First Build

[Draeg]

Hi everyone, I have never built a computer before but want to both for the experience and for the money saving potential. My budget is slightly flexible, but hopefully under 1200 USD. This post is being made to accomplish 2 things:

1.) Answer my questions about building
2.) Check whether the parts I have selected so far are compatible and worth the price

This build is for gaming and regular use. I want enough to play modern games and some that come out in the future. So let's not be cheap, but not way too expensive. So, without further ado, this is what I have selected so far:

Motherboard: ASUS P8Z77-V (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131820)

Processor: Intel Core i5 3570k (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504)

RAM: 2x4 Gb Ripjaws DDR3 @ 1333 MHz (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311)

Graphics Card: Undecided

Power Supply: Is this one good/reliable? Is it enough for the parts chosen? (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151095)

Case: Coolermaster HAF 932 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160)

Storage: Undecided; Should I get an SSD? Hybrid? HDD? Small SSD for OS and a big HDD for storage?

Basically, is that a good build? Is it worth the price? Is it going to last a couple years?

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And now, onto general questions:

1.) Is Newegg the best place to buy from? Which sites are better?
2.) How do you ground yourself so as not to shock yourself or the parts?
3.) How do you know which USB ports are on the front and which are on the back of the case/ motherboard?
4.) Are any of the parts I selected bottlenecks? If so, what is a good benchmarking place? Which websites are most reliable?
5.) Do I need to buy extra fans? Is it worth overclocking?
6.) Have I made any serious errors?
7.) Should I trust 1-star reviews of something failing? If mine fails, should I buy another brand or get a replacement?
8.) What resolution should my monitor be? Which cards can handle 2560x1440?
9.) Where do you plug in an SSD? Is it like the HDD in that you plug it into the SATA port?
10.) Any suggestions? I'm decently knowledgeable with computers, but I don't want to make mistakes.

 

[Draeg]

I knew I'd forget something...

Is it better to use a PS/2 mouse or USB mouse? Is there any advantage like NKRO on keyboards?

 

[g-unit1111]

Storage: Undecided; Should I get an SSD? Hybrid? HDD? Small SSD for OS and a big HDD for storage?

Hybrid drives are not worth purchasing for a desktop configuration - they offer no advantages over purchasing a solid SSD / HD combo. Don't fall for expensive storage gimmicks like the Revodrive or Velociraptor either - they're expensive and offer no benefits over the other drive combinations.

Power Supply: Is this one good/reliable? Is it enough for the parts chosen? (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151095)

Doesn't get much better than that.

Graphics Card: Undecided

Depends on how much you want to spend and what your monitor resolution is.

Is it better to use a PS/2 mouse or USB mouse? Is there any advantage like NKRO on keyboards?

PS/2 mice haven't been used in like a decade - no need to worry about that.

1.) Is Newegg the best place to buy from? Which sites are better?
2.) How do you ground yourself so as not to shock yourself or the parts?
3.) How do you know which USB ports are on the front and which are on the back of the case/ motherboard?
4.) Are any of the parts I selected bottlenecks? If so, what is a good benchmarking place? Which websites are most reliable?
5.) Do I need to buy extra fans? Is it worth overclocking?
6.) Have I made any serious errors?
7.) Should I trust 1-star reviews of something failing? If mine fails, should I buy another brand or get a replacement?
8.) What resolution should my monitor be? Can my Graphics Card handle 2560x1440?
9.) Where do you plug in an SSD? Is it like the HDD in that you plug it into the SATA port?
10.) Any suggestions? I'm decently knowledgeable with computers, but I don't want to make mistakes.

1. Newegg is definitely the best no question.

2. You don't need to purchase a static wrist band or anything of that nature. Make sure the surface you're building on is clean. Use a plastic floor mat if you're working on carpet.

3. I'm not sure what you are talking about here.

4. No - the only real bottleneck in any build is the primary hard drive but if you're using an SSD you won't have that problem.

5. Read this: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cooling-airflow-heatsink,3053.html

6. Nothing I can see - just that your links don't work. :lol:

7. Don't take store reviews seriously - they are not really a way to properly judge products. A good 90% of the one star reviews on Newegg could easily be prevented if the reviewers had taken proper precautions before installing products, and the other 10% have nothing to do with the product itself but bad refunds or UPS errors. Instead use professional review sites like Hardware Secrets and Jonnyguru.

8. Depends on what graphics card you want to use. It must have a D-Link (double link) DVI-D connector in order to take advantage of 2560 x 1440 - most modern video cards like the 7850, 7870, 7950, 7970, and GTX 660, 660TI, 670, and 680 have this connector.

9. In order to install your SSD you will need a mounting bracket - I'm pretty sure your case includes one. If not go with a manufacturer like NZXT, Corsair, or Fractal Design - they all include built in support for SSD mounting brackets. You screw your drive into the same brackets that you would add a regular HD in.

10. I'd have to know budget before I could suggest anything.

 

[Draeg]

No one has any answers for this?

 

[g-unit1111]

No one has any answers for this?

Cant do anything without knowing budget.

 

[Draeg]

I guess something around 1300 USD for everything.