- Apr 10, 2006
- 14,620
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A Guide to Choosing Computer Parts -By Proximon
This guide got a refresh and can now be found here.
This parts guide is intended to help most of the people who come to this forum asking what they should buy to build a computer. It's not intended to be a specific parts list, but rather the information you need to begin making informed decisions. It may seem like a lot of text. Well, there's a lot to know and I've tried to keep the size down and keep the language simple.
EVERYTHING on this guide is subject to change. It is up to date as of ****** .
Much of the information in this guide came from regular contributors to this forum, by way of discussions, arguments, and advice. It is all supported by research. More information comes from various tech sites across the internet, including this one. ( I always keep an eye on this board, and what you see here reflects the current ideas.)
Other General Guides
Recommended Builds by Usage - Tecmo34
When you are ready to make a post and ask for advice, please use THIS format.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Choosing a CPU
The very first decision you need to make is which processor to use. Intel and AMD both have good options at various price points, but AMD currently loses at most price points for gaming CPUs.
The fastest CPUs for the system builder are Intel. There is no debate here, it's been this way for some time now. If you last built a machine in 2005, this may come as a shock, but it's true. Currently the strategy from AMD is to avoid going head to head against Intel on performance, instead focusing on value. Sadly, they seem to be falling behind even in the value department.
Tom's Hardware has this large and complete CPU guide stickied in the CPU section. I recommend you read it, it's a little out of date but still relevant.
Also, there is the monthly GUIDE done by Cleve AKA Don Woligroski from TH. I feel I need to add a comment to this however. It covers what is useful in TODAY'S games... Not what you might need next year. All CPUs become obsolete at some point, and the less you spend today the sooner that will happen for you.
Overclocking
And while we are at it, I think I'll say a bit more on this subject. If you are building your own system, you should be planning to overclock. There, I said it, and it's true. There was a time, not so long ago, when this was best left to only the most knowledgeable and those with deep wallets. These days, it's only a very small step from designing and assembling your own PC, to overclocking it. The gains to be had are LARGE and the risk is far less than it once was. I have to say there is still some risk, or I'll get sued or at least hated... but there is more risk in just building your own computer in general than overclocking it. There is also a certain amount of knowledge to be gained in the process, that will benefit the average user.
Intel now offers a kind of "insurance" for overclockers:
http://click.intel.com/tuningplan/
Number of Cores
For most builds, quad core CPUs are now the norm. If you have a low budget or very minimal needs, dual core is OK. I've only recently switched from a fast dual core to a quad, and honestly the only difference is under heavy loads. Using a quad core now simply improves the longevity of the build. There are, of course, 6 and 8-core CPUs. More cores is not always better for gaming, and not needed for office work. If you do not know for certain that your professional software can use that many cores, you should find out before throwing money at the extra cores.
Longevity
This needs to be said. There is a disturbing trend here at TH lately to recommend CPUs based on today's needs. This is folly. My experience shows the average user keeps a CPU/platform for around 4 years, and much can change in that time. Buy more CPU than you need, if you can afford it. Just don't spend huge amounts on a CPU that is only slightly better than one far less expensive.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Motherboard Chipset
We will now get into the specifics of motherboard choices. When we talk about motherboards, the first and most important thing (after CPU socket) is chipset. The chipset of the motherboard will determine how the board handles all the various parts that get plugged into it. If your CPU is the brain of the computer, the chipset is the spinal cord. So, we classify motherboards by the chipset on them. I use chipset in a broad way here, and it can include more than one chipset on the same board.
Advanced: Learning about the voltage regulation of a motherboard will take you a very long way in evaluating the quality of that board. For a truly masterful guide to this subject see this Hardware Secrets Article.
Thomas Soderstrom, A.K.A Crashman, wrote an excellent article for TH covering motherboard choices. It is now a bit old, but still has good data. You will find a bit more opinion and links to external sources in my guide, as I'm not in anyone's employ... that's in no way a knock on Crashman, he does excellent work. I just felt the need to point out potential differences. I make assumptions based on who I think is reading my guide. Crashman does not have that luxury.
Intel CPU Boards
(in order of current new build popularity)
Intel Socket LGA 1155 (Most recent mainstream socket. Supports both Sandy bridge and Ivy bridge processors. individual boards may not support Ivy Bridge processors)
Panther Point Chipsets (coincides with the release of Ivy Bridge processors, but also supports Sandy Bridge processors)
These chipsets all support onboard graphics. They all have native USB 3.0. They have PCI-E 3.0.
Z77
Supports overclocking and onboard graphics (with appropriate CPUs only). The most feature rich chipset.
Z75
Just like the Z77 chipset but a few less features, especially SSD caching that is present in Z68 and Z77.
H77
No overclocking but it does support SSD caching. Normally the most feature rich non-overclocking board.
B75
This is a "business class" chipset with no overclocking or SSD caching, but some enterprise features. It may be found at a good price for budget builds, and has great features for budget oriented gamers too.
Cougar Point Chipsets (coincides with the release of Sandy Bridge and the LGA 1155 socket. Many motherboards with this chipset can support Ivy Bridge CPUs, but will need a BIOS update to do so.)
- Intel Z68
This chipset offers a couple features found in P67 and H67, but combines them. It is able to OC but is ALSO able to support the built-in graphics of SB CPUs. It is able to use a small SSD drive as a HDD cache, speeding up performance. If you are a gamer and have enough money to buy a larger SSD (80GB or more) then this choice doesn't give you anything really and you can stick with P67. Note though that Z68 boards do come in very deluxe models. Perhaps having that backup graphics option will be something some people will want. Most gamers building an Intel rig will get one of these.
- Intel P67
The chipset that most gamers buying Intel used to get. Supports the newest LGA 1155 CPUs. Does NOT support the graphics built in to those CPUs. Does support overclocking. Supports dual PCI-E slots running at x8/x8, but look carefully at the specific motherboard as some will not have this feature. SLI or Crossfire. SATA 6GB/S support but no native USB 3 support (But most boards will still support USB 3 using another chip). Still a very good choice, especially if a price is much better than similar Z68 board.
- Intel H67
The new LGA 1155 chipset for those that want the built-in graphics of the new CPUs. Does not allow for CPU overclocking, but memory can be overclocked.
- Intel X79
This is the newest chipset from Intel. It is for socket 2011 CPUs. It offers more features and is strictly high-end. There are not many compelling reasons to use these boards and CPUs currently, as almost all gamers will not benefit from these features. Machines that must do double duty 3D rendering as well as gaming might be one use. Perhaps as video cards develop over the next two years, and place a larger demand on motherboard resources, this platform will get more recommendations. If you have very deep pockets and a desire to show off, perhaps.
- Intel P55
This was the previous gen chipset for desktops, and used discreet graphics cards. No reason to buy this for a new system now, as the newest chipset and CPUs offer such a large increase in performance... unless you find a very good deal. these boards and CPUs still outperform AMD options.
- IntelH55, H57
This is the previous gen chipset for desktops that only needed onboard graphics. No reason to buy this for a new system now, as the newest chipset and CPUs offer such a large increase in performance.... unless, again, you get a very good deal.
-Intel x58
The x58 supports LGA 1366 i7 quad core or 6-core CPUs from Intel. This is now obsolete, not recommended as it has been replaced by sockets LGA 1155 and LGA 2011. It's still a VERY nice platform and owners of these boards and CPUs have no need to upgrade.
- Intel Q57
LGA 1156 chipset intended for corporate applications.
AMD CPU Chipsets
Most of the modern AMD chipsets now come in an AM3+ flavor - what that means is that the motherboards use DDR3 and both AM3 and AM3+ CPUs can be used in them. This gets confusing and we really don't want to be confused, do we? For new AMD builds, you will probably want an AM3+ board and DDR3 now.
AMD 990GX, 890GX
This AMD chipset supports crossfire at x8/x8 and SATA 6GB/USB 3.0. It also has a very slight onboard graphics improvement over 790GX, depending on who you ask. Unlike the Intel P55 boards, the 6GB SATA does not take away from the PCI-E slots... making this a better gaming choice in some ways.
AMD 990FX 890FX
Like the 890GX only with more PCI-E bandwidth for those demanding crossfire video cards. The extra bandwidth might not be needed, but since these are more deluxe boards they can be worth a look.
AMD 970, 870
Will normally have just one PCI-E slot and no onboard graphics. A great budget choice.
AMD 790GX
An older chipset, but still many sold. Much like the 890GX but with no support for USB 3 or SATA 6GB/S
AMD 790X
Like the 790GX but without the onboard graphics.
AMD 790FX
A bit more pricey that the 790GX, this board had more features but no onboard GPU. Most of the deluxe AM2+ or AM3 boards fell into this category. PCI-E 2.0 @X16 in crossfire. Similar to an X48 board, but for AMD CPUs.
AMD 780G
Older board with just one PCI-E slot for video card.
AMD 785G
No large changes over 780G, but it's newer and may support some current CPUs better. Comes in both ATX and micro-ATX sizes and is budget friendly. Some increased onboard GPU functionality.
AMD 770
An older budget chipset, no graphics.
Other Motherboard Considerations
There is a lot more on a motherboard than the AMD or Intel chipset. Audio chips, SATA controllers, USB chips, heatsinks... it can be a long list. Currently, USB 3.0 and SATA 6GB/s are new standards that are not yet available on every board. Check for these.
Integrated graphics?
There are times when you just don't want a separate graphics card. Many computers just need to run office apps, or play a few movies occasionally. Fancy gaming video cards are not wanted. This is a good time to consider AMD actually. The A-series AMD processors have built-in graphics that can even do moderate gaming. I will not cover this in detail here, as most of our visitors are building rigs that could use a bit more GPU power. Ask us which onboard graphics motherboard is right for you, and we'll help.
What about SLI?
SLI means running two or three Nvidia graphics cards linked for increased gaming performance.
Crossfire means running two or more ATI Radeon cards linked for gaming performance.
SLI/Crossfire FAQ by Maziar
Many P67 and Z68 boards and all x79 boards support both crossfire and SLI. 890GX and 890FX run only crossfire, not SLI. Most 990FX boards should now support both CF and SLI.
Expansion slots?
Can be important, and a key part of planning out your computer. A large video card that is placed on some boards might block access to parts of the board you need. Two large video cards may make it impossible to install that sound card you want. Look at the expansion slots, imagine your cards and where they will be.
Ethernet?
All modern boards come with built-in wired networking ability. Only certain boards come with built-in wireless functionality, so you may need to buy a wireless add-in card. The onboard wired Ethernet will be all that most people need.
Sound?
See the sound card section below.
Ports?
Hey, there are all sorts of things that can be plugged into a motherboard. PATA, SATA, USB, eSATA, Firewire, the list goes on. Make sure you know what you need, and what you do not. Make sure you aren't paying extra just for some fancy port you will never use. Some people really do need 8 USB ports. Many of your ports are accessed in the back of the board, and some are internal.
(Continued in the next post)
This guide got a refresh and can now be found here.
This parts guide is intended to help most of the people who come to this forum asking what they should buy to build a computer. It's not intended to be a specific parts list, but rather the information you need to begin making informed decisions. It may seem like a lot of text. Well, there's a lot to know and I've tried to keep the size down and keep the language simple.
EVERYTHING on this guide is subject to change. It is up to date as of ****** .
Much of the information in this guide came from regular contributors to this forum, by way of discussions, arguments, and advice. It is all supported by research. More information comes from various tech sites across the internet, including this one. ( I always keep an eye on this board, and what you see here reflects the current ideas.)
Other General Guides
Recommended Builds by Usage - Tecmo34
When you are ready to make a post and ask for advice, please use THIS format.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Choosing a CPU
The very first decision you need to make is which processor to use. Intel and AMD both have good options at various price points, but AMD currently loses at most price points for gaming CPUs.
The fastest CPUs for the system builder are Intel. There is no debate here, it's been this way for some time now. If you last built a machine in 2005, this may come as a shock, but it's true. Currently the strategy from AMD is to avoid going head to head against Intel on performance, instead focusing on value. Sadly, they seem to be falling behind even in the value department.
Tom's Hardware has this large and complete CPU guide stickied in the CPU section. I recommend you read it, it's a little out of date but still relevant.
Also, there is the monthly GUIDE done by Cleve AKA Don Woligroski from TH. I feel I need to add a comment to this however. It covers what is useful in TODAY'S games... Not what you might need next year. All CPUs become obsolete at some point, and the less you spend today the sooner that will happen for you.
Overclocking
And while we are at it, I think I'll say a bit more on this subject. If you are building your own system, you should be planning to overclock. There, I said it, and it's true. There was a time, not so long ago, when this was best left to only the most knowledgeable and those with deep wallets. These days, it's only a very small step from designing and assembling your own PC, to overclocking it. The gains to be had are LARGE and the risk is far less than it once was. I have to say there is still some risk, or I'll get sued or at least hated... but there is more risk in just building your own computer in general than overclocking it. There is also a certain amount of knowledge to be gained in the process, that will benefit the average user.
Intel now offers a kind of "insurance" for overclockers:
http://click.intel.com/tuningplan/
Number of Cores
For most builds, quad core CPUs are now the norm. If you have a low budget or very minimal needs, dual core is OK. I've only recently switched from a fast dual core to a quad, and honestly the only difference is under heavy loads. Using a quad core now simply improves the longevity of the build. There are, of course, 6 and 8-core CPUs. More cores is not always better for gaming, and not needed for office work. If you do not know for certain that your professional software can use that many cores, you should find out before throwing money at the extra cores.
Longevity
This needs to be said. There is a disturbing trend here at TH lately to recommend CPUs based on today's needs. This is folly. My experience shows the average user keeps a CPU/platform for around 4 years, and much can change in that time. Buy more CPU than you need, if you can afford it. Just don't spend huge amounts on a CPU that is only slightly better than one far less expensive.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Motherboard Chipset
We will now get into the specifics of motherboard choices. When we talk about motherboards, the first and most important thing (after CPU socket) is chipset. The chipset of the motherboard will determine how the board handles all the various parts that get plugged into it. If your CPU is the brain of the computer, the chipset is the spinal cord. So, we classify motherboards by the chipset on them. I use chipset in a broad way here, and it can include more than one chipset on the same board.
Advanced: Learning about the voltage regulation of a motherboard will take you a very long way in evaluating the quality of that board. For a truly masterful guide to this subject see this Hardware Secrets Article.
Thomas Soderstrom, A.K.A Crashman, wrote an excellent article for TH covering motherboard choices. It is now a bit old, but still has good data. You will find a bit more opinion and links to external sources in my guide, as I'm not in anyone's employ... that's in no way a knock on Crashman, he does excellent work. I just felt the need to point out potential differences. I make assumptions based on who I think is reading my guide. Crashman does not have that luxury.
Intel CPU Boards
(in order of current new build popularity)
Intel Socket LGA 1155 (Most recent mainstream socket. Supports both Sandy bridge and Ivy bridge processors. individual boards may not support Ivy Bridge processors)
Panther Point Chipsets (coincides with the release of Ivy Bridge processors, but also supports Sandy Bridge processors)
These chipsets all support onboard graphics. They all have native USB 3.0. They have PCI-E 3.0.
Z77
Supports overclocking and onboard graphics (with appropriate CPUs only). The most feature rich chipset.
Z75
Just like the Z77 chipset but a few less features, especially SSD caching that is present in Z68 and Z77.
H77
No overclocking but it does support SSD caching. Normally the most feature rich non-overclocking board.
B75
This is a "business class" chipset with no overclocking or SSD caching, but some enterprise features. It may be found at a good price for budget builds, and has great features for budget oriented gamers too.
Cougar Point Chipsets (coincides with the release of Sandy Bridge and the LGA 1155 socket. Many motherboards with this chipset can support Ivy Bridge CPUs, but will need a BIOS update to do so.)
- Intel Z68
This chipset offers a couple features found in P67 and H67, but combines them. It is able to OC but is ALSO able to support the built-in graphics of SB CPUs. It is able to use a small SSD drive as a HDD cache, speeding up performance. If you are a gamer and have enough money to buy a larger SSD (80GB or more) then this choice doesn't give you anything really and you can stick with P67. Note though that Z68 boards do come in very deluxe models. Perhaps having that backup graphics option will be something some people will want. Most gamers building an Intel rig will get one of these.
- Intel P67
The chipset that most gamers buying Intel used to get. Supports the newest LGA 1155 CPUs. Does NOT support the graphics built in to those CPUs. Does support overclocking. Supports dual PCI-E slots running at x8/x8, but look carefully at the specific motherboard as some will not have this feature. SLI or Crossfire. SATA 6GB/S support but no native USB 3 support (But most boards will still support USB 3 using another chip). Still a very good choice, especially if a price is much better than similar Z68 board.
- Intel H67
The new LGA 1155 chipset for those that want the built-in graphics of the new CPUs. Does not allow for CPU overclocking, but memory can be overclocked.
- Intel X79
This is the newest chipset from Intel. It is for socket 2011 CPUs. It offers more features and is strictly high-end. There are not many compelling reasons to use these boards and CPUs currently, as almost all gamers will not benefit from these features. Machines that must do double duty 3D rendering as well as gaming might be one use. Perhaps as video cards develop over the next two years, and place a larger demand on motherboard resources, this platform will get more recommendations. If you have very deep pockets and a desire to show off, perhaps.
- Intel P55
This was the previous gen chipset for desktops, and used discreet graphics cards. No reason to buy this for a new system now, as the newest chipset and CPUs offer such a large increase in performance... unless you find a very good deal. these boards and CPUs still outperform AMD options.
- IntelH55, H57
This is the previous gen chipset for desktops that only needed onboard graphics. No reason to buy this for a new system now, as the newest chipset and CPUs offer such a large increase in performance.... unless, again, you get a very good deal.
-Intel x58
The x58 supports LGA 1366 i7 quad core or 6-core CPUs from Intel. This is now obsolete, not recommended as it has been replaced by sockets LGA 1155 and LGA 2011. It's still a VERY nice platform and owners of these boards and CPUs have no need to upgrade.
- Intel Q57
LGA 1156 chipset intended for corporate applications.
AMD CPU Chipsets
Most of the modern AMD chipsets now come in an AM3+ flavor - what that means is that the motherboards use DDR3 and both AM3 and AM3+ CPUs can be used in them. This gets confusing and we really don't want to be confused, do we? For new AMD builds, you will probably want an AM3+ board and DDR3 now.
AMD 990GX, 890GX
This AMD chipset supports crossfire at x8/x8 and SATA 6GB/USB 3.0. It also has a very slight onboard graphics improvement over 790GX, depending on who you ask. Unlike the Intel P55 boards, the 6GB SATA does not take away from the PCI-E slots... making this a better gaming choice in some ways.
AMD 990FX 890FX
Like the 890GX only with more PCI-E bandwidth for those demanding crossfire video cards. The extra bandwidth might not be needed, but since these are more deluxe boards they can be worth a look.
AMD 970, 870
Will normally have just one PCI-E slot and no onboard graphics. A great budget choice.
AMD 790GX
An older chipset, but still many sold. Much like the 890GX but with no support for USB 3 or SATA 6GB/S
AMD 790X
Like the 790GX but without the onboard graphics.
AMD 790FX
A bit more pricey that the 790GX, this board had more features but no onboard GPU. Most of the deluxe AM2+ or AM3 boards fell into this category. PCI-E 2.0 @X16 in crossfire. Similar to an X48 board, but for AMD CPUs.
AMD 780G
Older board with just one PCI-E slot for video card.
AMD 785G
No large changes over 780G, but it's newer and may support some current CPUs better. Comes in both ATX and micro-ATX sizes and is budget friendly. Some increased onboard GPU functionality.
AMD 770
An older budget chipset, no graphics.
Other Motherboard Considerations
There is a lot more on a motherboard than the AMD or Intel chipset. Audio chips, SATA controllers, USB chips, heatsinks... it can be a long list. Currently, USB 3.0 and SATA 6GB/s are new standards that are not yet available on every board. Check for these.
Integrated graphics?
There are times when you just don't want a separate graphics card. Many computers just need to run office apps, or play a few movies occasionally. Fancy gaming video cards are not wanted. This is a good time to consider AMD actually. The A-series AMD processors have built-in graphics that can even do moderate gaming. I will not cover this in detail here, as most of our visitors are building rigs that could use a bit more GPU power. Ask us which onboard graphics motherboard is right for you, and we'll help.
What about SLI?
SLI means running two or three Nvidia graphics cards linked for increased gaming performance.
Crossfire means running two or more ATI Radeon cards linked for gaming performance.
SLI/Crossfire FAQ by Maziar
Many P67 and Z68 boards and all x79 boards support both crossfire and SLI. 890GX and 890FX run only crossfire, not SLI. Most 990FX boards should now support both CF and SLI.
Expansion slots?
Can be important, and a key part of planning out your computer. A large video card that is placed on some boards might block access to parts of the board you need. Two large video cards may make it impossible to install that sound card you want. Look at the expansion slots, imagine your cards and where they will be.
Ethernet?
All modern boards come with built-in wired networking ability. Only certain boards come with built-in wireless functionality, so you may need to buy a wireless add-in card. The onboard wired Ethernet will be all that most people need.
Sound?
See the sound card section below.
Ports?
Hey, there are all sorts of things that can be plugged into a motherboard. PATA, SATA, USB, eSATA, Firewire, the list goes on. Make sure you know what you need, and what you do not. Make sure you aren't paying extra just for some fancy port you will never use. Some people really do need 8 USB ports. Many of your ports are accessed in the back of the board, and some are internal.
(Continued in the next post)
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