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Non-Gamer: Need First-Time Build Advice Based on Usage Habits...

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January 14, 2014 1:27:14 PM

Hello all,
This is my first build (and first post here). I'm replacing a dead-stock 2004 Dell SX280, so I'm guessing this will be like shooting fish in a barrel.
Anyway, I need to put together a system that can simultaneously handle my trading software (thinkorswim by TD Ameritrade), and 50+ open Firefox windows (w/ Youtube running hang-lessly) and some occasional movie streaming. I don't think the trading software uses much resources, but then again, I'm not sure how to check on that. I'd like it to be as responsive as possible --- loading my grid of 6 real-time streaming charts with no noticeable lag. I have to click on hundreds of symbols in an hour sometimes, so even a tiny delay is frustrating. That being said, I don't think I'd notice a difference between a 5 millisecond load-time and a 50ms load time.
I don't want to break the bank or have my computer run hotter/louder than it needs to.
So .... what do you recommend? I've looked at the logical increments page, but I have no idea how these systems behave in my non-gaming scenario. Also, I haven't used any other computer in years, so I have no frame of reference to work with. How much RAM, CPU, etc would be appropriate?
Thanks!!!!!
Fred

More about : gamer time build advice based usage habits

January 14, 2014 1:41:45 PM

how many monitors are you using at what resolution?
what would say an estimated max budget would be?


off the top of my head... i'd have to say something like..

amd fx-8350 8core cpu
am3+ 970 chipset motherboard
2x4gb 1600mhz ram
low end graphics card
1tb hdd
450w psu
nondescript good airflow case.

optional:

could go with a ssd instead of a hard drive. its much faster (really noticible) but its more cash for less space.
go with an intel build instead (+$100) intel chips are a bit faster and better performing but also have a higher cost

i looked at the software you use and it does list multi-core and a minimum of 4gb ram for power users.
January 14, 2014 2:03:05 PM

It all depends on your budget. But the FX-8350 CPU from AMD would be great for your purpose. Since you use your PC to work, I would recommend getting a case with acoustic foam. It makes the system much quieter during use.

Take a look at these cases:

- Fractal Design Define R4

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

- Corsair Carbide 330R

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

- Corsair Obsidian 550D

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

For storage, I suggest you buy both an HDD and a SSD. You could put your OS, security suite and trading program on your SSD for much faster operations.

If you have questions, feel free to ask them. I can also help you to choose your components.
Related resources
January 14, 2014 2:24:00 PM

Thanks for the replies so far!!
I was hoping to spend around $400-500, but that looks a little unrealistic, I'm guessing.
Currently, I'm happy with a one-monitor setup, but I'd like to have the option to upgrade in the future if it's not too expensive.
I'm not a big data-storing guy, so I was going to try to get away with the Samsung Evo 120gb SSD ... no extra drive ... unless that is ill-advised.
I had actually considered the FX-8350 (it was on top of a performance/price chart) but I thought it was a little overkill. Admittedly, I didn't have a good reason to believe this :)  .
Thanks for the tip on foam-lined cases Oleonius!
ssddx ... why do I need a 450W PSU? Is that just required for the 8-core processor?
I'm definitely not an expert (obviously), so I appreciate the help.
Fred
January 14, 2014 2:40:10 PM

Yeah, 500$ is a bit unrealistic. I think that with something between 800-1000$, you would have something good for your purpose.

About the storage, I don't generally recommend getting only an SSD, but if you insist on this, I suggest you pick the 250 GB model instead of the 120 GB model. It haves more storage space and better write/read speeds.

For the PSU, you should get at least a 550W unit. With no graphics card, you might not need that much power but your unit will run cooler and quieter, with some power to spare. And if ever you want to add a GPU, you will have enough power for it.

January 14, 2014 3:45:57 PM

Thanks again.
I don't think I'll be able to afford the ideal rig. So, where could I skimp?
I'm sure I'll be fine with one monitor, so I could scrap the two monitor upgrade option for now. Not sure if that changes anything though.
Also, I'm assuming graphics card is not important for my purposes, so do I need to purchase one at all (i.e. does rudimentary graphics come w/ mobo)?

January 14, 2014 4:16:25 PM

I just do this build on PartPicker to show you what you could have for 1000$. Maybe wait for big sales or swap the FX-8350 CPU for a FX-8320. It's about 11% slower and this way, you will save about 50$. Buying a 1 TB HDD and a 120 GB SSD instead of a 250 GB SSD may be cheaper too.

It don't includes the monitor because I assume you already have one.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2Bn0A

January 14, 2014 4:36:41 PM

Thanks. Is basic graphics processing included in the motherboard? Sorry if that's a dumb question :)  .
January 14, 2014 4:47:32 PM

I like dogs said:
Thanks. Is basic graphics processing included in the motherboard? Sorry if that's a dumb question :)  .


No, not the motherboard. But processors do features onboard graphics chips. But it's always a good thing to have a GPU, even the most entry-level one because it will reduce the load of your CPU.

Plus, the GTX 650 Ti is a very good card for the price.

I really insist that you should buy both an HDD and a SSD instead of a single 250 GB SSD. 120 GB would be perfect to store your OS, security suite and the program you use to work. You could just put all the rest on your HDD (videos, photos, other programs, etc.). Even if you don't store a lot of things, we never know when you will need more storage space in the future. Trust me, drives get full really fast these days. If you are worried about the speed for the hard drive, it's not an issue. For certain programs and games, you won't even see a difference (In games, the SSD may improves the loading time).

Do you like this build I made ?

Feel free to ask other questions ! As we say where I come from, there is no dumb questions, only dumb answers :) 

January 14, 2014 6:14:38 PM

Thanks Oleonius!!! I can't afford all of that right now, but I might buy it piece by piece and hope it isn't obsolete by the time it's fully assembled :)  .
Thanks for the link as well. That's a good website. I have a lot of new stuff to think about!!
Fred
January 14, 2014 6:44:00 PM

No problem. If I was you, I would wait to get all the money you need and then, ask again on the forum for a new build. Because, as you say, hardware change very fast. If you do that, you will be sure to get a PC with the most recent components.

If you have questions, don't hesitate to contact me.

P.S. Don't forget to choose your best solution on the thread !

January 14, 2014 7:00:06 PM

@oleonius

remember that this is not a gaming build! i think you are way out of line with the parts you picked. while certainly very nice they are certainly not needed for a the ops needs.

i think its also a bit early to close the thread and pick best answer dont you? dont try to rush the op.

@op

you could keep your multi-monitor setup. the programs you want to use are not graphically demanding so you should be able to get by just fine on a cheaper video card.

its also not required to spend anywhere near $1000 for your needs. perhaps $500 is a bit light but not by a whole lot. let me have a look and see about putting you together something that will be more budget friendly yet still support your needs... a few minutes please so i can make a listing.

i would also suggest NOT buying things individually over time. if you get a DOA part you are totally screwed since you can only RMA parts to newegg/other e-tailers within 30-60 days. after that and you need to send it back to the manufacturer as a warranty fix. you want to buy everything at once. if you need to get a system which is cheaper in price to do this then so be it.

dont let oleo rush you. there are MANY options you can explore and many are lower cost than what he showed you. look at your options and weight cost vs what you think you need. if you dont know what you need just ask for opinions on a given scenario.
January 14, 2014 8:06:21 PM

@op

i will give you a few different options and list pro/cons for them

-------------

option#1

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2Btz2) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2Btz2/by_merchant/) / [Benchmarks](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2Btz2/benchmarks/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-fd8320frhkbox) | $149.99 @ TigerDirect
**CPU Cooler** | [Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-r...) | $26.83 @ Amazon
**Motherboard** | [Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-m5a97ler2...) | $75.98 @ SuperBiiz
**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance Pro 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cmy8gx3m2a1...) | $76.99 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-driv...) | $59.98 @ OutletPC
**Video Card** | [Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-112011...) | $94.98 @ SuperBiiz
**Case** | [Cougar Solution (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cougar-case-solution) | $39.99 @ Mwave
**Power Supply** | [Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx430...) | $34.99 @ Microcenter
**Optical Drive** | [LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-optical-drive-gh24nsb0) | $15.99 @ Microcenter
**Other**| Windows 7 64 @ Ebay (all proceeds help a charity! and free shipping)| $79.00
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | $654.72
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-14 22:25 EST-0500 |

so whats good about it?
8350 is a strong cpu, supports multi monitor.

so whats bad about it?
970 chipset mobo may requrie a bios flashing for the FX chips. normal speed hard drive.

misc notes:
for muti-monitor for windows or simple things like the trading software you dont need a super duty video card. a 650ti as oleonius listed is a gaming level card which is far overkill for what you need. while you could definitely take a step up from what i have here, there isnt need to go to a gaming card.

------------------

option #2

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($149.99 @ TigerDirect)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.83 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99X EVO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($107.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($76.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($169.99 @ B&H)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($94.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cougar Solution (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ Microcenter)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Microcenter)
Other: Windows 7 64 @ Ebay (all proceeds help a charity! and free shipping) ($79.00)
Total: $796.74
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-14 22:29 EST-0500)

so whats good about it?
added a 990x motherboard so zero flashing required. added a ssd drive for insanely quick startup and operation.

so whats bad about it?
8320 chipset is slower than the 8350 but you could always overclock it to be equal if you cared. its still more than sufficient. if you did want to overclock it i would bump up to a cx500m power supply though. if not, dont worry about it.

misc notes:
same as above.

-------------------

option #3

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2BtRi) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2BtRi/by_merchant/) / [Benchmarks](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2BtRi/benchmarks/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-fd8320frhkbox) | $149.99 @ TigerDirect
**CPU Cooler** | [Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-r...) | $26.83 @ Amazon
**Motherboard** | [Asus M5A99X EVO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-m5a99xevo...) | $107.99 @ NCIX US
**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance Pro 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cmy8gx3m2a1...) | $76.99 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-h...) | $59.98 @ OutletPC
**Video Card** | [Asus GeForce GTX 650 Ti 2GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-gtx650tioc...) | $134.99 @ Microcenter
**Case** | [Cougar Solution (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cougar-case-solution) | $39.99 @ Mwave
**Power Supply** | [Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx500...) | $49.99 @ Microcenter
**Optical Drive** | [LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-optical-drive-gh24nsb0) | $15.99 @ Microcenter
**Other**| Windows 7 64 @ Ebay (all proceeds help a charity! and free shipping)| $79.00
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | $741.74
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-14 22:35 EST-0500 |

so whats good about it?
better graphics card. you could stream video, have trading software up, have multiple browsers open certainly very fine. you could likely stream two shows at once. however this complete overkill for your needs. i also bumped up the power supply to go along with the better card. this one still has the 990x mobo so no flashing required for the cpu

so whats bad about it?
normal hard drive speed, 8320 instead of 8350 (but its not a big deal at all for your uses)

misc notes:
if you wanted an uprade to the graphics department this is it. not really required but your choice.

-----------------------

so what would my recommendations be?

honestly for your uses i'd just use a 8320 cpu. no need for more. you could overclock it a bit if you wanted to but i dont think its required at all.

i'd go with the 990x board. since you may not be used to doing things like a bios flash going with a 990x means you wont have to. its also better reliability/performance but thats not going to affect your needs a whole lot.

the ram i picked is good and perfectly fine for your needs. its decently fast too.

the video card (7770ghz) is perfectly fine for 3 monitors. however one thing to note is that for 3 monitors you might need to use an active adapter if using a displayport port. another option would be using two cheaper graphics cards such as two nvidia 630's for 3 monitors. if you only want two monitors or just one then the above doesnt matter. i dont think its worth upgrading from a 7770ghz unless you do gaming. you might want to use a 2gb card instead of a 1gb though however for your use i dont think its a big issue.

having a 250gb ssd for $160 is a great upgrade and will speed your system up. another option is a $60 normal hard drive and a $100 120gb ssd. that would give you high speed plus space to store files. i didnt show this option because it costs the same as the large ssd drive. basically i'd just use the hard drive i listed plus a 120gb version of the ssd i listed. you would be perfectly fine with a normal hard drive only however a ssd adds a noticible increase in responsiveness. if you hate to wait for anything its my suggestion to go for it.

the case is rather nondescript. pretty cheap, has usb3. i just built with a cougar case a few days ago and while cheap in price they are pretty sturdy.

the psu is a budget brand however the modular version is a bit better than the non modular. its also tier 3 which is within spec. i personally like using seasonic or xfx or otherwise tier 2 or above however there is nothing wrong with using the one i picked. anything better will cost more.

so you want me to put my recommendations all into one easy list you say?

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2BuqI) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2BuqI/by_merchant/) / [Benchmarks](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2BuqI/benchmarks/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-fd8320frhkbox) | $149.99 @ TigerDirect
**CPU Cooler** | [Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-r...) | $26.83 @ Amazon
**Motherboard** | [Asus M5A99X EVO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-m5a99xevo...) | $107.99 @ NCIX US
**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance Pro 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cmy8gx3m2a1...) | $76.99 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-driv...) | $90.99 @ Amazon
**Storage** | [Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-h...) | $59.98 @ OutletPC
**Video Card** | [Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-112011...) | $94.98 @ SuperBiiz
**Case** | [Cougar Solution (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cougar-case-solution) | $39.99 @ Mwave
**Power Supply** | [Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx500...) | $49.99 @ Microcenter
**Optical Drive** | [LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-optical-drive-gh24nsb0) | $15.99 @ Microcenter
**Other**| Windows 7 64 @ Ebay (all proceeds help a charity! and free shipping)| $79.00
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | $792.72
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-14 22:53 EST-0500 |

its more than your hopeful budget of 500 (but its not 1000 either) but has a motherboard not requiring a bios flash and has a ssd for speed which is a $100 option.

------------------------------------

let me know your thoughts or if you have any questions.

oh and if you think these builds are a bit too expensive...if you plan on using only one monitor the video card can be dropped lower (or perhaps integrated video could be used) which saves cash, you could flash a 970 chipset for use with the fx chip (or could use different motherboard if going integrated), could not use a ssd and stick with a normal hard drive...

there are ways to lower the price.

for instance the system i just built for some relatives was $413 including windows and ssd (though i admit i just had that ssd laying around the house so thats not included in the budget :) 

amd a-10 5800k
socket fm2 motherboard
2x4gb 1866 ram
80gb ssd (not included in budget... you could get a 120 for $90 though)
430w modular psu
cougar spike matx size case
windows 7 64bit home

its fast... really fast. it would probably even work for your needs if you wanted something very budget oriented and felt our builds were just too much money.

since you want so many windows up at once though i'd still suggest a fx8320 and graphics card instead but just letting you know you could go a cheaper route if you wanted to.

anyways... that was the last thing i needed to say... give us your thoughts.
January 21, 2014 4:35:03 PM

Well... I'm back. My computer had a little meltdown, probably because it knows it's being replaced.
Anyway, I got an SSD, and now I'd like to complete the project for around $500-550 additional dollars if possible.
I think I'm okay with flashing, although I've never tried it. What would I need to flash the M5A97 board to accept the FX 8320 chip?
Also, I'm not too clear on "integrated video". If I was to use a one-monitor setup (which is fine), would I be able to get up and running without a graphics card at all?
January 21, 2014 6:13:20 PM

I like dogs said:
Well... I'm back. My computer had a little meltdown, probably because it knows it's being replaced.
Anyway, I got an SSD, and now I'd like to complete the project for around $500-550 additional dollars if possible.
I think I'm okay with flashing, although I've never tried it. What would I need to flash the M5A97 board to accept the FX 8320 chip?
Also, I'm not too clear on "integrated video". If I was to use a one-monitor setup (which is fine), would I be able to get up and running without a graphics card at all?


If you only do web browsing and run simple programs like the Office suite for example, you won't need a GPU. Otherwise, it would be a good thing to have one for more intensive tasks (other than gaming). The GTX 650 Ti from NVIDIA would be great for that purpose.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

January 21, 2014 8:34:32 PM

@op

honestly unless the motherboard has been sitting on the shelf for awhile you might not need to bios flash. however, its always a possibility so i listed it. on the asus board all you should really need is a usb stick and the file. i believe the manual give you instructions.

while definitely a good card the 650ti would put you far out of budget i believe.

by integrated he means that the certain cpus are capable of providing graphics processing instead of needing to buy a seperate cpu and gpu. the tradeoff is basically a weaker cpu and less cores. the amd a10-6800k is only 4 core while the fx-8320 is 8 core. whether that makes a difference would depend if all of your programs can take advantage of the additional cores or not. if it can then the fx would be superior. if not then it doesnt much matter.

the a10 would need a different motherboard since its a different socket (socket fm2). apus also need fast memory. i would get at least 1866mhz if not 2133mhz. basically it boosts the graphics performance since it doesnt have enough onboard cache (memory) to process like graphics cards do (they have memory chips on them) so it uses your system memory and the faster the mhz the faster the rate it can be accessed hence the better graphics performance.

i actually recently built a a10 system (with the 5800k i picked up for $95) and when paired with a ssd and fast ram its pretty snappy. sorry i didnt really do any load testing like having many browser windows up or running some demanding applications but it was for a general use pc for a relative and i didnt need to stress test it.

if you needed better graphics performance you could always crossfire a card in later.

the downside is that you plan to do quite a bit of multitasking including streaming/youtube + 50firefox tabs + your stock software + anything else you want to run. i really dont see it as a big issue on only a 4 core since you only plan to use one monitor and have plenty of ram but if i was making the system for myself i would probably opt for a seperate cpu+gpu.

entirely your choice though.

TLDR:
yes, integrated video (an amd apu like the a10-6800k paired with a fm2 motherboard and fast ram) should work though i'm not really sure if it will hang a bit or not given all the multi-tasking you want.

going with the 8320 however gives you a stronger cpu with more cores for multi-tasking but due to costs the gpu might be either even or slightly less. in any case since your gpu needs arent bad its fine.

sorry if that is confusing. post if you have questions
January 22, 2014 11:18:59 AM

Thanks again.
I have a Windows XP disc. Am I correct in assuming that I can't use Windows XP and take advantage of more than 4GB RAM?
Also, I may want to add some better-quality audio connectors in the future, so I was wondering if the Asus mobos would be capable of this. (I'm assuming an audio card or something would suffice).
Oh... and will I get all the internal connecting cables I need with the case and motherboard? Will I need to add any additional cooling fans if I get the FX 8320 and the Asus m5a97 board with the cougar case? I plan on overclocking the 8320 at some point.
Dumb question ... can I use my very old HP case circa 2000?
January 22, 2014 3:42:45 PM

xp and ram: 32bit windows xp is limited to 4gb yes. 64gb windows however is not and can use up to 128gb. the main trouble is that support for xp is over and getting drivers which work on xp might be more difficult. i'd upgrade to 7.

audio: any motherboard with a pci slot supports getting a soundcard. even if it did not you can always buy external soundcards.

cables: typically you do get enough cables. sometimes i run short on screws but honestly you should have enough to put the system together and if you need anything just order it afterwards. dont worry about it until assembly.

fans: the cougar case comes with one fan i believe (double check me here) so i would buy at least one fan if not two. fans are cheap and any of the $5-6 fans would work fine as long as you dont overclock. if you want to do some overclocking i would have at least 3 decent fans in there.

not sure what your hp case looks like but most oem cases from dell, hp, etcetera are hotboxes without much airflow and not many fans (normally its just one fan). even if your hardware fit it wouldnt be adviseable. oh and it wouldnt have usb 3.

the 970 chipset does support some overclocking. not as much as the 990 but it should be sufficient.

oh and also... keep in mind that parts lists can change daily. once you have a good idea about what you want to order... and are a day away... repost here and have us check it out. perhaps there is a deal going on that isnt on anymore in your current build.
January 22, 2014 6:21:06 PM

I think I might go with the M5a99x board --- for an extra $20 I can overclock more and not have to worry about flashing.
But I did notice that the corsair memory is not in stock. According to Corsair's website "Corsair Vengeance Pro Series memory modules are designed for overclocking on the latest 3rd and 4th generation Intel® Core™ platforms, with eight-layer PCBs and ICs specially selected for performance potential."
So perhaps these are not perfect for me, since I'm going with the AMD FX 8320? What might be a suitable replacement? Logical increments recommends Hyper X Blue --- 1 8gb stick. Is this okay? Any reason to go with 2 x 4gb over 1 x 8gb?
I'm probably going to buy tonight, since the mobo is on sale at newegg only til the end of tonight!! (that's how they getcha!!)
January 23, 2014 6:44:21 AM

2x4gb is superior since you can use them in dual channel mode (since it is two sticks). 1x8 could only be used in single channel mode(since it is one stick). in fact the biggest jump is from single to dual.
take a peek at the graphs here http://www.legitreviews.com/ddr3-memory-performance-ana...

thats a good buy on ram. i just bought some gskill ripjaws the other wek for $68 with the same specifications as that so you didnt do bad at all. you should be able to use that fine with the system. its very rare that ram wouldnt work. keep in mine that now you purchased the ram you need to really hop on buying the rest of the components.

the m5a99x board is the one i would have suggested for an FX chip given o/c or no bios updates. it was on sale for like $105 or something if i remember. it looked to be pretty solid to me at least.

i think that case is on sale for $30 and if you check "dealigg newegg" on google (just search for it and its the first link) there was a coupon code on newegg for the fx-8320. if you are getting windows 7 64 ebay is the best place and for exactly $79 you can buy it and it benefits a charity. its where i just bought one the other day for another system. worked perfectly and fast shipping. its also $7 cheaper then ncix/ whoever shows cheapest on pcpartspicker.
January 23, 2014 10:41:16 AM

Thanks!!
Is dual channel mode the default, or do I have to change some settings to get dual-channel?
Also, can I get away with the CX500, instead of the CX500M? The non-"M" version is $20 cheaper, and I can't really tell the difference.
January 23, 2014 3:50:59 PM

if you have two sticks it will default to dual channel for you. nothing you need to worry about there.

the cx500m is the modular version. the cx500 is not. modular means you can only plug in the cables you need which means you will not end up with a rats nest inside your pc. those power supplies go on sale all the time so it will be back on sale again for $30-35 soon enough if you wait a few days to a week most likely. also i've heard the modular ones from the cx lineup are a bit higher quality than the non modulars. sometimes the cx600m goes on sale for the same price as the cx500m .... if both are the same price just grab the 600.
January 29, 2014 8:52:54 PM

I got everything but the cooling fan today. I noticed the motherboard doesn't have any obvious monitor hookups. Do I need to buy a video card to hook up a monitor? I was planning on using my old CRT monitor for the next few weeks with a DVI connector on it. Then I was planning on buying a "modern" monitor.
January 29, 2014 9:19:23 PM

well if you are buying parts like you listed above...

yes you need a video card.

the FX cpu does not have onboard video and neither do most motherboards anymore.

it requires a video card to render graphics. were you not planning on getting a 7770ghz edition? (going by your first post) ?

only apus (a10, a8, etc) or the intel chips have onboard graphics. on intel chips its pretty pathetic though and even on the apus its not superb.
January 29, 2014 9:40:41 PM

I just got confused ... I thought motherboards all had some kind of graphics processing ability/ monitor hookup. All I've ever owned is old hp/dell- built computers.
Okay, so can I get away with a cheaper card than the Sapphire Radeon HD 7770? --- preferrably one available from Amazon -- since I signed up for their "Prime" service -- (this is not a must, of course).
January 29, 2014 10:00:14 PM

well on older motherboards it was quite common to have onboard video processing. there are still a few remnants around like the 760g chipset amd boards however they are a dying breed ever since the intel and amd cpus started putting graphics processing onboard the cpu.

intel boards will have some monitor connection ports as well as amd apu boards. the reason yours does not is because no amd fx cpu has onboard graphics processing and since the apus and fx series run on different cpu sockets there is no need to put connectors on which cant be used.

i did try explaining this to you up above when i mentioned apus like the a10.

i cant imagine that your trading software is very graphics demanding so a card like a hd7770 should be more than sufficient for one or two monitors running that software.
January 29, 2014 10:12:34 PM

Thanks again ssddx!!
A few weeks ago, I could have summed up my knowledge of computer hardware in about 1 paragraph ... double-spaced!! Now I could probably stretch it out to three or four paragraphs. Still, I have trouble keeping all this stuff straight.
Anyway... thanks again for all the recommendations.
Sp do you think something like Sapphire Radeon HD 5450 would be too low-powered for my needs? I don't think the charting is too demanding at all. Mostly would like youtube to work optimally while trading software is open. If I'm going to be streaming a movie, the charting stuff will likely be shut down anyway.
Oh, and what would be a good cheap extra case fan that would fit in the Cougar?
January 30, 2014 6:45:45 AM

the 5450 can be used in htpcs for blueray playback or streaming however i cannot promise how well it will perform since its a bottom-rung card. i would step up to something at least a bit newer and better myself but your choice if you wanted to try it out or not. its hard to say exactly what a good minimum graphics card requirement would be.

youtube can be a bit heavy on the gpu in browsers like chrome or firefox for some reason.

the cougar case takes a 140mm front fan or 120mm and the rest are 120mm as well. the case comes with one fan. pretty much any $5 fan which fits the size of the slot will fit. i'd pick one with decent reviews for the price though.
see sizes of locations here http://www.cougar-world.com/products/pc_case/solution.h...
what would i suggest? i would get a single half decent 140 for the front or two 120s. since you arent going to be demanding on the system thats likely fine. you might want to look into getting some dust filters so your case doesnt get clogged with dust as well. you might find them on frozencpu.com but they can be added later if you feel the need.


January 30, 2014 8:52:10 AM

Thanks yet again!!
This will probably be my last question for now ...
It seems that all the reasonably priced HD 7770 are out of stock. And since the 5450 may be insufficient, is there any other card you'd recommend that is slightly cheaper than the 7770?
January 30, 2014 9:23:38 AM

7770 for $86 looks to be a pretty decent deal and would be my personal recommendation from the list here.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-video-card-fx777aznj4

7770 for $95 with a better cooler design. might be a bit more silent.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-hd7770dc1g...


you might be able to drop down to a 7750 or gtx650 but for the pretty good deal of $86 for the 7770 its not really worth considering as the 7750 is $74 and the gtx650 is $87 but are lower performing cards for about the same price as the higher performing cards are on sale for.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-hd77501gd5...
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/pny-video-card-vcggtx6501x...

if $86 is too much to spend then i suppose my next recommendation would be the 6670 for $60. the 7770 is a better card and i would favor that however this one would likely work.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-video-card-hd667xzhf3
February 1, 2014 1:42:00 PM

I'm having trouble hooking up some of the cables in the Cougar to the Asus board. There's a front-panel cable which reads "+5v D- D+ GROUND" ... but the Asus adapter reads "Speaker Ground Ground +5v" ... close, but no cigar.
Any tips/links on these cable hookups? Asus manual doesn't seem to have this info in it - neither does Cougar.
February 1, 2014 2:36:54 PM

take a photo of all the front panel connectors so i can read all the text and host in on tinypic or other service and then link it here.

also list which exact motherboard you finally bought.

if you would also take a photo of the motherboard where the connectors plug in that would also be helpful.
February 1, 2014 9:43:10 PM

Hello again,
Actually I'd like to skip ahead, since I assume the computer should work fine without these cables hooked up (if that's incorrect, let me know). Then I'll try to fix that (minor?) issue.
Anyway, I attempted to power up the rig for the first time. I'm using the SSD I just purchased, with Windows XP installed on it (I know this is sub-optimal, but I was hoping it would at least work). This exact SSD works fine when hooked up to my old Dell. When I powered-up, the fans ran, SSD and keyboard were recognized, memory was recognized (although it read the wrong speed ... 1333MHz I believe), and the monitor turned on and worked.
Unfortunately, I got a BSOD with an error message telling me "a problem has been detected and windows has been shut down"....
Technical information:
---- STOP: 0x0000007b (0xBA4C3528 .... etc.
SO..... What step did I forget to perform?
Do I need to install mobo drivers or something on the SSD? The Asus "support disk" seems to be filled with "extra stuff" ... no general drivers.
And remember, I know much less about computers than you think :) 
Fred
February 2, 2014 7:41:18 AM

you want to have the front bay device plugs attached to the right pins on the motherboard. these pins control such things as the power on switch, the reset switch, your hdd activity lights, etcetera. honestly i wouldnt not suggest starting your computer until they are plugged in right.

take a photo or at the very least label what each of them are called and what size they are (ie 1 pin wide, 2 pins wide) noting if they include a +/- on them as well as listing what motherboard you ended up with.

i could then point out what should be plugged in where and what direction to do so (the more info the better). sometimes they can be labeled a little funky so i really need to know exactly what they say and what they look like in terms of size/width and if they have any other markings on them.

having windows pre-installed is NOT going to work on a new computer. windows needs to be re-installed. with that said do you have a retail version of windows that you purchased or do you have a version which came with the dell pc? if it came installed with the dell realize that windows is tied to the motherboard and you will be unable to activate it on the new system. somtimes you can pull a line like "my motherboard failed and i had to replace it" with tech support in india but its not guaranteed to work especially considering its a dell bought windows license. you might need a new copy of windows and to get the most out of your system it might be worth stepping up and upgrading to 7. your choice of course. windows 7 can be had for $79 exact on ebay from a charity organization which supports kids in africa or something like that. i bought a copy just a few weeks ago for a different system.

the motherboard drivers/software disk is meant to be ran in windows. they typically do include all drivers such as lan, network, chipset, etcetera. they also normally feature extra programs for overclocking/tuning or resource management programs, etcetera which really arent needed. putting the disk in when windows will not even start likely isnt going to do anything :) 

--------

post back with info about your front panel plugs. photos would be helpul and a list of what the text is on them as well as what motherboard you have

list what type of windows install you have. if it came with the dell you may need to get another license (and perhaps its worth upgrading to 7 now). if you bought a retail windows xp disk which came in the large retail box from a store then you could reuse it. though, since you had a dell i'm guessing you had the prior type of install so need a new copy. oem copies are meant to be used on one pc (motherboard) only so dont transfer over. they are however much cheaper.

--------

oh and the ram issue is a very simple matter normally. by default ram sticks can be recognized at 1333 though with a simple change of values in the bios (need to know which exact motherboard you have) this can be set to the correct ram speed (need to know the exact ram you purchased).

when you let me know the info i can try to find an exact guide for the screens you will see and the steps you need.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

even though you have errors it appears that the system is at least working properly.

-you have video display
-the system posts (goes through all the jargon on screen before getting to the windows loading screen) instead of giving you an error beep code
-the ram is recognized though you need to adjust the speed.
-the hdd appears to be working fine
-since the system starts at all the cpu is working fine
-the system attempts to boot windows (which wont work due to the install)

so while you do have a few minor problems like the front pins need to be placed correctly and you need to install a fresh copy of windows overall it sounds like you are making some good progress and things appear to be hooked up correctly.

i still cant say if the thermal paste was applied correctly or if the heatsink on the cpu was seated right since the system inst into windows (basically if you start into windows and the pc keeps shutting down its an issue) however on new cpus which generate quite a bit of heat it might have already hit the load required to start the fan and hence you are most likely perfectly fine in this regard. normally though i say that a first successful boot into windows is good as a first test for that.

overall... looks like you are doing a good job.
February 2, 2014 12:44:10 PM

The only wires not hooked up are labeled "+5v D- D+ GROUND" (red, white, green, and black in that order) -- 4 pins in a single row -- no spaces. They lead to the top of the Cougar's front panel which houses USB/mic/headphones connectors
I'm using the Asus M5a99X board. It comes with an "adapter" which just makes it easier to connect the reset/power led/drive leds to the board by grouping them together on a clearly labeled connector. The connector *looks* like it is designed to also accept this 4-wire cluster, but the labeling is slightly different -- "Speaker Ground Ground +5v" ... so even if I flip the cluster 180 degrees, it still doesn't look like it would line up.
Unfortunately, I didn't buy an optical drive or the windows 7 disk yet. I was planning to install the OS onto my new SSD by using the optical drive built into my Dell, but now I see I can't do that.
I'm planning on buying Windows 7, but in the meantime, I was hoping to install XP using a USB flash drive. I cut and pasted the contents of the official XP disk onto the flash drive. When I tried to boot from that flash drive on my new rig (the flash drive WAS recognized), it just said "operating system missing". Did I do something wrong? Is there a way to install XP using my flash drive? I didn't do anything to prepare the flash drive. I looked into fully erasing it using the diskpart utility w/ command prompt, but it didn't see the flash drive so I gave up!! So maybe that was the problem? Any suggestions on this front?
Thanks again!!!
Fred
February 2, 2014 3:05:58 PM

without seeing photos and knowing what connectors you already have i would just be guessing. this is why i asked for the complete list of connectors and what you have plugged in as well as photos. i know that the +/-D are either the hdd led or the pled but cant say for sure without knowing what the other connector is labeled as. as for the +5 and ground.... honestly i dont know without a photo. it could be the +5/gnd next to the speaker connector but cant say for sure. keep in mind that this is just an educated guess after doing so many of them and i would highly suggest taking photos and verifying that you have things plugged in right.

an os can be installed from usb drive however it might need to be formatted a little differently. normally there is a utility to do this (just look up install windows xp from usb drive). in any case its a bit pointless as you will be replacing it with windows 7 in a week. all you would succeed in doing is putting more write cycles on your ssd due to all the extra formatting.

you can pull the optical drive out of your old dell computer and re-use it cant you?
February 3, 2014 10:22:42 AM

Here are the connectors. The first pic shows the entire cluster plugged into the adapter which is then plugged into the m5a99x board. The questionable "sub-cluster" is the 4-pin molex on the right.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o282/fredobucket/201...

... and here's the other side of the adapter:

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o282/fredobucket/201...

Hope that worked okay.
As for using the dell drive.... it's got a custom connector that is hardwired to the USFF board, so I can't use it.
And I just decided to bite the bullet and buy windows 7 and an optical drive.
February 3, 2014 5:55:14 PM

photos definitely do help

looks like you have the hdd led +/- connectors correct
looks like the power switch is correct also
you are missing a reset switch connector.. does the case not have a reset button?
the power led +/- is correct

and what in the world is that 4 wide connector...
it almost looks like it should be a usb header connector though usb is normally a 2x4 shaped block.

the speaker connector is normally labeled clearly with speaker and typically has only two wires (the grounds often are not used). often its just a lead which is only an inch long and has the speaker right on it as well. i dont think that this mystery 4 pin goes in this area.

could you please take a photo of any front cables you have plugged into:

-usb motherboard headers
-sound motherboard headers

just so i can verify things are correct. something is definitely wonky with that 4pin

if possible could you trace the cable to see where it goes? (does it go to the usb port(s)?


February 4, 2014 2:02:55 PM

I called Cougar, and they told me that the 4-pin connector was for the front panel USB port. Apparently, since there is only one USB port, only 4 pins are needed? They told me to plug it into the bottom half of the 9-pin USB connector on my motherboard.
Also, it seems that the "D" in D+/D- stands for "Data".
As for the "speaker" section, that is for system warning beeps --- if you have an external speaker for that. That was in the Asus manual.
All other connectors were pretty self-explanatory, so I think I'm good to go!
Just waiting patiently on the OS and optical drive....
February 4, 2014 4:01:02 PM

aha!

so my hunch that it was a usb motherboard plug was correct!

yes.. the speaker area is for a case speaker. i've seen this two ways: both as a little speaker on inch long wires and a plug which mounts direct on and also by longer wires which route to a speaker installed somewhere inside the case itself.

and by "sound" i didnt mean speaker i meant for any front panel audio (headphone jack, mic jack) but it appears you had no trouble with that.

looks like everything is going along as planned so far so good.
February 8, 2014 1:45:57 PM

Well, I got everything put together!!!
I'm running windows 7. I wanted to completely erase/reformat the SSD, but it appears to have kept the old windows files (I cloned my older drive with XP on to the SSD when I got it). Is this sub-optimal, as far as performance goes?
February 9, 2014 3:43:46 PM

when you inserted the windows 7 disk when starting the pc and went through the installation i would have went with advanced install

then delete the partitions then recreate and format. its always better to start fresh if possible.

what do you mean it sill has your old windows files on it? if you formatted the drive then this wouldnt be the case. please explain.

February 10, 2014 7:36:32 AM

I believe I went with the advanced option, but it still saved all my files in a "windows.old" file. I don't remember doing anything with partitions. The disk only gave me two options (can't remember what the options were called), and I went with the more extreme of the two -- i.e. the one that gave me the fresher start.
February 10, 2014 1:18:32 PM

when you install windows over windows you get the windows.old file thing going on

this points to me that you didnt format the drive (blank out all the data) first.

will it cause trouble? most likely the answer is no however its always recommended to have a fresh start since there have been a few cases of issues. in any case it is crap on your hard drive you dont need.

up to you if you want to format your drive (full format... not quick format by the way) or if you want to leave it as is.

its probably fine but if it was my own system i never leave that junk on there. your call.
!