My First Build

[SeanS468]

Well I've been hanging around this site/forums in the darkness and now that I'm almost ready to start to build my own computer, I figured that I would post the parts I'm going to be using and see what all you experienced people think. So here goes.

Case:AZZA Solano 1000 Black/Black Japanese SECC Steel/Metal mesh in front ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811517004
PSU: COOLER MASTER GX Series RS750-ACAAE3-US 750W ATX12V v2.31 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171053
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EP45T-USB3P LGA 775 Intel P45 USB 3.0 ATX
Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128433
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor BX80570E8500
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036
RAM: Crucial Ballistix 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model BL3KIT25664BN1608 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148254
Graphics card:2 HIS H485FM1GH Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card in crossfire mode
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161296
Hard Drive(s): Western Digital Caviar Blue WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218
Optical Drive(s): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106335

And then this:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166056
I believe this will allow me to hook up to my wireless internet.

So, that is my system as of right now. Was wondering if you guys could look it over, see if all the parts are compatible and what not.

[RickyTick]

Well I've been hanging around this site/forums in the darkness and now that I'm almost ready to start to build my own computer, I figured that I would post the parts I'm going to be using and see what all you experienced people think. So here goes.

Hey SeanS468. Welcome to the forums.



Case:AZZA Solano 1000 Black/Black Japanese SECC Steel/Metal mesh in front ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811517004

Seems like a nice case. Should be a cool case with all those fans. Are you sure you need a Full Tower case? It's hard to tell by pictures, but that thing is quite large.



PSU: COOLER MASTER GX Series RS750-ACAAE3-US 750W ATX12V v2.31 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171053

Newegg is SOLDOUT of that power supply. You might look at different options.



Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EP45T-USB3P LGA 775 Intel P45 USB 3.0 ATX
Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128433

This is an outdated component. I would recommend looking at the P55 motherboards. Especially ones that offer USB 3.0.



CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor BX80570E8500
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036

Like the motherboard, this is last generation hardware. Consider something like an i7-875K, i7-870, or i5-750.



RAM: Crucial Ballistix 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model BL3KIT25664BN1608 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148254

This is DDR3 ram and doesn't match the motherboard listed above, but we've already determined that the mobo is not a good choice. This particular ram is designed for the X58 motherboard.



Graphics card:2 HIS H485FM1GH Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card in crossfire mode
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161296

Even in crossfire, these video cards are not a good choice. Not only is crossfire/SLI a bit troublesome, but these cards are DX10. Some of the newer games are already introducing DX11. On the high end of video cards, I would suggest either an Nvidia GTX460 1gb, or a Radeon HD 5850. These cards by themselves would be stronger than 2 4850's in crossfire, iirc.



Hard Drive(s): Western Digital Caviar Blue WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218
Optical Drive(s): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106335

The Caviar Black is better, faster, and has a better warranty. It's not much more expensive either.



And then this:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166056
I believe this will allow me to hook up to my wireless internet.

You will have room on the motherboard to install a wireless card. It would be better than a USB wireless adapter, imo. You don't need anything terribly expensive, just a basic one.



So, that is my system as of right now. Was wondering if you guys could look it over, see if all the parts are compatible and what not.

Except for the ram, it all seems campatible, but there are much better available options than what you've chosen here. Sorry :(

I hope that's helpful. If you'd like specific recommendations, I'd be happy to make some.

Also, can you tell us exactly what you plan to use the computer for and are you trying to stay within a certain budget?

[SeanS468]

Thanks for your advice Ricky. I've done some looking around, and this is what I've come up with. My main purpose for this computer is gaming, but also for some multimedia stuff as well.

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3 LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128412

CPU: Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor BX80605I5750
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215

When it comes to the video card, I don't really want to spend over possibly 250 for it. What suggestions do you have that would work. My preference is for an ATI card, but that's not set it stone.

With the change in mobo does the Ram I have above fit?

And then what is your suggestion for a wireless card.


Again, thanks for the suggestions.

[RickyTick]

It's a little over $250, but this is the best ATI card for the money.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161330

If it were me, I would go with Nvidia. This is a much better card for the money.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125333

I would suggest this ram.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231276

For a wireless adapter card, look at this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166051
I should point out that for online gaming, it's best to have your pc hard wired directly to the router instead of going wireless.

[SeanS468]

I have a quick question about the RAM. I like the ram you suggested, but I was wondering if there was an advantage or disadvantage between the one you suggested or this one.

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9S-4GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231310

They are the same price and the same size, and everything appears to be the same.

[RickyTick]

The difference is in the timing.
9-9-9-24 vs 7-7-7-21
They will both work fine, but the one with the lower timing numbers will be slightly faster.