Building a PC

[nbrikha]

Ok, so I got a lot of flack about getting an alienware so I'm gonna go with building my own. I need some suggestions. I wanna put a liquid cooling system for the CPU, idk where to go for that. I need a tower suggestion. And overclocking is definitely something I wanna do. This is what I had in mind for all this.

GPU
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5562973&sku=P450-5872

PSU
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5557176&sku=B52-3020

Ram (Maybe two of these)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5210453&CatId=3485

CPU (I will be gaming mid-high end)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4588101&sku=A79-0955

Mobo
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4421681&sku=A455-2878

HDD
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4177125&CatId=2458

All helpful criticism is appreciated

 

[foothead]

consider RAID0 instead of the 10k RPM HDD.

What is your resolution, and what games will you be playing? I have a code to get a 5850 for $270, which might be a lot more suited to you.

What do you know on liquid cooling?

 

[Mutant Corn]

Cheaper RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277
Timings aren't as good but it saves almost $100

Cheaper 5870 by ~$40. Good quality.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102856&cm_re=5870-_-14-102-856-_-Product

Exact same mobo for cheaper:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131363&Tpk=asus m4a79t deluxe

Two of these in Raid0 will be a helluva lot faster, and half the price
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...e=samsing_spinpoint_f3-_-22-152-181-_-Product

You need a better PSU...that one isn't really high quality. Not terrible like logisys & friends, but not great.

 

[foothead]

Cheaper RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277
Timings aren't as good but it saves almost $100

Cheaper 5870 by ~$40. Good quality.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102856&cm_re=5870-_-14-102-856-_-Product

Exact same mobo for cheaper:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131363&Tpk=asus m4a79t deluxe

You need a better PSU...that one isn't really high quality. Not terrible like logisys & friends, but not great.

The 5870 he posted was XXX edition. It OC's better, and comes pre-OC'd IIRC.

I still think a 5850 would be more suited for the money you are saving. Get two for $100 more than a single 5870. 5850 CF == 5970.

I agree with that RAM too. You can always WB the RAM for what you are saving with a few RAM-35's and it will be able to get really good clocks/timings.

EDIT: Do you want me to find you the parts for your liquid cooling loop?

 

[Mutant Corn]

Would the OC make that big of a difference? XFX has been doing some shady things lately anyway...

You're right though, a '50 may be better here.

 

[foothead]

I have M4A79T. Good board, but not the best overclocker. FSB maxxes around 240. Get this one. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...Froogle-_-Motherboards+-+AMD-_-MSI-_-13130223
OP: Let me know and I will PM you the promo code for the 5850.

EDIT: you will need a really good case too for liquid cooling. Full tower is best. Get an antec 1200.

Or... you could do what I did and get the Tt armor lcs and overhaul the liquid cooling system. The radiator, pump, and reservoir are all good. This will save you quite a bit of money.

EDIT: http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch_v3.asp?scriteria=AA75878
epic deal, considering the case alone costs more than that.

 

[nbrikha]

Towards the liquid cooling, that would be clutch. I know nothing about liquid cooling. Thanks for the 5850 advice, I concur. Price isn't the biggest deal for me. I want power now and power that'll still be useful three years from now.

*Edit* I'm probably not gonna overclock past 4 ghz. Also, about graphics, I need a card that'll still be good two years from now. And eventually add another down the line.

*Edit* For a tower...http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4146085&csid=_32

 

[foothead]

Towards the liquid cooling, that would be clutch. I know nothing about liquid cooling. Thanks for the 5850 advice, I concur. Price isn't the biggest deal for me. I want power now and power that'll still be useful three years from now.

When you need it, throw a second one in crossfire. PM sent.

The cheapest lcs route is to get the Tt armor lcs that I posted, then put your own waterblock and tubing. Do you want to waterblock RAM, video card, or anything else?

EDIT: WB: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/7...ogee_GTZ_CPU_Waterblock_-_Socket_LGA_775.html you will have to get the AM2 mounting kit listed at the bottom of the page, as well as 3/8" barbs. I recommend compression fittings. They look nicer.

EDIT: what color tubing do you want?

 

[Tommy Boy]

Well, there was a Hitachi deskstar 2tb hard drive on sale at newegg for like 130 bucks, I would say you could run 2 of those in raid0 for a little more than your 10k rpm velociraptor and have tons of storage, but they're not on sale anymore.

 

[foothead]

http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l3/g30/c99/s171/list/p1/Liquid_Cooling-Tubing-38_ID_Tubing-Page1.html
Get the feser 3/8 inch ID, 1/2 inch OD tubing. Also, if you want it to look really cool, put this http://www.frozencpu.com/products/5...bing_Wrap_-_Black_SPR-10BK.html?tl=g30c99s171 on it.
Make sure you get the 1/2 inch OD, because the 5/8 was too big for the fittings that came with the armor. Get a lot. 8 feet should be plenty if you are going to WB anything else. 6 if not. This way, you will have extra for when you add something to your loop.

EDIT: if you put this on your GPU, you can get it to over 1000 MHz core, and it will easily outperform the 5870, while running (and looking) cooler.

EDIT 2: if you WB the video card, it might be worth it to add an extra radiator.
This one is good. http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8...l_120mm_Radiator_MCR220-QP.html?tl=g30c95s160
If you need, I can show you how to mount it on the back of the case, without buying a 'radbox'