First time builder needs advice

iroslawski

Honorable
Dec 27, 2012
5
0
10,510
Hello all,

My name is Ian, and I am assembling the parts for a new computer for gaming. I am currently using a laptop, and killing it slowly by using it for what it was not intended for (or so I'm told). I would like to build a mid-range comp (Read: 1000-1300 dollar spending limit).

After doing research on this site's top picks, info how to pick, etc, the build that I have thus far is:

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 ST1000DM005/HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Rosewill CAPSTONE Series CAPSTONE-450 450W Continuous @ 50°C, 80 PLUS GOLD Certified, Single +12V Rail

CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B

Gigabyte Radeon HD 7850 OC 975MHZ 2GB 4.8GHZ GDDR5 DVI HDMI 2XMINIDP PCI-E Video Card

Intel 520 Series 120GB 2.5IN SSD MLC 25nm SATA3 Solid State Disk Drive Retail W/ Mounting Bracket

Intel Core i5 3570K 3.4GHz LGA 1155 Processor

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO Universal CPU Cooler

ASRockZ77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Z77 ATX Intel Motherboard


I still need a case; I was looking at the Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case because I thought it looked pretty cool, but the motherboard said that it supported a front loading USB 3.0, which the tower does not support.

My questions to you brainy people are these:

1. Do you see any incompatibilities between the products? (If I try this myself and fail because of incompatibility, I will assume it was my shoddy worksmanship)

2. Is there anything there that is unnecessary? I heard that the CPU should have it's own cooling fan, meaning that I would likely not need the CoolerMaster CPU cooler.

3. I literally picked the motherboard based on great reviews. I don't know how it fits with the rest of the stuff, so if that is a problem, please point it out :).

4. Last but not least: Are there any additional wires/cables that one would need to buy separately before undertaking this daunting journey into the birth of one's own computer that do not come with the individual parts?

Thank you very much for your time! I am very antsy and excited to undertake this, as I only just recently (and I'm 24) realized that one can build his/her own computer. Very sad, actually.

Best,

Ian
 
Solution
Yea just a few alternatives really. I like a lot of both your choices here is my take.

Motherboards: You could go with either board a lot of people will tell you the Extreme 4 from Asrock is all you need.

Memory: You may run into issues with the evo with the patriot kit a G.skill ares, Corsair Vengeance, or Crucial Ballistics Tactical are low profile and will make it easier for you.

CORSAIR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186
CRUCIAL:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148656
G.Skill: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231542

Power Supply: XFX has great prices with decent power supplies so I don't think you are going wrong there. A alternative could be a...

boulbox

Honorable
Apr 5, 2012
1,880
0
11,960
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($104.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Patriot Intel Extreme Master, Limited Ed 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($31.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP900 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($359.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 750W 80 PLUS Silver Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1074.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-28 00:43 EST-0500)

should already come with all the wiring
 

iroslawski

Honorable
Dec 27, 2012
5
0
10,510
Thank you for the build, buolbox. I am confused though: Is it a more well-rounded build than mine, or is it simply an alternative to the parts I was mulling over?

Again, I'm a noob at this, so I do appreciate any advice!
 
Yea just a few alternatives really. I like a lot of both your choices here is my take.

Motherboards: You could go with either board a lot of people will tell you the Extreme 4 from Asrock is all you need.

Memory: You may run into issues with the evo with the patriot kit a G.skill ares, Corsair Vengeance, or Crucial Ballistics Tactical are low profile and will make it easier for you.

CORSAIR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186
CRUCIAL:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148656
G.Skill: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231542

Power Supply: XFX has great prices with decent power supplies so I don't think you are going wrong there. A alternative could be a TX650,750 or a HX series power suppy for more power efficiency.

Storage: I don't have an issue with the Seagate Drive you can also go with a Western Digital Caviar black either way its a storage drive.

SSD: I wouldn't go with A DATA: The 520 I feel is a bit overpriced in comparison to the rest of the market.

Samsung has a decent option with there 830. There is the 840 and PRO but unless you are up to paying the premium for pro you are fine with a 830.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147134
there is also the crucial m4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442

On the high end the Professional SSD's if you went with the higher priced drives I would feel safer with the SAMSUNG drive both are good.
OCZ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227915
SAMSUNG
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147192

CASE: Cases are what you end up looking at so this is really something you should make your own choice with. Much like your monitor your case tends to be one of those items that will outlive most of the other components you have.

HAF 912/922 are good choices.
NZXT PHANTOM is another
Corsair cases are okay I just worry about there cooling since the 600T I had for a short period wasn't great in terms of air flow.
 
Solution

boulbox

Honorable
Apr 5, 2012
1,880
0
11,960
if getting the patriot you just have to position the evo in a different position.

don't go with black, just go with blue if you really want that brand

and i think he is trying to save more money not use more, most of the stuff you recommended are just overpriced and i don't see why Corsair cases are just "okay" when they have better build quality than NZXT in just about everything(the 820 looks pretty cool but way to expensive)

if you want to low profile ram go with these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148662&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

Nothing is actually wrong with Adata(maybe in the past) but not currently. Even though they do use the sandforce driver(really should go marvell though) it is not to bad same with sandisk extreme

The HX series is indeed good but the time it will pay itself off compared to the XFX is going to be very long not to mention both are just OEM's of seasonic so you won't really notice that much of a difference besides the price

 
The build quality is amazing with Corsair Cases you are absolutely right but I had a SLi configuration in a 600T and my cards were running a good 10-15 degrees higher then my current tower the Cooler Master Sniper.

Yea blue's are fine with you using a SSD in conjunction. If it was on its own I would recommend it a bit higher since the tech that goes with a black is superior feature wise to the blue's.

The optimal placement of the CPU cooler is sideways I'd like to think because you have top fans pulling air and the side fan pushing air normally so I mean yea you could possibly have it pointing up but that may attribute different issues as well.

I gave him good and high end choices. I'm not going with the featured items on pc partpicker and saying here this is what to get because I bet that is what you did for the SSD, and the Cooler. I'm not after him spending necessary more money but quality parts its nice to know what you are putting into your system and why you made your choices I outlined why and in most cases people are splitting hairs when it comes to components because the differences are very small in most cases with builds.
 

iroslawski

Honorable
Dec 27, 2012
5
0
10,510
Thank you both for your advice. I have updated my potential build as follows:

CPU Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core $219.99
CPU Cooler Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing $29.98
Motherboard ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 $134.99
Memory Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 $45.86
Storage Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM $59.99
Storage Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" SSD $134.99
Video Card Gigabyte Radeon HD 7850 2GB $189.99
Case Cooler Master HAF 922 ATX Mid Tower $99.99
Power Supply XFX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V $79.99
Optical Drive Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer $17.89
OS Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) $89.98
Keyboard Microsoft SIDEWINDER X4 $40.99

I switched to the low profile memory (I assume for easier installation and to prevent a lack of space), Samsung 840 Pro SSD, HAF922 (simply because of great reviews and a front USB3.0 slot), and a XFX 750W power supply.

I hope everything goes well together, I'd rather not start this project and things not fit. Then again, if it happens it happens :)
 

iroslawski

Honorable
Dec 27, 2012
5
0
10,510
Minor correction: The power supply I'm thinking about is the SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Supply for $89.99. I don't know anything about power supplies, but the SeaSonic appears to come highly rated, and still has a pretty good efficiency with not many complaints.
 

boulbox

Honorable
Apr 5, 2012
1,880
0
11,960


i went with the hyper 212 evo because it can easily push the CPU to a 4.0 GHz(experience) i choose the SSD based on my experience with them also, it ran fast, had no crashes, and had no problem what so ever.