First time Build

[jyzepp]

I'm looking for a little advise on a PC build. I'll be using it for
some gaming. WoW, Witcher2, CiV and so on. Also photo and video
editing. I plan on using Lightroom3 and either Avid Studio or Vegas.
Something of that nature. So basically an editing/gaming system for
cheap. I'm trying not to break the bank on this build, I'll also be
purchasing a Canon T2i in the near future. Please keep in mind this
is my first go at building a PC. I don't know Cuda's from Kudos. But
I'm tired of 'off the shelf' HP's that can't do anything. So here is
what I've purchased so far.

IN WIN BUC Black SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ATX 12V, PSII Size,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108395&Tpk=IN%20WIN%20BUC%20Black%20SECC%20Steel%20ATX%20Mid%20Tower

Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074

Heres what I'm planning on getting.

GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI
SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128502

Rosewill HIVE Series HIVE-750 750W Continuous @40°C,
80 PLUS BRONZE Certified, Modular Design, Single +12V rail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182133

LG DVD Burner 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 24X
DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X
CD-ROM Black SATA Model GH24NS70 - OEM
(I will Upgrade or add a blue ray burner at some point)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136236

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe
Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible
Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3
SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

EVGA 01G-P3-1460-KR GeForce GTX 560 (Fermi) 1GB
256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI
Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130660

OR
HIS IceQ X Turbo H685QNT1GD Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161363

OR
EVGA 01G-P3-1372-TR GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) Superclocked 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130571

Please tell me if this looks okay or if I'm really off. I'm at budgets end with what I have listed...But an extra twenty bucks wouldn't kill me. And help with a graphics card would be much appreciated. Any help is much appreciated.
Great site, I wish I had found it sooner!
And don't forget, I'm a noob in this arena. Thanks in advance.

 

[AbdullahG]

PSU (your current one isn't really high quality): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703026
GPU: The GTX 560
MoBo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

That's really all there is to be concerned about. Overall, nice build.

 

[dalauder]

Bulldozer launches on Oct. 12th. Wait 1 week for prices to drop before you build. Then come back to this thread or start a new one after prices have changed.

 

[jyzepp]

Bulldozer launches on Oct. 12th. Wait 1 week for prices to drop before you build. Then come back to this thread or start a new one after prices have changed.

Thanks good advice. But that brings up a new question.
Will the FX-6100 be better than the i5-2400 (That I just purchased, should arive tomorrow) for a gaming/editing system. They are priced the same.
I have not looked into Bulldozer at all. Should I think of returning the i5 and consider a whole new build with AMD? Or stick with the Intel route?

 

[dalauder]

Btw, OP do you have a Micro Center nearby? That'll save you a bundle.

 

[dalauder]

It's more about the MSRP price drops that Intel will respond to an AMD launch with than performance. Personally, I'd wait a week to build to see what happens.

Also, I'd cancel that CPU order before it ships and fill this out: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice

At $205 for the best i5-2500K prices I've seen online, I'd have to say it's worth the $15 difference to be able to overclock. That'll add 2 years on your product lifetime.

 

[jyzepp]

Wow that Micro Center is Awesome. I can get to one no problem. Now i'm upset about ordering the i5-2400. It already shipped. Not sure about returning cpu's.
I don't know the first thing about overclocking, but that's not to say i wouldn't give it a go.

 

[flong]

You might take a look at the Corsair TX 650 on Newegg.

Also there is a sale on a bronze rated PSU from Antec for $40 here: http://www.newegg.com/emailpromo/

Memory is also on sale for 2 x 4GB Corsair 1600 DDR 3 RAM for $50. I have your Gskill RAM and it is also a good set.

I agree with the above comment to go with the 2500K, it is the best buy available right now by far. Send back the 2400.

The 6850 is a great GPU. If you are on a budget, it is a very good choice.

You will have to move quickly if you want to take advantage of these Newegg sales.

 

[jyzepp]

Thanks! Aready making a move on the PSU. I wanted to buy a modular because my case is not the best for wire management and I never built a PC before thought it might make things a lot easier. But I'd rather spend that extra PSU money elsewhere now.

 

[dalauder]

That form above I asked you to fill out is so you can post it here and we'll give you the best build for your buck. I'd try to return the i5-2400 since the i5-2500K is the same cheaper at Micro Center. They usually have a Z68 motherboard bundled with the i5-2500K too.

You'll try overclocking once your computer stops seeming fast or you get curious. It's really easy with unlocked CPUs.

I'd get the G. Skill still instead of the Corsair because they're a good brand and give you a free flashstick...haha.

If you are on a budget, then you really need to fill that form out so we can save you some cash. Get 4GB of RAM and save cash elsewhere to get a GTX 560 Ti or Radeon 6950.

For the HDD, get a Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB. They drop to $50 regularly on Newegg sales and are the fastest HDDs out there.

For the PSU, stick to Antec, Corsair, Seasonic, or XFX. That $40 Antec 650W is a GREAT buy and unless you can get a snazzier one for $50 from one of these high-end brands, you should buy it before it sells out.

 

[dalauder]

Thanks! Aready making a move on the PSU. I wanted to buy a modular because my case is not the best for wire management and I never built a PC before thought it might make things a lot easier. But I'd rather spend that extra PSU money elsewhere now.

We can help you a lot more if you fill this out: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice

 

[jyzepp]

Doing it now..Sry got distracted by Micro Center website.

 

[jyzepp]

Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next few weeks

Budget Range: $800-$900

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Photo editing, Video editing, Gaming, Web.

Parts Not Required: Tower, PSU

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: New Egg, Amazon

Country of Origin: America

Parts Preferences: None

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe Crossfire

Monitor Resolution:1280x1024

Additional Comments: I'd like it to be pretty quiet.

 

[dalauder]

You are lucky you have a Micro Center nearby. They give an $80 discount on motherboards purchased with an i7-2600K. And that's really the CPU you want for photo and video editing.

CPU: $280 i7-2600K (Micro Center)

Mobo: $20 (after $15 rebate) Gigabyte GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 (Micro Center)

RAM: $50 8GB (2x4GB) 1600CL9 DDR3 or faster

HDD: $60 Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB

PSU: $40 Antec EA650

DVD: $19 Asus or anything else

Windows: $100 ($30 if you're a student)

Cooler: $0 Use the stock one until you're ready to overclock. When that happens, get the Hyper 212 Plus or EVO.

TOTAL w/ Graphics: $569

So let's put a GTX 560Ti on top of that for $200 or a 6950 for $220 and you're at under $800 total.

 

[dalauder]

Quiet will depend on your case, whether your GPU is dual fan, and how quiet the CPU cooler is (Hyper 212+ is very quiet).

 

[jyzepp]

Wow That's awesome! Thank you!

 

[jyzepp]

Do you still think I should wait a week and re-evalute prices?

 

[farsuka]

That looks like a great deal, and you can always go with linux to save another 100/30 bux

 

[dalauder]

Ehhh...I dunno. I don't really see prices getting much cheaper than Micro Center or Bulldozer outperforming high end Sandy Bridge. But you know what? Micro Center has a 30-day price guarantee. So go ahead and pull the trigger if you're happy with the above build.

 

[dalauder]

Do you already have a graphics card? Even if it's something kinda lousy, I'd keep using that until Black Friday and pick up a GTX 560Ti then for $150.

 

[dalauder]

That looks like a great deal, and you can always go with linux to save another 100/30 bux

OP, If you've never tried Linux--Linux Mint is a nice intro to Linux.

 

[jyzepp]

Do you already have a graphics card? Even if it's something kinda lousy, I'd keep using that until Black Friday and pick up a GTX 560Ti then for $150.

No, I sure don't. I have Hp's all over the house.

 

[jyzepp]

OP, If you've never tried Linux--Linux Mint is a nice intro to Linux.

No interest

 

[jyzepp]

Best answer selected by jyzepp.

 

[flong]

Hello, welcome,

The Antec 650 is on sale at Newegg here: http://www.newegg.com/emailpromo/
Also 1600 RAM is on sale at the same link

You might want to look at the AsRock Extreme 4 Gen 3 motherboard as it supports the next generation PCI-E3 and Ivy Bridge CPU improvements.

I agree with the 6950 or 560 Ti recommendation for your GPU.

You'll need a better monitor with these graphics cards. The HP ZR24W or Dell U2412 are two monitors with accurate color for your video and still fast enough for gaming (they are IPS monitors). The ZR24W is probably better than the Dell but both frequently go on sale. These monitors are over $300 on sale ($400 not on sale) but for true video quality they are the starting point.

Asus makes several cheaper monitors that are more within your budget but the color accuracy will not be nearly as good as the IPS monitors. They are $150 - $200.