What do you guys think of this build I just bought?

[Sekkai]

1.
Mega Special IV
2.
# CAS: New!! NZXT Beta Gaming Mid-Tower Case with See-Thru Window
3.
# CASUPGRADE: NONE
4.
# CS_FAN: Maximum 120MM Case Cooling Fans for your selected case [+9]
5.
# CPU: Intel® Core? i7-950 3.06 GHz 8M L3 Cache LGA1366 [+1259]
6.
# CD: (Special Price) LG 22X DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Dual Layer Drive (BLACK COLOR)
7.
# CD2: NONE
8.
# CARE1: Ultra Enhanced Packaging Solution - Protect Your Dream System During Transit [+19]
9.
# CARE2: Professional Wiring for All WIRING Inside The System Chassis - Minimize Cable Exposure, Maximize Airflow in Your System [+19]
10.
# FLOPPY: NONE
11.
# FREEBIE_OS: FREE! (Halo 2) Game
12.
# FLASHMEDIA: INTERNAL 12in1 Flash Media Reader/Writer (BLACK COLOR)
13.
# FAN: CoolerMaster V8 Gaming CPU Cooling Fan (Extreme Silent Operation at only 22dBA + Overclock Proof) [+58]
14.
# FREEBIE_RM: None
15.
# HDD: Single Hard Drive (1TB (1TBx1) SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7200RPM HDD [+26])
16.
# HDD2: 1TB (1TBx1) SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7200RPM Hard Drive [+83]
17.
# IEEE_CARD: NONE
18.
# KEYBOARD: Xtreme Gear (Black Color) Multimedia/Internet USB Keyboard
19.
# MOUSE: XtremeGear Optical USB 3 Buttons Gaming Mouse
20.
# MODEM: NONE
21.
# MULTIVIEW: Non-SLI/Non-CrossFireX Mode Supports Multiple Monitors
22.
# MONITOR: ($10 off Mail-in Rebate) 24" LCD - Asus VH242H Wide Screen TFT Active Matrix LCD Display (Black) [+259]
23.
# MONITOR2: NONE
24.
# MOTHERBOARD: (3-Way SLI Support) GigaByte GA-EX58-UD4P Intel X58 Chipset SLI/CrossFireX Ultra Durable?3 Mainboard Triple-Channel DDR3/1600 SATA RAID w/ eSATA,Dual GbLAN,USB2.0,IEEE1394a,&7.1Audio [+58]
25.
# MEMORY: 6GB (2GBx3) DDR3/1600MHz Triple Channel Memory Module [+40] (Corsair Dominator [+36])
26.
# NETWORK: Onboard Gigabit LAN Network
27.
# OS: Microsoft® Windows Vista? Home Premium w/ Service Pack 1 [+104] (64-bit Edition)
28.
# OS_UPGRADE: (Free Upgrade Coupon) Microsoft® Windows® 7 Home Premium ($29-$29 Mail-In-Rebate = Free) [+29] (64-bit Edition)
29.
# PRINTER: None
30.
# PRINTER_CABLE: None
31.
# POWERSUPPLY: 900 Watts Power Supplies [+79] (Apevia Warlock Series)
32.
# RUSH: NO; READY TO SHIP IN 5~10 BUSINESS DAYS
33.
# SERVICE: STANDARD WARRANTY: 3-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY PLUS LIFE-TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT
34.
# SOUND: HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
35.
# SPEAKERS: None
36.
# TEMP: NONE
37.
# TVRC: None
38.
# USB: Built-in USB 2.0 Ports
39.
# USBHD: NONE
40.
# VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce GTX295 1.7GB 16X PCIe Video Card [+463] (EVGA Powered by NVIDIA [+5])
41.
# VIDEO2: None
42.
# VIDEO3: None
43.
# VC_GAMES: FREE GAME - Street Fighters IV
44.
# VIDEOCAMERA: NONE
45.
# WNC: Zonet ZEW1642 IEEE 802.11b/g/n Draft 2.0 PCI Wireless Adapter Network Card [+29]

Purchased from Cyberpower

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Sekkai
What do you guys think of this build I just bought?

1.
Mega Special IV
2.
# CAS: New!! NZXT Beta Gaming Mid-Tower Case with See-Thru Window
3.
# CASUPGRADE: NONE
4.
# CS_FAN: Maximum 120MM Case Cooling Fans for your selected case [+9]
5.
# CPU: Intel® Core? i7-950 3.06 GHz 8M L3 Cache LGA1366 [+1259]
6.
# CD: (Special Price) LG 22X DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Dual Layer Drive (BLACK COLOR)
7.
# CD2: NONE
8.
# CARE1: Ultra Enhanced Packaging Solution - Protect Your Dream System During Transit [+19]
9.
# CARE2: Professional Wiring for All WIRING Inside The System Chassis - Minimize Cable Exposure, Maximize Airflow in Your System [+19]
10.
# FLOPPY: NONE
11.
# FREEBIE_OS: FREE! (Halo 2) Game
12.
# FLASHMEDIA: INTERNAL 12in1 Flash Media Reader/Writer (BLACK COLOR)
13.
# FAN: CoolerMaster V8 Gaming CPU Cooling Fan (Extreme Silent Operation at only 22dBA + Overclock Proof) [+58]
14.
# FREEBIE_RM: None
15.
# HDD: Single Hard Drive (1TB (1TBx1) SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7200RPM HDD [+26])
16.
# HDD2: 1TB (1TBx1) SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7200RPM Hard Drive [+83]
17.
# IEEE_CARD: NONE
18.
# KEYBOARD: Xtreme Gear (Black Color) Multimedia/Internet USB Keyboard
19.
# MOUSE: XtremeGear Optical USB 3 Buttons Gaming Mouse
20.
# MODEM: NONE
21.
# MULTIVIEW: Non-SLI/Non-CrossFireX Mode Supports Multiple Monitors
22.
# MONITOR: ($10 off Mail-in Rebate) 24" LCD - Asus VH242H Wide Screen TFT Active Matrix LCD Display (Black) [+259]
23.
# MONITOR2: NONE
24.
# MOTHERBOARD: (3-Way SLI Support) GigaByte GA-EX58-UD4P Intel X58 Chipset SLI/CrossFireX Ultra Durable?3 Mainboard Triple-Channel DDR3/1600 SATA RAID w/ eSATA,Dual GbLAN,USB2.0,IEEE1394a,&7.1Audio [+58]
25.
# MEMORY: 6GB (2GBx3) DDR3/1600MHz Triple Channel Memory Module [+40] (Corsair Dominator [+36])
26.
# NETWORK: Onboard Gigabit LAN Network
27.
# OS: Microsoft® Windows Vista? Home Premium w/ Service Pack 1 [+104] (64-bit Edition)
28.
# OS_UPGRADE: (Free Upgrade Coupon) Microsoft® Windows® 7 Home Premium ($29-$29 Mail-In-Rebate = Free) [+29] (64-bit Edition)
29.
# PRINTER: None
30.
# PRINTER_CABLE: None
31.
# POWERSUPPLY: 900 Watts Power Supplies [+79] (Apevia Warlock Series)
32.
# RUSH: NO; READY TO SHIP IN 5~10 BUSINESS DAYS
33.
# SERVICE: STANDARD WARRANTY: 3-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY PLUS LIFE-TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT
34.
# SOUND: HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
35.
# SPEAKERS: None
36.
# TEMP: NONE
37.
# TVRC: None
38.
# USB: Built-in USB 2.0 Ports
39.
# USBHD: NONE
40.
# VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce GTX295 1.7GB 16X PCIe Video Card [+463] (EVGA Powered by NVIDIA [+5])
41.
# VIDEO2: None
42.
# VIDEO3: None
43.
# VC_GAMES: FREE GAME - Street Fighters IV
44.
# VIDEOCAMERA: NONE
45.
# WNC: Zonet ZEW1642 IEEE 802.11b/g/n Draft 2.0 PCI Wireless Adapter Network Card [+29]

Purchased from Cyberpower

I think you paid too much for it.

 

[betasub]

Purchased from Cyberpower

I hope you didn't get stung for the full list price.

---
Paid-up member (discount rate) of the ATF Bang-for-Buck Builders Club

 

[Beanie46]

Originally posted by: Sekkai

What do you guys think of this build I just bought?

I guess Cyberpower saw sucker when you arrived at their website.....

You paid $1259 extra over the cost of the i7 920 cpu? And that's when you can buy an i7 950 for $579 retail from Newegg? ROFL!!!

And then you paid them an extra $19 just to pack it properly for shipping? Yeah, right.

And then you even paid for the Windows 7 upgrade, which they charged you for anyway, but at least it may get rebated off. (Hint: MS's tech guarantee gives you a FREE upgrade to the Win 7 equivalent OS when you buy Vista right now....no cost, nada. No matter if it's 32 bit or 64 bit.)

Your Asus monitor, or an Asus equivalent, the VW246H, sells for $219 retail, about $40 cheaper than you paid.

And, hat to break it to you, but your choice of power supplies, the Apevia Warlock, is almost worthless as quality goes.....as is most any power supply branded Apevia.

But, like the saying goes, a fool and his money are soon parted.....and looks like you parted with quite a big chunk, needlessly.

 

[AmberClad]

Originally posted by: Sekkai
What do you guys think of this build I just bought?

It's usually better to get input and opinions before buying .

Edit: Actually, you already had multiple people telling you here that a i7 950 is a waste of money, and you went ahead and got it anyway...

 

[yh125d]

Ditto what the other's said. You got screwed.

 

[ScorcherDarkly]

Your machine looks great but the price is terrible. Your biggest no-no's were switching from the 1000W Corsair to the 900W Apevia and getting the i7 950 over the i7 920. The last post in your first thread had a great build, its a shame you didn't use it.

 

[Beanie46]

Well, went to Cyberpower and looked at your configuration.

First, learn to transcribe better. The price upgrade for the cpu, while a waste of money as the 920 will OC with no changes other than speed to 950 speeds, isn't what you listed.


Be that as it may......I decided to price out your system on Newegg and while your complete config. came to $2399, I made a few changes to my Newegg list and, without a case, shipping, or the junk you had listed (fans, etc.), my total came to $1865.90, and yes, that included Windows Vista Home Premium with free upgrade to Win 7 when it arrives.

The balance of the $$ you spent, around $513 over what I have listed below, can buy a bunch of fans and one helluva case. (I included the $20 shipping Newegg is charging me to figure out how much of your spent money I'd have left so far after everything below.)


I did change the power supply to a Corsair 850TX as your Apevia Warlock 900 will essentially blow up if asked to supply 900W....read the review of it on JonnyGuru.com



So, yeah, you got screwed.....I was correct.

My configuration below (and I'd change a few things even more to save $$ and just personal choices, like motherboard, memory, cpu cooler, etc.)







1 LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model GH22LS30 LightScribe Support - OEM

Item #: N82E16827136153

$25.99



1 Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives - OEM

Item #: N82E16822136284

$94.99



1 ASUS VW246H Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail

Item #: N82E16824236049

$219.99



1 EVGA 017-P3-1295-AR CO-OP Edition GeForce GTX 295 1792MB 896 (448 x 2)-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported ... - Retail

Item #: N82E16814130504

$499.99



1 Nvidia Gift - Batman: Arkham Asylum - Retail


$0.00



1 CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

Item #: N82E16817139009

$139.99



1 CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C8D - Retail

Item #: N82E16820145224

$179.99



1 GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Item #: N82E16813128374

$259.99



1 Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail

Item #: N82E16819115202

$279.99





1 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM

Item #: N82E16832116677

$109.99




1 COOLER MASTER V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail

Item #: N82E16835103055

$54.99



Subtotal: $1,865.90

 

[Bill Brasky]

I've never understood why people ask for opinions after they buy their rig. Seem a little backwards.

 

[yh125d]

Originally posted by: Zaitsev
I've never understood why people ask for opinions after they buy their rig. Seem a little backwards.

It's a brag thread usually

 

[Sekkai]

Actually, I had my order canceled this morning.

I have no idea how to build a computer, which is why I have basically just been looking for a place to buy a premade one. But, if I can save a lot of money, I'm okay with learning how to do it myself, but I really need some help getting all the right parts, here.

I know I want the following:

Geforce GTX 295
6 GB high-quality RAM
2 TB hard drive space
An excellent processor that will justify my 295 GTX
CD/DVD read/write ability (BluRay if it's not much more expensive)
24 inch monitor
Great supply/fan
Great mobo

I know next to nothing about hardware, but I do know I want something that is overkill-beastly. I just don't want to pay more than its value (I know the current rig up above was wayyy overpriced). I want a killer rig -- and while I know it'll be pricey, I at least want it to be fairly priced for its league.

 

[Sekkai]

Alright, I've added all those items above (the $1865) to my list. Are there any combos here I can take advantage of?

All I need to get on top of this is the case/fan and a second HDD, right? (the listing Beanie kindly provided had one HDD included). Am I missing anything?

Are there better parts I could be getting instead of the ones selected/the ones Beanie listed? I don't mind paying SLIGHTLY more if the gains are huge.

Any suggestions for a cheap case that'll hold everything and keep things cool? What are your thoughts on something like

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811133074

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119197

Will my system be getting what it can out of the GTX 295 with Beanie's listings? I will choose the i 920 over the 950 even though I am not quite sure why I can't just overclock the i950 to something faster (or simply not overclock an i950 and not void the warranty?)

What do you guys think about the mobo choice/etc? Any recommended changes?

 

[Sekkai]

The current list:

Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
1
LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model GH22LS30 LightScribe Support - OEM
$25.99

1
COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
$99.99

2
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives - OEM
$189.98
($94.99 each)

1
ASUS VW246H Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
$219.99

1
EVGA 017-P3-1295-AR CO-OP Edition GeForce GTX 295 1792MB 896 (448 x 2)-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported ... - Retail
$499.99

1
Nvidia Gift - Batman: Arkham Asylum - Retail
$0.00

1
CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
$139.99

1
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C8D - Retail
$179.99

1
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$259.99

1
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
$279.99

1
CPU Mag Gift - 6 free issues of CPU Magazine - OEM
$0.00

1
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM
$109.99

1
COOLER MASTER V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
$54.99

Subtotal: $2,060.88



Again, does anyone have ANY recommendations/changes/suggestions to this? (Case? Mobo? Fans/CPU fan? Is anything bottlenecking anything else? What should I get for a wireless card? Will I need more cooling? Is 850W enough for all this? Am I missing anything else? ANY advice would be appreciated. Thanks).

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Sekkai
Again, does anyone have ANY recommendations/changes/suggestions to this? (Case? Mobo? Fans/CPU fan?

I would definitely spend that $100 for a case on an Antec 900, but whatever.

What should I get for a wireless card? Will I need more cooling? Is 850W enough for all this?

You should buy a wireless card for a wireless card. I've used probably 20 or more over the years, and amazingly enough, they all work, even the cheap ones. You will probably want to have a fan for every spot in the case you decide to buy where a fan can be mounted. And no, 850 watts is not enough. The 750 watt Corsair would be overkill, but since you're doing your best to blow your entire load at once, that 850 watt PSU is at least a good one. It will output probably 200-250% more continuous power than that "900 watt" Apevia that you almost bought. Good luck. I assume you you've bookmarked this thread? If you have any questions (after the parts arrive ), let us know.

 

[Sekkai]

"And no, 850 watts is not enough. The 750 watt Corsair would be overkill, but since you're doing your best to blow your entire load at once, that 850 watt PSU is at least a good one."

I don't quite understand what you mean by this? You say 850 isn't enough but the 750 is overkill? What?



And, this case?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811129021

Why do you recommend it? Would there be room for the big video cards like the GTX 295?

As for wireless, which would be a good card to get that will be cheap/work correctly with my operating systems/etc? Do I need to purchase additional fans?

Will I need to buy cables/wires/etc?

 

[BaboonGuy]

I think because Corsair 750W is like wayyy better than a 850W no-name brand. Corsair is one of the PSU makers out there and their units are more efficient than others... so it's like a 750W at 90% efficiency >>>>>>>> 850W at 70% efficiency

 

[Lunyone]

Originally posted by: BaboonGuy
I think because Corsair 750W is like wayyy better than a 850W no-name brand. Corsair is one of the PSU makers out there and their units are more efficient than others... so it's like a 750W at 90% efficiency >>>>>>>> 850W at 70% efficiency

She has a Corsair 850tx PSU listed, so you know. She doesn't need 850w from a PSU to power the GTX 295, but it's up to her if she wants to spend the extra $ on it.

Any of these Wireless Adaptors should do fine for your build ($20-$35).

The Antec 900 case you linked is good. I also like the Cooler Master 690 case for $90 shipped!

I'm not big into spending $500 on a GPU, but that is up to you. I'd rather spend ~$200 now on a good GPU and then spend ~$200 in about a year or so. This way you have the latest/greatest GPU out and still have some $ left over

 

[myocardia]

An 850 watt Corsair isn't "enough", no, it's overkill, just like the 750 watt Corsair. I'd still probably buy one of the two, depending on whether I had plans to upgrade to the next fastest card when it comes out, or not. Sorry, I forgot the quotation marks last time. Capiche?

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Sekkai
I have no idea how to build a computer, which is why I have basically just been looking for a place to buy a premade one. But, if I can save a lot of money, I'm okay with learning how to do it myself

Just buy a Dell XPS Studio with 22" LCD and ugrade to a 4850 video card. :thumbsup::laugh:

 

[Beanie46]

Wow. Didn't realize my list was going to be the complete basis for a build. All I was trying to do was replicate what you were ordering from Cyberpower, part for part--exactly, just to show you that buying even at retail--or online--could be very much cheaper than prebuilt. And assembling a computer, once you get over the "OMG! I have to put it together!" fears, is about as easy as putting together a 20 piece jigsaw puzzle, but gives a lot more satisfaction in that you get to use something you assembled yourself, and cheaper than prebuilt.


As for the power supply, while I do like Corsair, it's not the only brand out there of good quality. I just used the 850TX as an EXAMPLE for replication purposes to "match" that horrible Apevia Warlock.

What I'd probably buy today, and I do try for bang-for-buck approach typically in builds, is this:

Antec True Power New 750W....on sale for $99.99 at Newegg, shipped.


Or this:

Corsair 650TX power supply at $99.99, with $20 rebate, free shipping. (Have read that Redbeard, the Corsair rep, has stated the 650TX is the same power supply internally as the 620HX, just without the modular cabling system. So, it's more a 750W power supply in actuality as both are vastly underrated in output.)


For memory, while the Corsair set is great and what I have running actually in my computer (but I'd never pay what Newegg wants for it.....I got it for $145 for the set from Fry's while on sale a few weeks ago,) I'd really consider some other brands, too, like Mushkin (have had very good experiences with them.)

Mushkin DDR3-1600 6GB sets:

Mushkin Black w/CAS 7 latency rating.....$150.)


Mushkin Redline DDR3-1600, CAS 6 latency, $185.)


But there are a whole host of other excellent memory choices....G Skill, Patriot for two.



As for the case, look for one with GOOD airflow as the i7 920 produces a LOT of heat, as does the NB chip. The Antec 900 mentioned above is a great choice. Just look for more than flash in your case......you want superior air flow over almost everything else, and of course, it does have to look good. I just prefer simplicity over flash.


Good luck!

 

[Beanie46]

And to expand on the build-it-yourself fears......you can choose to be one who only buys prebuilts and be a slave to whoever, whatever is assembling the computer and their choices of memory, power supply, hard drive unless you go to a boutique assembler, like Cyberpower, but you pay through the nose for the ability to choose your parts, as you have seen.

My suggestion if you choose to go the build-it-yourself route and are very hesitant about doing it by yourself the first time.....post in OT or here or the like for someone here who is:

1) Got experience building computers

2) Is willing to come to your place one evening and assemble yours for you, showing you each step while doing it

3) Has to have very positive Heatware rating as this will ensure you're not dealing with a shady character, or you can verify his/her veracity

4) Do not feel overwhelmed.......I'm 54 this month. I began my computer "life" as a Compaq buyer. When I began having problems with it, my then boyfriend, now husband who wasn't either when I bought the Compaq, found bad caps on the motherboard and recommended a complete rebuild. He took his time with the new parts showing me how to put the motherboard in, hard drives, cpu, memory, video card, etc. (And they pretty much only fit one way....cannot put the video card into too many wrong slots, memory fits one way, etc.)

Now, I build my own. Don't even need my husband's help, although he "always" checks out my work when I'm done. (He owns his own small computer build/repair shop, and cannot help himself from "helping".)

IF I can do it, I'm certain with a minimal amount of assistance you can, too. Just offer whoever you get to help $20-$40 and a six pack of beer for the assistance. Think that'll get any amount of help you need!

 

[nanobreath]

Originally posted by: Sekkai

Why do you recommend it? Would there be room for the big video cards like the GTX 295?

As for wireless, which would be a good card to get that will be cheap/work correctly with my operating systems/etc?

Those two comments do not go together. You want a cheap wireless card but are buying a gtx 295?

Understand that most of us only care about the value of the part. If something is half the cost but 90% of the performance why would I spend extra money for that tiny bit of performance.

There is nothing wrong with buying a premade computer. You need to decide if trying to build one is something you WANT to do. Don't let people on a tech forumn tell you building your own computer is the only way to go. It's something we enjoy, so for us to get somebody else to build it not only costs more, but takes away a lot of the fun of a new computer. When you get somebody else to build it though, don't let them goad you into upgrades and "best value" options. They are only the best value to them, it's what they make the most money off of.'

LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model GH22LS30 LightScribe Support - OEM
$25.99

Knw that OEM does not come with any burning software. You will need to purchase one or find free versions to use.

COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
$99.99

Cases are the only part of a computer that is 100% personal preference. Never let anybody tell you what case to buy. Only thing you need to look at is if the case can hold all of your components. Provides the cooling you require etc. Everytime I build a computer I spend more time looking at cases than anything else. Check to make sure it will fit the motherboard type you are using, the HS/F you plan on using, and the videocard you will be using. Other than that, go with something that YOU will like to look at ever single day.

2
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives - OEM
$189.98
($94.99 each)

Two? You need a lot of storage or are you planning on doing raid?

1
ASUS VW246H Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
$219.99

1
EVGA 017-P3-1295-AR CO-OP Edition GeForce GTX 295 1792MB 896 (448 x 2)-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported ... - Retail
$499.99

The two of these together makes no sense. A 4890 will run ANY current game on that monitor at native resolution with most every setting maxed. Unless you insist on absolutely best quality, with 16x AA that card is complete overkill. If you are worried about making it future proof the best method is to spend $200 today, sock the other $300 and in 1-2 years buy the then current video card for $200. You spend less, and get equal performance.

1
CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
$139.99

Pick the power supply when you have everything else finalized and you know exactly what you need. There are lots of things on power supplies that you need to look for besides the wattage. Wattage is the primary thing to narrow your choices by (of coure pay attention to whats on the +12V rail!). Then you need to look at cable length, # of attachemnts you require. Not just PCIe power plugs, but also do you have enough sata power cables? Enough molex plugs for your fans? Lots of things that you need to look at once you know your build.

1
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C8D - Retail
$179.99

A bit of an expensive pick. Over clocking ram usually adds maybe 1% performance increase if it is even measurable. I personally go for whatever is cheapest that is also a reliable brand/choice.

GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$259.99

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
$279.99

Obvious processor choice, but why are you getting a 3 way SLI board with a GTX 295?!?!? I don't know a lot about the various versions of 1336 boards available, but surely there are cheaper/different options. Maybe this is the prefered choice right now, I'd have to leave it to somebody else to answer that. Just seems overkill if you aren't using everything the board offers.

COOLER MASTER V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
$54.99

No clue on the I7 CPU coolers

Subtotal: $2,060.88

Again, does anyone have ANY recommendations/changes/suggestions to this? (Case? Mobo? Fans/CPU fan? Is anything bottlenecking anything else? What should I get for a wireless card? Will I need more cooling? Is 850W enough for all this? Am I missing anything else? ANY advice would be appreciated. Thanks).

Oye that is expensive.

Most cases come with enough fans to be ok. It's your option if you want to buy better/quieter/more fans. Lots of people like quiet, but with everything you have right now, quiet is sooooooo not going to happen. You should have enough cables without needing to buy extra. Only time I've needed cables is when I needed adapters, usually to go from molex to sata power. If you find you need cables while building, it's usually better to call local shops in town and buy from them.


Hopefully I've answered a lot of your questions.

 

[Sekkai]

Thank you all for the replies.

I understand that buying a premade is not always a bad thing -- but I was a bit scared to experiment with expensive items. However, I figure, I might as well start sometime. I think I'll be building this computer to at least gain the experience.

My main problem right now is that I have little experience when it comes to which parts work well together/the inherent pros and cons that come with things/etc, which is why I came to this forum. Again, thank you all again so far.


I think the Antec 900 looks pretty neat and supposedly has decent airflow, so I think I'll stick to that.


"Knw that OEM does not come with any burning software. You will need to purchase one or find free versions to use. "
Do you recommend a different choice or are the free versions decent?



"Two? You need a lot of storage or are you planning on doing raid? "
No -- I figure the extra umph from a RAID setup is not worth the potential downfall if one of the HDD's crash (apparently if one goes, they both go). I game a lot, but I also have huge music collections and occasionally edit video. For some reason I'm always short on HD space, so I figure 2 TB is appropriate for me.



"The two of these together makes no sense. A 4890 will run ANY current game on that monitor at native resolution with most every setting maxed. Unless you insist on absolutely best quality, with 16x AA that card is complete overkill. If you are worried about making it future proof the best method is to spend $200 today, sock the other $300 and in 1-2 years buy the then current video card for $200. You spend less, and get equal performance."
This is also what I was concerned about. What kind of monitor would better justify the GTX 295? I know it is an expensive and killer card, but I indeed want to go overkill here, and I'd rather build my system AROUND that particular card if possible. Right now I am concerned that I am bottlenecking the video card and that I may not have enough power/room in the case/cooling, but I think the Antec 900 should fare well here, no?

"Obvious processor choice, but why are you getting a 3 way SLI board with a GTX 295?!?!? I don't know a lot about the various versions of 1336 boards available, but surely there are cheaper/different options. Maybe this is the prefered choice right now, I'd have to leave it to somebody else to answer that. Just seems overkill if you aren't using everything the board offers. "
Agreed, but again, I don't know what a more suitable mobo would be given my other choices.

Thanks again so far guys, this is all very helpful -- any more elucidation on these matters would also be appreciated!


Oh, I also decided to go with the http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833315078 wireless card.






Summary: Looking to ensure I have enough room to hold everything/enough cooling/enough power. Is my GTX 295 card being bottlenecked? What fixes would help these issues? Are there any better item choices for the things in this particular list? I need to look a bit more into the other RAM and PSU recommendations so far as well.

 

[Blain]

Well at least you've still got time to cancel the order.

 

[Sekkai]

Oh, the order is already canceled. I've decided to go ahead and try building it myself, but I need help choosing the right parts.


Mushkin RAM was suggested -- I am debating whether or not they are better choices for this system over the Corsairs. I decided to swap the Corsair 850W out for the Antec 750W. Is the cabling going to be a drawback at all?

Also, GAH the monitor's out of stock and was removed from the cart.

I guess this gives me an excuse to find a better monitor for this video card? Haha


Current list now:

Current list (updated):

Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
1
LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model GH22LS30 LightScribe Support - OEM
$25.99


1
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
$99.99

2
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives - OEM
$189.98
($94.99 each)


1
EDIMAX EW-7728In 32bit PCI Wireless 802.11n Draft 2.0 PCI Card - Retail
$34.99

1

EVGA 017-P3-1295-AR CO-OP Edition GeForce GTX 295 1792MB 896 (448 x 2)-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported ... - Retail
$499.99

1
Nvidia Gift - Batman: Arkham Asylum - Retail
$0.00

1
Antec TruePower New TP-750 750W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.3 / EPS12V V2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE ... - Retail
$99.99

1
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C8D - Retail
$179.99

1
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$259.99

1
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
$279.99

1
CPU Mag Gift - 6 free issues of CPU Magazine - OEM
$0.00

1
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM
$109.99

1
COOLER MASTER V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
$54.99

Subtotal: $1,835.88


*Now missing a monitor, haha.