First Time PC Build General Advice & Suggestions

Popeonarope1000 · Jun 29, 2012

OK so I am building my first PC this summer and I've been saving for a while and have a decent budget. I am going to use the PC for everyday use but mainly for gaming. This is my starting point but I am planning to SLI another 670 when the first one needs a bit of help. Here's my plan:

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=15538434

I am building from scratch (I have nothing) and I have a few questions:

1. Are all of these parts compatible and are they the best choices I could have made (any advice here is greatly appreciated)?

2. What sort of peripherals (monitor, keyboard, mouse) will go well with this gaming build (really have no idea what I'm doing here)?

3. What case is recommended for this build? Again, any advice/suggestions here are greatly appreciated.

4. Is overclocking the CPU a good idea for a first time builder like me with very little knowledge in this area? If so, roughly how much?

5. Any further suggestions/advice/changes you would recommend?

Thanks for the help!

bigcyco1 · Jun 29, 2012

Your build looks solid to me only thing i suggest is you change your ram you need low profile so it doesn't conflict with your aftermarket cooler any of these will do take your pick RAM:G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBSR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416#top

RAM:CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9B
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233196#top

RAM:CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186#top
RAM:Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model 996776
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226099#top

RAM:Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model BLS2KIT4G3D1339DS1S00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148543#top

bigcyco1 · Jun 29, 2012

Cases take your pick

CPU:Rosewill THOR V2 Gaming ATX Full Tower Computer Case, support up to E-ATX / XL-ATX, come with Four Fans - 1 x Front Red LED 230mm Fan, 1 x Top 230mm Fan, 1 x Side 230mm Fan, 1 x Rear 140mm Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147053#top

Case:Antec Twelve Hundred V3 Black Steel ATX Full Tower Unbeatable Gaming Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129100#top

GPU:Thermaltake Chaser MK-I (VN300M1W2N) Black SECC ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133191#top

Case:COOLER MASTER HAF 932 Advanced RC-932-KKN5-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0, Black Interior and Four Fans-1x 230mm front RED LED fan, 1x 140mm rear fan, 1x 230mm top fan, and 1x 230mm side fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160#top

Case:COOLER MASTER CM Storm Series Trooper (SGC-5000-KKN1) Black Steel / Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119245#top

Case:NZXT SWITCH 810 Matte Black CA-SW810-M1 Steel / Plastic ATX HYBIRD Full Tower Gaming Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146095#top

Case:NZXT Phantom PHAN-001BK Black Steel / Plastic Enthusiast ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146068#top

CPU Cooler:COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 Black Steel/ Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119225#top

Case:Antec DF-85 Black Steel / Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129087#top Case:COOLER MASTER HAF XM RC-922XM-KKN1 Black Mesh, Plastic, Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119257#top
Case:Corsair Carbide Series 400R Graphite grey and black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Gaming Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139008#top

Case:Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with Upgraded USB 3.0
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021#top

Case:COOLER MASTER RC-692-KKN2 CM690 II Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119216#top

Case:NZXT Apollo Black SECC Steel Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146025#top

Case:Antec Eleven Hundred Black Super Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129178#top

Case:COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN3-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0 and Black Interior
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197#top

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

Wolfshadw · Jun 29, 2012

1) All looks good to me.
2) Keyboard and mouse are going to be personal preferences. IMO, if you spend more than $20 on the pair, you've spent too much.
3) Any case that is of solid construction, has enough room for your components and looks nice to you. I do hear this Cooler Master HAF 932 recommended a lot.
4) Again, IMO, I would say no. I'm a veteran builder, but I've never felt the need to OC any system I've had. That extra few percentage points of performance were just never that important to me.
5) Looking at your build, do you really need a 256GB SSD? If not, look at dropping down to 120GB SSD and upping your data drive to 2TB.

-Wolf sends

Popeonarope1000 · Jun 29, 2012

Thanks for the help. I will change my RAM for Low Profile RAM, change my SSD to 128GB and up the HD to 2TB and I really like the look of that Cooler Master HAF 932 case so I think I'll go with that.

One more thing - When it comes to monitors, how do you know if a certain one is good for gaming (what stats should I be looking for)? Roughly how much do you think I should be spending on it? Also, do you think having multiple monitors is a good idea? Thanks again for all the help.

Popeonarope1000 · Jun 29, 2012

Also, what 2TB hard drive would you recommend? There are a lot of models out there and none of them seem to have great reviews...

Popeonarope1000 · Jun 29, 2012

And another thing - Do you need a sound card or any oter sorts of cards (other than a GPU)?

amkronos · Jun 29, 2012

A decent gaming monitor will need a response time of 5ms or lower, you want native 1080p support, and a high contrast Ratio. HD monitors have become dirt cheap so it comes down to mostly what size to you want, and do you want the speakers built in with an HDMI connection?

Difference between HDMI and DVI is that the HDMI has the audio included. So if you have external speakers, headset etc you really don't need or care about spending more for a monitor with HDMI since DVI will give the same video performance.

Popeonarope1000 :

mojorisin23 · Jun 29, 2012

sound card is only really needed for audiophiles... so no. a network card for wireless if you need to go that route.

All in all a good build

evongugg · Jun 29, 2012

With the Coolermaster 932, I had to tape the motherboard backplate with electrical tape to prevent the motherboard shorting against the case. There is a very small clearance between motherboard and case.
It is very easy to do and doing it will keep safe from eventual problems.
I recommend screwing in the PCI and PCI Express cards and removing that cheap plastic retention system.
The PCI plastic retention system breaks easily.
Mount the PSU at the bottom of the case. If the cables don't fit, mount it at the top of the case.
Other than that I love that case. Cable managment is excellent. You can run cables behind the motherboard.
I also like the wheels for moving the computer around.
There is plenty of space for all components and it still fits under a table.

bigcyco1 · Jun 29, 2012

Popeonarope1000 :

Here some good budget monitors take your pick ASUS VW246H Glossy Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 ASCR 20000:1 (1000:1) Built-in Speakers
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236049#top

ASUS VE276Q Black 27" 1920X1080 2ms Full HD HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor w/Display Port & Speakers 300 cd/m2 100,000 :1 (ASCR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236091

:ASUS VH236H Black 23" 2ms Full HD Widescreen LCD Monitor w/ Speakers 300 cd/m2 20000 :1 (ASCR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059

:Monitor: ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 ASCR 20000:1 (1000:1) W/Speakers
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052

bigcyco1 · Jun 29, 2012

Popeonarope1000 :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148910&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-Hard%20Drives-_-Seagate-_-22148910&AID=10440897&PID=3938566&SID=#top

Popeonarope1000 · Jun 30, 2012

OK I think I am about done with planning my build... Here is the most up to date plan:

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=15538434

Are there any other parts I need to consider? Any final suggestions? Thanks again for all the help...

bigcyco1 · Jun 30, 2012

Popeonarope1000 :

Well you do plan on running SLI right later down the road i mean ?If not get a 650Watt PSU if you do plan on running sli then keep the 750Watt either way looks really good bud you did a solid build i don't see anything wrong with it

would get this heat sink if you can afford it http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835106150 it's allot better at keeping your cpu allot cooler since Ivy bridge runs hot when you OC and it matches your build better lol Scores a 9.4 out of a 10 Professional review/benchmarks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMiKqhyjTMI&feature=relmfu
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CGYQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pureoverclock.com%2Farticle975.html&ei=9F3uT6_rDqHy0gH8w5z7Ag&usg=AFQjCNGTp_CqPMVS65hQtxJSmE-7VrT9pQ&sig2=ZFfPHJi_RXJt5ZMEdUwrvA
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=11&ved=0CHAQFjAK&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.techpowerup.com%2Freviews%2FThermaltake%2FFrio%2F&ei=9F3uT6_rDqHy0gH8w5z7Ag&usg=AFQjCNGOK5vNdI-YRK5PwzzrlVYxbmxOTA&sig2=NF5jD8dfhAcc159YBnk7SQ

Popeonarope1000 · Jun 30, 2012

Well, I'd like to keep the option to SLI open as it would be a good way to upgrade later down the line rather than have to buy a new more expensive card so I think I'll stay with the 750W... As for the cooler, do you think it's worth the extra little bit of cash, as I am a little over budget at the moment and have heard great things about the Hyper 212. However, if needed I could splash out a little as the last thing I want is the whole thing to overheat.

bigcyco1 · Jun 30, 2012

Popeonarope1000 :

No you will be o.k. with the Hyper 212 just not a great heat sink a little noisy to imo though allot on this forum make it out to be some great aftermarket cooler and i still don't understand why it's o.k. far from great :lol: anyways the reason i even mentioned anything i seen the cooler i linked on sale for 39.99 i thought i should mention it to you sense it usually sells for 49.99 to 59.99 but you will be fine not getting it and if your already over budget i think it can wait if you feel you need it later you can always upgrade in future and since you want to keep the SLI option open just keep your build as is your good to go whenever your ready .

Popeonarope1000 · Jun 30, 2012

I think for the small increase in price I will upgrade to the Thermaltake although to make the build a little less expensive I'm thinking of changing the Asrock Extreme6 mono for the Extreme4 version. Is this wise? What are the major differences between the two?

bigcyco1 · Jun 30, 2012

The only negative I have to say about Extreme4 is that it slips outside of typical ATX specifications. It’s 3cm thinner than a standard ATX motherboard and as a result may lack secure mounting on the far side since this isn’t a common size, which also means you should be very careful when plugging in the 24-pin ATX motherboard power – as the motherboard may flex. But,other than that it's a solid motherboard it overclocks very well offers just as much features as motherboards that cost more so i would say it's fine as long as your not bothered by the issues i mentioned which i wouldn't be but it's up to you

bigcyco1 · Jun 30, 2012

These are all flawless solid mobos IMO mobo:ASUS P8Z77-V LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131820#top

mobo:GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD5H LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128545#top

mobo:ASRock Z77 Extreme6 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157295&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-Motherboards%20-%20Intel-_-ASRock-_-13157295&AID=10440897&PID=3938566&SID=#top

Popeonarope1000 · Jul 2, 2012

OK I think I'll go with the Extreme6 after all... What size of monitor is best? (Bearing in mind that budget is now an issue)

bigcyco1 · Jul 2, 2012

23" or 24" 1920 x 1080 a response time of 5ms or lower is ideal

bigcyco1 · Jul 2, 2012

A good budget one cost roughly $130 to $160

Popeonarope1000 · Jul 5, 2012

OK Thanks... If this is my current plan, where would be a good place to shave off a bit of cash as it has ended up rather more expensive than I had imagined!

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=15538434

Thanks again!

azeem40 · Jul 5, 2012

Well, you can save $50 instantly if you buy the Extreme4.

Another $45 can be shaved off if you get the TX750 V2.
Another $30 can be shaved off if you get the 1TB version of the Barracuda drive.

bigcyco1 · Jul 5, 2012

downgrade for 2TB get only 1TB of the Seagate Barracuda version drive.Get a different cheaper Case like one of these Case:COOLER MASTER Storm Enforcer SGC-1000-KWN1 Black SECC / ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ATX PS2 / EPS 12V (optional ) Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119240#top

Case:COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN3-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0 and Black Interior
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197#top doing those two things should save you anywhere from 60 to 100 dollars

First Time PC Build General Advice & Suggestions

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