Building a Gaming Computer [HELP]

TipsZ · 12-12-2009, 10:01 PM

Nice build .. what Heatsink are you using? Very clean lay out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

Here's core components of the box I built over a month ago:
CPU: Core i5 750 ($198)
MB: MSI P55M-GD45 ($110)
MEM: 4x2GB G.SKILL DDR3 1333MHz (8GB total for $140)
VID: ATI HD5850 ($254... tee hee, ordered before prices went up)
PSU: Corsair HX650 ($120)
SSD: Intel X25M 80GB GEN2 ($280)

For gaming, I have my computer hooked up to a 1080P HDTV. All of my games run at max settings at 1920x1080. I leave out anti-aliasing since I sit far from the TV. Attached is photo without the graphics card in place.

theDreamer · 12-12-2009, 10:04 PM

I would put money on it being:
Newegg.com - Scythe SCMNJ-1000 80mm Sleeve "NINJA MINI" CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks
Looks exactly the same as the one in my HTPC and the one I linked is what I use, though it has been deactivated I am sure there is a similar, newer, version being made.

TipsZ · 12-12-2009, 10:07 PM

Though not a bad build, I would not just pick any old PSU. A good efficient PSU will help prevent instability issues, especially if doing some minor overclocking. I always go by the 80 Plus efficiency standard to pick out a PSU you need. Here is the website:

80 Plus PSU List

Also, some motherboards are loaded with features you may never use. Make a list of what you would actually use and make a comparison on the Motherboards. No need to get triple or quad sli if you do not intend to use it. Also, if you are not an audiophile, the integrated sound on most of the current motherboards is not half bad. That could save you some on a separate soundcard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by theDreamer

Here we go:

CPU - 288.99: Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield
GPU - 259.99: EVGA GTX 275
MB - 300: Anything ASUS (unless you plan to do SLi stick with ASUS)
SSD - 299.99: Intel X25 (80GB)
HDD - 199.99: 2TB (Western Digital)
PSU - 109.99: Your choice is good (love corsair PSU), make sure you get a modular one, can easily keep case clutter down.
Memory - 149.99: G.SKILL 6GB, I have a spot for G.Skill because they make some of the best (real priced) memory. If you plan to go extreme on your OC then you need the Corsair, but if you just plan to hit 3.0 to 3.2 the G.Skill can do perfectly fine.
Heatsink (also buy thermal compound, Arctic Silver 5, costs about 9 bucks) -Thermalright Ultra Extreme 120
Total - I am around 1650 currently.

Many of these items will have discounts or mail in rebates which will help lower the cost. Also, you can buy a MB for less than 300 and it be great, I put 300 as a max you should pay. The SSD is also up in the air, that is one of the best SSDs on the market currently and you could buy a slightly smaller one from Intel if you just plan to run the OS and some programs. Terabyte hard drives are super cheap right now, I threw up the 2TB as it is the largest currently and finally dropped below the price point I would pay for it. You can get 1TB or even 1.5TB, from western digital, for sub 150USD or even sub 100USD if you find a good sale.

You will also need a case, unless you have an older one. Buying a new case, look for one with 120mm fans, and even then think about upgrading them down the road as it can make even the fastest machines run much quieter.

A few questions about the hard drives:
~Do you plan to just run the OS on the SSD or also programs?
~Do you do photo editing or video editing that you need a quick secondary drive?

The EVGA 275 will be a cheaper option, but if you go this route then do not buy the OC or Superclocked version, you can do that all on your own. EVGA has a program they bundle (or you can download for free) which does the OC and is easy to use. Also with EVGA do not forget to register the card right after you install it, you get lifetime support and a discount on upgrading if you upgrade within X amount of time.

Any other questions let me know, but it all comes down to what you plan on doing this besides just gaming also.

theDreamer · 12-12-2009, 10:08 PM

Well if he sticks with Corsair he is getting some of the best PSUs on the market, they are the most efficient and provide extremely solid build quality. Torn a few down and the work they do is top notch, also stick with the HX line.

Equinox · 12-13-2009, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theDreamer

Here we go:

CPU - 288.99: Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield
GPU - 259.99: EVGA GTX 275
MB - 300: Anything ASUS (unless you plan to do SLi stick with ASUS)
SSD - 299.99: Intel X25 (80GB)
HDD - 199.99: 2TB (Western Digital)
PSU - 109.99: Your choice is good (love corsair PSU), make sure you get a modular one, can easily keep case clutter down.
Memory - 149.99: G.SKILL 6GB, I have a spot for G.Skill because they make some of the best (real priced) memory. If you plan to go extreme on your OC then you need the Corsair, but if you just plan to hit 3.0 to 3.2 the G.Skill can do perfectly fine.
Heatsink (also buy thermal compound, Arctic Silver 5, costs about 9 bucks) -Thermalright Ultra Extreme 120
Total - I am around 1650 currently.

Many of these items will have discounts or mail in rebates which will help lower the cost. Also, you can buy a MB for less than 300 and it be great, I put 300 as a max you should pay. The SSD is also up in the air, that is one of the best SSDs on the market currently and you could buy a slightly smaller one from Intel if you just plan to run the OS and some programs. Terabyte hard drives are super cheap right now, I threw up the 2TB as it is the largest currently and finally dropped below the price point I would pay for it. You can get 1TB or even 1.5TB, from western digital, for sub 150USD or even sub 100USD if you find a good sale.

You will also need a case, unless you have an older one. Buying a new case, look for one with 120mm fans, and even then think about upgrading them down the road as it can make even the fastest machines run much quieter.

A few questions about the hard drives:
~Do you plan to just run the OS on the SSD or also programs?
~Do you do photo editing or video editing that you need a quick secondary drive?

The EVGA 275 will be a cheaper option, but if you go this route then do not buy the OC or Superclocked version, you can do that all on your own. EVGA has a program they bundle (or you can download for free) which does the OC and is easy to use. Also with EVGA do not forget to register the card right after you install it, you get lifetime support and a discount on upgrading if you upgrade within X amount of time.

Any other questions let me know, but it all comes down to what you plan on doing this besides just gaming also.

I'm gonna take your extensive advice, especially when it comes to the 80 GB SSD Intel drive, and I only plan to run Windows 7 on the SSD, and then get a large storage 7200rpm drive, maybe 750GB. As for the memory, I may take your advice. I'm only looking for reliable 1600MHz ram, so Corsair, although I love them, isn't necessary. The Corsair PSU is 80 plus, or whatever that means, so I'm covered, but I forgot to check if my PSU is modular, which I remember is a big thing when it comes to cleanliness of the case. As far as case is concered, I know I'm gonna end up with a LIan Li case I'm sure, that or a Thermal Take, but whatever. It's either a new computer, or 6POT Brembo brakes that cost 2k+.

Thanks A LOT for all the research Dreamer!

theDreamer · 12-13-2009, 10:07 AM

If you only plan to run the OS on the SSD then you can easily drop that down to a 30GB SSD. I would then skip the 2TB and go for a 7200rpm drive for your programs, though some companies are not producing 1 to 2TB drives that are 7200rpm. First ones were only "green drives" which means they vary, up to 7200rpm but at idle they drop.

Also, something I did not look into was your CD/DVD drive, for a good CD/DVD burner/player that will do everything is probably around 30-40USD. One thing I would recommend is two, it sounds wasteful, but there are many times I like to watch a movie and play a game which still requires a CD.

Gaiiden · 12-13-2009, 05:01 PM

it should be mentioned, in case you switch motherboards, that socket 1136 is the only socket that will support the new Core i9 6-core chips coming out next year. Anything else will dead-end your system at Core i5/i7. Unless you want a new mobo next time you upgrade. Given that it's been six years since your last upgrade, I doubt this is even an issue for you anyways, but in case you're planning your next upgrade to be sooner... FYI

Equinox · 12-13-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaiiden

it should be mentioned, in case you switch motherboards, that socket 1136 is the only socket that will support the new Core i9 6-core chips coming out next year. Anything else will dead-end your system at Core i5/i7. Unless you want a new mobo next time you upgrade. Given that it's been six years since your last upgrade, I doubt this is even an issue for you anyways, but in case you're planning your next upgrade to be sooner... FYI

good info, thanks, I def will keep that in mind.

Oh and it has been so long because I've been in the Army about that long, different countries and so on, no time to lug around a case.

DIGItonium · 12-14-2009, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TipsZ

Nice build .. what Heatsink are you using? Very clean lay out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by theDreamer

I would put money on it being:
Newegg.com - Scythe SCMNJ-1000 80mm Sleeve "NINJA MINI" CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks
Looks exactly the same as the one in my HTPC and the one I linked is what I use, though it has been deactivated I am sure there is a similar, newer, version being made.

Correct... NINJA MINI REV B., which supports LGA1156. I couldn't fit the 92mm PWM fan on the other side because of the memory, so I had to set it up to pull air. However, I managed to squeeze in an 80mm fan at 5V to push air through the heatsink for better efficiency.

As for SSD, 80GB is a bid excessive for simply Win7-only. With optimizations, I was able to get the footprint down to 8-9GB. With the extra space, I install drivers, utilities, and some small apps that I didn't mind taking up space. It's really nice to have small stuff load up super fast. Right now, I have a 150GB RaptorX for all of my games, temp location, Internet cache, etc. Look up Kingston 40MB SSD, which uses Intel flash. It's a bit slower than the X25-M, but priced just right for OS-only storage.

vipor · 12-14-2009, 10:07 AM

for the past 15-ish builds i've done i've used Zalman fans. they've been great and use good mounting methods.

370Zsteve · 12-14-2009, 10:10 AM

I'm a hardware and software consultant. I build gaming computers all the time. This build would be outstanding, kudos on the Asus MB.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Equinox

Okay, so, I'm a computer scientist, in the stand point that I program, I'm not exactly a hardware buff. I can solder, and assemble computer hardware, but I'm at an impass when it comes to me building a new gaming computer. I find the hardest thing about building a new gaming computer, is selecting the hardware, I need help.

Okay, Here's the layout - Gaming computer to run the latest games, ie, Modern Warfare 2, Unreal Tournament, Fall out 3, and all the other benchmark games, built to run at 1920 x 1200 resolution.

Budget: I'd like to build a computer for 1500 or less, not including monitor, or peripherals, unless that addition that busts the budget, is a must have, like it cooks oven baked cookies for you. PC EZ Bake oven

I haven't built a computer in 6 years, so I'm way out of the game with new technology, and even worse, the computer world is going through a change (FSB speeds switching to Interlink path tech measured in G/Ts, and so on)

I thought I had it all figured out, read a bunch of reviews on best processor for price, find a matching motherboard chipset that performs well, maintain a high FSB speed to match super fast RAM, then find the best single video card for your money that runs on PCI-E x 16. I ended up with

Build List:
CPU: Intel i7 920, 2.66GHz, 4.8 G/Ts Bus speed $269.99
RAM: 6GB
Corsair Dominator 1600MHz (3 x 2GB) $204.98 (also has 20$ mail in rebate)
PSU: Corsair 750W $109.99
MOBO: Asus Rampage II Extreme $364.00
GPU: Sapphire Radeon 5850 1GB $318.00
HD: WD Velociraptor 150GB 10k rpm $149.99
Heatsink: Noctua NH-D14 Ultra Silent CPU Cooler $90.00

total: $1507.00

Monitor: Samsung 23" LED Monitor $318.00

What do you think?

AndyO · 12-14-2009, 11:52 AM

Xbox 360?

vipor · 12-14-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyO

Xbox 360?

you're fired.

AndyO · 12-14-2009, 12:03 PM

it will play those games in 1080p

vipor · 12-14-2009, 12:03 PM

yes it will, but it's not a Computer.

12-12-2009, 10:04 PM	#17 (permalink)
theDreamer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 30,879 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 4210	I would put money on it being: Newegg.com - Scythe SCMNJ-1000 80mm Sleeve "NINJA MINI" CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks Looks exactly the same as the one in my HTPC and the one I linked is what I use, though it has been deactivated I am sure there is a similar, newer, version being made. __________________ theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

12-12-2009, 10:08 PM	#19 (permalink)
theDreamer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 30,879 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 4210	Well if he sticks with Corsair he is getting some of the best PSUs on the market, they are the most efficient and provide extremely solid build quality. Torn a few down and the work they do is top notch, also stick with the HX line. __________________ theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram Last edited by theDreamer; 12-12-2009 at 10:12 PM.

12-13-2009, 10:07 AM	#21 (permalink)
theDreamer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 30,879 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 4210	If you only plan to run the OS on the SSD then you can easily drop that down to a 30GB SSD. I would then skip the 2TB and go for a 7200rpm drive for your programs, though some companies are not producing 1 to 2TB drives that are 7200rpm. First ones were only "green drives" which means they vary, up to 7200rpm but at idle they drop. Also, something I did not look into was your CD/DVD drive, for a good CD/DVD burner/player that will do everything is probably around 30-40USD. One thing I would recommend is two, it sounds wasteful, but there are many times I like to watch a movie and play a game which still requires a CD. __________________ theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

12-13-2009, 05:01 PM	#22 (permalink)
Gaiiden Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 227 Drives: 09 370Z Touring 6sp Rep Power: 16	it should be mentioned, in case you switch motherboards, that socket 1136 is the only socket that will support the new Core i9 6-core chips coming out next year. Anything else will dead-end your system at Core i5/i7. Unless you want a new mobo next time you upgrade. Given that it's been six years since your last upgrade, I doubt this is even an issue for you anyways, but in case you're planning your next upgrade to be sooner... FYI __________________ Drew Sikora Bullrun 2009 participant

12-14-2009, 10:07 AM	#25 (permalink)
vipor A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Euless, TX [ DFW ] Age: 42 Posts: 13,531 Drives: Nismo 09-0183 QAB Rep Power: 49	for the past 15-ish builds i've done i've used Zalman fans. they've been great and use good mounting methods. __________________ 2009 NISMO # 0193 \| QAB \| Albums! \| 05.04.10 (Dynojet) 291.94hp/248.28tq Oil Cooler (DIY) \| Custom Headlights \| GTSPEC Braces \| F.I. Long Tube Headers

12-14-2009, 11:52 AM	#27 (permalink)
AndyO A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 1,530 Drives: 05 6spd Nissan 350z Rep Power: 19	Xbox 360? __________________

12-14-2009, 12:03 PM	#29 (permalink)
AndyO A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 1,530 Drives: 05 6spd Nissan 350z Rep Power: 19	it will play those games in 1080p __________________

12-14-2009, 12:03 PM	#30 (permalink)
vipor A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Euless, TX [ DFW ] Age: 42 Posts: 13,531 Drives: Nismo 09-0183 QAB Rep Power: 49	yes it will, but it's not a Computer. __________________ 2009 NISMO # 0193 \| QAB \| Albums! \| 05.04.10 (Dynojet) 291.94hp/248.28tq Oil Cooler (DIY) \| Custom Headlights \| GTSPEC Braces \| F.I. Long Tube Headers

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