How Does my Build Look?

[pcm4]

This will be my first build so pardon my ignorance in advance. My questions are: Is everything here compatible? How much am I overkilling it with the PSU and is it worth getting just for potential future builds? Are there any pieces that could be replaced for a better value? Is it worth getting more fans (I am not planning on crossfiring or overclocking)? Is the stock heatsink sufficient if I use thermal compound? I'd like to keep this at about $1200 (right now with shipping its a little over $1100) so keep that in mind if you recommend any changes. Thanks!

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808&cm_re=amd_phenom_X4_955-_-19-103-808-_-Product

Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102909&cm_re=radeon_6870-_-14-102-909-_-Product

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198&cm_re=ASRock_870_EXTREME3-_-13-157-198-_-Product

Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231402&cm_re=DDR3_1333_8gb-_-20-231-402-_-Product

Monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236117&Tpk=N82E16824236117

Power Supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817116011&Tpk=NZXT%20HALE90-750M

Speakers: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121006

Sound Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132020

Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136795&Tpk=N82E16822136795

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

 

[Proximon]

Let me help you out a bit:

Your build

■COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
■Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
■ASUS VH238H Black 23" Full HD HDMI LED Backlight LCD Monitor w/Speakers
■ASRock 870 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
■SAPPHIRE 100314SR Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
■ASUS XONAR_DG 5.1 Channels PCI Interface Xonar DG Sound Card
■NZXT HALE90-750-M 750W ATX 12V v2.2, EPS 12V v2.91 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
■Logitech X-540 70 watts 5.1 Speakers
■G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7D-8GBRH
■AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX
TOTAL: $1,113.90

That seems like a poor buy right off, because you should be able to get more for $1200.

The PSU, while a nice one, is overkill. Generally I'll recommend a 650W if you want a lot of expandability.
The sound card is not needed, and if you are going to get one it needs to be stronger. That one isn't going to be much better than onboard, really.

The stock heatsink is sufficient and it comes with thermal material. Do not add your own.

No keyboard? Mouse? Optical drive? Operating system?

 

[gamerkila57]

if your not crossfiring or overclocking i'd recommend

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138283
&
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320

 

[pcm4]

Just an fyi optical drive, mouse, keyboard and OS are already taken care of.

 

[pcm4]

Let me help you out a bit:

Your build

■COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
■Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
■ASUS VH238H Black 23" Full HD HDMI LED Backlight LCD Monitor w/Speakers
■ASRock 870 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
■SAPPHIRE 100314SR Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
■ASUS XONAR_DG 5.1 Channels PCI Interface Xonar DG Sound Card
■NZXT HALE90-750-M 750W ATX 12V v2.2, EPS 12V v2.91 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
■Logitech X-540 70 watts 5.1 Speakers
■G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7D-8GBRH
■AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX
TOTAL: $1,113.90

That seems like a poor buy right off, because you should be able to get more for $1200.

The PSU, while a nice one, is overkill. Generally I'll recommend a 650W if you want a lot of expandability.
The sound card is not needed, and if you are going to get one it needs to be stronger. That one isn't going to be much better than onboard, really.

The stock heatsink is sufficient and it comes with thermal material. Do not add your own.

No keyboard? Mouse? Optical drive? Operating system?

Yeah I forgot to mention that the mouse, optical drive and OS are already taken care of. Any recommendations for the 650W PSU? As for the sound card I'm not getting expensive speakers so I figured if I got one it might as well be cheap. I know opinions are varied on them so I may dump it and stick with onboard. You say I'm not getting much for the price, but outside of ditching the sound card and getting a cheaper PSU it isn't clear to me how I can be getting much more as both of those aren't going to save THAT much money.

 

[Proximon]

First, become an e-blast subscriber if not so that you can take advantage of these promo codes:
http://promotions.newegg.com/NEemail/latest/index-landing.aspx?cm_sp=ShoppingGuide122710_email-_-ShoppingGuide122710-_-http%3a%2f%2fpromotions.newegg.com%2fhomepage%2fblackNov10%2fbnr_homeLinkList_email.png

From that list get these parts, but be sure to write down those promo codes!

Rosewill Blackbone case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147023

XFX 650W PSU (Seasonic built)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207002&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL031511&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL031511-_-EMC-031511-Latest-_-PowerSupplies-_-17207002-L012D

WD RE4 500Gb drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136697&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL031511&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL031511-_-EMC-031511-Latest-_-InternalHardDrives-_-22136697-L015B
That's an enterprise level drive for a desktop level price... awesome.

Then this G.skill kit:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

That all comes to 260 with codes, so you have saved $100 so far.

Then add
■Acer V243HAJbd Black 24" 2ms(GTG) Widescreen LCD Monitor
■SAPPHIRE 100312-1GSR Radeon HD 6950 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
■Logitech X-540 70 watts 5.1 Speakers
■AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX
■ASUS M4A87TD EVO AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
TOTAL: $770.95

I think you are way ahead at this point.

 

[pcm4]

if your not crossfiring or overclocking i'd recommend

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138283
&
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320

If I choose to ditch the sound card is the onboard audio on that mobo sufficient? I'm not really clear on what to think with regards to sounds cards/onboard audio.

As for that HD it's the same price as the one I had (the promo wasn't being offered when I originally specced this out and since I was getting mobo that could handle 6.0 I figured I'd just get it. Thanks for the input though.

 

[pcm4]

First, become an e-blast subscriber if not so that you can take advantage of these promo codes:
http://promotions.newegg.com/NEemail/latest/index-landing.aspx?cm_sp=ShoppingGuide122710_email-_-ShoppingGuide122710-_-http%3a%2f%2fpromotions.newegg.com%2fhomepage%2fblackNov10%2fbnr_homeLinkList_email.png

From that list get these parts, but be sure to write down those promo codes!

Rosewill Blackbone case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147023

XFX 650W PSU (Seasonic built)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207002&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL031511&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL031511-_-EMC-031511-Latest-_-PowerSupplies-_-17207002-L012D

WD RE4 500Gb drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136697&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL031511&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL031511-_-EMC-031511-Latest-_-InternalHardDrives-_-22136697-L015B
That's an enterprise level drive for a desktop level price... awesome.

Then this G.skill kit:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

That all comes to 260 with codes, so you have saved $100 so far.

Then add
■Acer V243HAJbd Black 24" 2ms(GTG) Widescreen LCD Monitor
■SAPPHIRE 100312-1GSR Radeon HD 6950 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
■Logitech X-540 70 watts 5.1 Speakers
■AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX
■ASUS M4A87TD EVO AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
TOTAL: $770.95

I think you are way ahead at this point.

Wow that's great. Thanks for bearing with me.

 

[nd_hunter]

Is your mind set on an AMD build? I'm building a Sandy Bridge rig this weekend based on these parts that will be here tomorrow or Friday.

Mobo: ASUS P8P67 LE
CPU: Intel Core i5-2500k
Cooler: CM Hyper 212+
GPU: MSI HD 6950 2GB
RAM: Corsair XMS 2x4GB DDR3 1600 (CMX8GXM2A1600C9)
Case: HAF 912
Fan: CM Megaflow 200mm (Red)
PSU: XFX 650W Black Edition
HDD: Samsung 1TB Spinpoint F3
Optical: Lite-On LightScribe 24x SATA DVD+/-RW
Keyboard: Logitech G110
Mouse: Logitech MX518

My total for this was $1115.74 before rebates ($55) and everything but the motherboard shipped for free. Take out the keyboard, mouse and optical drive ($120 savings) and add in this ASUS LCD monitor (1080p, 2ms response, 23.6") and your total is $1121 after rebates. Knock the 2GB HD 6950 down to this Sapphire HD 6850 for roughly $80 more in savings after rebate and your total is down to ~$1040.

Hope this helps. If you are intersted, I will edit the list with links.

 

[pcm4]

Best answer selected by pcm4.