Building a new PC

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Davoguha

New Member
Me and my bro are building a new computer. We are trying to keep the PC within a $2000 budget. He intends to run the PC from a very nice TV, therefore we need no monitor, nor speakers. He mostly uses his computer for browsing, but wishes to be able to run top-notch games.

Here is what I have so far.

(Note: Anything in green is basically set in stone, please let me know if there are any conflicts/problems with green items.)
(Anything in red I am looking for and am completely open to upgrades/alternatives.)
(No Color? These parts I am satisfied with, but if you have any comments/conflicts/suggestions, Im all ears)
(I am updating this thread as I change parts, however I am leaving previously chosen parts up simply for reference.)


REQUIRED PIECES

MO-BO:
Current Choice: GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3 LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Previous Choice: Intel BOXDP55WG LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

CPU:
Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I7860 - Retail

PSU:
Current Choice: OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ700FTY 700W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
Previous Choice: Seventeam ST-850ZAF 850W ATX 12V V2.2 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

RAM:
Current Choice: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRH - Retail
Previous Choice: G.SKILL ECO 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9Q-8GBECO - Retail

VIDEO CARD:
XFX HD-577X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail

HARD DRIVE:
SAMSUNG F1 RAID Class HE103UJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive -Bare Drive

CASE:
XCLIO A380COLOR Fully Black 1.0 mm SECC / ABS Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail


DISK DRIVES

BR-DVD Drive:
LG Black 10X Blu-ray Burner - Bulk SATA Model WH10LS30 LightScribe Support - OEM

DVD Drive:
LG DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model GH24NS50 - OEM


ADDITIONAL COOLING

CPU FAN:
Dynatron K555 77mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - Retail

HD COOLING:
EVERCOOL HD-F117 Aluminum HDD Cooling Device - Retail


ADDITIONAL ACCESSORIES

KEYBOARD/MOUSE:
Logitech MX 5500 Revolution Black Bluetooth Cordless Desktop Standard keyboard & Mouse Kit - Retail

Surge Protector:
CyberPower PDU CPS1215RM 10 x NEMA 5-15P Outlets Power Distribution Unit - Retail

Additional USB Ports: CANCELED
Koutech PCI to USB2.0 Card Model IO-PU520 - Retail

All-In-One Card Reader:
CABLES UNLIMITED USB-1610 All-in-one USB 2.0 Card Reader - Retail


That is all I have on the wishlist thus far. I know I will need an OS to run the computer, I'll pick up a copy from Best Buy after we purchase the computer.

My questions:
Will I need to purchase any extra cords?
Will I have any issues with bottlenecking?
Are there any affordable upgrades I should take?
Is everything compatible?
Also, anything you think is definitely a good choice, please make note of it - Once I turn everything green, the build will be ordered. :D


Thank you all for your help,
-Davo
 
Last edited:
I suggest a better quality motherboard. Gigabyte motherboards are among the best quality out on the market. Take a look at this:

GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3 Motherboard - $135
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...abyte_1156_motherboard-_-13-128-412-_-Product

8 gigabytes of RAM is overkill. 4 gigabytes of RAM is plenty of memory. Take a look at this:

G.SKILL 4 gigabytes (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit - $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ..._4gb_DDR3_1600_240-pin-_-20-231-193-_-Product
 
2048Megabytes said:
I suggest a better quality motherboard. Gigabyte motherboards are among the best quality out on the market. Take a look at this:

GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3 Motherboard - $135
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...abyte_1156_motherboard-_-13-128-412-_-Product

8 gigabytes of RAM is overkill. 4 gigabytes of RAM is plenty of memory. Take a look at this:

G.SKILL 4 gigabytes (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit - $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ..._4gb_DDR3_1600_240-pin-_-20-231-193-_-Product
Click to expand...

I appreciate the input, and I believe I will swap in the motherboard you have suggested.

When it comes to RAM however, I had other questions I forgot to bring up; I remember hearing something about something requiring ram in sets of 3 rather than sets of two, could someone remind me what that was please?

Also, you say 8GB of RAM is overkill, yet just last year, people said 4GB was overkill. I picked 8GB because my brother wants the computer to operate at a satisfactory level for years to come. If there are any other reasons other than simply not needing 8GB, I am all ears to potential issues/suggestions.

Thanks again,
Davo
 
Davoguha said:
I appreciate the input, and I believe I will swap in the motherboard you have suggested.

When it comes to RAM however, I had other questions I forgot to bring up; I remember hearing something about something requiring ram in sets of 3 rather than sets of two, could someone remind me what that was please?
Click to expand...

Core i7 9xx series CPU runs off the 1366 platform - which runs optimally with triple channel RAM. All other CPU's for Desktops that I'm aware of run off dual channel. Triple Channel needs 3 sticks of RAM.

Also, you say 8GB of RAM is overkill, yet just last year, people said 4GB was overkill. I picked 8GB because my brother wants the computer to operate at a satisfactory level for years to come. If there are any other reasons other than simply not needing 8GB, I am all ears to potential issues/suggestions.

Thanks again,
Davo
Click to expand...

4 GB is plenty for today and forseeable future - and if you wait a year or two and PC's need 8 GB to run - the extra 4 GB will be cheaper in a year than it is today. So if it were me, I'd get 4 GB now - and add later if it's needed ( shouldn't be for a while ).

IIRC - RAM upgrades in laptops is pretty easy. You should be able to slide a door off and upgrade the RAM without taking apart your laptop.
 
Thank you for clarifying the Triple/Dual Channel RAM issue, Jamin.

Also, you made a very fine point about the 4 vs. 8 GB issue. I think I will make the swap for the RAM 'Megabyte' listed.

Thanks again for the help in upgrading this build guys. However, I came here mostly to get any kinks worked out (such as bottlenecking or complete incompatibility and unreliable/missing parts). Does anyone foresee any issues with this build? Anything missing?
 
Also why dont you get ati radeon 5850 or 5870 instead of 5770? It's better and you will be able to run top notch games too. 5850 or 5870 is the best for top notch games.

Also just a personal preference: I would get a different brand of PSU like Corsair for example. PSU is probably the most important part of the computer.
 
Last edited:
lubo4444 said:
Also why dont you get ati radeon 5850 or 5870 instead of 5770? It's better and you will be able to run top notch games too. 5850 or 5870 is the best for top notch games.

Also just a personal preference: I would get a different brand of PSU like Corsair for example. PSU is probably the most important part of the computer.
Click to expand...

The choice in video card is a funding issue. If we can save some money on other parts I may consider making the upgrade, but currently Im trying to go for a high quality value build.

As far as the PSU goes, I am an amateur computer enthusiast, I do not really know what I am looking for when it comes to the power supply, other than the correct pins and connections. Could someone possibly suggest a better PSU for me?

Also, I have decided to drop the RAM of this system down to 4GB as suggested, but I am reluctant to accept 2048Megabyte's suggestion. If I am going to save money by reducing my RAM in the first place, I want the absolute best 'bang for my buck' at 2x2GB RAM sticks. Does anyone have an alternative suggestion for RAM?

EDIT: This is the RAM I found that IMO(non-expert) seems to be perfect. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231279 Any downside to this set?
 
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2048Megabytes said:
Take a look at this OCZ power supply:

OCZ StealthXStream OCZ700SXS 700 Watt - $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...cm_re=ocz_power_supply-_-17-341-019-_-Product
Click to expand...

Seems to be a fine power supply, but would a 20+4 pin connector connect to a 24 pin jack?

If not, I did my own searching and found this one by OCZ: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341036
It is 50W less... Im not sure if that makes a big difference, but Im not sure how much wattage I will be needing in the first place.
 
Last edited:
2048Megabytes said:
Take a look at this OCZ power supply:

OCZ StealthXStream OCZ700SXS 700 Watt - $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...cm_re=ocz_power_supply-_-17-341-019-_-Product
Click to expand...
Davoguha said:
Seems to be a fine power supply, but would a 20+4 pin connector connect to a 24 pin jack?

If not, I did my own searching and found this one by OCZ: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341036
Click to expand...

Both of those have four +12v rails. They're not going to distribute power very well at all. This would be better:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341023&Tpk=fatal1ty 700w

$75 after the rebate

An yes, a 20+4 PSU will plug into a 24 pin board.


Also, why on earth do you have a card for extra USB ports? The motherboard already has ten of them.
 
Last edited:
Drenlin said:
Both of those have four +12v rails. They're not going to distribute power very well at all. This would be better:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341023&Tpk=fatal1ty 700w

$75 after the rebate

An yes, a 20+4 PSU will plug into a 24 pin board.


Also, why on earth do you have a card for extra USB ports? The motherboard already has ten of them.
Click to expand...

A fine suggestion on the PSU, I am adding it to the list now.

As for the extra USB ports, I threw that piece on when I started the project with a MoBo with less ports... In other words, a nice catch, I'll remove that item now.

Thanks,
Davo
 
2048Megabytes said:
I suggest a better quality motherboard. Gigabyte motherboards are among the best quality out on the market. Take a look at this:

GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3 Motherboard - $135
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...abyte_1156_motherboard-_-13-128-412-_-Product

8 gigabytes of RAM is overkill. 4 gigabytes of RAM is plenty of memory. Take a look at this:

G.SKILL 4 gigabytes (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit - $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ..._4gb_DDR3_1600_240-pin-_-20-231-193-_-Product
Click to expand...

I don't think 8GB of RAM is overkill.
Of course you need to be using 64 bit Windows for the OS to see more than 4GB, but Windows loves RAM.
The more RAM you throw at Windows the better, and let's face it, it's not that expensive.
Don't forget that once Windows runs out of physical memory it uses free hard drive space as virtual memory and access times on a hard drive are much slower than the RAM.

I agree with the choice of motherboard in the block quote above.

Cheers
Iain
 
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