New build; suggestions

damiancds

New Member
I've decided to build a second computer after my first one (back in 2004) failed at lasting (several problems)

So, here I am. I've picked out several items and I'm curious if these will all meld together.

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103934&Tpk=Phenom 980

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128514

Ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416

I've also got a 1tb HDD a blu ray drive and an old geforce 8800 gs while I decide on a video card

My main concern is compatiblity (I think that was the downfall of my first) and I want to make sure these parts work well with each other before I go buy them.

Also if it makes a difference this will be running windows 7 64bit premium oem version

Thanks
 
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As far as compatibility goes, all 3 parts are compatible to one another. But that doesn't mean you won't have any hardware related issues once you build it. What were the parts in your old build?
 
My old build was actually a barebone kit from newegg,

What I can remember was,

Asus mother board socet 939 - Abit I think
160 GB Hitachi hard drive
amd athlon cpu - cant remember specs
1 NEC CD/DVD drive
1 HP CD/DVD drive - later replaced the nec drive
1 GB Ram (total)
Geforce xe 6600 graphics card
Windows xp
 
I just wanted to inform everyone who invested time helping me that I've decided on the parts (and have ordered some).

Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX ...Not Ordered Yet
PSU: CORSAIR Professional Series HX850 ...Not Ordered Yet
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz ...Ordered
RAM: G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1333 ...Not Ordered Yet
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit - OEM Not Ordered Yet
Disk Drive: SAMSUNG Black 12X BD-ROM ...Ordered
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB ...Ordered
Case: APEX Vortex 3620 SGCCOrdered

I also have some cooling parts coming.

I'm trying to order the rest later today/tomorrow so i can build it as soon as possible, just in case there's an issue with something and I have to RMA it within the timeframe.

I also don't have the video card in there because I'm using an old one until I decide which one I want to drop money on.
 
As far as the ram, I realize there's the slightly better ram, but I've read a lot of reviews and there was some problems getting the ram to work well with certain motherboards/cpu's.

As for the psu, I'm trying to have this future ready, so I have the extra power just in case I need it so I won't have to upgrade the psu if i decide to add better cards or sli them down the road.

Between the 970 and 980 there's like a $20 difference and the way I see it, pay a little more now and not second guess myself later. I'd also rather not overclock until I get bored, and with the 3.7ghz, that should keep me happy for quite a while.
 
I would get either of these.
The 970 will overclock just as well as the 980.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103894
@$25 less, this ^. You can easily clock the 970, to and above the stock 980 clocks. One simple bios setting will put the 970 @ 3.7Ghz. Making it the same. The extra $25 is a waste.

As far as the ram, I realize there's the slightly better ram, but I've read a lot of reviews and there was some problems getting the ram to work well with certain motherboards/cpu's.

Between the 970 and 980 there's like a $20 difference and the way I see it, pay a little more now and not second guess myself later. I'd also rather not overclock until I get bored, and with the 3.7ghz, that should keep me happy for quite a while.

DDR3 1600 is the way to go. Esp since it's basically the same price. If there's a problem with compatibility, which there shouldn't be even if it's not on the QV list, it won't be because it's GSkill 1600. Besides that, it's going to start up and run at a default 1333 anyways unles you make another easy bios setting. Not to mention if you do decide on an oc at some point, you'lll have a little headroom.

Use the $25 on a better case. That Vortex sucks.
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=APEX+Vortex+3620+SGCC+cable+management&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-ContextMenu&biw=1097&bih=497&tbm=isch&tbnid=DmT3Ow9v8pwFrM:&imgrefurl=http://www.111design.net/DTR/archives/148&docid=M12VtkD1Ou_d8M&w=600&h=534&ei=sd2RTqbAMOqLsAKgxfWuAQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=426&page=3&tbnh=121&tbnw=136&start=21&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:21&tx=95&ty=85
 
and for the ram compatibility issues with people not getting it to work or whatever, they probably didn't have the best mobos or it didn't support 1600, yours will support 1866 stock and can support 2000 overclocked.
 
Okay, You've swayed me. The biggest reason on getting the others and not overclocking is because the first motherboard that I decided on, wasn't super friendly in the overclock department, but from what i've read the one I've selected now will be fine, so I'll do the ram at the 1600. Unfortunately, I've already ordered the 980, so I may return it to save a few bucks.

As far as the case goes, that's already en route to my house, so I'll have to think about it and maybe send it back.

My new biggest question is about ssd's. What are they used for, because I've read that they perform better than hdd's and I didn't know if it was now a common practice to have the os sitting on the ssd, while everything else was on the hdd.

I'm very curious about the ssd and what it's good for.

Again, thanks for all the info on everything thus far...
 
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well for the case i like mine which is that one, but i don't really have any cable management going on and it doesn't seem to have the best either, but that's just an airflow issue so as long as you don't go for a really high overclock (4.5+) then it shouldn't hurt, just won't look perty inside.

for the ssd, it's basically a giant usb drive that loads stuff wayyyy faster than an hdd, so you put the os and some main programs on it and you can boot into windows in likt 20-30 secs.
 
SSD's are nice if you have the budget. The os and startup programs on the ssd boot up pretty fast. A big noticable difference from a hdd. Whatever you put on it will respond quicker, but games won't get more fps..just load faster. Working within the os is snappier.
Most ppl who have one say they won't go back to hdd for those uses.
 
Since I'm buying an oem version of windows 7, will I have a problem upgrading later on from an hdd to an ssd? (I'm pretty sure oem versions are tied to hardware)

I'm getting my area ready to put this thing together and I have a few questions.

My area is my room, which is carpeted. I plan on working on my desk, but I will be lining it with cardboard. I also just bought an antistatic wrist band to use.

My questions are:
- Should I wear those nitrile/ latex gloves? I have the nitrile ones. If so, do I stay away from powder coated or vice versa.

- Where do I clip the antistatic band (I've read several conflicting forums). I won't have it plugged in for some part so should I just clip it to the case to equalize everything (Not sure if the gloves above will help or hurt this).

- I'm freaking out about thermal paste. I bought tuniq x2 (conflicting reports about AS5) and I'm not sure how to apply it. I have a Phenom II x4 and a coolermaster 212 hyper plus. what should be put on what? (I'm worried because I read that a cpu can burn up in like 10 seconds without cooling properly.

Once again, thank you for the input
 
the windows is tied to the motherboard, not the hdd, so you're fine there.

i'm not sure on this part but i think latex or whatever gloves would be smart, to keep all the oils on your skin off the circuitry would be good. and idk anything bout the wriststrap. for the thermal paste, you're supposed to put a dot the size or a grain of rice, some say a pea or something like that, on the cpu itself, then you put the cooler on it and let the cooler spread the paste around. that prevents airbubbles and stuff from forming as spreading it out then putting the cooler on could for them.
 
Since I'm buying an oem version of windows 7, will I have a problem upgrading later on from an hdd to an ssd? (I'm pretty sure oem versions are tied to hardware)

I'm getting my area ready to put this thing together and I have a few questions.

My area is my room, which is carpeted. I plan on working on my desk, but I will be lining it with cardboard. I also just bought an antistatic wrist band to use.

My questions are:
- Should I wear those nitrile/ latex gloves? I have the nitrile ones. If so, do I stay away from powder coated or vice versa.

- Where do I clip the antistatic band (I've read several conflicting forums). I won't have it plugged in for some part so should I just clip it to the case to equalize everything (Not sure if the gloves above will help or hurt this).

- I'm freaking out about thermal paste. I bought tuniq x2 (conflicting reports about AS5) and I'm not sure how to apply it. I have a Phenom II x4 and a coolermaster 212 hyper plus. what should be put on what? (I'm worried because I read that a cpu can burn up in like 10 seconds without cooling properly.

Once again, thank you for the input

You'll be fine with the oem as long as you don't change to a different model motherboard.
Be warey of carpet that builds static elec.
The gloves aren't necessary.
Clip to the case is fine.

No worries on the paste. Pretty sure the 212 comes with pre applied CM paste. Use isopropyl or rubbing alcohol and a coffee filter to clean that off.
Your tuniq will go on the processor only. But before you put that small ricegrain size of paste in the middle of it, ease a little out onto a piece of paper or something, to be discarded. That way you don't get what's at the very end of the container and you'll get a feel for applying it. Then put the HS on. When you fasten the HS down, it will spread the paste. Don't lift on the HS once pressure is started because it will create air pockets in the paste and you'll have to clean that off and start over.
 
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Now what?

Ok, I've got everything thing together and I've got a keyboard (USB) and a dvi monitor and nothings responding. How do I get it to display anything?

Edit: I also took an geforce 8800 gs out of an old system. I'm just not sure how to install drivers or the windows if I can't see anything.

Any help would be greatly appreciated
 
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Got it. It wasn't the gpu, I was missing one of the power connectors on the motherboard. If all else fails, read the damn manual.

Thanks, hopefully no other problems.
 
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