First Build...First Post!!!

[SMisenplace]

In the past, I have always purchased a computer off the shelf and adapted it to meet my needs. I have decided that I am going to try and build one from the bottom up this time. Here is a list of my components and I am curious if I made wise choices. I am a gamer, though not necessarily hardcore. I do some photo editing and a little graphic design, on occasion. I do realize that I might have gone a little overboard in the choice of some components. I was trying to future-proof a bit and make sure that I would have a solid system for the next few years.

Here are my components...how did I do?

Computer Case
COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 Black Steel/ Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119225

Power Supply
CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010

Motherboard
ASUS P6X58D Premium LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131614

Processor
Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601950
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115211

Heatsink Fan
XIGMATEK Intel Core i7 compatible Dark Knight-S1283V REV.W with ACK-I5361 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler I7 i5 775 AMD compatible
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

RAM
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224

Graphics Card
XFX HD-585X-ZAFC Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card w/ Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150477

Hard Drive (going to wait and get a SSD when they have improved)
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

Disk Drive
ASUS Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 24X DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116758

 

[banthracis]

You should fill out form in sticky, link in my sig.

Case wise a HAFX is really overkill. A HAF 922 is less than half the price and pretty much the same.

PSU
XFX 750w is better and cheaper $130 w/ $15 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207003&Tpk=xfx%20750

GA x58 UD3r is much less for same features $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128423&cm_re=ga_x58_ud3r-_-13-128-423-_-Product

CPU an i7-930 is fine. Just OC it and you can get well above 950 stock speeds.

HSF- that one is pretty bad. My advice would be either get RAM w/o tall heat spreader and a Scythe Mugen, or get a Megahalem.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185142&cm_re=scmg-_-35-185-142-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835242001&Tpk=megahalem

RAM- Best kit would be G SKill Pi cas 7, DDR 1600 1.5v $155
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231335&cm_re=6gb_pi-_-20-231-335-_-Product

Does have tall spreader though. Dominator in general is way overpriced.

HD- Spinpoint f3 1Tb $75. Better performance and cheaper per gb.

 

[SMisenplace]

Hmmm...it looks like I should have come here BEFORE I made the purchases. I wasn't really trying to get the cheapest build but I was trying to get one that will last for awhile.

With so many choices and so many opposing viewpoints, it was a genuine challenge to come up with a build that I was "happy" with.

After seeing the HAFX, I do realize that it was major overkill (that thing is HUGE) but I wanted something with USB 3.0 and I wanted something with plenty of room for expansion.

I should also say that almost all of the pieces were purchased over a couple of weeks, taking advantage of rebates and sales. The MOBO, for example ended up costing about $220. The 950 was purchased because it was only $10 more than the 930. I picked up the Dominators for $149.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

not a bad system. We could have saved you a little if you'd come to the forum first, though.

 

[SMisenplace]

This ended up costing about $1600 (minus $100+ MIR) including taxes and shipping.

I rationalized it by telling myself that I was getting far more than I need for now but would have something that extended beyond the period of obsolescence that I would be experiencing in three to four years. Or at least I hope. I also priced out similar systems on various custom build sites and found that what I was getting would be $700-1000 cheaper by doing it myself. Now I just have to hope and pray that I don't screw something up!!

 

[ScrewySqrl]

good luck. We'll be here to help if you need us