First build, require help! (Wasn't sure where to place this thread)

[ADuLy]

Hello everyone! Recently I have been getting into custom pc's and specifically building my own, I've researched the many parts of a PC and ones suitable/aimed at/for gaming specifically and I've put together a build I'm thinking about currently. It's a bit expensive based off what the pcpartpicker.com planner has gathered, but I plan on keeping this new PC for a long while. I also plan to build it myself, and I know I should start out small, but I've had many all-in-one pc's before and I wanted to try something new. I also wanted to create a PC that wouldn't die out on me around a year after purchase. I've researched the steps into building a PC and will have the help of a friend who has built many of his own PC's before on his own, so I will have a reliable source to refer to other than just the internet.

The main reasoning for this thread is to ask for help on my way to building my own PC. I've watched many tutorials/guides of people building their own PC's, precautions to take, etc, but I haven't found a super specific way to find out if all the parts I have planned out for my PC are all compatible with each other. I have a link to the website where I have gathered my parts: https://pcpartpicker.com/user/AndyD/saved/#savedbuild_1946358

Feel free to suggest any improvements I could add/do to my build. I'd like to keep it under $1000 if possible, please do let me know if there are any issues with the build or if any part will conflict with another! I'm planning on keeping this build for a while so I must know any potential problems that could occur!

As always, any feedback/support is appreciated, and I'd like to thank you for your time in viewing this post! Wish me luck in the building of my first PC once I've gathered the sufficient information to do so! ~Andy

 

[RaDiKaL_]

Overall looks good, everything is compatible so don't worry about that, however a couple of suggestions:

- Change that Power Supply, while the CX Series rank well in reviews, it's been reported it's internal components deteriorate way faster than expected reducing its lifespan severely, I suggest you instead buying this PSU:

Seasonic 620w Bronze M12II
https://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-m12ii620bronze

Or another 550w+ PSU 80%+ Bronze Certified with 40A+@12v rail from a known brand like Antec, Seasonic, Superflower, EVGA, XFX or Corsair (except of course it's CX series).

- Since you want it to last for some good years and you're already investing in an aftermarket cooler, it would be better to get a K CPU version so you can later overclock it when extra cpu power is needed. any i5 4th gen K version will do.

- The HDD you selected is a 5400 rpm version which will result in a slower performance overall in your system, change it for a 7200rpm.

 

[geofelt]

Your build is reasonable, and will work as is.
I might do a few things differently.

1. The cooler will come with paste, no need for more.

2. Buy a 2 stick kit of 2 x 4gb so you can run in faster dual channel mode.

3. WD green is not good for a "C" drive. It slows down while at rest and takes time to spin up. Not good for a OS drive. WD black would be better.

FWIW.
I will never again build without a ssd for the "C" drive. It makes everything you do much quicker.
120gb is minimum, it will hold the os and a handful of games. If you can go 240gb, you may never need a hard drive.
I don't.
I would defer on the hard drive unless you need to store large files such as video's.
It is easy to add a hard drive later.
Samsung EVO is a good choice.
Intel 730 is OK too.
4. Corsair CX is only a fair budget quality psu.
https://community.newegg.com/eggxpert/computer_hardware/f/135081/t/45344.aspx?Redirected=true

I would look for a different unit.
Perhaps this antec 650w unit:
https://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-tp650c

 

[ADuLy]

~geofelt; RaDiKaL_

-Thank you for informing me on the power supply issues, I have now swapped it with the Antec 650w unit.

-I've searched in the parts list, and the only Corsair Vengeance option available is the 8gb stick. No option for 4gb's, but thank you for the suggestion! I'll consider leaving that field empty and purchasing them separately, unless there are better ones for around the same price.

+geofelt, I chose the HDD over the SSD simply because I, believe it or not, need the storage. It seems excessive, but since this new build will be my primary PC that I use all the time, and since I am planning to keep it for some time, I will be storing a ton on it, so the 3tbs will be needed. I also chose the HDD over SDD because it's cheaper, but fit my needs. Had I not needed 3tbs, I would easily have chosen SDD, but thanks for the advice.

+I have swapped the caviar green WD drive for a black series according to geofelt's advice, and fortunately it was a 7200 rpm, like advised by RaDiKaL.

Thank you both for the helpful advice! I have updated the build, so feel free to check it out again and correct me if I made a mistake!

 

[RaDiKaL_]

If you really want the Corsair vengeance here they are at 2x4GB:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145345

Your build now looks good to go.

 

[ADuLy]

~RaDiKaL_;

Thanks!

 

[geofelt]

Correct, a SSD costs more per gb, and is not really good for bulk storage.
But, it is immensely valuable for the OS. It makes everything you do quicker.
Files open instantly, windows maintenance is done in 1/4 the time.....
Use a ssd in conjunction with a larger hard drive.
Use a 120gb ssd at least for the "C" drive, you will not regret it.
Ask anybody who has one.

On the ram, Intel cpus do not depend on fast ram 1600 is perfectly fine; you are looking at a 1% real app or fps difference.
Vengeance is a marketing brand. People pay more for fancy heat spreaders that they may need to remove to clear some coolers(not the 212 though). They serve NO function except for record seeking overclockers.Any other ram vendor makes equally good ram. G.skil, patriot, Kingston, all are good ones that I have used in the past.
This G.skil is equally cheap:
https://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f312800cl9d8gbrl

 

[ADuLy]

~geofelt;

Alright I'll consider a SSD, but its definitely going to bump the total cost up by a bit. I will however switch the corsair for the g-skill because having to order from two different places is very inconvenient for me. Thank you for the link, however, RaDiKaL

 

[ADuLy]

I have added a SSD drive by Intel just based off advice from geofelt, I hope it will pay off! Since I have added/changed parts, I would appreciate if you guys could take a quick look, scan through and see if everything is setup right, and if you have any more suggestions, please let me know! I want my first build to go as smoothly as possible!