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Help a beginner build his first PC

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  • CPUs
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March 20, 2013 11:14:10 PM

Hi there TH community. I apologise if this thread is in the wrong place I have just signed up today.

I want to build my own gaming PC (which i've never done before) and would appreciate some opinions or constructive critisizm. I have done some research but i'm still struggling on what parts to pick, if theyre compatable and if I should be spending x amount of dollars on certain parts..

Budget is an issue but I don't wanna go cheap either. I definately can't afford an Intel i7 3770 for $409nzd.

The PC will mainly be used for gaming but also to watch video, play music.. the usual. Nothing too crazy. I want to be able to play World of Warcraft mainly on a high detail with just a reasonable resolution (1280x1024 is fine) and be able to not have horrible fps. If I can handle newer games like Crysis 3 on a decent detail/resolution and not freeze up on fps I would have achieved what i'm going for. I dont need ultra high graphics.. 3D 1080p HD 6000fps (lol).. Just something to give me an enjoyable playing experience whatever game I decide to install.

Heres what I thought:

CPU: AMD FX-6300 Vishera 3.5GHz
M/B: Gigabyte GA-970A-D3 ATX
USB 3.0 would be nice
GPU: nVidia GeForce GTX 650 1GB
I'm quite unsure of which GPU to choose.. an HDMI input for the monitor would be nice.. definately 1GB or higher right?

The rest I haven't exactly shopped for but I had the idea of:

16GB RAM (2x 8GB) but don't know how much I should be spending? Some are around $100nzd and some are over $200nzd.

An HDD with 500GB to even 1TB would be great.. no idea how to choose these.

PSU.. clueless.. how much watts would I need? I dont plan to overclock or run multiple GPUs.. I don't want a power hog either.

A dvd optical drive will be fine.

Is there anything else i'm missing? Besides the case? I set on a beast looking mid tower which im sure should hold all the components? I wouldnt need extra cooling?

Thank you for taking the time to read my essay of a thread. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

More about : beginner build

a b à CPUs
March 21, 2013 1:11:56 AM

CPU: Go with Intel. An i5 3570k is pretty popular for gaming. You could even use an i3.

MOBO: Something with a Z77 chipset, eg GA-Z77X-D3H or an H77 like Gigabyte (GA-H77-D3H-MVP) both support USB3.0. Would you want to overclock eventually?
This article might help you decide: http://www.pugetsystems.com/blog/2012/04/12/z68-z77-and...

RAM: 16Gb is almost pointless unless you will be doing some serious tasks eg HD Video Editing or CAD programs. You should get 8Gb at the most, although even then I don't think many games will use more than 4Gb.

GPU: I would say an ATI 7850. It can run most games with decent quality at 1080p single monitor.
It is $30(NZD) odd more expensive than the 650, but the performance increase would be worth it.

PSU: I'm not too sure but,you would want to get something like an Antec EarthWatts 650W. http://www.dragonpc.co.nz/p.aspx?221433

HDD: Get a 1Tb, and if you can afford or want the benefit of an SSD get a samsung 830 120Gb. Put your OS and a few commonly used programs and maybe games on this. An SSD would give you amazing boot times and programs would run within seconds.

I wouldn't know much about optical drives though.
a b 4 Gaming
a b à CPUs
March 21, 2013 2:52:02 AM

for the optical drive, any cheap DVD-burner will do. I would prefer something from Samsung.
:) 
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March 21, 2013 5:26:07 AM

Yeah the fx 8350 piledriver is NOT that expensive in £'s it;'s about £170 bloody good processor, it goes with alot of good gigabyte motherboards which are cheap as well
a b 4 Gaming
a b à CPUs
March 21, 2013 5:30:43 AM

+1^ for fx 8350.no cpu can beat fx 8350 per price/performance value.with saved money you can get gtx 660 or hd 7870 and will result into better gaming + you can upgrade cpu in future (stremroller)
a b à CPUs
March 21, 2013 7:38:15 PM

The FX 8350 would be better for multitasking (in some cases quite a bit better). The 3570k would be better for gaming but it isn't too far ahead of the Fx 8350.

ASHISH65 is right about the price to performance though. You could also overclock the FX further than a 3570k.
March 21, 2013 9:06:49 PM

Ive always used an Intel CPU in all my PCs and never had a problem but ive heard that AMD are gaming processors? Im not too fussy on which brand to pick as long as it performs well.

The i5 has 2 less cores, 2mb less in L3 cache and runs at a slightly slower standard clock (and turbo) speed 3.4GHz/3.8 turbo vs the FX6300 at 3.5GHz/4.1 turbo yet you'd choose the i5 pjama?

The FX8350 definately looks nice but at roughly $299nzd its more expensive than the i5 3570 ($285nzd) and the FX6300 ($209nzd). At these prices which would you choose? I noticed the intel has intergrated graphics. Is this nessesary if im going to buy a GPU?

As for overclocking.. it would be nice to get some extra power from the CPU but don't I need a fast RAM speed or certain other components? Better cooling then just the system/case fans? More power usage? It seems all a bit to risky for a beginner like me. Ive gotta learn how to put it all together first!

Ok.. ill go with 8gb of ram. Does it matter how fast the sticks are? Buy the cheapest avaliable? I know know if quality is an issue for RAM. Ive always had RAM issues with my PCs (as in.. never enough) so 16gb sounded good however my last PC only had 1gb so go fiquire.

PSU.. depending on what CPU and GPU i choose should we come back to this? Whats a more than decent amount of wattage required to run a gaming rig?

SSD sounds very interesting but Ive never used one or even know how they work..?

Thank you all for taking the time to post. Much appreciated.
March 21, 2013 9:39:23 PM

Judging from some reviews on the i5 3570 it seems like a very promising chip vs. the FX 6300 and FX 8350. Technically its stats are lower than the FX 8350 by less clock standard speed, less L3 cache and less cores.. however intels CPU perform much better per/single core..? Maybe the i5 is a good decision? But then id have to change MOBO? Maybe ill look up boards with the chipset you suggested Pyjama.. suggestions anyone? I definately cant afford an i7.. 3570 is the best i5??
March 22, 2013 8:06:01 PM

Okay so for now im going to just decide what cpu i want before confusing myself with everything else.

Ive decided either Intel i5 3570k or i5 2500k (if i can find one)

I wasnt sure if i wanted to overclock or not but in the future i can see myself trying.. apparently the 2500k overclocks at slightly faster speeds and lower temperatures. But the 3570 supports USB 3 and PCI-e 3. Ill probably definately get the Z77 mobo which supports these aswell right but depending on my GPU selection is it worth it? The 2500k would be cheaper i assume and i dont really need the 3570s intergrated graphics. Ugh. Stuck.
a b 4 Gaming
a b à CPUs
March 25, 2013 12:58:20 AM

Intel has put nothing, S, T and K behind their processor type numbers.
S and T are the low energy line...those are relative slower...
K means an open multiplier, you will like this for OC.
Nothing means...yup...nothing or normal
I prefer to have the one with K :) 
You will appreciate the "K" about 3 to 4 years in the future.

I will leave the decision between i5 2500k and i5 3570k to your own.
3570k is slightly better but also slightly more expensive than i5 2500k.

!