First Attempt Computer Build

[jtheros]

So, this is my first attempt at building a computer. The uses are primarily gaming and programming, with some basic amateur video editing.

My budget is up to $1500 so I still have some room to spend if needed. Up to about $1300 now.

Please let me know if everything is compatible and if it will cover all this at least for now.

Also if there is any room for upgrading and improving which I am more than willing to do if I find it necessary later on.

Any thoughts and advice will be much appreciated!

($59.99) Black Enermax Hoplite ST Mid Tower

($229.99) XFX FX-795A-TNFC Radeon HD 7950

($64.99) Thermaltake TR2 TR-600 600W

($239.99) - Intel Core i5-4670K
($149.99) - MSI Z87-G45 Gaming LGA 1150 Intel Z87
($361.99) - Motherboard and CPU combo for discount

($84.99) Kingston HyperX XMP Blu Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB)

($111.99) SAMSUNG 840 EVO MZ-7TE120BW 2.5" 120GB SATA III TLC Internal Solid State Drive

($74.99) Western Digital WD Black WD5003AZEX 500GB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

($8.99) LITE-ON SK-1788/BS Black and Gray PS/2 Wired Standard Keyboard

($149.99) ASUS VX228H Black 21.5" 1ms (Gray to Gray) HDMI Widescreen LED Backlight Full HD 1080p Monitor

($34.99) Sony Optiarc High Speed SATA DVD RW Burner Drive

($199.99) Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium

($29.99) Logitech X-140 5 watts 2.0 Speakers

($14.99) Microsoft Compact Optical Mouse 500

 

[GreenOrbs]

I'd suggest a 7950, they've been on sale recently and you can find them for around $180 after rebate. I picked mine up for $160 and I think its a better value than that 7870 for 200.

Also if your willing to spend $130 on the Vertex 4 I would rather take the Samsung 840 EVO. Faster, more reliable, and $30 cheaper to boot.

Your choice of an i5 Ivy Bridge should work just fine though the i5-4570 part is around the same price and is a Haswell chip. Ivy bridge might overclock better than the new chips but the chip you are considering isn't multiplier unlocked so you can't really OC it anyways. At your budget I'd really recommend a i5-4670k which is faster to start with and can be overclocked later if you so desire (k parts being unlocked).

Hope that helps.

 

[lehtv]

Welcome to the forums. Can you fill in the below, thanks
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=80121

1. What YOUR PC will be used for.
gaming and programming, with some basic amateur video editing

2. What YOUR budget is
max $1500 (if this is not your local currency, please state your budget in local currency)

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

4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US, please post a link to the vendor you'll be buying from.
?

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Do you need a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse etc?

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

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?
?

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
?

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?
?

Up to about $1300 now.

The parts you listed only cost $950?

 

[jtheros]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for.
gaming and programming, with some basic amateur video editing

2. What YOUR budget is
max $1500

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
United States

4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US, please post a link to the vendor you'll be buying from.
?

5. IF YOU have a brand preference.
None

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
I am going to be using my current computer stand.
The moniter, keyboard, mouse, speakers, OS, and optical drive are what bring the current amount to about $1300.

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

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?
1920 x 1080

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
I am going to place the order within a week hopefully.

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?
I am getting windows 7 home premium. It is included in the current amount of $1300.

 

[jtheros]

I'd suggest a 7950, they've been on sale recently and you can find them for around $180 after rebate. I picked mine up for $160 and I think its a better value than that 7870 for 200.

Also if your willing to spend $130 on the Vertex 4 I would rather take the Samsung 840 EVO. Faster, more reliable, and $30 cheaper to boot.

Your choice of an i5 Ivy Bridge should work just fine though the i5-4570 part is around the same price and is a Haswell chip. Ivy bridge might overclock better than the new chips but the chip you are considering isn't multiplier unlocked so you can't really OC it anyways. At your budget I'd really recommend a i5-4670k which is faster to start with and can be overclocked later if you so desire (k parts being unlocked).

Hope that helps.

I did end up taking your advice on the SSD, it seems like a better deal, especially if it is better!

I couldnt find a 7950 for anything less than $210 though, do you happen to know a place with good deals? I have been using Newegg mostly as you can probably tell from the links.

Im not going to OC anytime in the near future, by the time I need that I hope to be in a position to either upgrade the rig completely or attempt a second build for a truly high-end machine.

I really appreciate the feedback BTW, thanks a lot! :biggrin:

 

[Techhog]

I did end up taking your advice on the SSD, it seems like a better deal, especially if it is better!

I couldnt find a 7950 for anything less than $210 though, do you happen to know a place with good deals? I have been using Newegg mostly as you can probably tell from the links.

Im not going to OC anytime in the near future, by the time I need that I hope to be in a position to either upgrade the rig completely or attempt a second build for a truly high-end machine.

I really appreciate the feedback BTW, thanks a lot! :biggrin:

Prices on the 7950 have been fluctuating a lot lately, so keep an eye out. Really though, the performance advantage over the 7870 is worth way more than $10.

 

[mfenn]

I am going to be using my current computer stand.
The moniter, keyboard, mouse, speakers, OS, and optical drive are what bring the current amount to about $1300.

Do you mind listing out everything you're planning to buy included prices and/or links? There might be some cost efficiencies you can get there to put back into the main rig.

 

[Torn Mind]

This Antec Neo Eco C is better for $63: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371030
Note that most reviews of the Neo Eco are for the older iteration which was just the Neo Eco. The newest Neo Eco Cs were launched in July of this year.

This XFX 550 watt unit is also another Seasonic clone, currently going for $61.24. You do have to register the product to get the full warranty, just so you know.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RJ8EKI/?tag=pcpapi-20

This Seasonic M12II 620W unit can be had after a $15 promo and $5 mail-in rebate for $60: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151095
This unit is semi-modular, which means that you can choose which cables you need to stick into the PSU.

 

[mfenn]

($59.99) Black Enermax Hoplite ST Mid Tower

($229.99) XFX FX-795A-TNFC Radeon HD 7950

($64.99) Thermaltake TR2 TR-600 600W

($239.99) - Intel Core i5-4670K
($149.99) - MSI Z87-G45 Gaming LGA 1150 Intel Z87
($361.99) - Motherboard and CPU combo for discount

($84.99) Kingston HyperX XMP Blu Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB)

($111.99) SAMSUNG 840 EVO MZ-7TE120BW 2.5" 120GB SATA III TLC Internal Solid State Drive

($74.99) Western Digital WD Black WD5003AZEX 500GB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

($8.99) LITE-ON SK-1788/BS Black and Gray PS/2 Wired Standard Keyboard

($149.99) ASUS VX228H Black 21.5" 1ms (Gray to Gray) HDMI Widescreen LED Backlight Full HD 1080p Monitor

($34.99) Sony Optiarc High Speed SATA DVD RW Burner Drive

($199.99) Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium

($29.99) Logitech X-140 5 watts 2.0 Speakers

($14.99) Microsoft Compact Optical Mouse 500

Thanks. Here are my comments:
- Case: OK as long as you like the look
- GPU: Too much money for a 7950 and a 7950 is not powerful enough for a $1500 gaming machine. Grab this PowerColor 7970 3GB for $250 AR instead
- PSU: The Seasonic M12II 620W that Torn Mind pointed out is a superior unit for $60 AR.
- CPU+Mobo: Not a bad deal after combo, but I think I would get a non-SLI capable board like the ASRock Z87 Pro3 + i5 4670K combo for $312.
- RAM: Too expensive. This G.Skill Ares is $64 AP.
- SSD : The 840 EVO is not bad at $100.
- HDD : I don't see any reason to pay $75 for a 500GB drive when a WD Blue 1TB is $60 ($70 at Newegg).
- Keyboard: At least get a USB one. 🙂
- Monitor: Kind of expensive for a 21.5" TN panel. The Dell U2312HM is an IPS 23" panel for $200.
- ODD : Way too much to spend on a burner. This Lite-ON is $15.
- OS: I definitely wouldn't buy retail Windows 7 at this point. Either get the OEM version for $85 and be tied to one machine, or get Windows 8.1 which is movable between machines for $100.
- Speakers: Fine for cheapies, just don't expect great quality
- Mouse: I would not use a compact laptop mouse for a gaming machine unless you know for a fact that you like it. The Logitech G400s is a classic design that is a good place to start if you don't have any well-defined preferences.

Apologies for the PCPP links, Newegg went down while I was writing my post. 🙁

 

[lehtv]

Mainly agree with mfenn's recommendations, although you're about $250 under your budget if you go with those. I would consider a Crucial M500 240GB SSD $160.

Also... if you're not overclocking, why get a 4670K and a Z87 board? I would rather get a hyperthreaded Xeon E3-1230 V3 which will help with encoding in your video editing projects and will also benefit some games, combine with an Asrock H87 Performance board.

I would also definitely get a better case. Fractal Design Define R4 would be my pick on this budget... such a nice feature packed, well built, nice looking case and near silent as well.

Finally, I'd upgrade the power supply to a Gold rated Rosewill Capstone 550W $70, only $10 more than the Bronze rated, dated design M12II.