Building Gaming PC --- SUPER NOOB.

zxlady

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Mar 19, 2012
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Hi. I'm super super super new to building computers. I've always wanted to, buuuuuut never have. I'm not looking to buy something MEGA expensive. I've been looking at some things from Newegg, but I'm not actually all that sure WHAT I should be looking for. I'm mostly going to be using this for gaming. SO! Without further adieu:

Approximate Purchase Date:
Don't have a date. I'm just looking right now.

Budget Range:
Less than I'd like 600s - 500s. Maybe less. (Is that even possible?)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Mostly gaming. I'll be using it for other things as well though such as media.

Parts Not Required: Monitor. (Lol.)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Doesn't really matter. I've only looked on Newegg so far.

Country:
USA -- WA.

Parts Preferences:
I don't really have a preference.

Overclocking:
Maybe -- Never done it before.

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe -- Never done it before.

Monitor Resolution: HP 2009m 1600 x 900.

Additional Comments: So far I've looked at only these things. Also, I'm so so sorry if this isn't in the right place.

Case - Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case/ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153 OR
COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case/ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

CPU - AMD Phenom II X4 960T Zosma 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor 3.1GHz Turbo Boost/ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103995

Motherboard
- ASRock 970 EXTREME3 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard/ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157280

RAM - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314


Thanks for any help given!
 

Ohmybad

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Nov 16, 2011
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so i threw this list together real quick, i just did a build around this price basically the same build.

CPU: i3-2100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078
Mobo: MSI H67 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130616
ram: Gskill 8gb http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314
PSU: Corsair 500w http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
GPU: Sapphire 6850 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908
HDD: 500gb WD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769
Case: Rosewill challenger http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153

total is 597 w/o OS, Didn't mention that (assuming you need windows +100$)
 

zxlady

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Mar 19, 2012
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Hey, Ohmybad. You got the same case I'm interested in; is it as small as some of the feedback says? Is that a problem with you?
Also is the i3-2100 CPU better than the AMD Phenom II I posted?

Thank you!
 

crisan_tiberiu

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the Phenom II or the i3 will please you in every aspect. Its a mather of i like AMD or i like Intel more. The i3 has a batter /core performance then every AMD but only has 2 physical cores and the AMD has 4. Personaly? i would go with the Phenom II.
 

Phyrexiancure

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The Phenom x4 960t is what you want to go with if you choose amd. It is more energy effecient than normal phenoms and overclocks better. The thing that brings it over the top is that you have a very high change of atleast unlocking one of its disable cores. It is originally a 6 core processor but disabled to 4. According to newegg reviews about 66% of them unlocked it to a full fledged 6 core processor. That leaves a very good change of at least unlocking 1 core. But this also adds more responsibilty to your self which the i3 doesn't require since it doesn't overclock well. You need to cool the cpu and the motherboard properly if you plan on doing high frequency overclocks.
 

zxlady

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Mar 19, 2012
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Any suggestions are welcome! :) Also, thanks for explaining that last part on the i3 vs Phenom II. Would you personally choose the 960T as well?
Whats the difference between the 960T and the 965?
 

Phyrexiancure

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I would choose the 960t over the i3 and the 965. The 965 is easier to overclock for unexperienced overclockers but only has 4 cores and its hotter. the 960t is a disabled 6 core processor that overclockes better and is cooler if you only use 4 cores or about the same with 5 cores on.
 

zxlady

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Mar 19, 2012
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Thank you! Any suggestions for a motherboard?
 

beetlejuicegr

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Jan 10, 2011
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Can't you put some more bucks in the budget, like 70-80 more and buy an i5-2400? it is way better than that phenom, its quadcore and you will have more years of guaranteed playability of games than the phenom.
Also, you are on tight budget, meaning that in 1-2 years you really don't want to change the whole setup again but just add a better cpu or better gpu. The sandybridge motherboards guarantee that better than the am3 . With am3 motherboards (and amd) you cant get past bulldozer or the next gen, which are not as good as current i5-2400. The sandybridge mobo (if you selept p67 or z68 chipset) can install even better cpus in 2-3 years meaning your pc will be uptodate with just a small cpu upgrade.
 

zxlady

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Mar 19, 2012
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Could you provide links to those motherboards, please? Sorry, not very savvy on this. I'm still new. Haha. :c
 

Phyrexiancure

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I think if he's going to make that leap he should buy a 2500k since the 2400 is crippled at overclocking. The price difference between a 960t and a 2400 aren't worth is in my opinion since you can only overclock it to about 3.6ghz
 

zxlady

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Mar 19, 2012
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I see, so I think I'll stick with the 960t then! How about RAM, PSU, GPU and HDD? Are the ones Ohmybad suggested good?
 

Phyrexiancure

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I see you already have a monitor. Do you have a computer your replacing? You could save more money by using its dvd drive and hard drive. Also there is no listed dvd drive. Make sure to get one also, which one doesn't really matter since they pretty much all the same.
 

zxlady

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Mar 19, 2012
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I have the monitor that I got for my PS3. The only computer I have is an old HP that's collecting dust in my closet. Haha.
 

zxlady

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An HP Pavilion a1020n. I've googled it and it seems like it's from 2005.
 

zxlady

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Hey! Thanks! That's awesome! You've been a really big help. :D