Hey everyone, I'm fairly new to building computers and such. I'm more a programmer than hardware person, but I do know most of the necessary stuff. I've got a few questions about motherboard sockets and stuff, but I'll just start with the template...
Approximate Purchase Date: By the end of May 2012
Budget Range: Between $1700 to $2000, the lower the better but I'm aiming for about $1800.
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Coding, other casual use. (I still want a performance computer, overkill or not
)
Parts Not Required: I already have a keyboard, but other than that everything else new.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg or microcenter preferably
Parts Preferences: Intel Ivy Bridge CPU 3770 (maybe the K version?), AMD Radeon HD 7950 (maybe lower)
Overclocking: No, and if so incredibly minimal
SLI or Crossfire: Nope.
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080
Alright, so let me start out with what I have so far, and some of my questions.
Motherboard: Question! I believe the Ivy Bridge processors released today are only using LGA1155 motherboards? Should I bother getting the LGA2011 motherboards and waiting for newer processors? I've been reading that it's overkill and the only processors using that are going to be Sandy/Ivy Bridge E processors.
Processor: I'm aiming for the Ivy Bridge 3770. Is it worth the extra money to get the 3770K? I'm not sure what advantage I'd get with it being fully unlocked, since I don't intend to overclock. I'm a newb at this I suppose haha
GPU: I was looking at the AMD Radeon HD 7950. I know it's probably a bit much though. Should I instead go for the 7870? I currently have a 5750, and it works pretty damn well. It can't run Crysis 2 maxed out with 60fps though
Heatsink: So, I was planning on using the stock heatsink. I'm sure that made many of you cringe, though. How important is it that I get a non-stock heatsink if I don't do any overclocking? I hear the i7's are notoriously hot in comparison to other processors (maybe that's not true idk). With a 22nm architecture though, I figured it'd have slightly less heat for the same performance. Should I get a different heatsink? The only component I'm afraid of installing is a heatsink, because if I do it incorrectly, there goes my processor a few months later! If you think so, please suggest one.
Hard Drive: Should I go for WD Caviar Black? I want one terabyte, since that'll be sufficient and Hard Drive prices still aren't back to friendly. I don't particularly want a SSD boot drive, unless you have some ridiculous raving reviews of em !
Power Supply: I'm looking at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139025 Is that 800 Watts going to be enough? I would think so, since I have a 650W Corsair and it works wonderfully. My only hesitation is that it's just 80 PLUS and not like 80 PLUS gold or any others. Is that a factor? If you can recommend a better power supply, that would be fantastic.
RAM: So I was hoping for quad channel RAM, but I've recently realized that the only processor/mobo's that support that are the Sandy Bridge-E and the Ivy Bridge-E that are coming out later. Apparently the LGA1155 motherboards and current Ivy Bridges only support Dual Channel DDR3. That should be enough though. Will http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231429 that work in a LGA1155 motherboard? Is that reputable RAM?
that's about it for now (my fingers are tired..)
Thanks in advance for any advice. It is greatly appreciated!
Approximate Purchase Date: By the end of May 2012
Budget Range: Between $1700 to $2000, the lower the better but I'm aiming for about $1800.
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Coding, other casual use. (I still want a performance computer, overkill or not
)Parts Not Required: I already have a keyboard, but other than that everything else new.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg or microcenter preferably
Parts Preferences: Intel Ivy Bridge CPU 3770 (maybe the K version?), AMD Radeon HD 7950 (maybe lower)
Overclocking: No, and if so incredibly minimal
SLI or Crossfire: Nope.
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080
Alright, so let me start out with what I have so far, and some of my questions.
Motherboard: Question! I believe the Ivy Bridge processors released today are only using LGA1155 motherboards? Should I bother getting the LGA2011 motherboards and waiting for newer processors? I've been reading that it's overkill and the only processors using that are going to be Sandy/Ivy Bridge E processors.
Processor: I'm aiming for the Ivy Bridge 3770. Is it worth the extra money to get the 3770K? I'm not sure what advantage I'd get with it being fully unlocked, since I don't intend to overclock. I'm a newb at this I suppose haha
GPU: I was looking at the AMD Radeon HD 7950. I know it's probably a bit much though. Should I instead go for the 7870? I currently have a 5750, and it works pretty damn well. It can't run Crysis 2 maxed out with 60fps though
Heatsink: So, I was planning on using the stock heatsink. I'm sure that made many of you cringe, though. How important is it that I get a non-stock heatsink if I don't do any overclocking? I hear the i7's are notoriously hot in comparison to other processors (maybe that's not true idk). With a 22nm architecture though, I figured it'd have slightly less heat for the same performance. Should I get a different heatsink? The only component I'm afraid of installing is a heatsink, because if I do it incorrectly, there goes my processor a few months later! If you think so, please suggest one.
Hard Drive: Should I go for WD Caviar Black? I want one terabyte, since that'll be sufficient and Hard Drive prices still aren't back to friendly. I don't particularly want a SSD boot drive, unless you have some ridiculous raving reviews of em !
Power Supply: I'm looking at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139025 Is that 800 Watts going to be enough? I would think so, since I have a 650W Corsair and it works wonderfully. My only hesitation is that it's just 80 PLUS and not like 80 PLUS gold or any others. Is that a factor? If you can recommend a better power supply, that would be fantastic.
RAM: So I was hoping for quad channel RAM, but I've recently realized that the only processor/mobo's that support that are the Sandy Bridge-E and the Ivy Bridge-E that are coming out later. Apparently the LGA1155 motherboards and current Ivy Bridges only support Dual Channel DDR3. That should be enough though. Will http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231429 that work in a LGA1155 motherboard? Is that reputable RAM?
that's about it for now (my fingers are tired..)
Thanks in advance for any advice. It is greatly appreciated!
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