Building my first Gaming Computer

Computear

Daemon Poster
Messages
675
Location
US
USAGE:
Primary: Gaming (World of Warcraft, Fallout3, etc.) @ high(est?) settings/resolution.
Secondary: Music/Video storage, Photoshop

BUDGET:
$1000-$1500 (excluding OS/monitor/accessories)

SPECS:
*links might not be current; changed specs a lot
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131366
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150394
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220371
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817121045

AMD Phenom II X4 955 @ 3.2GHz
ASUS AM3 AMD 790GX Motherboard
Radeon HD 4870 1GB (holding out to see official prices/specs of HD 5850/5870)
4 GB (2x 2GB) DDR3 SDRAM 1600
1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s HDD

falls just under $1K w/ Tax+S&H... saves more $$$ for a good monitor

This is my "final" build... will probably start ordering parts Sunday

any last second tips/changes?


Also, any tips on putting it together? This will be my first rig built from scratch.
What all tools will I need? I'll be building it on a marble floor with anti-static wrist straps.
 
That's going to be a seriously awesome computer. I would get a bigger monitor though if you're on that sort of budget. Also, I would suggest putting more into the video card if it's a gaming computer. GTX275 or higher would rape :)
 
That's going to be a seriously awesome computer. I would get a bigger monitor though if you're on that sort of budget. Also, I would suggest putting more into the video card if it's a gaming computer. GTX275 or higher would rape :)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125280

Something like that? Or anybody else got a alternative suggestion?

Really worth the $150-$200 more over the 4870? Will I need to get a better motherboard for that?


And will the 600W PSU be enough for my build?

***edit: Decided to go AMD over Intel***


HD 4780 or GTX 260? which should i go with?
 
Both builds look really really nice. I'd go with Intel. But that's just me.
 
***edit: Found my mistake; Was looking for 3x 2GB RAM when the Phenom II isnt triple channel***
 
Primary: Gaming (World of Warcraft, Fallout3, etc.) @ high(est?) settings/resolution.
Secondary: Music/Video storage, Photoshop
It's probably not worth the extra cost to go with the Core i7 rig then. The Phenom II performs as well if not better in games than the i7. And you put the left over money towards a better GPU. Speaking of a new GPU, I have a proposition.
MOTHERBOARD:
?
Here's a good 790GX motherboard that supports DDR3 and Crossfire.
MEMORY:
Looking for quality, good-priced, 6GB DDR3
Also, everything I find on NewEgg for 3x 2GB RAM sticks is designed for the Core i7, will it work with the Phenom II? or can somebody find me RAM designed for AMD chipsets? Or 4x 2GB would work if good price.
wait.. does my current AMD-build MOBO even support DDR3 RAM?
The three stick kits are for the Core i7 platform only. For Phenom II you need the two stick kits. Just go with 4GB, it will be perfectly sufficient. There's no need to spend more on 8GB.
Here.
And will the 600W PSU be enough for my build?
Yes, it'll be fine.

Coming back to what I said earlier about the GPU. I recommend you use the onboard graphics on the 790GX for a couple of weeks. On September 10th ATi is unveiling the HD 5800 series which support DX11. I think they will be well worth the wait so I don't recommend spending $200 on a new GPU now.
 
It's probably not worth the extra cost to go with the Core i7 rig then. The Phenom II performs as well if not better in games than the i7. And you put the left over money towards a better GPU. Speaking of a new GPU, I have a proposition.

Here's a good 790GX motherboard that supports DDR3 and Crossfire.

The three stick kits are for the Core i7 platform only. For Phenom II you need the two stick kits. Just go with 4GB, it will be perfectly sufficient. There's no need to spend more on 8GB.
Here.

Yes, it'll be fine.

Coming back to what I said earlier about the GPU. I recommend you use the onboard graphics on the 790GX for a couple of weeks. On September 10th ATi is unveiling the HD 5800 series which support DX11. I think they will be well worth the wait so I don't recommend spending $200 on a new GPU now.

Ha you quoted a bunch right as I edited every post :p
Chose about the same mobo as you recommended, but ill pay the $5 more (after rebate) to go with ASUS over GIGABYTE.

How much will the HD 5800s cost? Since the HD 4870 rivals the GTX260s; I assume the HD 5800s will rival the GTX280s? Or will it leave them in the dust? If the 5800s require as much power as the GTX280s or GTX295s, ill need a 750W or 850W PSU i think... NewEggs PSU calculator seems to show way higher numbers than other PSU calculators i find... NewEgg's calculator is showing over 700W needed if the HD 5800s use about as much power as the GTX295s.... every other calculator i find i cant even get it above 600W, even NewEgg is only showing needing 525W for my 4870 setup too... the HD 5800s will probably be pretty expensive when they come out anyway, wont they?

Anybody else got advice? HD 4870, or hold out for HD 5800s? Might hold out for a bit for NewEgg to receive a stock of: the 700W OCZ Modxstream PSUs anyway. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018)
 
How much will the HD 5800s cost? Since the HD 4870 rivals the GTX260s; I assume the HD 5800s will rival the GTX280s? Or will it leave them in the dust?
Nothing is confirmed. But ATi introduced the HD 4850 and the HD 4870 at $199 and $299, I expect the HD 5800 series to be the same. They introduce the X2 card to compete in the high end market.
A single HD 5870 is expected to be faster than an HD 4870 X2. (That's going by the die size: 350mm2+ @ 40nm)
 
imo, i am hoping that they make a 5890 x2 Toxic edition...

mhmmm....raw power....

atleast a Vaper X 5890 toxic.
 
Alright I'll hold out for that for now... How about my PSU though? Anybody know a reliable calculator or estimate how much the HD 5800 series will need? With the eXtreme calculator I cant get it to say I'll need more than 600W on 100% load even if I exaggerate my specs, newegg calculator throws out 700W+ with less than what I have...

I'm gonna go with a 730W PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817121045
Good price & good reviews.


http://howtobuycomputer.net/radeon_hd_5800_rv870.htm
estimates the HD 5800s to run at ~225W


"Theoretical performance numbers indicate that the [HD 5870] will be close to double that of the Radeon HD 4870." - http://www.tweaktown.com/news/12014/radeon_hd_5870_specs_revealed/index.html

Sounds worth waiting for.
 
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