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Thread: Building a PC for the first time, need questions answered.

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    AznTechie's Avatar
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    First of all, I wouldn't recommend you use most of the custom builder sites out there (ie CyberPower, iBuyPower, etc.). You're better off just assembling everything yourself; it's not difficult, either, though time-consuming and sometimes confusing with the wiring and stuff.
    Here's a thorough video guide to building a computer. The only thing different with your system is essentially just the water cooling.

    Area-wise, it's probably not going to be too much of a problem in the dorms. I helped a classmate build one recently in his dorms and it was fine for the most part. Just make sure you don't have carpeting or something like that.

    You can go for the FX8120 instead of the 2600k if you don't mind AMD (note: this means changing the motherboard ofc). Windows is supposedly going to have an update on the next service pack or something that helps the system make use of more threads, making the FX8120 pretty good for the price, if not already. Otherwise, the 2500k (or even the non-unlocked 2400) is an excellent option. The FX8120/i7 2600 is only really if you're going to be doing intensive stuff all the time, rather than mostly gaming or just schoolwork.

    The Asus Xonar series seems better if you are going to be doing audio editing or just listening in general. The NZXT Phantom is also a bigger case for your parts and stuff (even if the "front" fans are a bit of a pain to plug in sometimes).

    GPU-wise, it depends on what the software you'll be using supports more. The 7850 seems fine for gaming, though, despite not available at the moment.

    And you'll probably save a bit building it yourself, too.

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    you dont need mac or linux - the software support for both is so poor, especially on linux - i couldnt even run a portable edition of MS Office 2003 and was too lazy to install another copy, so if one thing doesnt work, it means the OS isnt worth it

    i couldnt run hackintosh on my laptop, wont bother with it on this computer, because its ******ed, but i can tell you it has a slightly better software support than windows, still you wont be able to play many games

    and if you REALLY want to build your own computer, go on, you will save some money, if i were you i wouldnt mess and ask the shop for a descent configuration

    why do you need 12 or 16gb ram? do you work at nasa? with so much memory your computer wont get outdated for about 5 years, it makes a bit sense, but its kinda stupid on the other hand, i have 2gb ram and im fine

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    RAM:
    Go for 8GB RAM. Highly enough for everything. If your motherboard support quad-channel memory you can get 4x2GB RAM, but its pretty useless too. NO performance boost with qual-channel. Even a bit slower because of the worse latency. Go for Dual-channel 2x4GB. IMO.

    HDD:
    Best is Samsung Spinpoint F3 Sata2 (HD103SJ) or Western Digital Black Caviar Sata3 (WD1002FAEX+).

    Processor:
    About I7 2600k and i5 2500k. Both very good for overclock. The 2600k has Hyper-Threading, so 4 core + 4 "virtual" and different integrated GPU.
    I5 2500k is enough for everything and games with 4 core support will work faster on this.

    Graphics card:
    AMD Radeon HD 7850 isnt out yet, as the whole 7000 series. o.O
    You can make crossfire, if you dont want to buy new video card for years.

    Mouse:
    Razer is very good, maybe a bit overpriced. If you want to save your money, check out the A4TECH XL-747H, almost the same and really cheap.

    Sound card:
    Creative Labs SB Audigy SE... not much better than the integrated Realtek ALC892. If you want to buy sound card get the Asus Xonar DG or D1/DX (much better than the realtek).

    Cooling:
    Liquid cooling is expensive and useless if you dont want to "hardcore" overclock... :rolleyes:

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    Quote Originally Posted by Saex Conroy View Post
    you dont need mac or linux - the software support for both is so poor, especially on linux - i couldnt even run a portable edition of MS Office 2003 and was too lazy to install another copy, so if one thing doesnt work, it means the OS isnt worth it

    i couldnt run hackintosh on my laptop, wont bother with it on this computer, because its ******ed, but i can tell you it has a slightly better software support than windows, still you wont be able to play many games

    and if you REALLY want to build your own computer, go on, you will save some money, if i were you i wouldnt mess and ask the shop for a descent configuration

    why do you need 12 or 16gb ram? do you work at nasa? with so much memory your computer wont get outdated for about 5 years, it makes a bit sense, but its kinda stupid on the other hand, i have 2gb ram and im fine
    Linux is fine, it's you trying to get Linux to recognize a execution file on the system natively that's the problem. Alternatives such as Open Office will do the same job as Office for the most part (looks like Office 2003, too), and there are software alternatives to most other programs, too.

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    I think the OP meant 6850.

    Only plays Magic DPS Classes, Healers and Machinist/Engineers.
    Playing MMO: FFXIV (Balmung)
    Waiting On: FFXV, KH3, Tree of Savior, RE:FFVII · Saving For: New Computer

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    Quote Originally Posted by coldReactive View Post
    I think the OP meant 6850.
    The 7000 series is supposed to come out on Jan. 9th, no? It's possible that he might actually mean the 7850 :x

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    Quote Originally Posted by AznTechie View Post
    The 7000 series is supposed to come out on Jan. 9th, no? It's possible that he might actually mean the 7850 :x
    It took a while for both ATI and nvidia, if I recall, to get their 6000 / 500 series up to the 700 / 70 versions.

    Only plays Magic DPS Classes, Healers and Machinist/Engineers.
    Playing MMO: FFXIV (Balmung)
    Waiting On: FFXV, KH3, Tree of Savior, RE:FFVII · Saving For: New Computer

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    I updated my build and my budget is now 1800.

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    FIRST: MY ENGLISH SUX!
    About your questions...
    HDD cooling fan... i never used one. After you buy the PC, check out the temperatures. Im sure you will never need one... :rolleyes:
    That case has 3 fans, you will buy other cooling things too, so its "cool".

    With thermal display you can check the hardware temperatures... but you can do that with softwares anyway... useless.

    Wireless Network Card: Linksys WMP600N: Yea, with that you can use wifi ofc.. I dont know how good is this.

    You want to buy that monitor for sure? 16:10 ratio isnt the best for gaming... theres still new games or MMO's without 16:10 support. Youtube supports 16:9 too. Then screen will be not fully filled out with 16:10.. so you know.. my english sux, i cant explain very well.

    "$1750
    What do you think?":
    I still dont know.. why so expensive is this? O:

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    Newegg.com - Once You Know, You Newegg

    ^ For 1750 (after promo codes and even more after rebates and if you use shoprunner for free 2day shipping), that is worlds better. There's a few promo codes in there and stuff could be even switched around to be made even cheaper. Everything about this build is one word.. "Quality". You could down grade the powersupply if you'd like and save about 50 bucks there, you can down grade the monitor and save 50 bucks, you could downgrade the case and save 50-75 bucks. You don't need a sound card, onboard audio is more than fine now days. You'd literally not even notice the difference unless you had some 100+ dollar headphones or 2.1 setup. Aside that, the Xonar DS sucks.

    i7-2600k - plenty of processing power for your programming and gaming, bulldozer is just not there yet 2600k > 8150, it's not debatable.
    8GB ram - you don't need 16gb, by the time you do, you'll need to upgrade your entire system

    Noctua d-14 heatsink - Will outperform their crappy watercooling by a large margin. You'll get the 2600k to 4.5+ with this

    Azza 1000 case - just assumed you liked it, you dont need a full tower, you can fit this all into a decent looking 50 dollar mid tower.

    Blackwidow - because mechanical keyboards are worlds better than crappy rubber dome keyboards, i just assumed you liked razer however there are better mechanicals

    Asrock extreme4 board - dope board, good overclocker, full featured, pci-e 3.0 support, etc etc

    GTX 560 ti core 448 - with a slight overclock, performs like a GTX 570, great for 1080p gaming

    Asus 23" 2ms 1080p lcd - its a friggen monitor, it displays stuff...at 1920x1080

    Yup, that's my take on a 1800 budget...it kills the build in the OP by a good margin...with almost all the parts offering 2+ year warranty.

  11. #11
    Bladin's Sword Sharpener Reputation: 10

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    So if I bought all of that and put it together, it would work fine? I really do not want to put it together myself because I don't know anything about it, but I guess I can watch a walkthrough. I still don't have a place to build it. My moms is small and there are two babies there and my dorm is carpeted. I would probably need to go to a friends or something.

    Also, what promotional codes? From what I'm seeing the price is almost 1900.

    Also, is this psu good?: Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-750 750W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ellondu View Post
    Also, what promotional codes? From what I'm seeing the price is almost 1900.
    Subscribe to the newsletter for newegg.

    Also, about your issue with putting things together, I agree. I tried putting things together in my own case, the only thing I had wrong was the standoff screws; I couldn't tell the difference between machine fed (strange lines on the underside of the flat part of the screws) and normal screws. This led to serious issues, and inability to remove the motherboard when I screwed in the wrong screws. So I ended up taking it to a PC Shop to have the rest assembled.

    Unfortunately, the manual did not depict the two different screws correctly, they both had the same exact image, and did not show the actual difference between the two types. it was a learning experience; and due to my errors, the man had to work serious overtime, nearly costing me over 400 USD for the work, but, instead, he gave me 350 USD off as he knew I was new to this stuff, and was a learnign experience.

    Only plays Magic DPS Classes, Healers and Machinist/Engineers.
    Playing MMO: FFXIV (Balmung)
    Waiting On: FFXV, KH3, Tree of Savior, RE:FFVII · Saving For: New Computer

  13. #13
    Bladin's Sword Sharpener Reputation: 10

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    Do the screws come with the case? And what IS the difference?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ellondu View Post
    Do the screws come with the case? And what IS the difference?
    My case came with both, and they were mixed together, so I couldn't really tell them apart, but,

    Quote Originally Posted by coldReactive View Post
    Also, about your issue with putting things together, I agree. I tried putting things together in my own case, the only thing I had wrong was the standoff screws; I couldn't tell the difference between machine fed (strange lines on the underside of the flat part of the screws) and normal screws. This led to serious issues, and inability to remove the motherboard when I screwed in the wrong screws. So I ended up taking it to a PC Shop to have the rest assembled.

    Only plays Magic DPS Classes, Healers and Machinist/Engineers.
    Playing MMO: FFXIV (Balmung)
    Waiting On: FFXV, KH3, Tree of Savior, RE:FFVII · Saving For: New Computer

  15. #15
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    Screws come with the case, the PSU, the motherboard, etc.

  16. #16
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    I would like to know how to overclock. Every detail you can offer.

  17. #17
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    Yeah, I'm not going to give you every detail. Bioses normally come with straight forward BIOS interface for overclocking now days. However, there's literally TONS of guides on various computer forums that are already written up with all the details. Check out overclock.net, there's lots of tutorials there.

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