Building a computer.

[Andrew_Pavlik]

So I have a weird problem. I have currently priced myself a computer on newegg for about 1100. Ideally, its the perfect computer for me right now but as for circumstances go I might only be able to spend roughly 600-700. (I know what you are saying, why not save the extra 400? Well Id love to but a lot of life situations right now won't really allow me to do so till probably next year)

So the problem is I can't seem to be able to downgrade myself. So I was wondering if I could enlist the help of you! Build me a whole comp for between 600-700 but here is the rub, I need at least 8gb of ram(photography, adobe work) decent vid card(gaming) and processor(why not?). Good luck!

If you help me, maybe I'll make you a sig or avatar or a spray or something.

[ZERO]

This may come out a bit over but I think this is the best combination currently available:
cpu
i5-2300 Sandy Bridge
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115076
185
M/B
ASUS P8P67 PRO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131707&Tpk=ASUS%20P8P67%20PRO
149
gpu
EVGA 01G-P3-1366-TR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130591
160
psu
PPCS760
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703030
119
HDD
H3IK10003272SP
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145304
54
Case
LIAN LI Lancool PC-K62
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112239
99
ram
KHX1333C9D3B1K2/8G[/URL]
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104231&Tpk=KHX1333C9D3B1K2%2f8G (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104155)
75

You can cut the case if you already have one. Otherwise you need to cut the GPU to a cheaper one. Everything else is too valuable as far as long term investment is concerned. It is more important to have something that you can easily upgrade down the road for a few bucks than saving $100 now just to spend $800 in the future. Also all parts here are of the highest quality as a stable system is more important than something that is just cheep and fast. This is also why they all have great warranties. Some parts like the psu and the hdd are the exact ones that I own and I can attest to their durability.

[StarsMine]

why would anyone recomend a 460 SE is beyond me, card is WORSE the 768MB version except at resolutions higher then 1080

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130600&cm_re=460_768Mb-_-14-130-600-_-Product

or get a 6850, more powerfull then both, just not as powerfull as a 460 1 gig
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908&cm_re=6850_1gb-_-14-102-908-_-Product

Why spend so much on a PSU when you are putting such low power parts into the system?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341016

a cheaper case choice http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119227


and with those cuts, you can squeeze enough for this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 so you can actually OC your CPU

[ZERO]

If you want a lowercost psu switch to this one then:
PSU

PPCS500D
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703016
69


---------- Post added at 02:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:23 PM ----------

Fuck, this always happens. Anyways the point is to stick with the PC Power and Cooling Units. Power is one thing to never skimp on and they have the best quality (yes I know OZC owns them however the ocz brand ones are not made at the same place or tested to the same standards or given the same warranty)

---------- Post added at 02:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:25 PM ----------

Also nice on the gpu I have not read the benchmarks so I did not know about the difference with the SE. The other case is likely fine too, the other was a recommendation I made to someone else who needed a long term case for the rest of their life.

As for spending the extra money on that cpu I am not sure if it will be worth it for him. While yes it will improve the time for processing effects it may be better spent on more HDD space for images and possibly raid to protect his files. These both would have greater benefits to his primary tasks. Also to really be able to OC he would need to still upgrade his cooling for it to be stable in the long run. As a result it may be better for that to be a longer term upgrade if he finds his current cpu holding him down. By then the price up the upgrade may be lower and he may even be able to recycle the old parts into another system or something.

[StarsMine]

well with an OC capable chip, he can spend 50 bucks instead of 500 (new mobo and cpu) to upgrade, simply by OC an extra ghz

[ZERO]

My point was that he could just by that chip in the future at greatly reduced cost. :smirk:
He could even buy a used one and or sell his one off used too. People sell used parts like that all the time on the extreme systems forums. :wtg:

[Steamer]

Single 12v Rail FTW!

NEVER skimp on the PSU.

I currently use this one. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
Run's sooo smooth. No dipping, No spiking at extreme stress. One of the best PSU's I have ever bought. Corsair has made themselves a new customer as far as PSU's go.

Zero's case recomendation, +1. Long life and very durable, Lian Li make very quality cases.

I currently STILL use my Antec P182. Nice sleek quality box. Amazing. The thing is a tank though, Do not recomend if you are going to tote it around.

[StarsMine]

Steamer, if the PSU is made well it does not matter if its a single rail or 6. It will provide power to your parts without problems.

I also never said skimp on the PSU, however spending 200 bucks on one for a <400W system is beyond stupid.

Get the right PSU for your system, most are most efficient at 60-75% load.

[ZERO]

Yea until you read in the fin print that the unit is only rated for that output at 60F, oh wait they would not print that shit now would they. What we are saying is yes buy a PSU for your load (although you could just buy one and never replace it...) but make sure that you get one of high quality and with a good warranty. If you do plan to overclock you will need a good psu. At minimum just make sure that it has Active PFC.

[Andrew_Pavlik]

Okay thanks a lot guys, this was all very helpful. I'll post sometime tomorrow what I come up with for a final parts list and see if you agree.

[Steamer]

Steamer, if the PSU is made well it does not matter if its a single rail or 6. It will provide power to your parts without problems.


While true, it also waste's power overtime and is not as efficient or reliable. In the long run you may actually lose money.

On a single rail system you have power being pulled from that rail alone and all power needed is being used.

On a multi rail system all the power being allocated is not used. IE: 36 amps to CPU on rail 1 and 2 but CPU is only calling for 22 amps, the left over amps can not be used by the GPU, it must be pulled off another rail. Such a dirty system.

A well made single rail design will outperform any multi rail design.

Because of today's safety standards (20 amps per wire), most multi rail PSU's are actually single rail units with split 12v current limit circuitry.

If you do go with a (fake) multi rail system, make sure it has Active PFC and EVERY "rail" is OCP protected (current limit protection [over-current] ).

If you go single rail, make sure it is a quality piece.

Either way you ARE buying a single rail system. If your buy has more than one rail you best make sure it has OCP to each or you just bought a pile of junk.

[Andrew_Pavlik]

Okay here is the list that I have came up with. I am 'selling' my comp to my father for him to use at our business and since its not really going to be used for anything special I picked a cheap case for it to go in(switch everything out of mine) and my dad for some odd reason wants a 32bit system on it so I am going to buy 4gb of ram and keep the 8 I have. And if your curious my ram - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231151 and case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?
Item=N82E16811129021 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021)

Comp -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131707

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130600

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115076

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039

Sounds good?

[StarsMine]

Ram and board are incompatable :/ sorry bud, See if you can sell it and get some DDR3 ram.

DDR2 is for am2 and socket 775. ddr3 is for anything recent, and you cant mix and match those ram types

[Andrew_Pavlik]

Oh frak, didn't even see that, thanks!

*edit - buy these then. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231308

[acolyte_to_jippity]

Oh frak, didn't even see that, thanks!



<3 bsg

[ZERO]

Oh frak, didn't even see that, thanks!

*edit - buy these then. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231308

The ram I posted before: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104231&Tpk=KHX1333C9D3B1K2%2f8G

Costs less money and is faster and I can say that if you ever have a problem with it Kingston has the best RMA service of any company I have ever dealt with. Also I have only had 1 bad stick in 10 years and 20+ sticks.

Also what do you need a disk drive for and do you not have any in an old computer you could use?

[Andrew_Pavlik]

I need a disk drive because for my work I always make copies of photos for certain jobs that we store in a safe just in case -something- happens to the computers.

And as for the old computer thing, I personally don't but I could probably take one out of one we have at work.