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First time build help - Under $1500

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Hey guys, I've been a long-time gamer but this is my first time building a system of my own.

Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next two weeks

Budget Range: $1500 (thats before rebates)


Parts Preferences: I would PREFER an Intel/Nvidia combo (because I'm just an elitist like that)..but my gaming buddies pushed me more torwards AMD/ATi.. becuase of the price point for both of them, and the AMD route allows for easily upgrading later.

This is the build I'm looking at currently..

Case : Coolermaster HAF X 942 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

HD : Samsung Spinpoint F3 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

MOBO : GIGABYTE GA-790XTA - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Graphics Card : XFX Radeon HD 5770 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

PSU - Corsair 750W (Modular) : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Processor : AMD 965 BE - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

RAM : Corsair Dominator 8GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Cooling : Thermaltake Frio - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Optical : Lite-on BLD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Monitor : ASUS - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...


Being that I'm in a dorm originally built in the 70s I'm stuck on wireless..so..

WIFI : TP-Link - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Final Price : $1489



I plan to overclock minimally, possibly the processor to around 4.0 but we'll see what happens with the final build..

I just want to build this thing as a gaming beast..thats runs as cold and fast as possible...noise isn't an issue as I sleep better with a fan on anyways and my roommate is a douche who steals my ***..so annoying him isn't an issue either.

As a side note, the monitor needs to be widescreen, high contrast, LED backlighting, and 1080p...It also cannot be much higher than the one I selected because the hutch on my desk won't allow for a large monitor..

Any tips, changes, comments are greatly appreciated!




More about : time build 1500

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Case:Cooler Master HAF 932
Just as good as the HAF X Lower Price


HDD:Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB


CPU/Mobo Combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...
CPU Overclocks easy just like the 965, it can also hit 4ghz stable Better/Newer Mobo


GPU: Gigabyte 6950
With your monitor if you want to game at over 1680 x 900 you need a better GPU


PSU: XFX 750 Modular
Just as good as the Corsair


RAM: GSkill 1600 CAS 7
Faster RAM than the Dominator's you chose and cheaper.


Cooler: Hyper 212 +
Amazing Cooler Amazing Price.


Optical: LG BLD
Faster Drive.


Monitor: Acer 23" 1920 x 1080
Higher Contrast Lower Price ;) 


The current Wireless Card is fine.



I also Highly Recommend this case - http://www.amazon.com/NZXT-Crafted-Tower-Steel-Chassis/...

LePoisson said:
It was recommended to me to buy 8 gigs, is it really worth it?

Oh, and what exactly do you like so much about the case from Amazon?


for a gaming rig? nah you dont need 8 gigs most games hardly recognize two. four is fine.
if you run photoshop or do any HD Video Editing run Adobe Suites, or anyrhing like that then get the 8 gigs.
If youre just gaming stick with 4.

The NZXT Phantom has tons of space, excellent cooling and IMO looks better.

It really is a personal Opinion on the Case though due to how both cases are brilliant choices.


Edit:and if you want 8 gigs of ram I'd just buy 2 of the 2 x 4 sticks of GSkill
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HeyImGodly said:
for a gaming rig? nah you dont need 8 gigs most games hardly recognize two. four is fine.
if you run photoshop or do any HD Video Editing run Adobe Suites, or anyrhing like that then get the 8 gigs.
If youre just gaming stick with 4.

The NZXT Phantom has tons of space, excellent cooling and IMO looks better.

It really is a personal Opinion on the Case though due to how both cases are brilliant choices.



I was originally going with the HAF X because I loved the outside, and heard great things about it..but the only buying point on it between that and the 932 was the black interior..but now It seems Newegg updated some photos and the interior on the 932 is black..

Also, I'm kinda sketchy about buying an Asus motherboard...I've heard of some bad experiences with them..

Lastly, what is the difference between the AMD 955 and the 965? The specs are almost identical..save (of course) for the difference in price..

Thanks!

Edit : When looking at other people's builds I've noticed they always include professional edition, rather than just the home edition..Is there any performance reason why I should spend the extra 20 bucks?

LePoisson said:
I was originally going with the HAF X because I loved the outside, and heard great things about it..but the only buying point on it between that and the 932 was the black interior..but now It seems Newegg updated some photos and the interior on the 932 is black..

Also, I'm kinda sketchy about buying an Asus motherboard...I've heard of some bad experiences with them..

Lastly, what is the difference between the AMD 955 and the 965? The specs are almost identical..save (of course) for the difference in price..

Thanks!

Edit : When looking at other people's builds I've noticed they always include professional edition, rather than just the home edition..Is there any performance reason why I should spend the extra 20 bucks?


Asus motherboards are great.
and ALL companies are gonna have shipments where there are some bad and some good, just check the review on newegg.

Clock Speeds. AMD just slightly overclocks the 965 by .2ghz
something you can do yourself, and save fifteen bucks.

LePoisson said:
Is there a major difference between Windows 7 Home Edition and the Professional Edition (64 bit of course)...

Also, what about this combo? Same processor, slightly cheaper though..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...

I'm just not quite sure on how to read in to the quality of the parts when it comes to Mobos..


Use This chart to help you out. about windows.


That Motherboard would be a downgrade the one i chose has XFire meaning later on down the line when you games start getting too intense to run with one 6950 you can throw another one in there and see better results.
This Guide should help when choosing parts just find the AMD Section on motherboards and that should help you out.

The only reason you need 64 bit Professional is for RAM over 16gb

for the case consider these options:

haf 922 bigger than you need will fit 6950 crossfire: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

cm 690ii: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

tempest evo nzxt: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

don't spend over 100 on the case for your budget range it just isn't worth it.

get the cooler from amazon another fan and cheaper:

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-RR-B10-212P-G1-Univ...

joelmartinez said:
The only reason you need 64 bit Professional is for RAM over 16gb

for the case consider these options:

haf 922 bigger than you need will fit 6950 crossfire: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

cm 690ii: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

tempest evo nzxt: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

don't spend over 100 on the case for your budget range it just isn't worth it.

get the cooler from amazon another fan and cheaper:

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-RR-B10-212P-G1-Univ...



Thanks for replying, but I like the look of the 932 more than anything, and I'd go with the 922, but I detest the boring inside.. since I plan on upgrading over the years...I believe this is a solid case that will lost both physically and aesthetically...

The heatsink is only 3 dollars cheaper for the same heatsink the other poster suggested (which I took). Not really worth paying extra shipping to order from Amazon.

Edit : Changed a typo.
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