Hi everyone,
I have never build a computer before. I am just started getting interested in computers, computer parts, builds, etc.
I am trying to keep the budget for the computer itself as low as possible without compromising performance.
I love playing FPS, RPGs, etc. I really wanna start playing games like Crysis, Far Cry 2, Borderlands, etc. I don't do too much video editing, etc, but my little brother does, and he may wanna get on this computer.
This is what I have.
Graphics Card: $200
EVGA 896-P3-1257-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked Edition 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
I went with this one because of lifetime warranty. Also, I am on the fence on whether or not I should get the regular 260, keep this superclocked, or get the SSC version. I don't know how much of a difference they will actually have when I play games. (any one know?) The regular 260 is $190, and the SSC is 220 I think.
RAM + CPU combo: $256
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL - Retail
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
I chose this CPU because its appears to be a good $200ish quad core with high GHz's. Compared to the i7, it is just out of my price range. For a $200 quad core, I could probably get an E8500 or something like that, but I hear that in the future, quadcores will be more utilized, so I decided to go Quadcore. Also i believe the performance on the Phenom II x4 955 is better than the E8500.
I chose this ram because it is DDR3 and 1600MHz which is compatible with my motherboard for around 100. (and its a combo deal )
Motherboard + PSU combo: $203
ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7 - Retail
I chose this "Mobo" because it got good reviews on Newegg, its an AM3, seems to be good for me? I don't know too much about motherboards...
I chose this PSU because its 500W which is required by my GTX 260. It also got decent reviews on Newegg (4 eggs)
Heatsink: $27
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro Rev.2 92mm Fluid Dynamic CPU Cooler - Retail
I chose this heatsink because it was really cheap, and had good reviews on Newegg.
My friend says that he has some thermal compound Arctic silver? maybe? that he will let me use.
Harddrive: ?
I am just going to wait on a good deal on slickdeals or Newegg or something. I am shooting for 750Gb, but I'll buy whatever is a great deal
Case: $50
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
I don't know about dimensions but I think everything should fit in there. I read in the reviews that the GTX 260 is a tight fit but it should be ok.
One concern I have is I have 2 extra case fans I am going to buy, but I am looking at the pictures on newegg, and I don't know where there is space for fans. I see there are holes on the side panel near the CPU, and I'm assuming thats for CPU fan ventilation. I just don't see where else I would put a fan. (unless I'm understanding fans incorrectly) (don't you blow air out? so if there aren't any extra ventilation holes for extra fans, where do you put the fans?)
DVD burner: $20
LITE-ON Black 18X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model iHDS118-04 - OEM
I don't do alot of burning. I just bought the cheapest one I could find.
Fans: $6 with shipping
2 MASSCOOL FD08025S1M4 80mm Case Fan - Retail
It got good reviews on Newegg. I just don't know where to put it...
OS: Windows 7: 30 (Student Discount)
Total: $719 (including rebates deductions) (without harddrive)
Overclocking: Again, I am new to the computer scene, so I am naturally kind of scared of Overclocking. I will be doing some because I've see a guy on youtube do it and he just increased the multipler up to 18.5x and his x4 955 hit like 3.7Ghz easily. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p7HB9OMJSs) I will probably be shooting for 3.6, 3.7 Ghz if I feel confident enough to try. Knowing this, Do I need 2 more case fans? (the MASSCOOL ones) I have 1 that comes with the case already.
Any input will be GREATLY appreciated.
Again, (I'm a nooby!)
Thanks So Much!
-Andy
I have never build a computer before. I am just started getting interested in computers, computer parts, builds, etc.
I am trying to keep the budget for the computer itself as low as possible without compromising performance.
I love playing FPS, RPGs, etc. I really wanna start playing games like Crysis, Far Cry 2, Borderlands, etc. I don't do too much video editing, etc, but my little brother does, and he may wanna get on this computer.
This is what I have.
Graphics Card: $200
EVGA 896-P3-1257-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked Edition 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
I went with this one because of lifetime warranty. Also, I am on the fence on whether or not I should get the regular 260, keep this superclocked, or get the SSC version. I don't know how much of a difference they will actually have when I play games. (any one know?) The regular 260 is $190, and the SSC is 220 I think.
RAM + CPU combo: $256
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL - Retail
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
I chose this CPU because its appears to be a good $200ish quad core with high GHz's. Compared to the i7, it is just out of my price range. For a $200 quad core, I could probably get an E8500 or something like that, but I hear that in the future, quadcores will be more utilized, so I decided to go Quadcore. Also i believe the performance on the Phenom II x4 955 is better than the E8500.
I chose this ram because it is DDR3 and 1600MHz which is compatible with my motherboard for around 100. (and its a combo deal )
Motherboard + PSU combo: $203
ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7 - Retail
I chose this "Mobo" because it got good reviews on Newegg, its an AM3, seems to be good for me? I don't know too much about motherboards...
I chose this PSU because its 500W which is required by my GTX 260. It also got decent reviews on Newegg (4 eggs)
Heatsink: $27
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro Rev.2 92mm Fluid Dynamic CPU Cooler - Retail
I chose this heatsink because it was really cheap, and had good reviews on Newegg.
My friend says that he has some thermal compound Arctic silver? maybe? that he will let me use.
Harddrive: ?
I am just going to wait on a good deal on slickdeals or Newegg or something. I am shooting for 750Gb, but I'll buy whatever is a great deal
Case: $50
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
I don't know about dimensions but I think everything should fit in there. I read in the reviews that the GTX 260 is a tight fit but it should be ok.
One concern I have is I have 2 extra case fans I am going to buy, but I am looking at the pictures on newegg, and I don't know where there is space for fans. I see there are holes on the side panel near the CPU, and I'm assuming thats for CPU fan ventilation. I just don't see where else I would put a fan. (unless I'm understanding fans incorrectly) (don't you blow air out? so if there aren't any extra ventilation holes for extra fans, where do you put the fans?)
DVD burner: $20
LITE-ON Black 18X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model iHDS118-04 - OEM
I don't do alot of burning. I just bought the cheapest one I could find.
Fans: $6 with shipping
2 MASSCOOL FD08025S1M4 80mm Case Fan - Retail
It got good reviews on Newegg. I just don't know where to put it...
OS: Windows 7: 30 (Student Discount)
Total: $719 (including rebates deductions) (without harddrive)
Overclocking: Again, I am new to the computer scene, so I am naturally kind of scared of Overclocking. I will be doing some because I've see a guy on youtube do it and he just increased the multipler up to 18.5x and his x4 955 hit like 3.7Ghz easily. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p7HB9OMJSs) I will probably be shooting for 3.6, 3.7 Ghz if I feel confident enough to try. Knowing this, Do I need 2 more case fans? (the MASSCOOL ones) I have 1 that comes with the case already.
Any input will be GREATLY appreciated.
Again, (I'm a nooby!)
Thanks So Much!
-Andy