First Gaming Build

[Nova101]

Well, i'm building my first gaming computer and wanted to make sure that all this stuff will work together.

This is what i was thinking:

-Phenom II x4 Processor 955
-GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 ATX Motherboard
-Apevia Supa G Mid-Tower ATX Case with 500w PSU
-Western Digital Caviar Black - 750GB Hard Drive
-G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1333
-BFG GeForce GTS 250 1GB Video Card

Thanks again

 

[aliasaid]

It looks like it'll all work together, but i recommend getting a different PSU from a trusted brand, then just buy a case w/o a PSU.

where are you buying these parts from, and whats your budget. Someone may give you better insight as to which parts to get...

 

[Yami]

Those parts look decent, though you'd probably be better off with 1600MHz RAM instead of 1333MHz.
And as aliasaid said, you're really going to want a better power supply.

 

[veg1992]

Those parts look decent, though you'd probably be better off with 1600MHz RAM instead of 1333MHz.
And as aliasaid said, you're really going to want a better power supply.

It looks like it'll all work together, but i recommend getting a different PSU from a trusted brand, then just buy a case w/o a PSU.

where are you buying these parts from, and whats your budget. Someone may give you better insight as to which parts to get...

These!

Plus maybe drop the II X4 955, for the II X4 940 and get a better GPU like a GTX 260 C216 or the HD 4870.

 

[Trotter]

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
&
Antec Basiq BP500U 500W Continuous Power ATX12V Version 2.01 Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
$105

AMD Athlon II X4 620 Propus 2.6GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor Model ADX620WFGIBOX - Retail
&
GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
$199 w/free shipping on CPU

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBHK - Desktop Memory
$85

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
&
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
$205 w/free shipping on both

Newegg.com - XFX HD-577A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
$175 w/free shipping

or, if you want to go $30 cheaper

Newegg.com - XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
$145 w/free shipping

Total = $769 or $739

I put the 640GB WD Black as there have been more reported failures with the 750GB drive.

 

[Nova101]

Thanks for all the advice! I've switched to a better PSU now (SILVERSTONE ST56F 560W ATX) and am considering spending extra for a 1600. Thanks.
There's only a $5 difference between the 940 and 955 where I'm getting them, so i may as well go with the 955.

Games: Most source games such as Left 4 Dead
Budget: $700-750
Res: 1280 x 1024

CPU - Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

Memory - Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 - Desktop Memory

Hard Drive - Western Digital WD7501AALS Caviar Black Hard Drive - 750GB, SATA-3G, 7200rpm, 32MB at TigerDirect.com

Graphics - FRYS.com | BFG

Motherboard - FRYS.com | Gigabyte

Case - Cooler Master Elite 330 Black ATX Mid-Tower Case with Front USB and Audio Ports at TigerDirect.com

 

[Fat.Clown]

grab this kit instead

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8D-4GBRM

same cost, lower timings and lower voltage

you may not have heard of them, but G.Skill is a good brand

it'd be best if you can stretch your budget for the HD 4870

 

[Trotter]

^^^ Definitely. The GTS 250 (AKA the 9800GT) is not the best card, especially when there is only a $5 difference between it and the 4870.

As I said above, the 640GB WD Black has fewer reported failures than the 750GB. Yes, it seems like a huge difference in size, but it really isn't. I am running two 250GB drives and am doing fine, media and all.

 

[veg1992]

^^^ Definitely. The GTS 250 (AKA the 9800GT) is not the best card, especially when there is only a $5 difference between it and the 4870.

As I said above, the 640GB WD Black has fewer reported failures than the 750GB. Yes, it seems like a huge difference in size, but it really isn't. I am running two 250GB drives and am doing fine, media and all.

I'm pretty sure the GTS 250 is the 9800GTX+ and the GTS 240 is the 9800GT (which was OEM only).

 

[Trotter]

Either way, the 4870 would blow its doors off.