Custom Gaming PC help needed

[Raswan]

This advice is pretty much whack. I'll run down the list:
- ASRock boards are solid as pointed out by Dave
- 1.5V DDR3 1333 is pretty much the same across the board (except OCZ which sucks). IMHO G.Skill stands behind their products more than ADATA, but the RAM itself is basically the same. Somebody telling you to avoid G.Skill entirely has no idea what they're talking about (or last read a review 5 years ago).
- Overkill PSU compared to the XFX Core 550W. Newegg just dropped the price today though.
- The HDD is the same speed and more expensive than the Samsung.
- Lite-ON DVD drives are fine if you like them LOUD
- Also, dropping the CPU to an i3 is an absolutely silly way to finance the above. That would be trading something that matters (CPU) for a bunch of stuff that doesn't (overpriced components).

In case you needed affirmation that the other guy was a twelve-year old kid who had no idea what he was talking about or, as mfenn said, someone working off of five-year old info, I'll second everything above. No one buys anything less than a quad core for a gaming setup around the price point you are at. The 2500k is the standard recommendation along with the 2GB Radeon 6950 for a ~$1000 build--in fact, I bet mfenn's fingers get tired from repeatedly typing "get this cpu, get this mobo, get this psu, get this ram..."

I've got an LG dvd burner for ~$20. Works like a dream. Also have the Samsung HDD. Also perfect. Overclocking will get you anywhere from ~25-40% of a boost, but in reality you don't have to if you don't want to. The 2500k is a lot of cpu.

 

[mfenn]

I-in fact, I bet mfenn's fingers get tired from repeatedly typing "get this cpu, get this mobo, get this psu, get this ram..."

:whiste:

:awe:

 

[afs189]

And I can ground myself by hooking an antistatic wristband to the power supply, while it's plugged in and turned off?

 

[mfenn]

And I can ground myself by hooking an antistatic wristband to the power supply, while it's plugged in and turned off?

I would not have the power supply plugged in when your working on the PC. Connecting the wristband to the chassis provides a perfectly adequate ground and leaving the PSU unplugged negates the risk of accidentally energizing it.

 

[afs189]

I would not have the power supply plugged in when your working on the PC. Connecting the wristband to the chassis provides a perfectly adequate ground and leaving the PSU unplugged negates the risk of accidentally energizing it.

But how do I ensure that the case is grounded? Or am I confused?

 

[mnewsham]

But how do I ensure that the case is grounded? Or am I confused?

Dude it doesnt really matter... i have never fried anything. Just dont build it on carpet while wearing wool socks.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

worse case scenario: Middle of winter, super dry air, inside on carpet, wearing wool socks.

YOU WILL BE FINE

 

[mfenn]

But how do I ensure that the case is grounded? Or am I confused?

It doesn't really matter that the case is grounded, only that you and the case are at the same potential. This will happen as soon as you touch the case or attach the wrist strap.

 

[afs189]

Another question:

What kind of wireless adapter should I get? PCI or USB? A, B, G, N? Anything else I should be aware of?

 

[Ken g6]

PCI or USB?

Either. USB is external; PCI is internal. USB might be better if you need to move the antenna around. All should be limited by the wireless protocol's speed.

A, B, G, N?

N. You've ordered them pretty much from worst to best.

 

[mnewsham]

Another question:

What kind of wireless adapter should I get? PCI or USB? A, B, G, N? Anything else I should be aware of?

Wireless sucks, use Ethernet if at all possible.

 

[afs189]

Wireless sucks, use Ethernet if at all possible.

Not possible. I don't plan on doing any online gaming, just downloading patches and the like.

 

[afs189]

Either. USB is external; PCI is internal. USB might be better if you need to move the antenna around. All should be limited by the wireless protocol's speed.
N. You've ordered them pretty much from worst to best.

Anything you could recommend? I'm on a different floor than my router (which is a Linksys, don't know if that's important), so I pretty much need the most bang for my buck.

I'm looking at this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166038

But I don't know much about this, so I could be way off.

 

[mnewsham]

Anything you could recommend? I'm on a different floor than my router (which is a Linksys, don't know if that's important), so I pretty much need the most bang for my buck.

I'm looking at this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833166038

But I don't know much about this, so I could be way off.

I would personally get that but replace the antennas with these.

 

[mfenn]

I would personally get that but replace the antennas with these.

That's some serious antennage!

 

[afs189]

OK, thanks.

Also, would it be worth replacing the Antec Three Hundred case with

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...t-_-11-119-196

It's only a few dollars more, and looks like it would make instillation simpler.

 

[mnewsham]

OK, thanks.

Also, would it be worth replacing the Antec Three Hundred case with

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...t-_-11-119-196

It's only a few dollars more, and looks like it would make instillation simpler.

IMHO the main difference is looks, the internal size isn't all too dissimilar.

 

[afs189]

OK.

I'm watching Newegg TV's video on building a computer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxaVBsXEiok&feature=relmfu), I'm just wondering about antivirus software.

On my laptop, I'm using COMODO Firewall. Will I need anything more than that?

 

[mnewsham]

OK.

I'm watching Newegg TV's video on building a computer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxaVBsXEiok&feature=relmfu), I'm just wondering about antivirus software.

On my laptop, I'm using COMODO Firewall. Will I need anything more than that?

I use the one provided by Microsoft with every copy of windows "Microsoft security essentials".

 

[T_Yamamoto]

I used AVG Free

 

[mfenn]

I use the one provided by Microsoft with every copy of windows "Microsoft security essentials".

:thumbsup: That plus using common sense when clicking on links is all you really need.

 

[afs189]

OK, I appreciate the help everyone's given me so far, and I'm about a week away from ordering (I know, it's taking forever).

My problem is I'm about 200 dollars off the mark. I might be able to beg or borrow, but in case I can't where would be the best place to skim a few bucks off while doing the least damage to performance?

Also, what's the cheapest (good) mouse and keyboard?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

make sure you have the cheapest ram. look for combos on any of the items.

 

[mfenn]

OK, I appreciate the help everyone's given me so far, and I'm about a week away from ordering (I know, it's taking forever).

My problem is I'm about 200 dollars off the mark. I might be able to beg or borrow, but in case I can't where would be the best place to skim a few bucks off while doing the least damage to performance?

Also, what's the cheapest (good) mouse and keyboard?

$200 is a fair chunk of change to take out of a build. I see several configs posted in this thread, so can you post what you're thinking of right now. I would hate to do major surgery on the wrong config!

 

[afs189]

$200 is a fair chunk of change to take out of a build. I see several configs posted in this thread, so can you post what you're thinking of right now. I would hate to do major surgery on the wrong config!

Yeah, I should've given that info already.

Here's everything:


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129066

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115072

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157251

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102945

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152185

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231422

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151233

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817207013

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833166038

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833998040

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823126097

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116986



A few thoughts:

I don't really plan to overclock, so I'm not sure if I need the 2500K, over the 2500 (but it might be worth the extra 10 or so bucks just to have the option in the future).

I doubt I need 1TB. 500 gigs would suit me fine, but (on Newegg, at least), I couldn't find any that were significantly lower in price.

I plan on getting a better keyboard/mouse a little down the line, so that doesn't really matter (I actually might have some laying around somewhere)

The graphics card I absolutely want to keep, as I've based all my research on it so far (it'll also ship with two free games, so that's sweet)


I'm open to suggestions. I don't necessarily have to knock 200 bucks off (which, I understand, is unrealistic if you expect little drop in performance), but any other way to pinch pennies would be good.