Building first pc, need recommendations please

[milla777]

1. What will YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Highend Gaming

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$1000, give or take

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
No preference

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Yes I have searched many forums for answers

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Maybe later on

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
Not sure

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Early November

THIS IS MY FIRST BUILD

How are these components? This is all $1020 and I still have to buy an OS, monitor, optical drive, power supply, and whatever else I've forgotten about. I would really appreciate your input and suggestions.

I'm looking to be able to play all the current games out there are on high settings, especially Starcraft 2 on Ultra settings.

Memory: CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2A1600C9
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145260

Motherboard: MSI 790FX-GD70 AM3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130223

Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103808

GPU: HIS H585FN1GD Radeon HD 5850 (Cypress Pro) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card ...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161330

Case: Corsair 800D
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811139002

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Green WD15EARS 1.5TB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136513

 

[mfenn]

If you list the parts out in addition to providing links, you'll probably get more responses. Having to open a bunch of tabs is a bit of a pain. That being said, I spy a number of major issues with your build:

1. The 790FX motherboard is completely unnecessary and overly expensive. Something like the M4A77TD costs half as much and is completely sufficient for what you're doing.
2. A GTX 470 is comparable in price to the 5850 yet is faster.
3. Two Hundred and Seventy Dollars. Spending 1/4 of your budget on a case is just dumb. An Antec Three Hundred or DF-10 is much more appropriate for your budget.
4. A slow Green drive is not what you want for your system drive. Get an F3 instead.
5. DDR3 1600 is not necessary and XMS is overpriced when you consider that it is 1.65V. Get some G.Skill DDR3 1333 instead.
6. You didn't pick out a PSU or an optical drive. A 650TX and a Samsung DVD burner will be fine.

 

[milla777]

Thanks mfenn, I edited the post
The reason I chose the super expensive motherboard and case is I thought that would help with upgrading in the future. I figured I probably wouldn't end up with the 800D but I figured I would try and see if I could get a nice setup and still keep the sweet case.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks mfenn, I edited the post
The reason I chose the super expensive motherboard and case is I thought that would help with upgrading in the future. I figured I probably wouldn't end up with the 800D but I figured I would try and see if I could get a nice setup and still keep the sweet case.

I fail to see how the case is going to help you upgrade. It's not like a more reasonable case won't hold your components. Your reasoning is also bad on the motherboard. Upgrading to Crossfire/SLI rarely makes sense from a bang for buck point-of-view and it's not like the 790FX will be able to handle any CPUs that the 770 won't.

 

[fffblackmage]

The reason I chose the super expensive motherboard and case is I thought that would help with upgrading in the future.

Unfortunately, AM3 is a dead socket now. You could eventually upgrade to a hex-core cpu, but by that time, you'll rather want to move to a new platform. Even with the turbo core thingy, the hex-core isn't much faster in single thread apps than the 955BE and two more cores is unlikely to do much for gaming for quite a while.

And the nearly $300 shipped case. D=
There are plenty of great cases for under $100.

Well, since you're saving around $200 with the cheaper case, maybe you can fit an SSD in there? The Sandforce controller-based OCZ 60GB Agility 2 is currently $100 with $20 off promo code BTEYXNV23 and $20 MIR. FS too.

 

[milla777]

What would be the benefit of getting a small SSD in there?

 

[betasub]

Ultra-fast boot/OS drive?

 

[milla777]

Ohh ok.

What about this setup?



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

and this monitor:
ASUS VH236H Black 23" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen Full HD 1080P LCD Monitor-$169 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236059

 

[fffblackmage]

mfenn suggested this HDD - Samsung F3 1TB HDD. It's also $10 cheaper than your WD blue.

This Gigabyte 5850 is also $10 cheaper with an additional $20 MIR. Alternatively, there's mfenn's pick, the GTX470 which is a bit better, but also a bit more expensive.

mfenn's choice of the Corsair 650TX is cheaper and a better match with your system. Your computer isn't as "powerful" as you think.

As far as gaming goes, I'm not sure the hex-core is worth it. Many games still don't make use of more than 2 cores, and I imagine gaming won't make use of more than 4 cores anytime soon. I would have picked the 955BE and gotten an SSD with the money saved instead.

 

[betasub]

Unless you really have a specific reason for the hexa-core, stick with a quad.

How can you not know what resolution you game at? If you have an LCD, what is the native resolution (you should be using this for your desktop)?

 

[Axon]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.524409 (AMD X4 955 + Gigabyte USB 3.0/SATA 3 board) $254 combo deal

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231277 (Ripjaws $75 with promo discount)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-330-_-Product (HIS 5850 $270 [there are cheaper 5850s, I happen to love this particular card])

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-185-_-Product (Samsung F3 1TB - best deal in HDDs)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.514512 (Antec 300 case + 750w PSU). There are TONS of case deals so look around for something you like.

$779 before rebate for just hardware. Now, if you went with the i5 750, a significantly better processor, your cost would be $829 before rebates. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.520544

 

[mfenn]

mfenn suggested this HDD - Samsung F3 1TB HDD. It's also $10 cheaper than your WD blue.

This Gigabyte 5850 is also $10 cheaper with an additional $20 MIR. Alternatively, there's mfenn's pick, the GTX470 which is a bit better, but also a bit more expensive.

mfenn's choice of the Corsair 650TX is cheaper and a better match with your system. Your computer isn't as "powerful" as you think.

As far as gaming goes, I'm not sure the hex-core is worth it. Many games still don't make use of more than 2 cores, and I imagine gaming won't make use of more than 4 cores anytime soon. I would have picked the 955BE and gotten an SSD with the money saved instead.

:thumbsup:

 

[milla777]

Unless you really have a specific reason for the hexa-core, stick with a quad.

How can you not know what resolution you game at? If you have an LCD, what is the native resolution (you should be using this for your desktop)?

I haven't played a pc game in years, so that's why I don't know what res I play at....All I have is mac.

 

[mfenn]

I haven't played a pc game in years, so that's why I don't know what res I play at....All I have is mac.

The monitor that you're thinking of buying is 1920x1080, so that's probably a good target.

 

[milla777]

What about this?? It is all exactly $1000

Lite-ON DVD Drive
Scythe Case Fan (to put in the front of the case)
Corsair 650TX 650w Power Supply w/ WD Caviar Black 1TB Hard Drive
Corsair 4GB DDR3-1600 4GB Memory w/ NZXT M59 Case
Gigabyte HD 5870 Video Card w/ AMD Phenom II X4 965 Processor
Gigabyte 880GA-UD3H Motherboard w/ Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Operating System

 

[mfenn]

What about this?? It is all exactly $1000

Lite-ON DVD Drive
Scythe Case Fan (to put in the front of the case)
Corsair 650TX 650w Power Supply w/ WD Caviar Black 1TB Hard Drive
Corsair 4GB DDR3-1600 4GB Memory w/ NZXT M59 Case
Gigabyte HD 5870 Video Card w/ AMD Phenom II X4 965 Processor
Gigabyte 880GA-UD3H Motherboard w/ Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Operating System

Looks good.