New custom computer, will it all work?

I

ienjoyedit

New Member
So I've been promised a new computer for my graduation present, and I've decided to build one with the help of Tiger Direct, as it's cheaper and just more fun. I've pretty much picked out the parts, but just want to make sure it will all work together. Anyone want to lend a hand?

Case: Cooler Master Storm Scout Mid-Tower (I'm also buying 2x 120mm fans to put in the side)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... =C283-1221
I've gone back and forth between a mid-tower and a full-tower. I finally decided on a mid-tower because it's cheaper, lighter, and I don't really even need five 5 1/4" slots. 5 CD drives seems a tad ridiculous, and that's how many are on this. My main focuses for a case were air flow and space. Will this have enough space for a decent CPU cooler? (See lower)

Motherboard: ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 Motherboard
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... =A455-2937
I fell in love with this motherboard pretty quickly. SUPER future-proof; it has USB 3.0 and lots of memory support. It also supports my crazy CPU (lower). I doubt this will change, but it might.

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition (Quad core, etc)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... u=A79-1965
I've also fallen in love with this. Quad core and is ~$100 cheaper than the Core i7 (Pentium's quad core). Question is: What should I use to cool it? Will the stock cooler be enough? I plan on doing some intense gaming, but not necessarily overclocking (until I figure it out and am confident enough!). Also, will a cooling unit as shown below fit in my case? Also, will the specific one work on it? The Phenom's listed, but Phenom II isn't...

Cooler: Cooler Master V8 CPU Fan
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... &CatId=493
This is kind of a guess. I want to keep my CPU nice and icy, but don't want liquid cooling or anything over-the-top expensive. Another option is this:

Cooler Master RR-B10-212P-GP Hyper 212 Plus CPU Cooler
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4950641&sku=C283-2054
After looking at this for a while, this seems more likely. I still need to make sure it fits in my computer. It'll fit the socket, I believe.

Memory:Centon PC12800 DDR3, 1600 MHz, 2 GB (I'll get about as many as I can)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... u=C10-6140
How much will my processor allow? I'm REALLY confused with this Dual-Channel, Tri-Channel thing. Can my processor support 8 GB? It says 16 with 4 ports, but this Tri-Channel stuff is just really making my brain spin. Can my OPERATING SYSTEM hold 8? I spent about 1/2 an hour just now trying to figure out, and came up with few results. I found out (I think) that Windows 7 64-bit can support 8GB, but I'm not sure. I think that I would go with 6 if that's possible.

Video Card:Visiontek 900301 Radeon HD 5750 Video Card - 1GB GDDR5, PCI-Express 2.0, CrossFireX Ready, Dual DVI, Display Port, HDMI
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... =V261-5750
Okay, so this plugs into my PCI-E 2.0 Slot, right? Half that jargon up top means nothing to me. I understand the 1GB and the PCI. The other stuff is just features, right? And what's up with this GDDR5?! I'm so confused! I'm pretty confident this works because it was in a bundle deal with another motherboard much like mine (but not quite as awesome).

Sound Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy SE
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... u=C44-3400
This is $30 that I'm not sure I need to spend. 7.1 Surround sound seems a bit overkill. Whatever.

Hard Drive: Western Digital WD10EARS Caviar Green Hard Drive - 3.5", SATA 3G, 1TB, 64MB Cache, GreenPower
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... D-1000EARS
I'm happy and confident with this hard drive. Ever since I knew what a Terabyte was, I wanted one (or three). And this seems like a worthy investment. I like the idea of SSD's, but they're WAY too expensive right now. I mean, why get 20GB SSD when I can get a TERABYTE for the same price? Really. (Luckily, though, the case comes with adapters to support SSD in the 3.5" bays, so if they do reduce in price and increase in capacity, I'm getting one.) The GreenPower thing, to my understanding, is just that it doesn't waste much energy. I'm for going green (sorta).

CD Drives: Lite-On IHOS104 Blu Ray ROM - BD-ROM 4X, DVD-ROM 8X, CD-ROM 32X
And
Lite-On IHAS124-04 Internal DVD Writer - DVD+R 24X, DVD-R 24X, DVD+RW 8X, DVD-RW 6X, DVD+R DL 8X, SATA (OEM)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... u=L12-1332
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 1312%20OEM
Why not spend an extra $20 for a Blu-Ray player?

Power Supply: OCZ OCZZ650 Z Series Power Supply - 650-Watt, 120mm Fan, 80 Plus Silver Certified, SLI Ready
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... =O261-2044
Do I need 650 Watts? Do I need more? I'm not quite sure. I would like the option of expanding in the future (possibly near future, depending on my financial status in college). I know my computer will fit it. I'm most impressed by its "80+ Efficiency" certification.

So that's my computer, apart from fiddly bits such as a nice keyboard and mouse, cheap speakers, and a decent monitor (20" LCD, the cheapest non-square LCD I could find).

So a few wrap-up questions: What cooler will fit in my system and support my processor, does my RAM work, and are these the best options for the budget?

I heartily thank you if you actually took the time to read all this rambling and answered.
 
All the links just go to Tigerdirect.

Drop the Centon memory. Get Skill/Corsair/Kingston/Crucial. 4gb. is plenty. Just get 2X2gb. sticks for dual channel.

Drop the sound card, pretty much crap, the onboard is probably better.

Get a Wetern Digital Black, Samsung F3 or a Seagate 7200.12 harddrive.

Video card, stick with Sapphire/XFX/HIS or MSI

Compare the prices at Newegg, might get it cheaper.
http://www.newegg.com/
 
Thanks for the tips. I just looked on newegg, and I can get better (maybe without a box, but that's inconsequential) for about $150 cheaper.

Sorry the links suck.
 
i agree with strangehold, the onboard sound should be sufficient.
you should be ok with the 650 w psu. what are you looking to do in the future?
i am pretty sure the cpu is just this overclocked:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808 so you could get away with saving some money and not really losing much. many people get to 4.0+ ghz.
definitely get 4 gb of ram (2x2gb). what os are you looking to get?
what is your overall budget? i would recommend a better gpu if you want to do more medium to hardcore gaming. maybe a 5770 or even 5850.
 
A few things,
1. People pick the 965 over the i5-750 due to the GHZ rating before they realize the i5 is faster. Hint.
2. Dual CH RAM is good for everything, but 3 CH is used for the 1366 socket Intel.
3. Is there a Microcenter near you?
4. Is this computer for games, if so the GPU needs help.
How much are you paying for the parts, what is your budget, and what do you want it to do?
 
I agree with Joh. The AMD Phenom ll 955 Black Edition is cheaper, has a lower power consumption (OC's better) and can be easily OC'ed up to 3.4ghz - The 965's clockspeed. If you were to overclock both CPUs I'm pretty sure that they'd both end up with similar clocks (3.8/4.0ghz?)
 
Fatal1tyXx said:
I agree with Joh. The AMD Phenom ll 955 Black Edition is cheaper, has a lower power consumption (OC's better) and can be easily OC'ed up to 3.4ghz - The 965's clockspeed. If you were to overclock both CPUs I'm pretty sure that they'd both end up with similar clocks (3.8/4.0ghz?)
Click to expand...

yeah i was looking at the customer reviews for the 955 and many people were getting right up to 3.8-4.0, and i think most were without a voltage change.

for the cooler, it is kind of a toss up. the coolermaster v8 is a great cooler but the other one has been getting some great reviews (at least on newegg). i personally would go with the v8 but you could probably get away with either one.
 
I've decided to go newegg on this one, as I can get a significantly better computer for at least $100 cheaper.

My budget is unknown, but I think it's around $1500, give or take about $100 or so.

No major changes except below:

Memory: CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145249
4 GB seems like it would be enough. I just wanted to be safe. ;)

Cooler: ZEROtherm CORE92 Socket 1156/1366 HDT Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835887023
My only real concern with this is if it will fit.

Video card: HIS IceQ 5 H577QT1GD Radeon HD 5770 Turbo 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card w/ Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161333
How does this look? I see it's PCIE 2.1, is there a compatibility issue with PCIE 2.0? (My motherboard has a PCIE 2.0 x16, and this calls for a PCIE 2.1 x16)

Sound card: ASUS Xonar DS 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Audio Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132013
I may or may not get this. I like to listen to music, and I like my audio, but it doesn't need to be amazing.

Processor: I changed it down to the lower clock one. I didn't see two different options on tigerdirect.

To answer specific questions:
My OS will be windows 7 64-bit.
I plan to game on it. Not as hardcore as some, but I do like my gaming (with nice graphics ;) )
I would like the possibility of upgrading in the future, but there isn't much needed to upgrade. Maybe SSD if they get cheaper or I somehow get a lot of cash.
There are a few Microcenters within reasonable driving distance. Would they give me some of this stuff cheap?
 
CPU:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103809
CPU Cooler:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118223
CPU Cooling Compound:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020
Mobo:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131633
RAM:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231275
GPU:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150477
PSU:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153106
DVD Drive:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136177
Blu-Ray Drive:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136183

Total: $1015.32

As far as the case goes, it's more of preference. You just want to make sure you've got room for bigger GPU's so just read through the reviews and see what other people are saying. You'll also want to make sure it's ventilated well, personally I'd go with something with two 80mm or one 120mm intake fan on the front/side and the same size fans exhaust on the top or back. Like was said before, your pretty good to go with on-board audio from your mobo, so it's sort of a waste of money IMO to buy a dedicated sound card. I didn't include a HDD as you didn't list it out in your build, so I'm assuming you've got one. This rig would leave you room for improvement later if you wanted to go Crossfire and add a second 5850. You can also through in some more RAM later. I only went with 1333 RAM as you'll need to get in and verify your timing setup if you went with 1600 and it doesn't seem like you don't wnat to get into all that. Lastly, from what I've read the 945, 955, and 965 CPU seem to all be the same chip with different clocking. You can use the 945 and OC later on if you want the increased speed of the other two.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top