My first build

[Nebul0us]

I have decided to build my own pc, and am looking to go budget balanced with ability to upgrade after a while. I have decided to go bottom level ivy bridge, with good value coming from the i3-3225 processor. I am wondering if you all can help me decide on whether or not to spend the money on good ram. I also wanted to make sure everything is compatible, and to ask about using a RAID 0 config on my SSD. I have heard benefits are negligible and also heard that people are getting read times of 1 TB/s. Can this be true? Here is my proposed setup, the only thing I have purchased already is the case. I do not play a lot of games, and already have a HD to use. Thank you all!

CPU: Intel Core i3-3225 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($136.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS9500 AT Ball Bearing CPU Cooler ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($104.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M4 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($66.48 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Enforcer ATX Mid Tower Case ($74.98 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Raidmax 730W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $609.41

 

[austinwillis81]

no need for after market cpu cooler.

Drop down too either 4 or 8 gb of ram.

you are going to need hdd space, 64gb ssd will only be enough for windows and not much else

drop that psu and get a corsair cx430 or 500

 

[Hazle]

skip the CPU cooler. stock cooler are fine. grab a cheaper H77/B75/Z75 board, unless there's a feature/ports (more USB 3.0's, etc.) on that board that you like or you plan to buy a 3570K later on. i.e:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131835&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

unless you're running a heavy memory intensive task, 8gb is more than plenty for web surfing, video playback, and even gaming in most cases. and if you ever need an extra 8gb in the future, RAM's not that hard to add.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

better PSU brand. you'll never gonna need 700W, not unless you plan to upgrade to a better CPU and/or add in two or more GPUs.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151095

you should have saved up a bit to spend on, say a 128gb Samsung 830/840 + a decent HDD with all the cuts made, if you wish.

 

[g-unit1111]

no need for after market cpu cooler.

Drop down too either 4 or 8 gb of ram.

you are going to need hdd space, 64gb ssd will only be enough for windows and not much else

drop that psu and get a corsair cx430 or 500

CX430 will struggle with Ivy Bridge, I've seen it happen. But Raidmax is among the absolute worst vendors in the industry - stay very far away from them.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817151095

you should have saved up a bit to spend on, say a 128gb Samsung 830/840 + a decent HDD with all the cuts made, if you wish.

I'd second this power supply suggestion but without a dedicated GPU you won't come anywhere close to using 620W, you could use the 430W version and it's a better choice than the CX430 is. I also agree that the cooler isn't necessary. Even with something low end like the Radeon 7770, you can use the S12 430W and be fine.

 

[Hazle]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817151095

you should have saved up a bit to spend on, say a 128gb Samsung 830/840 + a decent HDD with all the cuts made, if you wish.

I'd second this power supply suggestion but without a dedicated GPU you won't come anywhere close to using 620W, you could use the 430W version and it's a better choice than the CX430 is. I also agree that the cooler isn't necessary. Even with something low end like the Radeon 7770, you can use the S12 430W and be fine.

whoops. my only excuse is that i initially thought this was a gaming build, saw the OP posts more properly and forgot to edit it. my bad.

OP, go with what g-unit, said. around 450W or so should be plenty, if not overkill for an i3 build + onboard graphics.

 

[Nebul0us]

okay I changed my RAM and PSU, here is what I have now...

CPU: Intel Core i3-3225 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($129.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS9500 AT Ball Bearing CPU Cooler ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($36.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Crucial M4 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($66.48 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Enforcer ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.52 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($83.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $568.95

I left the cooler in because, and I should have mentioned this, I want to upgrade in about 2 years to a i7-3770k and add a video card. This is why I am overbuying on a PSU also, don't want to have to buy a new one when I upgrade. What do y'all think of this setup now, and it's ability to upgrade in 2 years by just adding the i7 and video card?

 

[g-unit1111]

okay I changed my RAM and PSU, here is what I have now...

CPU: Intel Core i3-3225 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($129.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS9500 AT Ball Bearing CPU Cooler ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($36.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Crucial M4 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($66.48 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Enforcer ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.52 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($83.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $568.95

I left the cooler in because, and I should have mentioned this, I want to upgrade in about 2 years to a i7-3770k and add a video card. This is why I am overbuying on a PSU also, don't want to have to buy a new one when I upgrade. What do y'all think of this setup now, and it's ability to upgrade in 2 years by just adding the i7 and video card?

Buy the cooler when you get the new CPU - you will have to reinstall it anyways.

 

[Nebul0us]

Okay this is what I have planned now...

CPU: Intel Core i3-3225 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory Storage: Crucial M4 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk
Case: Cooler Master Storm Enforcer ATX Mid Tower Case
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply

Total: $512.41

Not a bad machine for 500 bucks...

Thanks for your help g-unit and hazle!

The last question I have is, when I upgrade to a i7-3770k and add a video card in a year or two, will that signifacantly boost my performance or would I be better off going with what is new at that time. I realize it's hard to see the future, so I guess I'm asking if adding a video card and upgrading to i7-3770k will be worth paying for in 1-2 years or will the perfomance boost not be significant enough?

 

[g-unit1111]

Okay this is what I have planned now...

CPU: Intel Core i3-3225 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory Storage: Crucial M4 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk
Case: Cooler Master Storm Enforcer ATX Mid Tower Case
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply

Total: $512.41

Not a bad machine for 500 bucks...

Thanks for your help g-unit and hazle!

The last question I have is, when I upgrade to a i7-3770k and add a video card in a year or two, will that signifacantly boost my performance or would I be better off going with what is new at that time. I realize it's hard to see the future, so I guess I'm asking if adding a video card and upgrading to i7-3770k will be worth paying for in 1-2 years or will the perfomance boost not be significant enough?

You'll probably wind up replacing the motherboard when you get the new CPU - I'm doubting that the 3770K will still be available by that time except on eBay. But it won't be that big of a drop in the bucket compared to splurging for a whole new build.

 

[Nebul0us]

Best answer selected by Nebul0us.