first time build

[sniper wolf]

allright so i want to put together a hardcore gaming machine

im updating this with all the latest suggestions

Lian Li V COOL PC-V1200B plus Black Computer Case - Retail
ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
XFX GeForce 7900 GTX EXTREME (675MHz) 512MB PV-T71F-YDE9 Video Card - Retailx2 (SLI)
FSP Group (Fortron Source) FX700-GLN ATX12V/ EPS12V 700W All-In-One Power Supply 115/230 V CSA,IEC,UL,CE,TUV - Retail
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ 2000MHz HT Socket AM2 Processor - Retail
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Unbuffered DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail
Western Digital Raptor 74GB 3.5" Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEMx2(RAID 0)
Logitech G15 2-Tone 104 Normal Keys USB Wired Standard Keyboard - Retail
PHILIPS 202P73/27 Silver-Black 22" CRT Monitor - Retail
Razer Copperhead Tempest Blue Gaming Mouse - Retail
NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE/ATAPI Model ND-3550A - OEMx2
Creative SOUND BLASTER X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS Sound Card - Retail
KOOLANCE EXOS-2 EX2-750BK 120mm System Cooling Systems - Retail
KOOLANCE CPU-300-H06 Cooling Water Block - Retail
KOOLANCE CHC-35-D06 GPU Cooling Block - Retailx2
Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 Speaker - Retail



any comments you have about it would be greatly appreciated, and im also not really sure if there are any other cables or things that i might need to order seperately so if youd like to help me out it would be great. thank you.


oh and btw the os im using is gonna be windows xp professional sp2

 

[Barney Fife]

Wow! you sound like that guy me and my friends fought over few years ago, after he showed up, at the field where we were playing soccer. This man had nothing but most expensive gear on, even his shin-pads cost $300.00 and brand new Brazil's #10 Ronaldinho jersey. He remind of that Movie "Soul Man".
The man left the field with a broken leg, before we even started the game. the man stepped on the ball, first time he caught some one else's pass by accident. Hehe, that's how the man sucked. First he tries to kick a ball and kicks the ground instead, then he chases (A pass which was never meant for him) and he literally ran over ball, breaking his leg bellow the knee.

After buying $3538.89 forth of PC, wonder whether you gonna make love to it or abuse it. Or you would like to just brag about it? Mention it to people you don't even know? That you're a PC gamer. Or is it gonna collect the dust after you had your way with it and it ends up with a burnt MB?

Either way good luck.

Ps. After your major purchase, please don't come back to Halflife2.net and beg for support because EP2 won't launch.....I will laugh at ya I promise.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

barney had a bad day?

 

[Viperidae]

One thing I noticed: Those aren't the best speakers available. I've heard mixed reviews about the quality of that sub, and that there a lack of midrange from the satellites. I'd recommend something from Altec or Klipsch. I'd say the more expensive, the higher the quality--to a reasonable limit. Other than that, the stuff looks good.

 

[sinkoman]

Chose a different power supply. The one you chose seems very generic and shoddy (going by a generally unknown name, and an unrealistic wattage claim for the price).

With PSU's, you have to be REALLY picky. Remember, the PSU is the first thing keeping your PC on its feet. Your PC can turn on without a harddrive, boot up without a graphics card, and boot into your BIOS without any ram, but without a PSU, NOTHING works.

This one should suit you fine: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103932

Fortron also has some really nice PSU's.

But the TruePower should work magnificently. I have a TrueBlue 480W (back from before they had the TruePower's), and haven't had a single issue in its year and a half of service. Nice and quiet too.

EDIT: But yeah, I agree with Barney. You're throwing around too much cash for your minimal knowledge of PC's.

Know some stuff about the internals of your current PC. Remove your Video card and see how your PC runs without it, just for fun. Reinstall it without the power cord, just to see what happens. Just figure out more about how a PC works, and what parts do what.

Generally, with your first build, you're not going to want to use parts that are as expensive as possible. You're going to want parts that you know will work, have been tested by time (trust me, buying a just off the idea board Mobo is the last thing you want to do), and you aren't going to throw a hissy fit over when you fry them.

Most important thing that you forgot. An ESD wriststrap. You can get by for a while by just grabbing the edge of your PC, but you're bound to **** something up eventually. Most noob friendly thing you can do.

And if you don't know what an ESD wriststrap is, or what I mean by grabbing the edge of your PC, then I lol at you.

EDIT: You're forgetting so many things there that i'm positive you don't have a fecking clue about what goes into building a PC

Aftermarket Heatsink for that monster CPU (the stock just isn't going to cut it)

Aftermarket fans for the case (if it comes with fans, I can guarentee you they'll suck about as much as a brick, cause I also have a lian li case)

Spare cabling (guarentee you this will come in handy)

ESD Wriststrap

A diskete drive

A CD-R drive (goodluck trying to boot into the windows installer with TWO DVD drives )

 

[sniper wolf]

Chose a different power supply. The one you chose seems very generic and shoddy (going by a generally unknown name, and an unrealistic wattage claim for the price).

With PSU's, you have to be REALLY picky. Remember, the PSU is the first thing keeping your PC on its feet. Your PC can turn on without a harddrive, boot up without a graphics card, and boot into your BIOS without any ram, but without a PSU, NOTHING works.

This one should suit you fine: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103932

Fortron also has some really nice PSU's.

But the TruePower should work magnificently. I have a TrueBlue 480W (back from before they had the TruePower's), and haven't had a single issue in its year and a half of service. Nice and quiet too.

actually my main reason for getting the psu that im planning to is because i read a lot of reviews that said pc power and cooling makes some really great psus

One thing I noticed: Those aren't the best speakers available. I've heard mixed reviews about the quality of that sub, and that there a lack of midrange from the satellites. I'd recommend something from Altec or Klipsch. I'd say the more expensive, the higher the quality--to a reasonable limit. Other than that, the stuff looks good.

these look pretty good but they're about $90 more =/

 

[sinkoman]

actually my main reason for getting the psu that im planning to is because i read a lot of reviews that said pc power and cooling makes some really great psus

Should never judge parts based on reviews alone.

Read my edit. You're missing allot there.

Telling us what you plan to do with the PC would help allot in deciding what you're going to need.

EDIT: Water cooling for your first build

Keep it simple. Minimise your chances for disaster.

 

[Ikerous]

Lol @ being an edge grabber

 

[sniper wolf]

EDIT: But yeah, I agree with Barney. You're throwing around too much cash for your minimal knowledge of PC's.

Know some stuff about the internals of your current PC. Remove your Video card and see how your PC runs without it, just for fun. Reinstall it without the power cord, just to see what happens. Just figure out more about how a PC works, and what parts do what.

Generally, with your first build, you're not going to want to use parts that are as expensive as possible. You're going to want parts that you know will work, have been tested by time (trust me, buying a just off the idea board Mobo is the last thing you want to do), and you aren't going to throw a hissy fit over when you fry them.

Most important thing that you forgot. An ESD wriststrap. You can get by for a while by just grabbing the edge of your PC, but you're bound to **** something up eventually. Most noob friendly thing you can do.

And if you don't know what an ESD wriststrap is, or what I mean by grabbing the edge of your PC, then I lol at you.

EDIT: You're forgetting so many things there that i'm positive you don't have a fecking clue about what goes into building a PC

ive done plenty of messing around with the components of my current pc...ive upgraded pretty much everything in my current pc except my mobo, processor, and psu...but you cant really do much with a mobo that only supports pci expansions (no agp or pci-e whatsoever >_<)

oh and btw... i had already thrown in an anti static wrist strap into my wish list on new egg just didn't bother putting it on the list here

 

[sinkoman]

ive done plenty of messing around with the components of my current pc...ive upgraded pretty much everything in my current pc except my mobo, processor, and psu...but you cant really do much with a mobo that only supports pci expansions (no agp or pci-e whatsoever >_<)

oh and btw... i had already thrown in an anti static wrist strap into my wish list on new egg just didn't bother putting it on the list here

Well that narrows things down allot.

When you come into a forum and go "lol I want an EXTREME gaming machine i'm going to spend 3k+ lol wat you think?", it makes you look like an idiot.

I'ts been a while since i've been in the market for a new HSF, but if they'll fit an AM2, check out the XP90's and, if your mobo will support it, the XP120's.

Ace Heatsinks.

And don't forget to throw a CD (not dvd) drive into your shopping list. You're going to get nowhere fast trying to install windows on a DVD drive.

Or at least temporarily move the one in your old PC over the the new one.

But really, why do you need 2 DVD drives?

 

[sniper wolf]

EDIT: You're forgetting so many things there that i'm positive you don't have a fecking clue about what goes into building a PC

Aftermarket Heatsink for that monster CPU (the stock just isn't going to cut it)

Aftermarket fans for the case (if it comes with fans, I can guarentee you they'll suck about as much as a brick, cause I also have a lian li case)

Spare cabling (guarentee you this will come in handy)

ESD Wriststrap

A diskete drive

A CD-R drive (goodluck trying to boot into the windows installer with TWO DVD drives )

well ill take into consideration gettin a seperate cpu heatsink, i wasn't really all that sure about spare cabling in the first place (one of the main reasons why i asked on the site), i didn't really see a reason to get a diskete drive and for the "dvd drives" they are are actually both combo drives if you look at the specs

 

[sniper wolf]

But really, why do you need 2 DVD drives?

haha actually just the other day i had an incident where it would have helped alot to have 2 dvd drives

 

[sniper wolf]

EDIT: Water cooling for your first build

Keep it simple. Minimise your chances for disaster.

haha..yeah, if i do have any trouble trying to assemble it with the water cooling, one of my best friends dads builds a lot of pcs with water cooling so i can always ask him for help in that area if i really need to

 

[sinkoman]

haha..yeah, if i do have any trouble trying to assemble it with the water cooling, one of my best friends dads builds a lot of pcs with water cooling so i can always ask him for help in that area if i really need to

Well, good to know you've got backup

And i'm reading on the Thermalright website, and the XP90 should workout with an AM2.

 

[Viperidae]

Zalman make some pretty good fans also. Check out the CNPS7700-CU.

 

[Naudian]

Aw man, a CRT monitor?

Well, if you've got room on your computer desk then why not. Otherwise get an LCD monitor

 

[sniper wolf]

Aw man, a CRT monitor?

Well, if you've got room on your computer desk then why not. Otherwise get an LCD monitor

haha...yep, i did plenty of research on lcd and crt monitors =D


well for the cpu koolance needs something like this to work for cpus and i can also get them for video cards, hard drives, and memory if i need too

haha...after looking more into it i decided i might want to get some of these for the 7900 gtx's since they'll be in SLI and it'll get quite hot in there

 

[sniper wolf]

alright i decided to change my psu to this...serve my purpose just as good at less than half the price =D

 

[Asus]

I wouldn't recommend buying 4 sticks of 512MB. Why fill up your slots when you are only at half of what motherboards can take?
I'd get 2x1GB.

And those Logitech speakers are a little tame for this rig...don't ya think?

 

[sniper wolf]

I wouldn't recommend buying 4 sticks of 512MB. Why fill up your slots when you are only at half of what motherboards can take?
I'd get 2x1GB.

And those Logitech speakers are a little tame for this rig...don't ya think?

does one of these look better? the mobo chipset will also be able to take advantage of the epp

i changes the speakers to something a little bit better, but i cant really go 5.1 cuz of limited space the speakers

 

[sinkoman]

haha...yep, i did plenty of research on lcd and crt monitors =D


well for the cpu koolance needs something like this to work for cpus and i can also get them for video cards, hard drives, and memory if i need too

haha...after looking more into it i decided i might want to get some of these for the 7900 gtx's since they'll be in SLI and it'll get quite hot in there

LOL! Forgot that you're going water cooled.

And here I am throwing around HSF reccomendations

 

[Steven]

headphones > other types of speakers

 

[Garfield_]

You should wait until AMD drops the X2 prices by 30-50%, will save you alot of money =)

 

[Barney Fife]

barney had a bad day?

Yeah, how did you know? Was it that obvious?

I had a bad day because Czech Republic beat the living crap out of us.

Sorry for hijacking thread.

Please go on.

 

[mr spoon]

Not sure what the deal is on installing Windows on CD rather than DVD drive...I haven't installed any copy of Windows using a non-DVD drive for quite a while. Last four installs of XP have been on DVD Roms.

 

[sniper wolf]

i also threw in a floppy drive because ill need something to install the raid drivers for my hard drives

 

[Viperidae]

You should wait until AMD drops the X2 prices by 30-50%, will save you alot of money =)

So damn long from now. ;(

 

[The Brick]

So damn long from now. ;(

Are 6 weeks really that long? I'm surprised no one said 'wait for dx10' yet. Which I'm not gonna do because I don't think you should. But if you are gonna upgrade to dx10 once it comes out, 2x 7900gtx is a waste of money. 2x 7900gt would be a much better choice for the meantime.

 

[Viperidae]

Are 6 weeks really that long?

Yes. That's more than half my summer right there.

 

[sinkoman]

Not sure what the deal is on installing Windows on CD rather than DVD drive...I haven't installed any copy of Windows using a non-DVD drive for quite a while. Last four installs of XP have been on DVD Roms.

A lot of BIOS' are finicky, when it comes to booting from a DVD drive.

I got mine to work, but I know half the time it wont.

 

[sniper wolf]

yeah...i was just wondering, for the raid configuration, does anyone know where can i get the drivers from?

 

[sniper wolf]

Are 6 weeks really that long? I'm surprised no one said 'wait for dx10' yet. Which I'm not gonna do because I don't think you should. But if you are gonna upgrade to dx10 once it comes out, 2x 7900gtx is a waste of money. 2x 7900gt would be a much better choice for the meantime.

actually i wasn't planning to get windows vista until about 6 months or so after its release

 

[sniper wolf]

well thanks for all your help =]
it really did help bring the price down a little and make it even better!

if anyone has anymore suggestions then i would appreciate it cuz im not gonna be ordering it until newegg gets the cpu in stock