First time builder - i7

Zolek

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I've never built a computer before and am looking to put together a midrange system to last me the next 2-4 years (my current computer lasted 4.5 years). Could you please review both the quality of components as well as making sure theyre compatible for me? Thanks


CPU - Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core
MOBO - ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
RAM - G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit
Video Card - SAPPHIRE 100269SR Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready
Case - LIAN LI PC-60APLUSII Silver Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Hard Drive - Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
PSU - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

Going to pull my old computer's DVD drive. Am I missing any necessary components?
 

Jack64

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Looks like a good build, quality Components. I'm sure one of the first things you will hear is "go with the OCZ memory kit it's cheaper and has better timing"
Also, I noticed the Case you picked is out of stock on newegg, but is available on other vendors sites, looks like a nice case.
And are you going to overclock??? If so, you will need a better CPU cooler than the stock one, I got the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme, it's a good cooler, and seems most folks on here rave about the Coolermaster V-8, your choice though, if your not going to OC then the stock one is fine.
I can't really comment on the Graphics card, never owned one or know anyone who does, but the reviews seems to say it's a good one, so I think your build is fine the way it is, but there are many people on here that will give you some advice on how to tweak it. You didn't mention how big of a monitor you have. If you play games and which ones so that would help, the more info you give will let them tweak this build for you. Remember, the choices are yours. but there are some on here that are really good at helping tweak to your needs! Oh and your budget would be good to know, that would help alot. Let us know how much you can spend and if you game and at what resolution and how big your monitor is.
 
^+1...
Change the RAM to something like these...They all have very good ratings and are very fast...Get the RAM with the lowest timings...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231247
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227388

So from the money saved, get this card...ATI 4890 just $30 more than the card you have chosen...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102830

Rest of the components are very good...
 

Zolek

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Are there any realistic differences between the ram selections? Reliability is important to me but so is price. This computer is mostly going to be used for world of warcraft, browsing, some video compression for work, and I'd like it to handle new games (sc2/diablo3) for the next 2 years. My current computer is 5 and literally falling apart at the seams. The hard drive is 4 and due to die sometime soon too. The monitor is currently an old 17inch CRT but as some point in a year or so will be replaced with a nice LCD so it needs to support a decent screen resolution.

The components I listed come in at $1250. The ram swap would bring that down to 1200. Is the small video card upgrade worth it?

I don't plan to overclock at this time although have the option would be ok. For the most part I just want to have my friend assemble it for me and forget it..
 


Agreed the RAM swap is a good idea. That Corsair ram is over priced. As far as fast solid reliable ram goes, it's hard to beat G.Skill. It's rarely over priced, it's bullet proof, and above all it's good solid memory. As far as the video card goes....for me I know what I would do seeing how you have a 750w psu. ATI vid cards are nice, but they are heat producing power hogs if anything, and that new 4890 is no different in those regards. Take a look at the gtx 260. It fits in between the 4870 1gig and the 4890...yet performance wise it runs closer to the 4890 than the 4870 1gig. With the gtx 260 your going to have less chance of maxing out that psu running those cards later on in SLI.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-4890,2262-13.html <---good link to check out along with the rest of that article.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231247 $94.99 Free Shipping*
G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

great price on this vid card atm....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143155 $178.99 Free Shipping*
BFG Tech BFGEGTX260MC896OCE GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
 

Zolek

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Original post updated with new ram and video card recommended. Are these components all 100% compatible with each other and all I need? Having it arrive here to find out I'm missing something or they don't work together would be a huge bummer. Cables/screws/etc are all included?
 
Looks like a good list where everything is appropriate.

Any of the well known ram vendors are reliable. You can check their web site and access their configurator for your motherboard. If your selected ram is on the list of compatible parts, you are ok. I would not pay extra for faster timings, or more than 1600 speed.

If you old dvd drive has a IDE interface, I would change it out. Sata is so much easier for cabling. You can get a nice Sata Samsung burner for <$25.

I think I would install an oem heat sink up front. Xigmatek makes a good one that is reasonable. Under load, a large , slow, 120mm fan will do a better job of cooling, and keep the noise down. If, in the future, you want to overclock a bit, a good cooler is needed. Just change the BCLK from 133 to 160, and you have a 965 class cpu.

Get a tube of MX-2 oe AS-5 thermal material. It's cheap, and does a bit better job than the stock material. It is good insurance in case you need to remount your cooler.
The pushpin mounts can be tricky.

The only tool you will need is a #2 phillips head screwdriver.

Do you have an OS?
Keyboard & mouse?

---good luck---

 

Zolek

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I will take your advice on getting a new SATA DVD burner. The comments on newegg make it sound like I need a cable to go with it? Is this true? The one I was looking at is http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151173

I think I would install an oem heat sink up front. Xigmatek makes a good one that is reasonable.
Does the processor not come with a heat sink included?

I have an OS ready. I see the motherboard only has 1 PS/2 port, does this mean I need a new mouse or keyboard (they have round plugs).
 

sassan

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I would save the money and get a non modular power supply. It would be good if you care about wires in your case if you don't then get a better power supply for that much money.
 


The motherboard will come with several sata cables. No more are necessary for the dvd burner or hard drives.

The (retail vs. oem) cpu will come with a heat sink. It is useable. The fan is smaller, and it's heat wicking capabilities are not as good as almost any tower type oem heat sink. Under heavy load, the fan will spin up and be noisy. The only good time to mount or remount a cpu cooler is while the motherboard is outside of the case. If you think you might ever want to change the stock cooler, I suggest doing it initially. I hate to remove a motherboard from a working production system.

Is the OS you already have vista-64 bit? It is needed to access more than 4gb of ram.

Modular/non-modular is, in my opinion a non-issue. Modular helps cleaner wiring, by not having to plug in leads that you are not using. With a proper PSU you will be using all but one or two leads anyway. I would not pay extra for modular. Either corsair psu would be ok.

Keyboards and mice are USB based today. PS/2 conections will go away. If you have two PS/2 devices, plan on replacing one of them.
 

Jack64

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The modular PSU are nice and come with a multitude of cables for just about any need that may arise, however, like they said, you will usually use most of the cables on a non modular PSU. And the modulars are more expensive....I went with overkill whan I bought mine...I got a Thermaltake 1000W PSU about 2 yrs ago and I must say, I love it's ability to only use the cables you need and it does keep the install nice and neat, but it will cost you, mine was 400 when I purchased it, but I like overkill in some things like Cooling and PSU's and Video Cards. LOL Get what you can afford and one that will play into your future plans and go with it, I must say, the corsair line of PSU are really nice. That 1000w modular they have is really nice, but Overkill also. =-)