Building a desktop + motherboard advice

G

Guitaristic

New Member
Hi all,


I recently decided to upgrade the ole' desktop and have chosen to build one rather than buy pre-assembled. I've never done this before, so I was hoping some people would be kind enough to check out my planned build and give me some feedback :) I will list the parts below!


Also, the only part that (I think) I am missing on my list is a motherboard. I'm using a friend's build with some upgrades/changes(better video card and different RAM), but his motherboard is no longer in production. I need to get a new one but don't have any idea what to get!

Here is my (probably-flawed) planned build:

1) Intel Core i7-2600K Quad-Core Processor 3.4 Ghz 8 MB Cache LGA 1155 - BX80623I72600K

2) Corsair Vengeance 8 GB ( 2 x 4 GB ) DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3 12800) 240-Pin DDR3 Memory Kit for Core i3, i5, i7 and Platforms SDRAM CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9

-- I'm thinking two of these...is that possible?

3) EVGA GeForce GTX 660Ti

4) Seagate Barracuda 1 TB 7200RPM SATA 32 MB Cache 3.5-Inch Bare Drive

5) Cooler Master Elite Power - 460W Power Supply

6) Thermaltake V3 Black AMD Edition Gaming Chassis Mid Tower Steel Computer Case

7) LITE-ON DVD Burner

8) motherboard??? I know I need a 1155 and full-ATX, but that's it.



I plan to use this for coding, recording music, and gaming. Any suggestions on motherboard or any other parts better than what I've got? I'm trying to keep it around $1000, and I believe I'm currently around $900 without the motherboard!


Thanks so much! :)
 
Last edited:
Hey there,

If you want to stick with the i7, get a 3770K, however, for gaming at least, an i5 3570K is cheaper and better value for money (and games just as well!) Regardless of which you choose, the Gigabyte GA-Z77X boards are good options. The Z77X-UD3H is well priced and has nice features, as does the ASUS P8Z77-V PRO.

4x4GB of RAM to make 16GB is possible but might not be necessary. 8GB is enough for gaming and most things, and if you go 16GB, I recommend 2x8GB over 4x4GB since it will make life easier if you want to upgrade.

Power supply isn't great. The Corsair CX 600 is a much better quality unit, and 600W is plenty of power.

Graphics card choice is good but have you considered the Radeon HD 7870? It may be a little cheaper. Better still, using the money you save on your CPU, get a more powerful graphics card. A 7950 or a GTX 670 would be great! The graphics card matters the most for gaming (after a good power supply to power your nice graphics card of course ;) ).

Not a huge fan of that case myself. If you want to keep with the simple look, I'd buy a Corsair 300R or a Fractal Design Define R3 or R4 instead.

Rest looks good. :) I'm assuming you have an OS to install?
 
spirit said:
Hey there,

If you want to stick with the i7, get a 3770K, however, for gaming at least, an i5 3570K is cheaper and better value for money (and games just as well!) Regardless of which you choose, the Gigabyte GA-Z77X boards are good options. The Z77X-UD3H is well priced and has nice features, as does the ASUS P8Z77-V PRO.

4x4GB of RAM to make 16GB is possible but might not be necessary. 8GB is enough for gaming and most things, and if you go 16GB, I recommend 2x8GB over 4x4GB since it will make life easier if you want to upgrade.

Power supply isn't great. The Corsair CX 600 is a much better quality unit, and 600W is plenty of power.

Graphics card choice is good but have you considered the Radeon HD 7870? It may be a little cheaper. Better still, using the money you save on your CPU, get a more powerful graphics card. A 7950 or a GTX 670 would be great! The graphics card matters the most for gaming (after a good power supply to power your nice graphics card of course ;) ).

Not a huge fan of that case myself. If you want to keep with the simple look, I'd buy a Corsair 300R or a Fractal Design Define R3 or R4 instead.

Rest looks good. :) I'm assuming you have an OS to install?
Click to expand...


Thanks for the feedback! I'll definitely look into your recommendations and post a revised build plan later! For the OS I was thinking Windows 7 64-bit, which I can get for free through school. Windows 8 just doesn't sit well with me!
 
Ok new list :D

1) i5-3570K quad-core

2) Corsair Vengeance 1x8 DDR3

3) Mobo-- Gigabyte Intel Z77 LGA 1155 AMD

4) EVGA GeForce GTX 660Ti

5) Seagate Barracuda 1 TB 7200RPM

6) Corsair Builder Series CX 600 Watt

7) LITE-ON DVD Burner

8) Tower???

Now I am just stuck on the tower! I wasn't a huge fan of my original pick, and I liked the Corsair 300R you recommended, but I wasn't a fan of the placement of the usb ports...any other ones you'd recommend?

I'd really just like usb 2.0 ports on the front lower section or side/back. I use them a lot when recording so I will basically always have stuff plugged into them. Also I'm not really trying to stick with the simple look, it was just what I inherited from my friend's build list! I'm totally down for some flashy LEDs if you know of a good case :D
 
Some ideas for cases: Fractal Design Define R3/R4, NZXT Phantom 410 - both good choices. The Cooler Master HAF X would also probably be all right too.

I'd get 2x8GB sticks by the way, if you want to stick with 8, just get 2x4.
 
viatical08 said:
For cases just look through them:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...2&IsNodeId=1&name=ATX Mid Tower&Order=REVIEWS

The 2nd one down has USB on the front bottom section.
Click to expand...
Assuming you're on about this case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068 I wouldn't recommend it due to lack of cable management features and the silver/unpainted interior. That shows it's an old case. Stay away from the Antec 900 too for the same reasons.

This case might be worth looking at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112239 I still prefer the Fractal Design cases myself though.

The Corsair 500R is a nice case, as is the full tower NZXT Phantom (and so is the smaller Phantom 410) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139010 you can get the 500R in black too if you prefer http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139009

So there's some good options out there to choose from. :)
 
viatical08 said:
For cases just look through them:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...2&IsNodeId=1&name=ATX Mid Tower&Order=REVIEWS

The 2nd one down has USB on the front bottom section. 8GB is a perfect amount of memory for gaming, but I recommend just getting 2x 4GB sticks like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145345
Click to expand...

spirit said:
Assuming you're on about this case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068 I wouldn't recommend it due to lack of cable management features and the silver/unpainted interior. That shows it's an old case. Stay away from the Antec 900 too for the same reasons.

This case might be worth looking at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112239 I still prefer the Fractal Design cases myself though.

The Corsair 500R is a nice case, as is the full tower NZXT Phantom (and so is the smaller Phantom 410) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139010 you can get the 500R in black too if you prefer http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139009

So there's some good options out there to choose from. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the help! I'd be lost without you guys :D example: me trying to buy a 1x8 stick of RAM lol

spirit said:
Some ideas for cases: Fractal Design Define R3/R4, NZXT Phantom 410 - both good choices. The Cooler Master HAF X would also probably be all right too.

I'd get 2x8GB sticks by the way, if you want to stick with 8, just get 2x4.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah! I love the Phantom 410...looks like it will suit me nicely!
 
Hmmm to be honest I don't really know much about overclocking! I know what it does and such, but I don't know how to make things overclock. I'm such a scrub lol
 
Wouldn't bother buying aftermarket cooling right away unless you want to overclock. You can always buy one later if you do decide to overclock.
 
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