My first build.

[cody8099]

Hello, my name is Cody, and I am new to this site.
I decided to come to this site in hopes of recieving additional tips and info for my first real build. I have a friend who is really great with computers, and my brother who is also great with computer. I am hoping to see what you all say about the parts in this build and to see if this would make a good computer.

My intention is to build a pretty decent gaming computer that can handle a decent amount of games and can also handle Adobe Photoshop.

My budget is in between $800 to $1200 dollars.

Here is the list of parts I have came up with, along with the link to the part.

Also, if I am missing anything that is essential for a computer build, please let me know.

Case: Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

CPU: AMD FX-8120 Zambezi 3.1GHz Socket AM3+ 125W Eight-Core Desktop Processor FD8120FRGUBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103961

Mother Board: ASRock 970 EXTREME3 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157280

Graphics Card:EVGA 01G-P3-1556-KR GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) FPB 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130625

Power Supply: OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W Modular High Performance Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandybridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

Memory: G.SKILL Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9D-8GBSR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231460

Heatsink: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

CD/DVD Drive: SAMSUNG CD/DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW Black 1.5Gbps Model SH-222AL/BSBS LightScribe Support - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151252

Harddrive: Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840

Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

This build list took my friend and I about 4 and 1/2 hours to come up with.
I am not sure if I want to upgrade to a full size tower. My brother has one and he loves the space he has with it.

Any tips and suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[newcomputer20]

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+FX-8120+Eight-Core

According to this site its a good choice. I've heard some bad things about the AMD bulldozer though - its not the best for gaming apprently. I dont know exactly how this site tests the processors but I've personally been advised to go for the i5 instead (same price range). By anyones standards the i7 is the best.
The 8120 is the flagship of that series though, so it may be ok just something you might want to look into a bit more.


http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+550+Ti

Again going by this site if you got the money go for the 6850/6870/480.

I've also heard the more power the better. The chances of bad symtoms are low but for an extra 20 dollars or so a 700W is a safer choice.
Take a look:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...00006656&isNodeId=1&Description=700W&x=9&y=16


All the best with your build

 

[wolfeking]

I would go with a 2500k over a AMD. The performance is just not there to back up the price in the case of AMD, and it is not a true 8 core, it is more like 4 true cores, and 4 half cores, a little better than HT from intel, but still not as good as 8 true cores.

Go for a HD6870/HD6950 or GTX560ti. The 550 is an ok card, but it is very low end and not well suited for gaming unless your running far below 1080p.

otherwise your setup looks good.

 

[cody8099]

Good suggestions. But with money being the issue, I decided to stay with the CPU and Graphics card for now. This is my first build, and I figured Why not learn with simple and not exspensive parts. When it comes time to upgrade, then I will be able to blow more money on nicer, more powerful components.

I did make a few changes, and I placed the order last night.

These are the changes I made.

Case: Rosewill BLACKHAWK Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147107

Motherboard: ASUS M5A97 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131767

Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9D-8GBXL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231455

Heatsink: COOLER MASTER Hyper N 520 RR-920-N520-GP 92mm Sleeve CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103057

CD/DVD Drive: ASUS DRW-24B1ST
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

 

[jonnyp11]

the 2500k costs the same, and if you live near a microcenter or they ship it (they don't always), a 2500k is 180 and combo it with a good mobo for 50 off, so way cheaper actually.

 

[Mishkin]

the 2500k costs the same, and if you live near a microcenter or they ship it (they don't always), a 2500k is 180 and combo it with a good mobo for 50 off, so way cheaper actually.

Actually, it doesn't cost the same. The only way it would be close is if he was able to get a combo deal from Microcenter.

his cpu + mobo = 295

2500k + mobo = 360

I personally wouldn't have gone with the Bulldozer and went Intel instead (while rearranging other components), but I'm sure the OP will be happy with his build, since it will do everything he wants to do plenty well. Btw, it's kind of a jackass move to extoll the virtues of something else and imply that they should have bought that instead after they've already placed an order. Sure, the guy could cancel his order or return items and rearrange his build, but it's not like he ordered a Pentium 4 by mistake. He will be fine.

 

[jonnyp11]

didn't see that he had already ordered it. and forgot the 8120 dropped price, hadn't kept up with it and saw an article saying it had, but just remembered the like 220 or so from launch.