So I've debated building my own computer forever but fear has always stopped me now after a week of pouring over thousands of forum posts and reading so many web posts trying to catch up and know where I am going.
I am an advanced hobbyist photographer and have been as of late doing all my editing on a laptop and it is killing me so it is time to get a new desktop. I will primarily be using it for photoshop/lightroom but I will also like to do some gaming on it though that is secondary. Most of the gaming I will be doing will likely be racing sims but I do know I will get sucked into more once I have a good computer.
All that out of the way I've worked through putting together a first draft based on what I think I have learned so far.
A few decisions I've made. I'm not looking to overclock more worried about stability. I am not planning to run SLI/Crossfire.
Since I have been working on a laptop for the past 18 months or so I am basically needing to start from scratch. I have nothing that I can reuse but I do have a number of external drives that I will need to connect via USB that I am using for storage (not an optimum situation but that will be my next major project to tackle)
Here is the parts list as I currently have it but I still need feedback and help understanding if I am hurting myself with some decisions.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
CPU: Intel Core i7-3770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($259.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($97.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($95.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Crucial M4 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($209.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower Case ($74.98 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Antec 550W ATX12V Power Supply ($57.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Monitor: Dell U2412M 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($310.55 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($98.98 @ Outlet PC)
Keyboard: Microsoft WTA-00001 Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard w/Laser Mouse ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1555.99
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
So it was my understanding that if I am not going to overclock the I7 that I don't really need the Z77 board and can go with an H77 board is that correct if so does this work. Next I am not sure about the case, since this will be the 1st computer I've built I want something that isn't going to be too hard to work with but is also decent value and will do a decent job of cooling and not be too loud.
So I am looking for any feedback on things that I should consider changing or where I am causing myself issues. I appreciate any help.
Gary
I am an advanced hobbyist photographer and have been as of late doing all my editing on a laptop and it is killing me so it is time to get a new desktop. I will primarily be using it for photoshop/lightroom but I will also like to do some gaming on it though that is secondary. Most of the gaming I will be doing will likely be racing sims but I do know I will get sucked into more once I have a good computer.
All that out of the way I've worked through putting together a first draft based on what I think I have learned so far.
A few decisions I've made. I'm not looking to overclock more worried about stability. I am not planning to run SLI/Crossfire.
Since I have been working on a laptop for the past 18 months or so I am basically needing to start from scratch. I have nothing that I can reuse but I do have a number of external drives that I will need to connect via USB that I am using for storage (not an optimum situation but that will be my next major project to tackle)
Here is the parts list as I currently have it but I still need feedback and help understanding if I am hurting myself with some decisions.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
CPU: Intel Core i7-3770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($259.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($97.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($95.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Crucial M4 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($209.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower Case ($74.98 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Antec 550W ATX12V Power Supply ($57.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Monitor: Dell U2412M 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($310.55 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($98.98 @ Outlet PC)
Keyboard: Microsoft WTA-00001 Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard w/Laser Mouse ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1555.99
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
So it was my understanding that if I am not going to overclock the I7 that I don't really need the Z77 board and can go with an H77 board is that correct if so does this work. Next I am not sure about the case, since this will be the 1st computer I've built I want something that isn't going to be too hard to work with but is also decent value and will do a decent job of cooling and not be too loud.
So I am looking for any feedback on things that I should consider changing or where I am causing myself issues. I appreciate any help.
Gary