Building my first Computer (need advice!!)

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Krismania

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Hi. I am building a computer for the first time and I want to make sure it works out right. I am getting parts together now (hoping to be ready to buy by Monday) and this is what I have

CPU:Intel i7-960
RAM:Corsair XMS3 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 SDRAM x2 (so 12GB RAM)
Motherboard: EVGA x58 SLI Classified
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX295
Case: CM Stacker 830 SE Full Tower
Onboard sound
Power Supply is undecided

Already have HDD and Disk Drives. tell me if I missed anything.

I want to know if all these parts will be compatible and what power supply I should go with.

Thanks for your help :grin:
 
I would save the cash and go with a i7 920.
Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops
It will clock just as fast as the 960 and save close to $300.

power supply:
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

Any specific reason for 12gb of ram? for a gaming rig 6gb is fine. If you run a lot of ram intensive programs or VM's then 12gb is nice.

I would not spend a lot of cash on a dx10 gpu ie gtx295.
I would look at Newegg.com - ASUS EAH5870/G/2DIS/1GD5/A Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

or a 5890 if you can find one but that is overkill at the moment or get a cheaper nvidia card and wait for the gtx300's and use the cheaper one for physx later or sell it.

You could also save some cash on the board. While the classified is a great board if you do not plan on some serious overclocks it is overkill.
Newegg.com - EVGA E758-A1 3-Way SLI (x16/x16/x8) LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

You could also save some cash on ram.
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8TU-6GBPI - Desktop Memory
ddr3 1600 cas8. or you could get some ddr3 2000 if you plan on some serious overclocking.
Newegg.com - G.SKILL Trident 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-16000CL9T-6GBTD - Desktop Memory
 
I would save the cash and go with a i7 920.
Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops
It will clock just as fast as the 960 and save close to $300.

power supply:
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

Any specific reason for 12gb of ram? for a gaming rig 6gb is fine. If you run a lot of ram intensive programs or VM's then 12gb is nice.

I would not spend a lot of cash on a dx10 gpu ie gtx295.
I would look at Newegg.com - ASUS EAH5870/G/2DIS/1GD5/A Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

or a 5890 if you can find one but that is overkill at the moment or get a cheaper nvidia card and wait for the gtx300's and use the cheaper one for physx later or sell it.

You could also save some cash on the board. While the classified is a great board if you do not plan on some serious overclocks it is overkill.
Newegg.com - EVGA E758-A1 3-Way SLI (x16/x16/x8) LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

You could also save some cash on ram.
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8TU-6GBPI - Desktop Memory
ddr3 1600 cas8. or you could get some ddr3 2000 if you plan on some serious overclocking.
Newegg.com - G.SKILL Trident 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-16000CL9T-6GBTD - Desktop Memory

Thanks for giving your opinion, I could save a bit on the price of my computer :grin:

About the processor, the i7-960s clock speed is 3.20GHz, while the 920s is only 2.66GHz. can I reach the same clock speed with overclocking? if I can then I will definitely get the 920

I want a lot of ram because I've heard the more RAM you can get, the better, and I have six slots, so I may as well use them. I used my old machine for pretty much everything and I plan on doing the same with this one.

The GPU I want to keep Mainly because Nvidia is a brand I really trust and I think there are a few games with DX10 support

As for the board, I fell in love with it when I saw it. It is pretty great and it was one of the few boards I found that had the x58 chipset for the i7.

With the RAM the brand you suggested would actually only be saving me a couple of dollars and apparently their customer service isn't so great so I will stick with the one I selected for now

Now the Power supply. You suggested a pretty good one, I think that might be the one I will go with.

Thanks for taking the time to help me out :grin: I hope you can reply soon
 
I agree with Hef.
You should get the i7 920 since it's very easy to overclock to 3.20GHz, even with the stock heat sink.

I would buy the ATI HD 5870 if I were you, it's faster and has support for DX11. Yes, presently there are few games that take advantage of DX11 but will be the norm in the future so there is no reason to buy a DX10 card, specially one so expensive. If you want to stick with Nvidia maybe you should way for the new cards to come out.

Regarding the RAM I would buy 6GB, you don't see much difference in games, and later, if necessary, buy another 6GB. 12GB is handy to run virtual machines and make video editing, other than that is overkill. The RAM Hef suggested has better timings so you'll save some money and have better RAM.
 
If you want an Nvidia card, just get a GTX260...there are some nice prices on those now and that will hold you over easily until the new Nvidia cards come out
 
a gtx260 would be a great card to hold you over. Both Whirlwind and I have them and they are tested and approved :thumbsup:
Newegg.com - EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Farihna is correct that clocking a 920 to 3.2 is like stealing candy from a baby. No vcore adjustment necessary. Just bump bclk to 160 which works great with 1600 ddr3 ram using a 10x ram multi for 1600 speeds. That will give you 3.2 or 3.4 w/ turbo. You can disable turbo for 3.4 24/7.

for RAM corsair makes some great ram so stick with the ones you got.

When the gtx300's come out you can invest in one or wait until the 260 can no longer cut it.
What resolution do you plan to game at?
 
Yeah the expensive i7's are a joke. Especially when you can easily overclock the others to reach the same clockspeed. Buying 12GB of ram is the most wasteful thing you could do at the moment. Not a single game uses 4gb let alone 6gb. I know you've been a long time Nvidia fan, but you shouldn't really care so much about what brand it is. And if you insist on getting Nvidia products, I suggest you hold off until their new cards come out in March.

Right now I've got a 9800GTX, but my next purchase will be the 5870. Why? Because I feel ATi has the upper hand at the moment... however these next-gen cards from Nvidia might change that.

Also, buying a more expensive motherboard is very tempting, trust me, we've all been there. But in the end it isn't going to make your computer any faster and most of the features they include your more than likely will only use once/twice.
 
ive been flooded with replies during the night! thanks for your help!

I will definetly do with the i7-920 scince it can het to 3.20GHz so easily

I'm going do some research now with the ATI HD 5870 and scince it has DX11 I might buy it

I will get rid of the extra RAM since you all think it's a waste and I will look at the brands Hef suggested.

And Hef,

Right now I only have a small screen because my video card just couldn't take it. But now I plan on getting a bigger screen.... My screen Resolution is 1280x1024 but most games I played on it (it was an older P4 with a pretty crappy video card) would only run in 800x600.
 
Nice. a 5870 is screaming for 1920x1080 or 1200.

I game at 1920x1200 with my gtx260 and it does real good and the 5870 is much better.
 
ok then. I think the parts for my computer are decided.

CPU: Intel Core i7-920
RAM: G.SKILL Trident 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 SDRAM
MOBO: EVGA x58 SLI Classified Edition OR EVGA E758-A1SLI LGA 1366 X58 ATX
Onboard Sound
GPU: ATI Radeon HD5870
PSU: Corsair CMPSU-850TX 850W PSU
CASE: CM Stacker 830 SE Full tower

Which MOBO should I go with? That is my final choice then I go buy the parts on monday and get building!! thanks for all your help!!
 
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