Need help with custom gaming PC please!

blaknwite · Aug 25, 2012

So I've never built my own PC before and I'm pretty scared. I'm afraid that the parts I get may not work together or fit properly and I'm also afraid that I may forget a vital part or something.

I would really appreciate any help and advice someone who is experienced with making PCs can offer.

I want a high-end gaming PC, one that will be a viable build for future games and ready for upgrades when the time comes. As far as budget goes I would like to stay below $2,500.

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Gaming. I want to be able to run the latest and upcoming games on max settings at a good frame-rate

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
up to $2,500

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
I prefer Intel CPU, ATI GPU, WD HDD

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Just the stuff I linked. I do not need keyboard/mouse/monitor/speakers

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
I don't know how overclocking works, I have yet to look at a guide... It would be nice though, assuming it helps performance

8. What resolution will you be using?
1920x1080

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
As soon as I get help with finishing the build

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?
I need Windows 7 (probably home edition) and I want to watch blu-rays on my PC, do I need software for that??

Here is what I have so far;

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146067

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157296

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116492

Cooling: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835106190

Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231507

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125408

Power Supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171055

SSD : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442

Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533

Optical Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106374

I was not sure if that cooling system is all I needed or if also needed another... The motherboard and case I'm also a bit lost on but those seemed good.

ALSO, another concern I have is I want to know if I have expansion bays because I like to swap out internal hard drives but I dont know how to check that, if you guys could help me that'd be awesome, thanks again!!!!

IMPORTANT: I should also mention that even though I'm only buying 1 GPU at this time I want to EVENTUALLY crossfire so I want all the parts to be crossfire ready!

Durvelle27 · Aug 25, 2012

please answer this sticky

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=80121

Durvelle27 · Aug 25, 2012

ShadowVVL · Aug 25, 2012

That psu 1200w is overkill! if you are going crossfire get a 850w if not then 650w.

Edit: looks like durvelle already has your build laid for you.

blaknwite · Aug 25, 2012

@Durvelle

I'm liking that build, certainly more affordable. Would it be sufficient to play upcoming games like GTA5, Crysis 3 on max settings you think?

Also 2 questions about your choices;

1. Is that all i would need in terms of cooling?

2. Is there a reason why you suggest that CPU over the one I picked?

Durvelle27 · Aug 25, 2012

blaknwite said:
@Durvelle

I'm liking that build, certainly more affordable. Would it be sufficient to play upcoming games like GTA5, Crysis 3 on max settings you think?

Also 2 questions about your choices;

1. Is that all i would need in terms of cooling?

2. Is there a reason why you suggest that CPU over the one I picked?

yes it will run GTA5 great and it should for Crysis 3 can't really say as i don't know the requirements for it as it releases 2013 but i think it should

1. yes
2. The cpu you choose is for socket LGA 2011 and the motherboard you chose is for processors with socket LGA 1155 there in compatible

blaknwite · Aug 25, 2012

Durvelle27 said:
yes it will run GTA5 great and it should for Crysis 3 can't really say as i don't know the requirements for it as it releases 2013 bu i think it should

1. yes
2. The cpu you choose is for socket LGA 2011 and the motherboard you chose is for processors with socket LGA 1155 there in compatible

Ah see that's exactly the kind of mistake I was afraid of making, thanks a ton!

In terms of crossfire with 7970s would your suggested build be ready for that as well?

Durvelle27 · Aug 25, 2012

blaknwite said:
Ah see that's exactly the kind of mistake I was afraid of making, thanks a ton!

In terms of crossfire with 7970s would your suggested build be ready for that as well?

yes it is ?

blaknwite · Aug 25, 2012

Durvelle27 said:
yes it is ?

Awesome, since you've been so helpful I might as well ask you a few more questions haha

1. Would there be a huge performance difference between the i7 3770 ivy bridge and the i7 3930 sandy bridge?

2. Is that everything I would need? In terms of hardware is there anything else I need to buy for building this rig, for usb ports and hard drive expansion bays?

Durvelle27 · Aug 25, 2012

1. no. my opinion i wouldn't use a 3930K for gaming way to overpriced and old tech
2. Nope

i7-3770K vs i7-3930K
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/551?vs=552

Edit: what will you be using for sound speakers or headset

blaknwite · Aug 25, 2012

Durvelle27 said:
1. no. my opinion i wouldn't use a 3930K for gaming way to overpriced and old tech
2. Nope

Edit: what will you be using for sound speakers or headset

For Speakers I got these http://www.jr.com/bose/pe/BOS_COMPANION5/

I only use headset for skype and such

Not to be annoying but I just want to make sure about this because I have all my steam games on a specific hard drive that I use on my current PC and if i want to install that hard drive onto the new rig as a secondary drive I can do that with no additional hardware? I ask because my current PC (store bought) came with an "expansion bay" where all i had to do was take the hard drive and slide it in, so it was easy as pie.

Durvelle27 · Aug 25, 2012

blaknwite said:
For Speakers I got these http://www.jr.com/bose/pe/BOS_COMPANION5/

I only use headset for skype and such

Not to be annoying but I just want to make sure about this because I have all my steam games on a specific hard drive that I use on my current PC and if i want to install that hard drive onto the new rig as a secondary drive I can do that with no additional hardware? I ask because my current PC (store bought) came with an "expansion bay" where all i had to do was take the hard drive and slide it in, so it was easy as pie.

is the hard drive SATA

Edit: nice speakers

blaknwite · Aug 25, 2012

Durvelle27 said:
is the hard drive SATA

yes

Durvelle27 · Aug 25, 2012

blaknwite said:
yes

well yes it would work ?

blaknwite · Aug 25, 2012

Durvelle27 said:
well yes it would work ?

does the question mark mean you're not sure? haha

Ok, one last question about your suggested build

I'm mostly curious because I'm trying to learn about this stuff as I go, but why did you pick the Sapphire GPU over the Gigabyte that I had picked?

Durvelle27 · Aug 25, 2012

the GPU you chose was a reference model. i don't recommend those as they can be loud and get very hot and it cost $10 more than a GHz edition with an aftermarket cooling ?

blaknwite · Aug 25, 2012

Durvelle27 said:
the GPU you chose was a reference model. i don't recommend those as they can be loud and get very hot and it cost $10 more than a GHz edition with an aftermarket cooling ?

Makes sense, my current GPU is like the one I had linked (older model though) and I know very well the overheat and loudness that you're talking about, well thanks again for all the great (and fast!) help, I appreciate it to no end!

Durvelle27 · Aug 25, 2012

your very welcome

blaknwite · Aug 25, 2012

Durvelle27 said:
your very welcome

Ok I lied. One last question haha

I'm reading up on these parts and I came across people who mention that to crossfire 7970s you should have at least a 1000w PSU. I also read others who say that the PSU you mentioned is fine.

Any thoughts on this?

Durvelle27 · Aug 25, 2012

1000w is way overkill any Good Quality 750W psu would be fine but if it bothers you you can go for a 850W ?

blaknwite · Aug 25, 2012

Durvelle27 said:
1000w is way overkill any Good Quality 750W psu would be fine but if it bothers you you can go for a 850W ?

awesome i'll give that some thought, thanks again!

Durvelle27 · Aug 25, 2012

if you want one here is a good quality 850W psu

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139022

mfenn · Aug 25, 2012

blaknwite said:
Not to be annoying but I just want to make sure about this because I have all my steam games on a specific hard drive that I use on my current PC and if i want to install that hard drive onto the new rig as a secondary drive I can do that with no additional hardware? I ask because my current PC (store bought) came with an "expansion bay" where all i had to do was take the hard drive and slide it in, so it was easy as pie.

I think what you're trying to ask about is a 5.25" hot-swap enclosure like this. You can certainly get one of those if you want, but what I think Durvelle is trying to say is that you're obviously going to be opening up the PC anyway (you're building it after all!), so you should just mount your existing 3.5" drive internally.

mfenn · Aug 25, 2012

blaknwite said:
I'm reading up on these parts and I came across people who mention that to crossfire 7970s you should have at least a 1000w PSU. I also read others who say that the PSU you mentioned is fine.

Any thoughts on this?

750W is plenty.

HOWEVER, 7970 Crossfire for use with a relatively low resolution display like 1080p is completely pointless. A 7970 Ghz Edition is more than fast enough for that resolution. By the time it's outmatched (~2 years), you would be absolutely silly to spend ~$350 on a new one (old high end cards do not drop in price) when a brand new card would be much faster for the same money.

mfenn · Aug 25, 2012

Durvelle27 said:
Intel Core i7-3770K Ivy Bridge
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116501

ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157293

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3 1600MHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231489

Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136533

SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC256B/WW 256GB SSD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820147164

LITE-ON Black Blu-ray Burner with Blu Ray 3D Feature
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106369

CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750 V2 750W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139021

SAPPHIRE Vapor-X HD 7970 GHz Edition
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814202001

CORSAIR H100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835181017

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116986

COOLER MASTER CM Storm Series Trooper
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119245

ASUS Xonar DX 7.1 Channels PCI Express x1 Interface Sound Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829132006

Total: $1,958

This is obviously a lot better than what the OP originally had, but I would make a few changes:

- CPU: For a pure gaming rig, I see no reason to get the 3770K over the 3570K. HT only gets you a very minimal improvement in gaming performance.
- Mobo: Obviously a very nice board, but given my comments above, I don't really see the point in getting a CFX capable board for 1080p. The Z77 Pro3 is a good fit IMHO.
- RAM: Good deal, but I'm not convinced of it's utility for a gaming machine. 8GB is enough for gaming. Hell, most games aren't even 64-bit.
- HDD : Reasonable value with the promo
- SSD : Good
- ODD : Good if the OP wants Blu-Ray
- PSU : Good unit for a good price, but since CFX is not really a good upgrade path, this Silencer Mk III 600W for $57 AR AP is more than sufficient.
- GPU: Surprisingly not bad since it's sub $500
- HSF: Overkill for a beginner overclocker. The Scythe Mugen 3 performs extremely well and is less of a hassle because you don't have to mount it to the case.
- OS: Good
- Case: Kind of overpriced, but I guess personal preference plays a big role here
- Sound card: Fine card, but the Companion 5's have their own USB sound card, and completely lack an analog input as far as I can tell. So the Xonar would be of limited utility.

Need help with custom gaming PC please!

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