Building a Desktop

[FlameMLK]

Hi all, I am planning on building a desktop after Ivy Bridge comes out later this month.

What kind of parts will I need to buy for this computer? I am seeking to buy an i5 Ivy Bridge quad core for this computer and I will be playing a good deal of World of Warcraft on it.

I want to make sure everything is compatible with the processor.

Also I was wondering if I could use the hard-drive and RAM from my old computer in this one that I plan to build. The hard-drive is from the Dell Dimension E520 and the RAM is Kingston DDR2.

Also as far as budget, I do not plan on spending more than $800, but am looking to save money anywhere it makes sense to.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[itzdanielp]

Unfortunately you will not be able to use the RAM, as the new Z77 chipsets are DDR3. However, RAM is very cheap nowadays and you can get a good 8GB 1600MHz kit for around $50.

You can use the HDD, but a drive that old is really going to slow your experience down. I would suggest getting a 60 - 120GB SSD to install the OS and commonly used programs on, and use it in conjunction with the HDD for storage.

 

[FlameMLK]

Yeah, I forgot to mention. I meant to have the old hard-drive as a back-up. Definitely want a faster one or an SSD of the size you mentioned to keep the performance optimal.

 

[itzdanielp]

I am assuming the HDD is SATA and not IDE, right?

As long as it is, there is no problem with using it.

 

[FlameMLK]

Yes, I believe it is a SATA.
OK, so that takes care of the HDD/SSD. Now I just need to find the right SSD to use for this project.

What should I do for the other parts? (I'm also pretty new to this field, so I am not positive on what those other parts even are)

 

[itzdanielp]

Well, apart from the HDD

You are going to need...

Motherboard
CPU
RAM
Power Supply.

Graphics card is optional, but not a bad idea.

I would suggest an Asus or Gigabyte Z77 motherboard. ASRock if you are really on a budget.

You already said you are going for an Ivy Bridge i5, so that takes care of that.

RAM, I would suggest an 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 @ 1600MHz kit. I prefer Kingston, Corsair or G-Skill.

Graphics card, the 7950 is a solid card for a decent price, but the card really depends on how much you want to pay.

PSU, I would suggest something at least 650 Watts, such as the Corsair AX650.

SSD, really anything you want. Get a SATAIII one, of the size you want to pay for. Brand doesn't really make a difference.

 

[FlameMLK]

Is there anything else I would need? Other than a case. What kind of case is good to get?

 

[itzdanielp]

Entire list of parts - You can decide what you need / already have.

Motherboard
CPU
CPU cooler (generally comes with CPU)
RAM
Graphics card (some CPU's have one built in if you don't want a dedicated one)
HDD or SSD (or combination thereof)
Power Supply
Case


As far as cases go, pretty much any case will do. make sure it is the same form factor as the Motherboard you choose (MicroATX vs. Full ATX)

Brands I like are Corsair, Coolermaster, NZXT and the end-all case "Case Labs"

But, there are many, many brands. Just check reviews on the specific one you are looking at to see how other people like it as far as quality.

 

[FlameMLK]

I can't seem to find the 7950 graphics card to buy online. Will ivy bridge come with the cooler? Also is 650W necessary, or would something less work?

 

[itzdanielp]

Oops, I mis typed. I meant 7850... sorry 🙁

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=-1&isNodeId=1&Description=7850&x=0&y=0

All CPU's come with a cooler, but if you are looking to overclock you will need an aftermarket one. But for general use, the one that comes with it is fine.

I wouldn't go less than 550, and 650 is the minimum I would get if you are looking to possibly XFire or SLI in the future.

 

[FlameMLK]

Okay, so right now these parts are what I'm looking at:
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128547
CPU: Ivy Bridge i5 3550
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145345
Graphics Card: Probably the built-in one, since I'm reaching my budget
SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139035
Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139008

Current Total: $687.28

What do you think of these choices? Does everything look compatible and will it be worth it to build this computer?

 

[FlameMLK]

Best answer selected by FlameMLK.

 

[itzdanielp]

Everything looks good!

That PSU is a very good one, but is a little pricey.

Also, that MB is really low end and misses some of the quality of a nice MB, I might say to pay a bit more and get something like this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293

and get this PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021

 

[FlameMLK]

Everything looks good!

That PSU is a very good one, but is a little pricey.

Also, that MB is really low end and misses some of the quality of a nice MB, I might say to pay a bit more and get something like this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293

and get this PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021

What is the difference for the motherboard? Also what's the cheapest, but best graphics card I could get? Leaning towards the integrated graphics, however.

 

[itzdanielp]

The integrated graphics on the Ivy Bridge CPU's are supposed to be pretty good. Nothing like dedicated, but a whole lot better than Sandy Bridge.


Here is a good review that Tom's puts out every month showing the best graphics in each price bracket. Take a look at it.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107.html

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey