Requesting Hardware opinion

[tjlee2]

Hello, I am currently trying to build a new desktop, and would like to seek some advice on parts.

Edit:
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Gaming purposes.
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
~1.2k
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
US
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.
Intel CPU, no other preference
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
None, Replacing all components including power supply, case, HDD.
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
searched some components that I am interested in. Posted below. Will add additional after determining certain parts.
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
No intention to overclock
8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
1920X1200 or similar. Looking at 24" monitor, if within budget. Othewise 22".
9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Over the next month
10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.
Yes sir.

Edit2: Stole some parts from other threads.

CPU- Intel core i5 750 Lynnfield 2.66G LPG1156 quad
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?...82E16819115215
I'm currently going with this. I'm not sure if I want to pay slightly more for the 760.

Mobo- Gigabyte Ga-P55-USB3
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?...82E16813128425
MSI P55-GD80
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?...-238-_-Product
ASUS P7P55D-E LX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...SUS-_-13131634

Graphics- Is there notable difference between XFX and Sappire 6850?

RAM- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231277

Cooling unit- I've never had one before. How necessary is it to have one? What brand/specs should I be looking for when checking out these units.

Sound card- What's an economic choice for a sound card?

Power supply- What's a reliable brand to go with?

Case- Seeking Mid-tower
Antec900- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
Centurion- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068
Antec300- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042
ATX- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137
Storm- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196

Monitor- The 3 asus availalbe at 22", 23.6", and 24". Would the 5ms make a major difference at all for non-fighting game/FPS use?

HDD- Would it be worth while to grab a SSD for main drive?

Thank you very much for your time and help.

 

[Bateluer]

Is there any particular reason why you're going with the Radeon 5xx0 or 4xx0 series cards? The 6850 and 6870 were released last night, outperform those 5770s and 4870 pretty easily.

 

[tjlee2]

Oh. No reason other than I did not know. My apologies.

 

[mfenn]

Of your current choices, I would go with the 750, GA-P55-USB3, Sapphire 6850 (cause it's cheaper and Anand didn't like the fan on the XFX) and the Antec Three Hundred.

By my calculations, that puts you $525 after you combo the 750 and mobo. Here's some more parts to fill out the build:
G.Skill DDR3 1333 4GB $66
Corsair Force 60GB $120 AR
Samsung F3 1TB $70
LG DVD Burner $17
Corsair 430CX $25 AR
Windows 7 Home Premium $100
ASUS 23.6" 1080P $180 AR
Total: $1103 AR

That still puts you about $100 under budget after monitor and OS. For gaming, you'll probably want to spend that extra on a 6870.

 

[fffblackmage]

Cooling unit- I've never had one before. How necessary is it to have one? What brand/specs should I be looking for when checking out these units.

Only necessary if you want to overclock or need a quieter cooling solution. Rather than brand or specs, you should look for reviews.

Sound card- What's an economic choice for a sound card?

Unnecessary.

 

[tjlee2]

Thank you very much for your suggestion. I will take these parts and do more specific comparisons. Thank you again.

 

[tjlee2]

Hello, I have looked a bit more at my options, and I would like to ask for a few more pieces of detail.

CPU- Now I'm torn between getting i5 760 and i7 870, from microcenter. I do not know enough about CPU to make a clear distinction in terms of performance and necessity given my other components. Please advice.

Mobo- GA-p55-usb3

GPU- sappire 6850

SDD- Corsair force 60gb

HDD- Westerm Digital from amazon.

RAM- Seeking advice and options.

Power- CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX

Case- antec 300

Monitor- asus 23.6 1080p

Thank you for your time.

 

[mosox]

The CPU/mobo combo, monitor, video card suggested by mfenn above and a couple of more combos:

CPU/mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.520622
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB + OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.514469
LG Black 24X DVD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136177
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 + LIAN LI Lancool PC-K58W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.514361
OCZ Agility 2 OCZSSD2-2AGTE60G + Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.526043
SAPPHIRE 100314SR Radeon HD 6870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102909
ASUS VH242H Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236052

$1,206.90 (before $45 rebates).

Alternative for case/RAM (same price in chart, $15 rebate but no window )
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.514370

(Samsung Spinpoint F3 is very good)

If you ditch the SSD you can get a CF mobo and two HD6850 in that budget I think.

 

[mfenn]

CPU- Now I'm torn between getting i5 760 and i7 870, from microcenter. I do not know enough about CPU to make a clear distinction in terms of performance and necessity given my other components. Please advice.

For gaming, the i5 760 is a no-brainer.

 

[tjlee2]

Understood. Thank you.

 

[tjlee2]

How much of a difference would the additional 120mm fans make for the antec 300? I think there are 4 locations for them.

Also, would I need 8G RAM? Below is build, with only RAM and additional fans still in question.

CPU- i5 760
Mobo- GA-p55-usb3
GPU- sappire 6850
SDD- Corsair force 60gb
RAM- G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) X2
DVD burner- LG Black 24X
Power supply- CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX
case- antec 300
Monitor- asus 23.6 1080p
speakers- old ones
Keyboard- Something
Mouse- Something

Thank you for your time.

 

[betasub]

For your intended usage, 4GB (2x2) should be plenty. An additional 4GB can wait until you start multi-boxing, virtualising, or some other specialised RAM-hungry tasks.

 

[tjlee2]

Understood. Thank you.

 

[mfenn]

How much of a difference would the additional 120mm fans make for the antec 300? I think there are 4 locations for them.

Also, would I need 8G RAM? Below is build, with only RAM and additional fans still in question.

CPU- i5 760
Mobo- GA-p55-usb3
GPU- sappire 6850
SDD- Corsair force 60gb
RAM- G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) X2
DVD burner- LG Black 24X
Power supply- CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX
case- antec 300
Monitor- asus 23.6 1080p
speakers- old ones
Keyboard- Something
Mouse- Something

Thank you for your time.

The fans that come with the Three Hundred are sufficient. If you were thinking about spending some extra money, it would be far better spent on a 6870 than on 8GB of RAM.

 

[tjlee2]

Got it. I've finalized my purchase as the above list, minusing the extra fan and RAM. Thank you all very much for your help.

 

[mfenn]

Got it. I've finalized my purchase as the above list, minusing the extra fan and RAM. Thank you all very much for your help.

Sounds good, glad to help!