Building my first Desktop

[dmanpl]

Alright guys so i am building my first desktop. I plan on doing some gaming, school stuff (computer engineer major), and then everyday things like facebook and what not. So this is a list of the things that i was thinking about getting. Money is ofcourse going to be tight, but I dont need to have all the best stuff right now, but from what my friend told me by building your own computer, you can always upgrade it.

-SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
-GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD3P LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
-SAPPHIRE 100315L Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
-Intel Core i5-2500 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I52500
-G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBSR
-SAMSUNG Black 12X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Combo Model SH-B123L LightScribe Support - OEM
-Rosewill BLACKHAWK Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, come with Five Fans, window side panel, top HDD dock

Okay, so that is the list as of right now. Please feel free to let me know what you guys think about the pieces I have chosen, like i can spend 10$ more and get a much better product, or i can save some money and get basically the same kind of thing. or if the product is just crap. Also I am confused as to whether or not I need a sound card? and what kind of power supply would i need to get as well? Thanks!

PS: I will try to get a new TV as well and just use the 32-40 inch tv as a monitor.

 

[NYCHitman1]

I have the same RAM as you, but the 1600MHz model which I highly recommend. I assume you forgot to add the K in for the CPU (i5-2500K). If not, you should spring for the K model, it is a pretty big improvement in terms of raw performance. I have the same mobo as you listed and have nothing but great things to say about it.

If I were to change anything, I would say to go the Nvidia route and change the HDD to the Seagate Barracuda 1 TB.

 

[johnlgalt]

I'd opt for a smaller SSD for your system drive and opt for the Seagate Barracuda drive for data storage as well.

For RAM, not only what Hitman said, gut I'd also bump it from 8 to 12 GB, and make full use of triple channel since it's DDR3.

With this rig, you'll probably need a 700W PSU minimum I have a paid account at eXtreme Outervison to use the PSU calculator. Give me an idea of what size fans and how many are LED based, etc., and I can give you a pretty accurate sheet (PDF, from the print view) of what you'll have and what you'll need.

 

[Vehtemas]

Eh, I would disagree with John (very rare) and I would NOT spring for SSD for the system OS. That is unless you have cash to splurge and don't mind the increase, for most price conscientious people it will add another $200 or so to your total.

Also, you DO have a monitor right? I know it may seem silly to ask but I have forgotten such things as the hard drive and it totally threw off my pricing...

I also would go with 8 gigs of RAM, may as well pay a tiny amount more and get future proofed on the RAM portion.

 

[DeserveMusic]

Depending on the games you're gonna play... this should just about max most, if not all games. (Excluding titles like Battlefield 3.)

Like NYCHitman1 said, spring for the K. Even if you don't plan to overclock now, it's always a good to know you can just for that extra boost in performance. An SSD isn't really necessary for most people as the boot times in 7 are minimal, etc. etc. A lot of what you have is pretty good.

I'd also try to grab a different case. Rosewill is like, the off-brand of computer items. They make some stuff, but it's no where near as good as others. Look into the case "HAF 922." Great airflow, as well as spacious for cable management.

I'm running a 750W PSU, and I think it's a bit overkill but a PSU that can't support your system will brick it faster than anything.

Let us know what you come up with.

 

[darkestred]

Are you getting the ultra case or the 100 dollar one? I'd get the cooler master HAF series if you are looking at a 200 dollar case.

I'd look at a 600 or so PSU. 700 is a bit overkill for what you have. But if you plan on adding more than go with 600+. I personally like modular and corsair. Although cooler master has a nice PSU as well.

Id stick with what you have for ram unless you are looking to indulge. 8 to 12gigs is a moot point unless you really plan on overclocking like mad and just to brag about numbers. Although i have 6 and have 3 x 2 i don't know what benefits you'll truly see from having 3 slots using tri-channel.

 

[johnlgalt]

Eh, I would disagree with John (very rare) and I would NOT spring for SSD for the system OS. That is unless you have cash to splurge and don't mind the increase, for most price conscientious people it will add another $200 or so to your total.

Also, you DO have a monitor right? I know it may seem silly to ask but I have forgotten such things as the hard drive and it totally threw off my pricing...

I also would go with 8 gigs of RAM, may as well pay a tiny amount more and get future proofed on the RAM portion.

the same ssd I have, x25-m 80 GB is going for about 115 usd.....

 

[BlueBiker]

I have the same RAM as you, but the 1600MHz model which I highly recommend.

Yeah, I don't think it's a huge difference, but might as well go for a low'ish latency 1600. Check whether the board has vertical clearance for RAMs w/tall heat spreaders. Also this is a CS major, so 16GB definitely won't go to waste.

I assume you forgot to add the K in for the CPU (i5-2500K). If not, you should spring for the K model, it is a pretty big improvement in terms of raw performance.

Not so. The K has faster onboard graphics, but that's irrelevant with the OP's HD6850. Also, the non-K has several virtualization modes that a CS major will make heavy use of that the 2500K doesn't have.

I'd opt for a smaller SSD for your system drive and opt for the Seagate Barracuda drive for data storage as well.

For RAM, not only what Hitman said, gut I'd also bump it from 8 to 12 GB, and make full use of triple channel since it's DDR3.

Definitely a small boot SSD drive. Even a decent quality 30GB will make a large performance difference.

Also I think the older LGA1366 is the only Intel desktop socket that uses triple-channel RAM. Go with 4x4GB.

Like NYCHitman1 said, spring for the K. Even if you don't plan to overclock now, it's always a good to know you can just for that extra boost in performance. An SSD isn't really necessary for most people as the boot times in 7 are minimal, etc. etc.

if you reeeeally want the K for overclocking, suggest you buy it cheap at a Micro Center near you -- normally a lot cheaper than Newegg.

Nevermind the boot time, SSD will make compiles and virtual machines fly!

 

[johnlgalt]

Yeah, I don't think it's a huge difference, but might as well go for a low'ish latency 1600. Check whether the board has vertical clearance for RAMs w/tall heat spreaders. Also this is a CS major, so 16GB definitely won't go to waste.



Not so. The K has faster onboard graphics, but that's irrelevant with the OP's HD6850. Also, the non-K has several virtualization modes that a CS major will make heavy use of that the 2500K doesn't have.



Definitely a small boot SSD drive. Even a decent quality 30GB will make a large performance difference.

Also I think the older LGA1366 is the only Intel desktop socket that uses triple-channel RAM. Go with 4x4GB.



if you reeeeally want the K for overclocking, suggest you buy it cheap at a Micro Center near you -- normally a lot cheaper than Newegg.

Nevermind the boot time, SSD will make compiles and virtual machines fly!

I'd recommend an 80 GB SSD so you can also store apps not just for OS boot - makes for a world of difference. And they're comparable to the prices I've seen of minimal (read: 32 GB) SSDs, in that I've seen them as low as $50 for a 32 but as low as $120 for the 80. The newer 80 that is the 'upgrade' of my 80.

And I can tell you my 80 GB SSD is still a beast in terms of raw speed. I'd honestly sacrifice elsewhere if I could and force the SSD into the system plan.

And BB is correct - I keep forgetting that I have exactly that processor that uses triple channel - anything Core i7 9xx and core i7 9X0 (along with many Xeon processors) that use the LGA-1366 architecture will make full use of triple channel. Good catch, BB.

 

[BlueBiker]

I'd recommend an 80 GB SSD so you can also store apps not just for OS boot - makes for a world of difference. And they're comparable to the prices I've seen of minimal (read: 32 GB) SSDs, in that I've seen them as low as $50 for a 32 but as low as $120 for the 80. The newer 80 that is the 'upgrade' of my 80.

And I can tell you my 80 GB SSD is still a beast in terms of raw speed. I'd honestly sacrifice elsewhere if I could and force the SSD into the system plan.

Well put. Better use of $$$ than a high end motherboard.