The Ultimate 'Build-A-PC' Thread. Complete With Pricings & Recommendations (06/06/10)

Oh and depending on the CPU heatsink that you bought earlier, I'd add a tube of thermal compound. Some heatsinks include a decent quality compound, but if not the world's best heatsink will have little to no effect if you don't have a thermal compound to apply. Some Arctic Silver should do the trick quite nicely.
 
I was gonna order this today. Never built a Pc before so how does this look? (All items are from tigerdirect)
Toshiba HDKPC03 DT01ACA100 1TB Hard Drive - 1TB, 7200 RPM, SATA, 3.5" (T24-9901) 1 $69.99 $69.99

Corsair Vengeance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B Desktop Memory Kit - 8GB (2x 4GB), PC3-12800, DDR3-1600MHz, 9-9-9-24 CAS Latency, Intel XMP Ready, Unbuffered (C13-5720) 1 $69.99 $69.99

Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 11196-16-20G Video Card - 3GB GDDR5, PCI-Express 3.0(x16), 1x Dual-Link DVI-I, 2x Mini DisplayPort, 1x HDMI, DirectX 11, CrossFireX, Dual-Slot, Dual-Fan (A271-7958) 1 $299.99 $299.99

OEM Elite 310 Mid-Tower Gaming Case - ATX/Micro ATX, 4x Ext 5.25", 1x Ext 3.5", 6x Int 3.5", 2x USB 2.0 Ports, 1x Mic, 1x Audio, Black/Blue (RC-310-BWN1-GP BLUE) - OEM (SYX-602101OH) 1 $19.99 $19.99

Kingwin CFY-012LB Advanced Series 120mm Yellow LED Case Fan - Long Life Bearing, 950 RPM, 3 Pin /4 Pin Connector (K450-2572) 1 $7.99 $7.99

Intel Core i5-3570K BX806237i53570K Processor - Quad Core, 6MB L3 Cache, 3.40GHz (3.80GHz Max Turbo), Socket H2 (LGA1155), 77W, Fan, Unlocked, Retail (I69-3570K) 1 $219.99 $219.99

ASUS P8Z77-V LK Intel Z77 Motherboard - ATX, 4x DIMM, DDR3, Socket 1155, PCIe 3.0, Intel Z77 Chipset, SATA 6Gb/s, USB 3.0, HDMI, LAN, DVI, DisplayPort (A455-8424) 1 $134.99 $134.99

Total for all Items: $822.93 Shipping & Handling: $17.87 Sales Tax: $0.00 Grand Total: $840.80
 
[quote name='imamanwithaplan']For any reason in particular? Any cheap suggestions for an alternative? Also, any power supply suggestions?[/QUOTE]

Don't go cheap on the case, and hdd. That's my personal opinion. Do you have a budget your trying to stay within?
 
[quote name='imamanwithaplan']I was gonna order this today. Never built a Pc before so how does this look? (All items are from tigerdirect)
Toshiba HDKPC03 DT01ACA100 1TB Hard Drive - 1TB, 7200 RPM, SATA, 3.5" (T24-9901) 1 $69.99 $69.99

Corsair Vengeance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B Desktop Memory Kit - 8GB (2x 4GB), PC3-12800, DDR3-1600MHz, 9-9-9-24 CAS Latency, Intel XMP Ready, Unbuffered (C13-5720) 1 $69.99 $69.99

Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 11196-16-20G Video Card - 3GB GDDR5, PCI-Express 3.0(x16), 1x Dual-Link DVI-I, 2x Mini DisplayPort, 1x HDMI, DirectX 11, CrossFireX, Dual-Slot, Dual-Fan (A271-7958) 1 $299.99 $299.99

OEM Elite 310 Mid-Tower Gaming Case - ATX/Micro ATX, 4x Ext 5.25", 1x Ext 3.5", 6x Int 3.5", 2x USB 2.0 Ports, 1x Mic, 1x Audio, Black/Blue (RC-310-BWN1-GP BLUE) - OEM (SYX-602101OH) 1 $19.99 $19.99

Kingwin CFY-012LB Advanced Series 120mm Yellow LED Case Fan - Long Life Bearing, 950 RPM, 3 Pin /4 Pin Connector (K450-2572) 1 $7.99 $7.99

Intel Core i5-3570K BX806237i53570K Processor - Quad Core, 6MB L3 Cache, 3.40GHz (3.80GHz Max Turbo), Socket H2 (LGA1155), 77W, Fan, Unlocked, Retail (I69-3570K) 1 $219.99 $219.99

ASUS P8Z77-V LK Intel Z77 Motherboard - ATX, 4x DIMM, DDR3, Socket 1155, PCIe 3.0, Intel Z77 Chipset, SATA 6Gb/s, USB 3.0, HDMI, LAN, DVI, DisplayPort (A455-8424) 1 $134.99 $134.99

Total for all Items: $822.93 Shipping & Handling: $17.87 Sales Tax: $0.00 Grand Total: $840.80
[/QUOTE]

You are paying MSRP on too many of those items. Unless you are getting Bioshock Infinite and Crysis 3 free with your 7950 thats not a good deal.
Same for your CPU and probably most of your parts. Overall I think you have a good selection of parts but I think you could do better on pricing if you looked around. Buying stuff all from one site is only good if you are putting it on a credit account with that site.

Also unless you are pirating Windows you are going to need to purchase it unless you already have a copy for some reason. So dont forget to factor that into your cost.

If I may ask what state do you live in? I am asking for sales tax and retail store reasons.
 
[quote name='imamanwithaplan']For any reason in particular? Any cheap suggestions for an alternative? Also, any power supply suggestions?[/QUOTE]

My Cooler Master eXtreme works well and it was cheap. You wouldn't want to put a diamond ring in the crayon box, would you? Same concept.
 
Yeah, there's $50 in mail in rebates and I got it all from tiger direct so that I wouldn't have to pay sales tax (in in California so most sites charge it). Also comes with bio shock and crysis 3 and I've got a legit copy of windows 8. Thanks for all the advice! Think I'm gonna get everything here and upgrade to a better case asap
 
[quote name='imamanwithaplan']Yeah, there's $50 in mail in rebates and I got it all from tiger direct so that I wouldn't have to pay sales tax (in in California so most sites charge it). Also comes with bio shock and crysis 3 and I've got a legit copy of windows 8. Thanks for all the advice! Think I'm gonna get everything here and upgrade to a better case asap[/QUOTE]

If you want a good case for a good price look at the CoolerMaster HAF 912. I own one and for a $50 case, it is built well and the cable management is decent.
 
i am looking or a laptop "gaming" pc for on the cheap

whats everyone this of this
Processor Processor: Intel Core 3rd Generation i7-3630QM Processor (6MB cache, up to 3.4Ghz)
Operating System Windows 8
Base Dell Outlet Inspiron 17R Special Edition Laptop
Hard Disk Drive 1 TB 5400 RPM SATA Hard Drive
Memory 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz
Media Bay 8X Tray Load CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW Drive)
Video Nvidia GeForce GT 650M 2GB
System Color Aluminium
Laptop Screen 17.3 Inch High Definition+ (900p) WLED Display with Truelife
Laptop Battery 6 Cell Lithium-Ion Primary Battery
Network Interface Card Intel Centrino Wireless 2230, 2x2 bgn + Bluetooth
Web Camera 1.0 MP HD Camera with MIC
Keyboard English Backlit Keyboard with Multi-touch Touchpad
Hardware Upgrade 125V Power Cord
130W A/C Adapter, 3P
Software Upgrade Windows 64 Bit

591+tax....let me know
 
If anyone has an AMD A10-4600M (and 7660G), would my laptop benefit if I upgraded from 6GB RAM (4x2) to 8GB RAM (4x4)? I'm reading that AMD's APU's perform betting with matching dual-channel memory.
 
it's starting to come together

huge thanks to the people who told me to look into microcenter, it was only like 20 mins from me and saved me a ton

4AFCalJ.jpg
 
Micro Center is great for motherboard and cpu. Other components they normally have good deals comparable to many places online.

Prior to Newegg and Amazon, they were my go to place for builds. Today, I still hit them up for deals.

I wish there was a Fry's Electronics in my area though since I heard they have some amazing deals on components also.
 
[quote name='vince_carter']it's starting to come together

huge thanks to the people who told me to look into microcenter, it was only like 20 mins from me and saved me a ton

4AFCalJ.jpg
[/QUOTE]


i7 3770K + 660ti? Got a kick ass CPU there and a mid-range GPU (which is still kick ass), but you should have tried for a 670 or the likes.
 
[quote name='vince_carter']i figure the CPU will last me a long while and i'll buy a new GPU in a year or 2 when the prices drop on the new gen stuff[/QUOTE]

A GTX 660 ti will max out any current game at 1080p maxed out.
 
[quote name='aShufflinZombie']A GTX 660 ti will max out any current game at 1080p maxed out.[/QUOTE]

At what frame rate? I'm sure with lots of action it won't run at 30fps maxed out.
 
[quote name='aShufflinZombie']A GTX 660 ti will max out any current game at 1080p maxed out.[/QUOTE]

lol define max out any current gen game because thats outright false.

its a good card but it will nowhere near max out any game... I doubt you can even max out metro 2033 with that card and that game is several years old now.

It definitely doesn't max out crysis 3 because I cant even do that on a 7970 GHZ
 
[quote name='retrad']lol define max out any current gen game because thats outright false.

its a good card but it will nowhere near max out any game... I doubt you can even max out metro 2033 with that card and that game is several years old now.

It definitely doesn't max out crysis 3 because I cant even do that on a 7970 GHZ[/QUOTE]

Metro 2033 is terribly optimized and Crysis 3 can't run maxed out on damn near any setup. I'm going by the reference that my GTX 650 can push high or very high on nearly all current games at 45+ fps.
 
[quote name='elessar123']A 660 can't' do 60fps @1080 on high quality in most games used for benchmarking.[/QUOTE]

On high? I suppose it depends on what "games used for benchmarking" you're talking about. But it'll run easily playable average framerates (maybe not 60, but I've never known 60 to be a cutoff point for that) on many modern and mostly demanding games without issue on Ultra let alone high. Just from a qucik search of reviews on the card there's the following at 1080p:

Skyrim at 55 fps avg on Ultra.

Crysis 2 at 37 avg on Ultra.

Battefield 3 at 53 avg on Ultra.

Metro 2033 at 52 avg on Max.

Max Payne 3 at 48 on Very High.

Witcher 2 at 50 avg on Ultra (DX 9, not DX11).

Take you settings back to high and I'm sure all those rates increase some. You clearly can't max out demanding games that have just recently released, you have to shell out about a grand or more to get that.

And I'm not saying it's going to stomp any game you throw it or even that it is the best card for the money, but a GTX 660 or 660Ti is not exactly a push over either.
 
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[quote name='Duo_Maxwell']On high? I suppose it depends on what "games used for benchmarking" you're talking about. But it'll run easily playable average framerates (maybe not 60, but I've never known 60 to be a cutoff point for that) on many modern and mostly demanding games without issue on Ultra let alone high. Just from a qucik search of reviews on the card there's the following at 1080p:

Skyrim at 55 fps avg on Ultra.

Crysis 2 at 37 avg on Ultra.

Battefield 3 at 53 avg on Ultra.

Metro 2033 at 52 avg on Max.

Max Payne 3 at 48 on Very High.

Witcher 2 at 50 avg on Ultra (DX 9, not DX11).

Take you settings back to high and I'm sure all those rates increase some. You clearly can't max out demanding games that have just recently released, you have to shell out about a grand or more to get that.

And I'm not saying it's going to stomp any game you throw it or even that it is the best card for the money, but a GTX 660 or 660Ti is exactly a push over either.[/QUOTE]

You know everything you said there supports what I said, right?
 
[quote name='elessar123']You know everything you said there supports what I said, right?[/QUOTE]Well, those numbers are from the games at Ultra settings, whereas you said high. He did agree with you that 60 might not be achievable, but I don't think anyone buying a 660 is looking to get that kind of performance. Most games maxed out on ultra at 30 fps is a realistic expectation, and that makes the 660/660 ti a good card for the money.

Just looked up Battlefield 3 on Ultra and a 1920x1200 resolution, and the 660 ti averages 81 fps.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/GPU12/398

Someone pointed out Metro 2033 and Crysis 3, and this card can still run those games well. There's a huge jump in price between the 660 ti and the 670. The great CPU mentioned earlier costs $230, so of course it makes sense to get that, but there isn't a graphics card anywhere near that price that can keep up with that, so this is great option, and like he said, he can upgrade in a few years.
 
[quote name='StickyWaffles']Well, those numbers are from the games at Ultra settings, whereas you said high. He did agree with you that 60 might not be achievable, but I don't think anyone buying a 660 is looking to get that kind of performance. Most games maxed out on ultra at 30 fps is a realistic expectation, and that makes the 660/660 ti a good card for the money.

Just looked up Battlefield 3 on Ultra and a 1920x1200 resolution, and the 660 ti averages 81 fps.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/GPU12/398

Someone pointed out Metro 2033 and Crysis 3, and this card can still run those games well. There's a huge jump in price between the 660 ti and the 670. The great CPU mentioned earlier costs $230, so of course it makes sense to get that, but there isn't a graphics card anywhere near that price that can keep up with that, so this is great option, and like he said, he can upgrade in a few years.[/QUOTE]

I'm fine with 1080p medium with 2X AA. Graphics settings are really up to the user. This is what I feel is the best value for the money. The games look decent and the card is ~$100. I don't feel that all the "eye candy" is worth that much. To each his own. I know people who feel the need to spend hundreds of dollars simply to say that they can run x game at max.
 
[quote name='vince_carter']welp i went back to microcenter today and swapped a few things out after some research, now i'm just waiting on the case


G63clFX.jpg
[/QUOTE]

Nice! A tip about the Vengeances, you need to apply some serious pressure to get them fully seated. I don't know why but they don't go in easily.
 
[quote name='aShufflinZombie']Nice! A tip about the Vengeances, you need to apply some serious pressure to get them fully seated. I don't know why but they don't go in easily.[/QUOTE]

thanks for the heads up

this is my 1st build i'm pretty nervous
 
[quote name='vince_carter']corsair obsidian 550D[/QUOTE]

what other cases do you have experience with to compare?
Id be interested in hearing your opinion of the case.
 
[quote name='StickyWaffles']Well, those numbers are from the games at Ultra settings, whereas you said high. He did agree with you that 60 might not be achievable, but I don't think anyone buying a 660 is looking to get that kind of performance. Most games maxed out on ultra at 30 fps is a realistic expectation, and that makes the 660/660 ti a good card for the money.

Just looked up Battlefield 3 on Ultra and a 1920x1200 resolution, and the 660 ti averages 81 fps.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/GPU12/398

Someone pointed out Metro 2033 and Crysis 3, and this card can still run those games well. There's a huge jump in price between the 660 ti and the 670. The great CPU mentioned earlier costs $230, so of course it makes sense to get that, but there isn't a graphics card anywhere near that price that can keep up with that, so this is great option, and like he said, he can upgrade in a few years.[/QUOTE]

Exactly, they even benchmarked the regular GTX 660 at 71.3 fps. Your fps will usually increase by roughly 5-10 when taking settings from Ultra down to High presets on most games. So with exception of Crysis 2 all those games will run at or very close to 60fps on 1080p High. And to be honest, if you can literally see the difference between say 57fps & 60fps then you must have robotic eyes. So to say that it can't run "most benchmarking games" at 60fps with those settings is just plain underselling it in my opinion...
 
you know all those benchmarks you listed are pretty much a lie because of two things.

1) all those cards are run in benchmark systems that have a ridiculously fast cpu and ram combo. case in point... toms hardware bench on the 660ti is using a 3960x i7
with 16GB of quad channeled ram.

2) if you are running that system you probably wouldn't have a 660ti in it just saying.
if you aren't running that system you aren't pulling those numbers... fact.
 
[quote name='retrad']you know all those benchmarks you listed are pretty much a lie because of two things.

1) all those cards are run in benchmark systems that have a ridiculously fast cpu and ram combo. case in point... toms hardware bench on the 660ti is using a 3960x i7
with 16GB of quad channeled ram.

2) if you are running that system you probably wouldn't have a 660ti in it just saying.
if you aren't running that system you aren't pulling those numbers... fact.[/QUOTE]

Those speeds are at stock and games of today are rarely CPU limited. I can squeeze those results out of my 650 with overclocking.
 
[quote name='Duo_Maxwell']Exactly, they even benchmarked the regular GTX 660 at 71.3 fps. Your fps will usually increase by roughly 5-10 when taking settings from Ultra down to High presets on most games. So with exception of Crysis 2 all those games will run at or very close to 60fps on 1080p High. And to be honest, if you can literally see the difference between say 57fps & 60fps then you must have robotic eyes. So to say that it can't run "most benchmarking games" at 60fps with those settings is just plain underselling it in my opinion...[/QUOTE]

the price to performance ratios are definitely the best part.
 
i finished building it last night and i've been installing software etc all day, had to go back to micro center for the millionth time to get a wireless card lol

side rant about MC: when i bought the 670 i looked on their website and it said it's supposed to come with metro: last light... i got in the car and was looking over the receipts and stuff for a steam key.... there was nothing lol

i went in and asked the guy and he said they didn't have the keys for the promo and tried to give me a $75 world of tanks credit, wtf? no thanks pal. gonna contact their CS i guess.


but i really do love the new rig, so fast and quiet. i'd definitely recommend the case. easy wire management and everything comes apart by hand. front door swinging both ways is really cool.
 
[quote name='vince_carter']i finished building it last night and i've been installing software etc all day, had to go back to micro center for the millionth time to get a wireless card lol

side rant about MC: when i bought the 670 i looked on their website and it said it's supposed to come with metro: last light... i got in the car and was looking over the receipts and stuff for a steam key.... there was nothing lol

i went in and asked the guy and he said they didn't have the keys for the promo and tried to give me a $75 world of tanks credit, wtf? no thanks pal. gonna contact their CS i guess.


but i really do love the new rig, so fast and quiet. i'd definitely recommend the case. easy wire management and everything comes apart by hand. front door swinging both ways is really cool.[/QUOTE]

I don't mean to offend you but there's a very slim chance that you will get the Metro key. MC has great sales and selection but employees and CS are less than knowledgable.
 
[quote name='aShufflinZombie']Those speeds are at stock and games of today are rarely CPU limited. I can squeeze those results out of my 650 with overclocking.[/QUOTE]

Hahahaha ur joking right? Why wouldn't we all buy $100 amd cards instead of $300, $500 and $1000 i7s some that use $250 to $400 2011 socket mobos. You clearly havent done your research. CPU matters if u believe otherwise you're wrong.

I love amd a lot but Intel smokes them in gaming benchmarks at the i5 and i7 levels. If you aren't running an i7 you aren't getting those fps benchmark numbers. Disagree if you want doesn't change reality.
 
[quote name='aShufflinZombie']I don't mean to offend you but there's a very slim chance that you will get the Metro key. MC has great sales and selection but employees and CS are less than knowledgable.[/QUOTE]

Yea, doubt i ever see it either after chatting with their CS

they said they never got the codes
 
[quote name='retrad']Hahahaha ur joking right? Why wouldn't we all buy $100 amd cards instead of $300, $500 and $1000 i7s some that use $250 to $400 2011 socket mobos. You clearly havent done your research. CPU matters if u believe otherwise you're wrong.

I love amd a lot but Intel smokes them in gaming benchmarks at the i5 and i7 levels. If you aren't running an i7 you aren't getting those fps benchmark numbers. Disagree if you want doesn't change reality.[/QUOTE]

I'm running a FX-8320 at 4.2Ghz. Granted the card gets hot (85C) put it can still push those frames within a margin of error.
 
[quote name='vince_carter']Yea, doubt i ever see it either after chatting with their CS

they said they never got the codes[/QUOTE]

Go in there and see if you can get a credit for the value of the game maybe since he was quick to offer $75 world of tank credit.
 
Hey guys

I moved my pc a bit too far today and one of the wires came off the head, the wire itself doesn't look damaged but it is not coming back together if I rebuild it, it is completely loose and just falls apart

since then my internet has been a little wonky not stabled and keep disconnecting

I am hoping somebody can give me advice on how to make it work again properly

img0970gb.jpg
 
[quote name='MiNuN']Hey guys

I moved my pc a bit too far today and one of the wires came off the head, the wire itself doesn't look damaged but it is not coming back together if I rebuild it, it is completely loose and just falls apart

since then my internet has been a little wonky not stabled and keep disconnecting

I am hoping somebody can give me advice on how to make it work again properly[/QUOTE]

Replace the cable, or learn how to crimp (you'll likely need tools for it). Good crimp tools are expensive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ecWChhWTj4
 
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