Come point and laugh!
I started a thread yesterday asking for opinions on two pre-made PCs I was thinking of buying. The posters in that thread were so helpful that I decided to try building my own. I'm very new at this, so I have no idea if the components I've selected are compatible with each other, if they'll fit in the case I selected, etc. I pretty much selected things I saw had high ratings on newegg.com.
I'm looking for a PC that can handle most of what I throw at it for the next ~3 years. I'm willing to spend around $1000 on everything excluding the monitor, mouse, and keyboard. I play WoW mostly, but can see myself getting into more graphics intensive games if my system allowed it (which it certainly doesn't right now).
CPU
I keep reading about how great the i7 is, and this is the cheapest model I could find on Newegg:
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz x 256KB ($288.99)
Newegg.com - Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops
It's much more expensive than the CPU I was previously considering:
AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB ($145)
Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor - Processors - Desktops
Is it really worth it to spend 140 bucks more on an i7, or will the Phenom last me a long time?
Motherboard
No idea. Seems everything I find on Newegg has mediocre reviews. I'd like some advice.
RAM
G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2x2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM ($49.99)
Newegg.com - G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
Should I be going for 6GB or stick with 4GB?
Video Card
Radeon HD 4870 1GB ($189.99)
Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
Or should I settle for the less expensive and very well reviewed 4850?
Radeon HD 4850 512MB ($139.99)
Newegg.com - HIS Hightech H485FN512P Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
I'm also open to buying nVidia if you guys recommend it.
Hard Drive
Samsung 1 TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA ($99.99)
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives
Seems like a very good price for a 1TB drive. I have a lot of information to store, so I can't really see myself dealing with less than 700GB. Is there any particular reason I see most builds incorporating ~300GB hard drives?
Optical Drive
LG Black DVD-RW/CD-RW ($24.99)
Newegg.com - LG Black 22X (CAV) DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X (CAV) DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner - CD / DVD Burners
Power Supply
PC Power & Cooling 610W ($104.99)
Newegg.com - PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7 - Power Supplies
I have no idea how much I should be looking for in terms of wattage, by the way. This one just seems to have high ratings.
Case
Antec 300 ($59.95)
Newegg.com - Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases
I'm willing to upgrade this if it's important.
Operating System
Microsoft Vista Home Premium, 64 bit ($99.99)
Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - Operating Systems
I was also thinking about the following 24" monitor, which sells for $299.99:
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG 2433BW High Glossy Black 24" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 DC 20000:1(1000:1) - LCD Monitors
It apparently doesn't support HDMI. Is that a big deal? Is it common for video cards to support HDMI?
------
I believe the most expensive combination of these components comes out to $918.88, with the motherboard still missing.
Thank you,
M
I started a thread yesterday asking for opinions on two pre-made PCs I was thinking of buying. The posters in that thread were so helpful that I decided to try building my own. I'm very new at this, so I have no idea if the components I've selected are compatible with each other, if they'll fit in the case I selected, etc. I pretty much selected things I saw had high ratings on newegg.com.
I'm looking for a PC that can handle most of what I throw at it for the next ~3 years. I'm willing to spend around $1000 on everything excluding the monitor, mouse, and keyboard. I play WoW mostly, but can see myself getting into more graphics intensive games if my system allowed it (which it certainly doesn't right now).
CPU
I keep reading about how great the i7 is, and this is the cheapest model I could find on Newegg:
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz x 256KB ($288.99)
Newegg.com - Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops
It's much more expensive than the CPU I was previously considering:
AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB ($145)
Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor - Processors - Desktops
Is it really worth it to spend 140 bucks more on an i7, or will the Phenom last me a long time?
Motherboard
No idea. Seems everything I find on Newegg has mediocre reviews. I'd like some advice.
RAM
G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2x2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM ($49.99)
Newegg.com - G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
Should I be going for 6GB or stick with 4GB?
Video Card
Radeon HD 4870 1GB ($189.99)
Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
Or should I settle for the less expensive and very well reviewed 4850?
Radeon HD 4850 512MB ($139.99)
Newegg.com - HIS Hightech H485FN512P Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
I'm also open to buying nVidia if you guys recommend it.
Hard Drive
Samsung 1 TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA ($99.99)
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives
Seems like a very good price for a 1TB drive. I have a lot of information to store, so I can't really see myself dealing with less than 700GB. Is there any particular reason I see most builds incorporating ~300GB hard drives?
Optical Drive
LG Black DVD-RW/CD-RW ($24.99)
Newegg.com - LG Black 22X (CAV) DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X (CAV) DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner - CD / DVD Burners
Power Supply
PC Power & Cooling 610W ($104.99)
Newegg.com - PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7 - Power Supplies
I have no idea how much I should be looking for in terms of wattage, by the way. This one just seems to have high ratings.
Case
Antec 300 ($59.95)
Newegg.com - Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases
I'm willing to upgrade this if it's important.
Operating System
Microsoft Vista Home Premium, 64 bit ($99.99)
Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - Operating Systems
I was also thinking about the following 24" monitor, which sells for $299.99:
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG 2433BW High Glossy Black 24" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 DC 20000:1(1000:1) - LCD Monitors
It apparently doesn't support HDMI. Is that a big deal? Is it common for video cards to support HDMI?
------
I believe the most expensive combination of these components comes out to $918.88, with the motherboard still missing.
Thank you,
M