 + Giga UD3.

If you're looking to save money though & I've said this before, a 760/P55 system makes much more sense.
 
G

Guest

Guest
A considerable amount of time has passed since your "dream build". I noticed the missing operating system in your build, thats an additional 150- 300 dollars u.s.c. I just stumbled on your forum and thought i'd add my "dream build".

OCZ OCZ750FTY 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Power Supply
Item #: N82E16817341041
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$30.00 Instant
$30.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$119.99
$89.99

(this may already be added to your processors fan kit)
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
Item #: N82E16835100007
Return Policy: Consumable Item Refund Only Return Policy
$9.99

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A newegg combo deal...
LG Black 10X Blu-ray Burner - Bulk SATA WH10LS30 LightScribe Support - OEM
Item #: N82E16827136181
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
$109.99

***free***
Verbatim 25GB 2X BD-R LTH Single Jewel Case Disc (use w/LTH Compat Drive) 96569 - OEM
Item #: N82E16817130069
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

***free***
Red/Cyan 3D glasses for 3D viewing on 3D ready television
Item #: N82E16800991111
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

***free***
CyberLink PowerDVD 9, 3D edition
Item #: N82E16800991112
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------***Newegg combo deal***
EVGA 012-P3-1472-AR GeForce GTX 470 (Fermi) SuperClocked 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support ...
Item #: N82E16814130549
Return Policy: VGA Replacement Only Return Policy

and

Seagate Barracuda XT ST32000641AS 2TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822148506
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$50.00 Instant
-$40.00 Combo
$30.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$579.98
$489.98

***free*** due to graphics card purchase
Nvidia Free Mafia 2 Game Coupon
Item #: N82E16800999247
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$59.99 Saving
$59.99
$0.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------***Newegg Combo deal***
GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813128423
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)

and

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116758
Return Policy: Software Standard Return Policy

-$10.00 Combo
$349.98
$339.98
-----------------------------------
and the case from the wonderful Amazon.com
-----------------------------------
NZXT Vulcan Enthusiast M-ATX Case with Handle VULCAN M-ATX (Black)
69.99

and
Corsair XMS3 6 GB PC3-16000 2000Mhz Triple Channel Core i3, i5, i7 DDR3 Memory Kit CMX6GX3M3A2000C9
176

=============================================================total 1230.00 ish
-60.00 rebates
this included windows 7 pro (oem) and a blue ray burner player!!!
As deals come and go I'm sure there will be better deals next week.
However alot of free things, combo discounts, and rebates.

sincerely, Superconductor123