Hey Guys! I've been a lurker on the forums for a while now and I'm finally getting to the point where I'm about ready to start coming up with a build for a new computer. This is my first attempt at building a computer from scratch, so I'm a little nervous about the whole process. Just some background info: I'll be working with a budget of 600-700 dollars, and plan on using the computer for some gaming and video editing. WoW will be one I play of course, but I'd also love to be able to play some newer titles at 1280x1024 with the settings pretty close to maxed. I plan on posting the build I come up with here and submit it for your approval, but before I get to that point, I had a few questions...
AMD or Intel?
I know the debate of AMD vs. Intel rages on endlessly, but it seems to me that at the moment the majority on this forum are in the AMD side of the camp. I've tried to do a little bit of research but a hard and fast answer seems to vary with the opinion of the authors. The general response I seem to have seen is that AMD delivers more performance for the same amount of money as Intel. Is that an accurate assessment?
Video Card?
Whether it's a Radeon or Nvidia depends on how the above question gets answered, but my question is a general one. When you're looking for a video card, what do you look for? Which numbers are the ones that provide the largest bearing on performance? I'm assuming as with most things in life, bigger is better, but is that always the case?
General Compatibility?
One thing I'm worried about is whether or not everything I get is going to physically fit inside my case properly. I managed to find a decent Alienware tower on Craigslist for 30 bucks but I'm concerned about how likely it is that the CPU fan sticks out too far or the video card doesn't quite fit to the motherboard... Generally speaking, are those things usually standardized to some extent or is it really just a matter of knowing the exact specs of everything before hand?
The Building Process?
Last question, I promise. As I said above, I've never built a computer before. I've got no specific tools or extra parts or anything. Will the components I buy all come with their own mounting hardware? (Mobo, HDD, extra fans, etc.?) Is the thermal paste the CPU comes with sufficient, or should I get the name brand stuff? What general tips or tricks do you guys know now that you wish you knew on your first build?
Thanks for taking the time to read through this, I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
AMD or Intel?
I know the debate of AMD vs. Intel rages on endlessly, but it seems to me that at the moment the majority on this forum are in the AMD side of the camp. I've tried to do a little bit of research but a hard and fast answer seems to vary with the opinion of the authors. The general response I seem to have seen is that AMD delivers more performance for the same amount of money as Intel. Is that an accurate assessment?
Video Card?
Whether it's a Radeon or Nvidia depends on how the above question gets answered, but my question is a general one. When you're looking for a video card, what do you look for? Which numbers are the ones that provide the largest bearing on performance? I'm assuming as with most things in life, bigger is better, but is that always the case?
General Compatibility?
One thing I'm worried about is whether or not everything I get is going to physically fit inside my case properly. I managed to find a decent Alienware tower on Craigslist for 30 bucks but I'm concerned about how likely it is that the CPU fan sticks out too far or the video card doesn't quite fit to the motherboard... Generally speaking, are those things usually standardized to some extent or is it really just a matter of knowing the exact specs of everything before hand?
The Building Process?
Last question, I promise. As I said above, I've never built a computer before. I've got no specific tools or extra parts or anything. Will the components I buy all come with their own mounting hardware? (Mobo, HDD, extra fans, etc.?) Is the thermal paste the CPU comes with sufficient, or should I get the name brand stuff? What general tips or tricks do you guys know now that you wish you knew on your first build?
Thanks for taking the time to read through this, I look forward to hearing your thoughts!