First attempt gaming build, help please!

[EvoDoom]

Hey there folks! After a tonne of frustration trying to get new parts compatible with my current motherboard etc I have decided to build a new PC from scratch. So far my build is as follows:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/artix-md-001b-black-mid-tower-case-w-o-psu
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigabyte-ga-780t-d3l-amd-760g-am3plus-pcie-20-(x16)-ddr3-1666(oc)-sata-ii-3gb-s-sata-raid-atx
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/amd-fx-4170-black-edition-zambezi-core-s-am3plus-42ghz-12mb-total-cache-125w-retail-10-cashback
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/1gb-xfx-hd-6870-double-d-cooling-4200mhz-gddr5-gpu-900mhz-1120-stream-processors-2x-dvi-hdmi-2x-mini
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/8gb-(2x4gb)-corsair-ddr3-xms3-pc3-10600-(1333)-non-ecc-unbuffered-cas-9-9-9-24-150v
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/500w-corsair-builder-series-cx-cp-9020047-uk-80-plus-bronze-sli-crossfire-eps-12v-quiet-fan-atx-psu

There is no HDD or CD Drive included as I can easily use my current ones, but please could you tell me if there will be any compatibility problems with my rig?

Thanks in advance,

Evo

EDIT-Failed the links, sorry!

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/tsunami-gaming-manager-black-mid-tower-case-w-o-psu
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/500w-corsair-builder-series-cx-cp-9020047-uk-80-plus-bronze-sli-crossfire-eps-12v-quiet-fan-atx-psu
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigabyte-ga-780t-d3l-amd-760g-am3plus-pcie-20-(x16)-ddr3-1666(oc)-sata-ii-3gb-s-sata-raid-atx
http://www.scan.co.uk/shop/computer-hardware/all/cpus-amd/amd-fx-series-multi-core-socket-am3plus
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/1gb-xfx-hd-6870-double-d-cooling-4200mhz-gddr5-gpu-900mhz-1120-stream-processors-2x-dvi-hdmi-2x-mini
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/8gb-(2x4gb)-corsair-ddr3-xms3-pc3-10600-(1333)-non-ecc-unbuffered-cas-9-9-9-24-150v

[zburns]

In your second set of links, you did not specify a cpu part number. Also, it is best to pick the RAM from the 'Memory Support List' on the manufacturer's motherboard internet listing at this URL: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4051#ov

Otherwise the build seems fine, but we need to see a accurate final list to be certain!! Hope this helps!

[EvoDoom]

Ah yes, I have been all over the place with my links lately, I tend to have A LOT of tabs up at once when online shopping. ;) Anyway, here is my current revised build after some advice from a few different sources:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saturn-Midi-ATX-PC-Gaming-Tower-Computer-Case-Blue-Led-Fans-Clear-Side-Window-/110855784833?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3 D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D3784575595550918334%26pid%3 D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D110855784833% 26

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/520w-seasonic-bronze-s12ii-520-85-eff-80-plus-bronze-eps-12v-quiet-fan-atx-v23-psu

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigabyte-ga-780t-d3l-amd-760g-am3plus-pcie-20-(x16)-ddr3-1666(oc)-sata-ii-3gb-s-sata-raid-atx

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/amd-fx-4170-black-edition-zambezi-core-s-am3plus-42ghz-12mb-total-cache-125w-retail-10-cashback

http://www.waeplus.co.uk/product/1221599/SAPPHIRE-TECHNOLOGY-Radeon-HD-7850---2-G

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/8gb-(2x4gb)-corsair-ddr3-vengeance-jet-black-lp-pc3-12800-(1600)-non-ecc-cas-9-9-9-24-xmp-15v

Thanks for the reply! :)

[zburns]

CPU looks ok. Your Ram still does not show up on the Gigabyte memory support list for your motherboard choice. What you have picked may work fine, but it is better to know for certain. Suggest you call Gigabyte or go to the url previously given to get to the gigabyte home page for your motherboard choice, then click on Memory Support List, look for your RAM speed on the list and then you will have apx 20 or so choices for RAM. This is Gigabyte 'tested' (or approved) RAM for your mobo.

[EvoDoom]

Hey guys, I'm back and have revised my current build due to an increase in budget - here goes:

CASE: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saturn-Midi-ATX-PC-Gaming-Tower-Computer-Case-Blue-Led-Fans-Clear-Side-Window-/110855784833?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3 D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D3784575595550918334%26pid%3 D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D110855784833% 26

PSU: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/520w-seasonic-bronze-s12ii-520-85-eff-80-plus-bronze-eps-12v-quiet-fan-atx-v23-psu

MOBO: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/msi-760ga-p43-(fx)-amd-760g-s-am3plus-ddr3-sata-iii-6gb-s-sata-raid-pcie-20-(x16)-d-sub-atx

CPU: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/amd-fx-4170-black-edition-zambezi-core-s-am3plus-42ghz-12mb-total-cache-125w-retail-10-cashback

RAM: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/8gb-(2x4gb)-corsair-ddr3-vengeance-jet-black-lp-pc3-12800-(1600)-non-ecc-cas-9-9-9-24-xmp-15v

GPU: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/2gb-xfx-radeon-hd-7870-dd-black-edition-5000mhz-gddr5-28nm-gpu-1050mhz-1280-cores-dvi-hdmi-mdp

HDD: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/1tb-western-digital-wd10ezrx-caviar-green-35-hdd-sata-iii-6gb-s-intellipower-64mb-cache-8ms-oem

DVD: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/samsung-sh-224bb-rsms-24x-dvdr-8x-dvddl-dvdplusrw-x8-rw-x6-x12-ram-sata-retail

Thanks again and I look forward to any replies,
Evo

[RickyTick]

Everything looks great except for the hard drive. You shouldn't use a 5400 rpm drive as your primary hard drive. Consider the Western Digital Blue or Black drives instead.

[EvoDoom]

How about this drive then? http://www.scan.co.uk/products/1tb-seagate-st31000524as-barracuda-720012-sata-6gb-s-7200rpm-32mb-cache-85ms-ncq (Similarly priced)

[EvoDoom]

Or this one? http://www.scan.co.uk/products/1tb-toshiba-dt01aca100-(7k1000d)-35-hdd-sata-iii-6gb-s-7200rpm-32mb-cache (slightly lower price point)

[zburns]

Take a look at the following:

1.0 Homepage for your MSI motherboard choice at this URL: http://www.msi.com/product/mb/760GA-P43--FX-.html

2.0 Under support, you have two choices, one is Test Report, click on it and you get this URL: http://www.msi.com/product/mb/760GA-P43--FX-.html#/?div=TestReport . There are seven pictures on this MSI 'Test Report' page. Click on the picture for 'Memory'.

You now get this URL: http://www.msi.com/product/mb/760GA-P43--FX-.html#/?div=TestReport which is the MSI approved memory list, however, there is no Corsair Memory Listed under 1600 Gb memory. Corsair is listed only under 1333 Gb. It is not listed under 1066 Gb either.

3.0 I suggest you make two telephone calls (or emails if necessary), one to MSI and one to Corsair (ask for tech support in both cases). Ask both companies to assure you that your choice of the Corsair Vengeance memory will work with your motherboard choice.

4.0 This Memory List exercise is 'a double edged sword'. On the one hand, it is supposed to say to you that these are the 'tested' memory sticks that work. In this case there is no listing of Corsair memory which is probably an error. But before you go thru the exercise of ordering the components and doing the build, I would get assurance from both companies that your memory choice works or make a different selection. A telephone call to both companies is in order just to give further assurance or lack of it.

[EvoDoom]

Okay then, I will thanks for the heads up. I had swore I saw it before, but it was actually the 1300MHz version that I saw listed. What about the HDDs? Which would you recommend?

[zburns]

Look for these specifics: Length of warranty should be five years and look on google for 'independent' reviews of the particular 'line' of hard drive you select. For example, Western Digital has multiple models. Rob recommends WD Black RE-4. A favorite for years has been WD Caviar Black. But you have to look at the warranty and ask the question 'Why does the same company have both 2 year warranties on some models and 5 years on other models. It makes no sense to buy a hard drive with less than a 'full failsafe' five year warranty on a hard drive. All these computer builds we discuss are meant to last longer than five years. Ask yourself what a two year warranty implies!!

Since their are a number of HD mfgs worldwide, I would look carefully at reviews by known reviewers. Here is a URL that provides a fair list of 'known' reviewers: http://www.google.com/search?q=computer+component+reviewers+older+than+f ive+years&rlz=1C1PRFB_enUS475US494&oq=computer+component+reviewers+older+than+five+ye ars&sugexp=chrome,mod=5&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#hl=en&tbo=d&rlz=1C1PRFB_enUS475US494&sclient=psy-ab&q=computer+component+reviewers+&oq=computer+component+reviewers+&gs_l=serp.12..0i13i30j0i13i5i30l2.17872.19791.0.25 893.21.11.0.0.0.6.149.1125.3j7.10.0.les%3B..0.0... 1c.1.F1G6wAxAF1w&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=5b37f7f1f7aeac25&bpcl=39650382&biw=1654&bih=1032

12:20 pm EDIT: Any manufacturer that extends a warranty to five years, worldwide, should be respected for that product the warranty applies too. Most of our experience on this forum from a conversation viewpoint has been about Western Digital only. The only measuring stick I can use is the warranty length but to be fair to the mfgs as well as the buyer, one should compare the terms of the one mfgs warranty to others.