[HELP] First time builder

[hollaj05]

Approximate Purchase Date: Will be this week or next week at the latest

Budget Range: $2400 at the most

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming

Parts Not Required:Mouse

Preferred Website(s) for Parts:Either newegg.com or tigerdirect.com
Country: USA

Parts Preferences: Intel full tower at least 24" monitor maybe bigger if budget allows

Overclocking:Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Yes

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 at the least

Additional Comments:Like the window due to building a decent machine would like to show it off.

Dear community,
I'm looking for a little help; granted, I've done small upgrades during my time with computers; however, I've never completely built one from scratch. With that in mind I was wondering if I could get some advice/comments from the community if either I'm paying more than I should or if I'm using a bad component. This is a gaming rig along with a partial work station for my computer science degree.

Two questions because I'm a little fuzzy on it: Is my PSU going to be able to handle the workload I'll be putting on it? Are SATA/SATA II compatible, because I'm not entirely sure, but know that I would like to have my bios operating system and a few of the games that I play on the SSD, and save the 1TB for other none speed related items? I don't plan to overclock; which is why I went with the 2500, instead of the 2500k

Final question: Would I need to get extra cables for the HDD, SDD, or my DVDRW rom?

Specs:

Case: Cooler Masters HAF X ATX Full Tower http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6269869&sku=C283-2080

CPU: i5 2500 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7073162&sku=I69-2500

Mobo: ASUS Sabertooth 990FX http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=618836&sku=A455-3019

RAM: Cosair vengence 4x4gig sticks http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=40739&sku=C13-5720

Video card: nVidea GTX 560 Ti x 2 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=458650&sku=M452-0566

PSU: Cooler Master Silent Pro M 700W http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4434988&sku=C283-1201

CPU Cooling: Cosair CWCH60 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7335485&sku=C13-2527

HDD:Seagate Barracuda 1TB http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=744346&sku=TSD-1000AS7

SSD: OCZ 120GB Vertex Plus http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1068616&sku=O261-6401

Moniter: 24" widescreen LCD http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1506342&sku=H94-2403

Total cost: $2124.80

Note: didn't include the new router, PCI NIC, 2 fans, or the speakers in this.

 

[tlmck]

I would check with Newegg and Amazon on parts prices. if you happen to live near a Microcenter, they have the best processor prices. You have to buy them in the store though. http://www.microcenter.com Locations in the drop down at the top.

First of all, you will need an Intel socket 1155 motherboard. the one you selected is an AMD board. this is a very good one. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131790

Second, even though the Coolermaster PSU is Bronze certified, it is not very good. For those two cards you really need a 750 watt from a reputable name like Corsair, Antec, Seasonic, XFX, or Silverstone. XFX has some really good deals right now. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=Property&N=100009250&IsNodeId=1&Description=power%20supply%20750w&Manufactory=1697%2C2031%2C1516%2C1669%2C1459&PropertyCodeValue=1314%3A58423%2C4097%3A43844%2C4097%3A43845&bop=And&CompareItemList=58|17-371-049^17-371-049-TS%2C17-139-021^17-139-021-TS%2C17-207-016^17-207-016-TS%2C17-151-107^17-151-107-TS%2C17-139-010^17-139-010-TS

For me, water cooling is more trouble than it is worth. It does work, and it looks cool with clear hoses and colored liquid, but a good air cooler like this one will serve you just as well. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065 It may have an issue with that tall ram.

8gb ram is plenty and this is very good stuff. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

Other than that you should be fine.

 

[hollaj05]

Thanks for the reply I switched to a SLi intel motherboard http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=353599&sku=G452-0144 I wasn't sure on the water cooling, but the price for it was right; however, I might change from the water cooler too a CPU aftermarket fan I picked up a modular xfx 750W PSU and dropped down too 8 gigs of ram. My only other question if you can answer it is do I boot the PC with just the SSD until I get the bios and OS on it?

 

[jsc]

No. First, the BIOS lives in the motherboard. Once you install the OS, it will live on the SSD.

With a new machine, normally you need to boot from the optical drive to install the OS.

For first-time builders, I recommend looking at these threads:

Build it yourself:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/274745-13-step-step-guide-building

And although this primarily a troubleshooting thread, the first part contains a checklist that will catch most noob mistakes:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-read-posting-boot-problems

 

[hollaj05]

Thanks much for the links the building it isn't so bad it's the start up that makes me a little leery still.

 

[tlmck]

Also, when you install the OS on the SSD, leave the HDD unplugged. After everything is up and running, all updates etc., you can then plug in the HDD and use this guide to set it up. The guy who wrote it has been working with PC's since their invention. http://www.pcworld.com/article/237496/the_best_of_both_worlds_an_ssd_and_a_hdd.html