First Time Build Advice

Thanks Drenlin, thanks Daisy! Much appreciated. I'll put together a final selection of components over the next day or so and post for review before I pull the trigger!

One quick question Denlin on your last point (processor fan). What does "overclock" mean and is that something I'll want to do?

Sorry Drelin for stealing your question ;)
"OverClocking" is making a computer component run at a higher clock rate, or faster, than it was designed or intended. The most common things people OC are their CPU, GPU, and RAM. You can do this from the BIOS, or through Windows using a tweaking tool like MSI afterburner.

http://www.basichardware.com/how_to_overclock.html
 
Sorry Drelin for stealing your question ;)
"OverClocking" is making a computer component run at a higher clock rate, or faster, than it was designed or intended. The most common things people OC are their CPU, GPU, and RAM. You can do this from the BIOS, or through Windows using a tweaking tool like MSI afterburner.

http://www.basichardware.com/how_to_overclock.html


Thanks fastdude. So it sounds to me like it's probably not something I'll have any need to do and also potentially harmful to my processor. Is that about right?
 
Looks good:good:

I've updated my post and changed the motherboard to this one:
GIGABYTE MOTHERBOARD GA-790XTA-UD4
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Home/Product/43791/Gigabyte-motherboard-GA-790XTA-UD4--AMD-AM3-DDR3

I did this based on the following advice I received elsewhere, but have no idea whether or not it's right (I originally was going for an 8xx series as per drenlin's recommendation):

"The 790XTA-UD4 is better specified and provides USB3 and SATA3 ports and only costs around £10 more. The 790X was a high end chip for the 7xx series chips while the 890GX motherboards are a mid-level chip for the 8xx series. The GX chips in both the 7 series and 8 series were meant to be full sized ATX boards with onboard graphics cards meant for use as media centre boards for people not looking to do gaming. The 790X and boards are meant for gamers and enthusiasts with more overclocking features. Since the 790X boards don’t have onboard graphics there is faster throughput between the CPU, RAM and PCI Exrpess graphics card slots with these boards. Since your PC will have a high end graphics card anyway you will be better off with the 790X series board."

So...the motherboard is the component I'm least sure about. Anyone have any views one way or the other on the GA-790XTA-UD4?
 
Btw, I'm amazed and appreciative of how helpful everyone has been! Nice to see that the world is a much better place than you'd guess by watching the news.
 
790X is not a higher level chip than 890GX...haha. 790X is the exact same thing as a 790GX, just with no onboard graphics. 890GX is a better chipset in every respect.

That said, I own that motherboard, and it isn't bad. I would like the comfort of having an onboard GPU though. If your graphics card goes out, that means you still have ~90% functionality, instead of zero.
 
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790X is not a higher level chip than 890GX...haha. 790X is the exact same thing as a 790GX, just with no onboard graphics. 890GX is a better chipset in every respect.

That said, I own that motherboard, and it isn't bad. I would like the comfort of having an onboard GPU though. If your graphics card goes out, that means you still have ~90% functionality, instead of zero.

Thank you Drenlin. I really appreciate all the information you've provided, but please understand that I'm a bit clueless on this and getting conflicting messages from two different "experts". You and the guy who told me the 7xx is better have both seemed very knowledgeable and I simply don't know enough about this subject to know who's "right".

So, can I get a third opinion from someone please? What motherboard should I go with?

Also, Drenlin, there are a few 8xx Gigabyte motherboards - if I go that way, which one should I go with?

Thanks!
Seavik
 
790X is not a higher level chip than 890GX...haha. 790X is the exact same thing as a 790GX, just with no onboard graphics. 890GX is a better chipset in every respect.

There is really no difference in the Northbridge 790 vs. 890, just a name change. The gigabyte 790X boards are really better then the 890GX boards. The 890GX only has a 5 phase power setup, most of the 790X has a 10 phase

The performance gains, its all in the 850 southbridge.

If you want a good gigabyte board with the 850 southbridge and a 790X northbridge, plus it has a 10 phase setup.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128438
 
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^ Interesting. I thought 790X chips were harvested 790GX chips...which would make them lower models. Why give them better hardware than a higher-tier chip?

Good board though. I have more or less the same thing, but with the older SB. They slapped Sata3 and USB3 controllers on and gave it the big "333" logo like the 8xx boards, haha.
 
^ Interesting. I thought 790X chips were harvested 790GX chips...which would make them lower models. Why give them better hardware than a higher-tier chip?

Nope, the 790X is the same chip as the 790FX with less PCIe lanes. Both are the same die, the 790X just has some PCIe lanes decapitated.

The 790GX came along later to counter Nvidias 750a, its just a 780G with the onboard video overclocked with some PCIe lanes redirected to run crossfire in 8/8. Which both are really 770 chips with onboard video.

With the 790GX, never really understood why someone looking for a crossfire board would want onboard video on the same board, carrying extra baggage for nothing. If you want onboard video just get a 785G board.


Long story short.

The 790X is a 790FX chip with a block of PCIe lanes deactivated.

The 780/785/790GX is a 770 chip with onboard video. Never had more PCIe lanes to deactivate.
 
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I'm about to place the order. Quick question - do I need a surge protector or does the PSU take care of this?
 
^ Interesting. I thought 790X chips were harvested 790GX chips...which would make them lower models. Why give them better hardware than a higher-tier chip?

Good board though. I have more or less the same thing, but with the older SB. They slapped Sata3 and USB3 controllers on and gave it the big "333" logo like the 8xx boards, haha.

Looks like after all's said and done, I'm going with the same motherboard that you've got (GA-790XTA-UD4). I continue to get conflicting advice, but seems like this one is a good bet.
 
Ok, I finally got my gear and have had a great time building...unfortunately, I just realized that the side fan in the NZXT Hades doesn't leave enough room for the upgrade CPU cooler I got (Scythe Katana 3 CPU Cooler), so I can't close the case.

Any suggestions on how to get around this? Are there slimmer side-fans I could substitute?

Pretty annoying when you finally finish the build and then go to close the case and find it doesn't fit!!!
 
Ok, I finally got my gear and have had a great time building...unfortunately, I just realized that the side fan in the NZXT Hades doesn't leave enough room for the upgrade CPU cooler I got (Scythe Katana 3 CPU Cooler), so I can't close the case.

Any suggestions on how to get around this? Are there slimmer side-fans I could substitute?

Pretty annoying when you finally finish the build and then go to close the case and find it doesn't fit!!!

can you take the fan out? if so, you don't really need it. i went from having one to not having one and i didn't notice that much of a difference.
 
Ok...I've finished the build, but when I turn it on, nothing comes up on the screen. All the fans run (including the one on my graphics card) except for the CPU fan. No clue what's going on or how to fix it...
 
Help!!!!! I'm completely frustrated. Everything seems perfectly set up, but the CPU fan doesn't fun and I get nothing on the screen. I've checked the monitor and that's not the problem.
 
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