21 replies to this topic

[WharfRat]

My old PC's mobo died on me two nights ago (R.I.P.) and as the whole machine is several years old at this point, I'm considering building a new one. So far, this is what I've came up with. As a total noob, looking for any feedback on the build.

Product Description Savings Total Price
SAMSUNG Internal DVD Writer Black SATA Model SH-222BB/RSBS Item #: N82E16827151255
-$4.00 Instant $18.99
ASUS HD7770-2GD5 Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 2GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card Item #: N82E16814121642 $159.99 1
AMD Gift - Dirt SHOWDOWN Gift Coupon Item #: N82E16800995124 -$59.99 Saving $59.99 $0.00
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-1600C9D-16GXM Item #: N82E16820231568 $124.99
ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard Item #: N82E16813131821

$239.99
Intel Core i7-3770S Ivy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 65W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I73770S Item #: N82E16819116503 $319.99

• 
  COOLER MASTER Silent Pro RSA00-AMBAJ3-US 1000W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.92 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active ... Item #: N82E16817171049
• COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case Item #: N82E16811119233

-$33.00 Instant
-$26.00 Combo $208.98

• 
  Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 3TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive Item #: N82E16822148844
• 
  SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC128D/AM 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) Desktop Upgrade Kit Item #: N82E16820147134

-$30.00 Instant
-$50.00 Combo $269.98



Subtotal: $1,342.9

[qu4k3]

Looks like it would make a pretty good computer... I need something like that

Intel Core i7-3770S Ivy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.9GHz Turbo)

is that a 2nd gen?

[iargue]

You could easily save around 40 dollars on memory

[WharfRat]

You could easily save around 40 dollars on memory

Yeah, I doubt I'll actually go with that RAM... It seems like you are paying more for the brand than the memory. I added it just as a place holder for now.

Also, I'll actually be getting the Intel Core i7-3770 processor and not the 3770S (3770 is out of stock).

@qu4k3 it's 3rd gen.

My real question is: Am I glaringly overlooking something? Will every component work together fine? Should I have any real issues with this build? Am I missing anything that I simply overlooked? (I already have a monitor and peripherals.)

[iargue]

Make sure your processor is on the Motherboards compatibility list (Since you are changing processors, I can't check this)

Otherwise, it looks like things will work together just fine.

Edited by iargue, 10 June 2012 - 01:27 PM.

[WharfRat]

Make sure your processor is on the Motherboards compatibility list (Since you are changing processors, I can't check this)

Otherwise, it looks like things will work together just fine.

Thank you.

[Bone]

128GB SSD seems a bit excessive (considering the price) to me, unless you have a reason for it.

[TrampleStutters]

What are you going to be using this PC for?

[Kyle]

https://slickdeals.n...r77702pmd1gd5oc

[WharfRat]

128GB SSD seems a bit excessive (considering the price) to me, unless you have a reason for it.

The 269 price is a combo that also includes the 3TB HDD. I might be able to go back to a 64GB Solid state and save about 50 bucks.... Thanks.

What are you going to be using this PC for?

This PC is typically my media center PC as I use my iMac for most tasks. However, I need a new PC that will be able to handle most reasonable games well. I do a little bit of video editing but not professionally. My must haves: Large HDD for media storage. Optical SPDIF output. Solid state drive. Handles most moderate games well. Most importantly: I'd rather buy very nice components that will still work well into the future at this time than have to upgrade every 6 months to a year just to be able to run any new software.

[Bone]

The 269 price is a combo that also includes the 3TB HDD. I might be able to go back to a 64GB Solid state and save about 50 bucks.... Thanks.

Oh, that's not too bad. 64GB should be more than enough for a W7 install, but 128 would leave plenty of room for games/apps if you're interested in that.

[TrampleStutters]

Well if video editing is a higher priority then I'll say go ahead with the i7, if you want to squeeze a little more value for gaming. I would reccomend that you drop the CPU for an i5-3570K and put the extra 70$ for a better GPU.

As far as I know the only benefit you get with an i7 is 2MB extra for your L3 cache and Hyper-threading. The 3570K will allow you room for overclocking to squeeze a little more performance out of your CPU.

That's just how I would do it though

[iargue]

128GB SSD seems a bit excessive (considering the price) to me, unless you have a reason for it.

Yeah, the combo deal isn't really worth it. He will save about 40 dollars if he just goes with a 64gb hd, which is Windows 7 with enough space for 2-4 games (All depending on the size)

Well if video editing is a higher priority then I'll say go ahead with the i7, if you want to squeeze a little more value for gaming. I would reccomend that you drop the CPU for an i5-3570K and put the extra 70$ for a better GPU.

As far as I know the only benefit you get with an i7 is 2MB extra for your L3 cache and Hyper-threading. The 3570K will allow you room for overclocking to squeeze a little more performance out of your CPU.

That's just how I would do it though

Shhhh. Enough of that sillyness.

The 269 price is a combo that also includes the 3TB HDD. I might be able to go back to a 64GB Solid state and save about 50 bucks.... Thanks.


This PC is typically my media center PC as I use my iMac for most tasks. However, I need a new PC that will be able to handle most reasonable games well. I do a little bit of video editing but not professionally. My must haves: Large HDD for media storage. Optical SPDIF output. Solid state drive. Handles most moderate games well. Most importantly: I'd rather buy very nice components that will still work well into the future at this time than have to upgrade every 6 months to a year just to be able to run any new software.

The i7 will handle all of that and more. My computer can handle transcoding and streaming to three other computers in the house, all while I'm playing a game. It makes for a great media center computer for everyone living in the house. (I use Tversity media server to stream shit to other devices, like my 360). Don't listen to anyone trying to talk you into getting the i5 instead of the i7. The i7 will outlast the i5 by at least 5 years, if not more.

As far as lasting for a long as time.

i7 - Good for at least 8 more years, probably more.
Pci 3 - Latest technology, only a few months old
Usb 3 - Latest Technology, about a year old. Given the upgrade time from usb 2.0, hopefully new technologies wont come out too quickly.
Gpu - Direct x 11 (Assuming support for future versions, since my GTX 295 got Directx 11 support when it came out). OpenGL 4.2. 2gb of ram. Looks good. Should last atleast 4 years at max settings before you have to start lowering them down. Maybe longer.


The biggest issue with technology is the rate of growth. We keep increasing our rate of growth by a huge amount. PCI and USB standards might only last a year or two before they are redefined. GPU standards increase every single year. The only thing that we can truly hope for is that Programmers stay efficient (Which is the opposite of the current trend). If programmers continue to use the least amount of resources to get a task done, this computer will last at least 20 years. By then, things will be far to advanced for you to do anything. (Sadly, programmers are becoming more and more okay with bloatware. Just look at firefox .)

Everything looks like it will most likely die before it needs to be replaced, but technology is such a rapidly expanding industry that it may be next year we introduce a 30 core processor, and the year after that we introduce gigabit Ethernet to the world (But the last one seems unlikely. Companies don't want to innovate the internet. They want to control it and limit it for the profit.)

Also, your GPU is out of stock.

Edited by iargue, 11 June 2012 - 10:04 AM.

[iargue]

My main HDD is a 120 GB SSD, after I've installed Win7 and everything that needs to be on main drive onto it, I'm left with 70GB free at the moment. My secondary drive is 1TB and it's all the space I need for the meantime. I do a lot of MMO gaming, artwork, editing and I have tons of music/films on it and it's barely touched the surface
I'd splurge the extra on the bigger SSD, and trim a little off the extra storage to make the costs balance out.

I had a 1tb hard drive. Filled it up in less that 6 months. I have a second 3tb hard drive, and its Down to 2tb free after 2 months :|

[iargue]

Ouch, what on earth do you store lol

Lots and lots of different things. I do pretty much everything possible when it comes to computers

The first 1tb is for Games/Programming and the 3tb is for Movies and TV shows.

[iargue]

Ahh, I'm big on gaming. I had to get 2 GeForce GTX 560Ti SLi since my 'gaming' laptop died on me because it couldn't handle how graphics intensive some of the games were (It was only a year old D:). We built me a desktop and I'm so in love with it lol. So much so, I took pictures of every step of building it xD

Lets see them

[iargue]

My baby

Please tell me you went with the i7

Also. Very sexy. How much did it cost you?

[iargue]

See. You could skipped the Second GPU and picked up an I7 and had 7.9 across everything (Oc that memory just a smidgen for 7.9)

[Metigue]

7.9s across the board mean nothing in terms of actual performance, but hey if it helps you sleep better at night.

Ok @ OP, firstly what are you using this for? If it's just for gaming and general use you do not need the 3770

the i5-3570 does everything the 3770 does without the hyper-threading, as very few current applications actually make use of more than 2 threads you're paying an extra 100$ for a feature you won't use.
The motherboard you're buying is overkill, sticking to basic motherboards that are compatibility checked with your RAM and have 1 x16 PCI-3.0 slot for your graphics card is all you need for this build, as someone who's spent around $500 on a motherboard before, spending on motherboards is just for E-peen. You should be able to find a basic mobo for around $80.

Once you've found the cheaper motherboard, Google its model and find the ram compatibility list, Scope out a nice set of sticks and get them, it'll probably be cheaper and your system will encounter less errors (Make sure you stay within the confines of the amount of RAM slots available to your new motherboard)

With the savings from these pickups - Around $300
I recommend getting a better graphics card, as that 7770 is going to bottleneck before the 3570.

Edited by Metigue, 16 June 2012 - 11:52 AM.

[iargue]

7.9s across the board mean nothing in terms of actual performance, but hey if it helps you sleep better at night.

A performance rating means nothing in terms of performance.

K.

the i5-3570 does everything the 3770 does without the hyper-threading, as very few current applications actually make use of more than 2 threads you're paying an extra 100$ for a feature you won't use.

The stupidest and most incorrect statement on the market in today's age. Windows 7 includes automatic multicore performance, which takes advantage of all of the cores of a processor for all applications, regardless of how an application can be coded.

[Metigue]

A performance rating means nothing in terms of performance.

K.




The stupidest and most incorrect statement on the market in today's age. Windows 7 includes automatic multicore performance, which takes advantage of all of the cores of a processor for all applications, regardless of how an application can be coded.

You can argue an incorrect argument all you want, it doesn't make it correct.

[bringerlight]

strong line connection is pretty much all you need for playing neopets.
I never got to build my first computer yet but I want to.