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View Full Version : New to building PCs...help? (parts list)



Ben78
10-31-2012, 01:04 PM
I am new to building PCs from scratch, so I did a few days of research, watched tons of YouTube videos, and gathered a list of parts.

Do these parts look like they will be compatible? I plan on using the PC for casual gaming (BF3, Skyrim, Dishonored, ect.) and maybe some light 3D animation/rendering (I mostly use my Mac for that, but It would be nice to have multiple things rendering at once.) Here are the links to everything I am looking at using. I'm buying everything from New Egg...unless anybody else has any other suggestions?

Computer case/PSU: $95 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156098
GPU: $139 (Minus $30 rb) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130652
CPU: $119 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103962&Tpk=AMD%20FX-6100%20Zambezi
MOBO: $99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=13-131-873&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=100&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Keywords=%28keywords%29&Page=1#scrollFullInfo
RAM: $37 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311
HDD: $90 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148321
DVD: $25 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151257

Do these all look like they would be compatible and surve my needs? Am I missing any parts? (cables, fans, ect?) I Already have a Builders copy of Win7 64-bt, A 23" HDMI monitor, gaming mouse and keyboard.

This may be a pretty noobie post, but any help is GREATLY appreciated!

zburns
10-31-2012, 02:35 PM
All parts appear to be compatible. The RAM is on the motherboard QVL list. The mobo supports the cpu and socket AM3+. The Hard Drive is Sata 6 Gb/s and supported by the mobo. DVD not a problem. The video card has 192 cuda cores which is a small amount. You might want to look at about 650 cuda cores or 1100. Price will go up but so will speed.

The computer case price is both for the case and the psu rated at 500 watts. I will look up the case and hope to find some specs on the psu, but they will not be remarkable compared to one of the major brands. Your power supply connects with all of your components and it is wise to spend some decent dollars on the psu in order to protect all components in the unlikely and remote possibility of a psu failure. Very cheap psus are more likely to fail because of low cost 'electrical components' and 'low cost design which will work but lacks the protection of more expensive psus. The KEY statement is that the computer PSU 'reaches out and impacts' all components. -- BEST to have a well designed Power Supply.

500 watts is probably sufficient for the present GPU. If you run the cuda cores up on the GPU, it is likely to increase the psu wattage. Present GPU requires the following: (from EVGA) Requirements: Minimum of a 400 Watt power supply.
(Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 24 Amps.)

I will try to find some data on the psu supplied with the case.

Ben78
10-31-2012, 03:07 PM
Awesome thanks so much, this really helps me...you have no idea... lol :cool:

Ben78
10-31-2012, 05:04 PM
Also, I don't think this would work, but hey, doesn't hurt to ask, right?
I have 2 VGA plasma monitors and I was wondering if I could get an adaptor so I could use the two monitors alongside my HDMI monitor. I know DVI-D doesn't work with VGA, but do you know if the GPU would work with something like this? http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-DVI-Cable-Adapter-DVIVGAMF/dp/B000067SOH/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351720864&sr=8-1&keywords=dvi+to+vga
If it can handle it, I'd like to play BF3 on 3 screens, but if not, it would still be nice to have the extra screen real-estate for less GPU intensive programs.
Once again, thanks a ton! :D

zburns
10-31-2012, 08:38 PM
This post is about your case and psu. I looked at the only brochure with pics and specifications that popped up on the RAIDMAX site. Here is the url I looked at in detail: http://www.raidmax.com/product/smilodon_black.html# I also looked at the RAIDMAX site for the psu at this url: http://www.raidmax.com/psu/rx_500af.html

With regard to the case and the psu, I did not see any mention on any page that the case or the psu has a Electrical Safety certification from anyone of multiple companies that do Elec Safety Certification such as UL, Underwriters Lab. On the psu page at the url I provided, they alluded to the fact that this psu is very new, and that is somewhat cause for concern. Most new electrical products have to be field tested under very tough conditions for a time period before offered for sale. Any power supply that anyone buys for whatever the purpose, particularly for use in a house, should have a UL Certification for electrical safety (including whether it can catch on fire under maximum load conditions). It is no big deal to get a good product thru UL or an equivalent testing lab, but you would be foolish buying without the normal testing lab labels you see on computer equipment. By the way a big part of the testing is about 'electrical shock prevention'.

The case and the psu with its minimum specs do look very good, but without a good testing lab certification, not a good idea to purchase. Antec, Coolermaster, Corsair (and others) all (I assume) have multiple safety certifications -- just look for it in their online webpages.
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I will take a look at the monitors tomorrow!

Ben78
10-31-2012, 09:54 PM
Oh wow I had no idea a good PSU was so important. I have done some more looking around and I found this PSU. Do you think it will work, or should I go for a better one?
It has over voltage protection and is certified by UL, GOST, CE, and Ctick. I am kind of on a budget, but I would rather wait till I have the money to buy quality parts than skimp out on a part and have the chance of ruining my system.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171046

For the case, like I said I am on a budget but I am willing to wait and get better parts. I know many people are not fans of windows on the case, but I am REALLY in to rigging LEDs on my electronics and I think it would be awesome to see the inside my tower illuminated with LEDs. Newegg doesn't have the biggest selection of cases, but I found one I kind of like. It appears to only come with one fan, so I would have to purchase more to keep my system cool, but overall it looks to be a decent case. What do you think?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119256

Thanks again for all the help you are giving me. This has been super helpful and probably has saved me a good bit of money regarding the PSU.