A little advice for a first time comp builder?

[Linconclusive]

Hi there. I'm in the process of selecting the parts for my first ever self-built computer, and I'd appreciate a little input from people who've got more experience in this than me.

This is what I'm thinking of buying so far (barring the motherboard, which I bought in a fit of enthusiasm after finding it at a rather low price):

Intel i7 950 3.06 processor
Asus P6TD Deluxe motherboard
Palit Sonic Platinum nVidia GTX 460 1GB
Western Digital Caviar 1TB SATAII HD

I'd appreciate any advice on that line up/someone spotting a glaring problem I've missed etc. Any advice on a good case for this stuff would be great too, or recommendations for better suited components. Having looked at all the reviews for HDs there seem to I'm a gamer, so I'm looking for a pretty decent graphics card - though hopefully not one that's going to break the bank - and the GTX seemed to fit pretty neatly into that category, but I'm open to any suggestions.

Thanks in advance,
-Linc

 

[mfenn]

First, please read and answer the questions from the sticky.

Second, is it possible to return the motherboard? LGA 1366 is not the way you want to go for a gaming rig.

 

[Davidh373]

Second, is it possible to return the motherboard? LGA 1366 is not the way you want to go for a gaming rig.

I second that. You'll get better performance from CPU which draws less power and a platform (motherboard + CPU) which gives you less problems. A first time builder doesn't really get much benefit from X58. It only really comes in handy for 3X + SLI/CrossfireX but beyond that it really has none.

 

[Linconclusive]

Sorry about that, missed that one. It'll primarily be a gaming rig, but it'll need to be able to handle Photoshop and some 3D rendering software comfortably. I'm looking to keep the total at around £700, although I've got some give on that one. I'll be buying from the UK, have no brand preference and probably won't be doing much overclocking. I run most games at 1280x960 I think, and I plan on building it before Christmas.

I may be able to return the motherboard - bought off ebay, but the seller seemed amenable to returns. I'll have to check. Could you explain to me why it was the wrong choice (saves me making the same mistake in future)? As for the CPU, I chose that on the basis of several performance reports that showed it testing pretty well in the areas I needed it to. What differences will one with lower power consumption make compared the i7?

 

[betasub]

A build around a socket 1366 motherboard would certainly be powerful, but as it is "enthusiast-class" you wouldn't be getting the best bang-for-buck (or bang-for-quid for a UK buyer!). However, working with your 1366 motherboard may be worthwhile if you got it for a great price, or returning it isn't straightforward.

The standard recommendation for a mid-priced gaming rig is P55 motherboard (socket1156) + i5-760 processor (look for similar threads where mfenn has listed this sort of build). A similar AMD quad build is a little cheaper, if you need to save money or put more into another area (e.g. gfx card). However, you have a relatively low resolution by latest standards: a GTX460 768MB may be sufficient, unless you have plans to move to higher res in the immediate future.

With the above, 4GB DDR3 RAM (1.5V, 1333MHz or 1600MHz are fine) & a fast internal boot drive (UK buyer may be able to get a deal on the Samsung F3 1TB).

 

[Linconclusive]

I did get the motherboard for a pretty good price (£70 less than pretty much every online retailer I could find), but I could conceivably return it if it turns out it'll be a problem. I guess what I'm trying to determine now is whether a small sacrifice in maximum performance now with the i7 will pay of in terms of life compared to the i5. I managed to squeeze ten years out of my last computer (with a few upgrades here and there), and I'd like to play towards durability and the parts not being out-moded. Would I be at a disadvantage a couple of years down the line if I got the i5 any more than the i7?

I've also just got home and checked my resolution, it's actually 1440x900, although admittedly that's not much higher.

 

[betasub]

Well, there's not a lot between the lifetime of the two different platforms, either in terms of performance or longevity. 1156 is being replaced by 1155 & Sandybridge early in 2011, whereas the higher-end replacement for 1136 is scheduled for later the same year.

Paying £70 less on a motherboard may seem like a great deal, but not if it was considerably more expensive (£200?) than a regular 1156 board in the first place.

Your resolution is still "only" 1.3Mpixels, which fits perfectly with the GTX460 768MB. The GTX460 1GB and the Radeon 6850 1GB do provide better performance if you have the extra to spend, but maybe you'll need that money to afford the i7-950 & RAM.

 

[Linconclusive]

Ok, that's really good to know. Thanks for all of your help - it's much appreciated. Looks like you've saved me quite a lot of money! Now I just need to find a way to return the motherboard ;-)

 

[mfenn]

Glad betasub was able to steer you towards a good decision. I concur with all of his points.

Since you're going to be saving some money on the platform (CPU/mobo/memory), you'll might want to consider putting it towards a new monitor. 1440x900 is an awfully low resolution by current standards.

 

[Linconclusive]

So, there's a bit of a problem. It's looking like I'm not going to be able to return the motherboard. Given that I only paid £130 for it, there's a slim chance I may be able to make my money back by reselling, but obviously I'd like to avoid an option where I might lose money. So, I'm in a bit of a stitch at the moment.

 

[betasub]

OK, are you able to find a reasonably-priced i7-9xx processor to fit within your budget?
Recommendations above for graphics and harddrive still apply, but understand that you may need to look for ways to keep the total down: for example, a 6GB memory kit is usually recommended for a LGA1366 build - but getting a 4GB kit won't hurt performance if it helps bring you in on budget.

 

[Davidh373]

So, there's a bit of a problem. It's looking like I'm not going to be able to return the motherboard. Given that I only paid £130 for it, there's a slim chance I may be able to make my money back by reselling, but obviously I'd like to avoid an option where I might lose money. So, I'm in a bit of a stitch at the moment.

Just keep the mobo and get an i7 930. You won't notice that much of a difference. Lesson learned just like many before you; ask, then buy.

 

[Linconclusive]

Well I've just run a total and I think I can get all well within budget, or at least get the basics and buy some of the extras when I have a little more saved up. Thanks tons for all your help and patience betasub, you've given me a lot of good recommendations.

 

[mfenn]

Just keep the mobo and get an i7 930. You won't notice that much of a difference. Lesson learned just like many before you; ask, then buy.

:thumbsup:

Glad everything worked out for you in the end though.