First Time Build Help

[anonymousWVUguy]

I am trying to find the parts that I would need to build a decent gaming computer at as low of a price as possible. I really want to keep it under $500, so anything unnecessary for running a game needs to be kept simple. My main concern right now is making sure that my build is all compatible. Any and all suggestions and comments are welcome.

p.s. I am mainly planning on playing RTS games, if that makes a difference. Starcraft 2 for example.

 

[anonymousWVUguy]

This is my possible build so far.

1. ASUS 24X DVD Burner CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM

2. Xigmatek ASGARD II B/S CPC-T45UD-U01 Black / Silver 0.8 mm SECC / Aluminum and Aluminum Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

3. Seagate Barracuda ST3500413AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

4. EVGA 01G-P3-1352-KR GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

5. Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

6. Rendition by Crucial 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model RM51264BA1339

7. ASRock H61M-VS LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

8. Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz 2 x 256KB L2 Cache 3MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I32100

 

[geofelt]

That list looks very good to me.

I like the 2100 for the build.

For help on pricing alternatives, include a link for the parts. It will get you more responses from those too lazy(me included) to look them up.

 

[anonymousWVUguy]

This is my possible build so far.

1. Asus 24X DVD Burner CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

2. Xigmatek ASGARD II B/B CPC-T45UC-U01 Black / Black 0.8 mm SECC / Aluminum and Aluminum Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815004

3. Seagate Barracuda ST3500413AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148701

4. EVGA 01G-P3-1352-KR GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130679

5. Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033

6. Rendition by Crucial 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model RM51264BA1339
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148366

7. ASRock H61M-VS LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard OR Foxconn H61MX LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157241&Tpk=ASROCK%20H61M-VS%20LGA%201155 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186213

8. Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz 2 x 256KB L2 Cache 3MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I32100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078

 

[geofelt]

Well done. I find no fault or better options.

Are you planning on windows 7 64 bit? you should. If you are a student with a .edu e-mail, you can get it for about $30.

 

[walterm]

The Asgard II case closes air flow to the Hard Drives. I belive you would be better off with a Samsung F3 1TB Drive, I'd expect it to run cooler and faster despite rpm difference.
The Rosewill Blackbone is internally the same case chassis with minor changes (and mounts an unobstructed front fan).
I have the Asgard II and "fixed" it by cutting a hole in the front and covering it with a "screen/filter". I used a dremel but genuine Wiss Aviation Snips work better. Any brand, just no cheap imitations. Red or Green work best, right handed I like the Red. These curl material away from you.
If you have a 120mm fan the hardware kit includes long mounting screws. I junked the "toolless" expansion slot holder for thumb screws.
Anyway, the cooler hard drive or the Blackbone case are recommended if not both.
Be careful of the case wires in either.
The cost of the fan screen and fan are normally more than buying the other.

 

[anonymousWVUguy]

Thanks. Yeah, I was going to get Windows 7 64 bit. $30 sounds good to me. There are two different motherboards on my list, though, an ASRock and a Foxconn. Any help picking one would be good. There isn't any major difference as far as I can tell, but I'm very new to this.

 

[walterm]

I've had good luck with Asrock, and have heard good things about their support.

 

[anonymousWVUguy]

The Asgard II case closes air flow to the Hard Drives. I belive you would be better off with a Samsung F3 1TB Drive, I'd expect it to run cooler and faster despite rpm difference.
The Rosewill Blackbone is internally the same case chassis with minor changes (and mounts an unobstructed front fan).
I have the Asgard II and "fixed" it by cutting a hole in the front and covering it with a "screen/filter". I used a dremel but genuine Wiss Aviation Snips work better. Any brand, just no cheap imitations. Red or Green work best, right handed I like the Red. These curl material away from you.
If you have a 120mm fan the hardware kit includes long mounting screws. I junked the "toolless" expansion slot holder for thumb screws.
Anyway, the cooler hard drive or the Blackbone case are recommended if not both.
Be careful of the case wires in either.
The cost of the fan screen and fan are normally more than buying the other.

Thanks. I think that I'll go with the Rosewill Blackbone case.

 

[anonymousWVUguy]

I've had good luck with Asrock, and have heard good things about their support.

Thanks. I was just making sure that there wasn't any important differences between the two. I think that the Foxconn has two more USB ports while the ASRock costs a little more (just $5).