Noobie's First Project - Will address all questions critics need.

[Davidh373]

Oh my Mohammad, that's just overkill haha You should design a game that needs a computer like yours...just sayin'.


Why do 1600 over 1333 for RAM? THAT big of a difference?

apparently 1600 RAM isn't rated to proper voltage specs for DDR3 by JEDEC (DDR3 is supposed to operate at or below 1.65V). 1333Mhz has a voltage (on the gskill ripjaws anyway) of 1.5V, where 1600 has a voltage of 1.65V which gets overvolted to 1.66V by the 9xx i7's memory controller. According to mfenn anyway, and I trust his knowledge on the subject.

 

[Nietzsche-san]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128425



My motherboard just went to $95, previously $120. I've never done Black Friday shopping, let alone online. Does NewEgg get even cheaper and I should wait til Friday, or take it now?


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119137

This is now same price as the Antech I originally planned on. I say this new deal kicks its ass. Yes or no?

 

[Nietzsche-san]

apparently 1600 RAM isn't rated to proper voltage specs for DDR3 by JEDEC (DDR3 is supposed to operate at or below 1.65V). 1333Mhz has a voltage (on the gskill ripjaws anyway) of 1.5V, where 1600 has a voltage of 1.65V which gets overvolted to 1.66V by the 9xx i7's memory controller. According to mfenn anyway, and I trust his knowledge on the subject.

In layman's terms that translates to "Go 1333"? Haha.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10440897&PID=3332167&SID=

1600 just went even cheaper than 1333. So unless it's a downgrade from this post, I'll get it.

 

[mfenn]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128425



My motherboard just went to $95, previously $120. I've never done Black Friday shopping, let alone online. Does NewEgg get even cheaper and I should wait til Friday, or take it now?


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119137

This is now same price as the Antech I originally planned on. I say this new deal kicks its ass. Yes or no?

Both of those look good. I'd probably just buy them now. You can certainly wait until Friday if you're a bettin' man though.

In layman's terms that translates to "Go 1333"? Haha.

Well, it means "go 1.5V". There is plenty of 1.5V DDR3 1600 around, though as has been stated before, the performance difference between 1333 and 1600 is pretty much negligible, so just get whichever is cheaper.

 

[Nietzsche-san]

Both of those look good. I'd probably just buy them now. You can certainly wait until Friday if you're a bettin' man though.



Well, it means "go 1.5V". There is plenty of 1.5V DDR3 1600 around, though as has been stated before, the performance difference between 1333 and 1600 is pretty much negligible, so just get whichever is cheaper.

My freaking processor is 30 bucks cheaper, as well. Is being a betting man an advantage or tom foolery right now? Haha. I did go +300 on a Cruise blackjack table before...hmmm.


Secondly, how smart is buying extended warranties? I've always thought of them as ways for companies to exploit us even more. +10 bucks for motherboard "Ship and replace no charge" warranty.

 

[mfenn]

Yeah, I wouldn't bother with the extended warranty.

 

[Nietzsche-san]

Alright, I'm about to buy everything besides the power-supply and graphics card.
Hopefully the prices don't lower anymore after this, and I doubt they will or else they'd risk losing profit at such low prices...and if they do I'll just appeal to get a minor refund or something.

$379.96 for this shit....not bad.

 

[Nietzsche-san]

While the 6870s are out of stock on Newegg, TigerDirect has them in stock - are they as reliable/have on par return policies as Newegg?

 

[mfenn]

TD is decent as a vendor. Also check out Buy.com, I'd probably prefer them to TD.

 

[Nietzsche-san]

TD is decent as a vendor. Also check out Buy.com, I'd probably prefer them to TD.

Welllll Buy.com doesn't show the free HDMI cable that Tiger and NewEgg offers. So yeah, SAPPHIRE version of the 6870 > HIS version; free HDMI cable for only 10 bucks more...I hope my monitor supports HDMI...I need to check when I get back to campus. It's a significant advantage over VGA.


I might get this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005 instead of the 520W from Seasonic. It ends up being cheaper since it has free shipping, compared to $10 shipping from Seasonic, and there's a mail-in-rebate. Plus, it's 650W. I think this is logical?

 

[mfenn]

Be careful when using HDMI instead of DVI. Sometimes you can get some really weird overscan issues. As for the PSU, the Seasonic is better, but not by much.

 

[Nietzsche-san]

Why is the Seasonic better? And what would you do in this situation?

 

[mfenn]

The Seasonic is higher efficiency, provides better-quality power, and is better matched to the load.

 

[Nietzsche-san]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...17371015-L013A

Gonna look at specific specs in a sec, but I feel this may be an even better quality and deal PSU. The reason I might need a 650W now, is this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127501

470gtx for about $210. Now I may just use the deal on the PSU to get this 470gtx

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...VGA-_-14130550

Since it's priced almost exactly to the 6870 and, from what I understand, more powerful, I'll use the deal from the affore-posted (new word ) PSU and spend +$10 for a better overall deal.


So if this seems rational, just suggest for me your recommended choice of 470gtx based on price of the deal vs reliance of the manufacturer. Although I understand this card to be even bigger than the 6870, I'd hope it fits my motherboard.

 

[betasub]

It fits the motherboard, because it has a standardized PCI-Express slot.
Perhaps fitting it into your case is your concern?

 

[Nietzsche-san]

It fits the motherboard, because it has a standardized PCI-Express slot.
Perhaps fitting it into your case is your concern?

Well the deal on that 470gtx went out of stock...but looking at the reviews, it has lots of problems. But the better quality one has a 10% off now, I so I might still get it.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119137

This is my case...the Video Card dimensions are 4.376" H x 9.5" L.


Well, I bought it. If anything's wrong, I'll just return it. HOPEFULLY I made a smart decision that doesn't infringe upon David's warning of a last-minute-good-deal-purchase.

 

[Davidh373]

The 470 will fit in most any case. Unless you're talking about a really small micro-ATX or Mini-ITX case, it will fit fine.

 

[Nietzsche-san]

The 470 will fit in most any case. Unless you're talking about a really small micro-ATX or Mini-ITX case, it will fit fine.

Woot! So my system is as good as yours now, DAVID! Oh, except for the 12gb of RAM, i7, and other trivialities. Haha.


I ordered an extra fan for my case (LED! PURDY BLUE!) and everything else is ordered. I might look into some thermal paste; heard it's helpful for cooling. So, now I just wait for the shipping. Thank you everyone for endowing me with knowledge and suggestions, especially David! This forum kicks ass.

 

[Davidh373]

Woot! So my system is as good as yours now, DAVID! Oh, except for the 12gb of RAM, i7, and other trivialities. Haha.

For games you have more than enough. In fact, your processor is better than mine for games.

So, now I just wait for the shipping. Thank you everyone for endowing me with knowledge and suggestions, especially David! This forum kicks ass.

You're very welcome .

 

[betasub]

Good luck with your build, Nietzche-san!

 

[Nietzsche-san]

Good luck with your build, Nietzche-san!

Gracias, senor!

 

[Nietzsche-san]

So I have my motherboard, RAM, and processor at the moment. Waiting on Video Card, Case, and power supply. I'm curious about the instillation of the motherboard, as this is the hardest component...


Since I want to override my old hard-drive that I wish to use in my new computer and install Windows 7 on it, should I first use my old tower components to load up the Windows 7 before putting it in the new computer?


I'm just ignorant of the BIOS setup process. If putting the hard-drive in, I then have to set up BIOS, do I have to re-do the process when I change it to Windows 7? I guess the question is 1. Upload Windows 7 NOW and then transfer it to new computer already set up or 2. Set up Windows 7 after I install it and the other components in the NEW computer?



Graciasss.



Edit: What kind of screwdriver is necessary for 99% of the instillation? Normal Phillips head?

Also, I'm reading the manual and it talks about applying Thermal Grease before setting the cooler on top of the CPU...should I get some? Shit...

 

[Davidh373]

So I have my motherboard, RAM, and processor at the moment. Waiting on Video Card, Case, and power supply. I'm curious about the instillation of the motherboard, as this is the hardest component...

I actually put RAM, and CPU into the motherboard before putting it in the case. It's not so much "the hardest part" as it is the most expensive chunk once you have it together with the RAM and CPU. I would say the two parts you have to be most careful with are the Motherboard and CPU when putting them together. Bent pins = waste of a processor...

 

[mfenn]

Since I want to override my old hard-drive that I wish to use in my new computer and install Windows 7 on it, should I first use my old tower components to load up the Windows 7 before putting it in the new computer?

No. You will have the option to format the drive from within the Windows 7 install.

I'm just ignorant of the BIOS setup process. If putting the hard-drive in, I then have to set up BIOS, do I have to re-do the process when I change it to Windows 7? I guess the question is 1. Upload Windows 7 NOW and then transfer it to new computer already set up or 2. Set up Windows 7 after I install it and the other components in the NEW computer?

The BIOS settings are stored in the motherboard itself, so they are independent of the OS.

Edit: What kind of screwdriver is necessary for 99% of the instillation? Normal Phillips head?

A #1 and #2 Phillips head should be all that you need.

Also, I'm reading the manual and it talks about applying Thermal Grease before setting the cooler on top of the CPU...should I get some? Shit...

The heatsink should come with some preapplied.

 

[Davinc]

You guys seem extremely helpful, I'm looking for some help sorting through this maze of news building a new rig. I've posted a full length cry for help here:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2124377

would you fellows mind taking a look and shooting some suggestions my way. Cheers!

EDIT: Mfenn beat me to it, he actually posted a reply for me before I had a shot at refreshing the page. Amazing and much appreciated!