Build Help for a 1st Time Builder!

[jnguyen]

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Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next two weeks!

Budget Range: $400-$650 After Rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (mmo), 1080P Movies on TV, Surfing the web, Programming

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, Speakers, HDD

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.ca, TigerDirect.ca, NCIX.ca

Country: Canada

Parts Preferences: No preference

Overclocking: Not right away, but possibly in the future

SLI or Crossfire: Yes

Additional Comments: Just focusing on a good solid pc with a good CPU, MOBO, PSU. I can just buy a crappy GPU and case now and upgrade this summer when I am done school.
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Hi, I've recently decided to build a pc and was wondering if I have chosen any good components!

I've included AMD and and Intel builds and was wondering which is more 'bang for your buck.' I'm open to any suggestion on new/different parts that I should use instead. As well, I have no idea how to choose a power supply and leave that option completely open to your discretion. Right now I would just want a computer with a solid CPU, MOBO, power supply with a budget graphics card that I can upgrade this summer. I would also like to know if I should buy a nice case now or put everything in a budget case and replace it in the summer.

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Case

$80 ( + 15 MIR) - COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

or

$120 - NZXT CA-PH410-W1 Phantom 410 Crafted Mid Tower Case - ATX, 7x Expansion Slots, 3x External 5.25", 6x Internal 3.5", 1x 140mm Fan, 1x 120mm Fan, White
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1725644&CatId=32

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Intel i5 Build

CPU

$225 - Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

or

$240 - Intel Core i5-2550K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115230

or

Is there any reason why I shouldn’t use an Intel Xeon E3-1230 Sandy Bridge 3.2GHz ($240) (http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115083&Tpk=xeon%20e3%201230) because it benchmarks higher than both i5’s (http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html)

MOTHERBOARD

$100 - GIGABYTE GA-Z68AP-D3 Intel Z68 Motherboard
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1165562&CatId=7212

or

$140 - MSI Z68A-GD55 (G3) Intel Z68 Motherboard
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1125284&CatId=7212

or

Any other motherboard that is recommended that is under ~$140 (but preferably around $110 unless a little money would be considerably better)

CPU with MOBO

$410 - Kingston HyperX 2X4GB Memory GA-P67X-UD3-B3 & Intel i5 2550K Quad Core Processor (Comes with ram)

http://www.ncix.ca/products/index.php?sku=69171&vpn=P67X-UD3-B3%26KHX1600%262550K&manufacture=Bundle%20Deals&promoid=1009

or
$370 - Intel Core i5 2550K Quad Core Processor & Gigabyte P67X-UD3-B3 Motherboard
http://www.ncix.ca/products/index.php?sku=69031&vpn=i5%202550K%26P67X-UD3-B3&manufacture=Bundle%20Deals&promoid=1009

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AMD FX-8120 Zambezi 3.1GHz Build

CPU

$210 - AMD FX-8120 Zambezi 3.1GHz
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103961

$180 (On Sale until 3/7 at ncix.ca)
http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=64405&vpn=FD8120FRGUBOX&manufacture=AMD&promoid=1009

MOTHERBOARD

$120 - ASUS P8Z68-V LX Intel Z68 Motherboard
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1124769&pagenumber=1&RSort=4&csid=ITD&recordsPerPage=5&body=#ReviewStart

or

$100 - ASUS M5A97 AMD 9 Series AM3+ Motherboard
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=779339&RSort=4&csid=ITD&body=#ReviewStart

or

$95 - ASUS M5A97 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131767

or

Any other motherboard that is recommended that is under ~$140 (but preferably around $110 unless a little money would be considerably better)

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If it would be possible to include ram and a low end graphics card (Just enough to play WoW and SWTOR on low/med settings) as well as a power supply that would be great! I plan on eventually running two graphic cards possibly in the summer when i upgrade!

Thanks!
-Joe

 

[g-unit1111]

I've included AMD and and Intel builds and was wondering which is more 'bang for your buck.' I'm open to any suggestion on new/different parts that I should use instead. As well, I have no idea how to choose a power supply and leave that option completely open to your discretion. Right now I would just want a computer with a solid CPU, MOBO, power supply with a budget graphics card that I can upgrade this summer. I would also like to know if I should buy a nice case now or put everything in a budget case and replace it in the summer.

Intel easily - Zambezi will give you nothing but problems and frustrations especially with the BIOS and initial installation problems.

Is there any reason why I shouldn’t use an Intel Xeon E3-1230 Sandy Bridge 3.2GHz ($240) (http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115083&Tpk=xeon%20e3%201230) because it benchmarks higher than both i5’s (http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html)

The Xeon is a server / workstation specific CPU - it's made for workstations and won't handle what a gaming system requires. Only workstation and server specific motherboards will accommodate the Xeon E3 - standard consumer boards won't.

Any other motherboard that is recommended that is under ~$140 (but preferably around $110 unless a little money would be considerably better)

I'd seriously hesitate to recommend that MSI board - for an extra $15 - get this: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128498

Case

$80 ( + 15 MIR) - COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produ [...] 6811119197

or

$120 - NZXT CA-PH410-W1 Phantom 410 Crafted Mid Tower Case - ATX, 7x Expansion Slots, 3x External 5.25", 6x Internal 3.5", 1x 140mm Fan, 1x 120mm Fan, White
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicat [...] 4&CatId=32

Both of those cases are nice but they're quite a bit overkill. Save yourself some money and get the HAF 912:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

Then put that money into getting this GPU: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908

 

[jnguyen]

So if I update my build, it will look like this:

CPU

$225 - Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

(is the i5 2550k not significantly better?)

MOBO

$160 - GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128498

CASE

$80 ( + 15 MIR) - COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

its the same price as the 912 because of the MIR

GPU

$150 - SAPPHIRE 100315L Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908

RAM

I have a few choices here,

$45 - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233144

or

$82 - CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233198

or

$90 - CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233143

Will it be worth it to buy 16gb right away? or upgrade this summer?

PSU

I still have no idea what I'll need as well as what brand I should look for!

Is there anything else I need to add on to list that I'm forgetting?

The total build is about $650 without a PSU. Anything I can trim so I can afford the psu? (I was wondering if I held of on the GPU if I would be able to run WoW and SWTOR on low settings off my MOBO possibly?)

Thanks so much!

 

[jnguyen]

If anyone could give me some feedback ASAP that'd be great! I found some sales on a CPU/MOBO combo for less as well as a MIR for the case which both end soon! Thanks!

 

[g-unit1111]

Will it be worth it to buy 16gb right away? or upgrade this summer?

16GB just isn't needed on a gaming system. 8GB will be plenty and you'll most likely never use all of it. Put that money into upgrading your GPU to a 560TI.

The total build is about $650 without a PSU. Anything I can trim so I can afford the psu? (I was wondering if I held of on the GPU if I would be able to run WoW and SWTOR on low settings off my MOBO possibly?)

You could trim down the case a bit as it's a bit excessive for this build - go with the HAF 912 instead - it's 1/2 the cost of the 922 and you get a $10.00 MIR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

I still have no idea what I'll need as well as what brand I should look for!

Corsair, Antec, Seasonic, and XFX are widely considered the best. I've heard good things about Kingwin and the platform they use but I need to do a bit more research into it. Try this one as it's a good price / performance PSU (plus you get a $20 MIR):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028

 

[azeem40]

[[[[[I can give you proof that antec are not as good as they used to be.

I used to test power supplies for a living and around 5/6 years ago Antec made the decision to save money by moving suppliers for their capacitors. They used to use high quality gold capacitors and their power supplies were made by seasonic.

Since then Antec have used HEC to make their power supplies which is a crap manyfacturer, they have used FSP which is a crap manufacurers and they used some iranian company for a while too.

Although to be fair their newest model is a good unit but its still not top quaity as its not made by seasonic.

When testing power supplies they are rated in Tiers i.e Tier 1 the best teir 4 crap

Antec currently rate at the top of Tier 3 but their newst unit will put them into Tier 2 although until they start using the top quality gold capacitors like they used to they will not get into Tier 1.]]]]]]]]

What someone on another forums said.

 

[jnguyen]

16GB just isn't needed on a gaming system. 8GB will be plenty and you'll most likely never use all of it.

8GB it is!

You could trim down the case a bit as it's a bit excessive for this build - go with the HAF 912 instead - it's 1/2 the cost of the 922 and you get a $10.00 MIR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119233

I actually live in Canada, but found that the HAF 922 is only $65 including a MIR! (which is the same price as the HAF 912 on the canadian newegg site!)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

Corsair, Antec, Seasonic, and XFX are widely considered the best. I've heard good things about Kingwin and the platform they use but I need to do a bit more research into it. Try this one as it's a good price / performance PSU (plus you get a $20 MIR):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139028

I also found an XFX 750w PSU (http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/233768/P1750SNLB9/XFX/) for just under $100. I think I may eventually go with dual GPU's so I'm going to play it safe with the PSU.

Thanks so much for all the help!

 

[g-unit1111]

16GB just isn't needed on a gaming system. 8GB will be plenty and you'll most likely never use all of it.

8GB it is!

You could trim down the case a bit as it's a bit excessive for this build - go with the HAF 912 instead - it's 1/2 the cost of the 922 and you get a $10.00 MIR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119233

I actually live in Canada, but found that the HAF 922 is only $65 including a MIR! (which is the same price as the HAF 912 on the canadian newegg site!)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

Corsair, Antec, Seasonic, and XFX are widely considered the best. I've heard good things about Kingwin and the platform they use but I need to do a bit more research into it. Try this one as it's a good price / performance PSU (plus you get a $20 MIR):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139028

I also found an XFX 750w PSU (http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/233768/P1750SNLB9/XFX/) for just under $100. I think I may eventually go with dual GPU's so I'm going to play it safe with the PSU.

Thanks so much for all the help!

Wow, that's an amazing deal for the 922 - I say go for it.