build advice

[FuryofZaine]

Build

 

this is my first time building my own computer so i just wanted some advice on my current planned build.

 

Also is it better to go with a 2gb graphics card?

 

Games i want to play with this build is Skyrim,bf3, and some others.

[hoofhearted4]

only thing i recommend is getting Win7 Pro...just has some more features, which could be nice. and is going to be supported for a couple of years longer then Home. not a big deal. just a thought.

 

 

getting a 2gb GPU is nice. Bf3 in particular uses a lot of VRAM from what i hear and having that extra gig can really help, and its nice to have it for future games as well. many AMD cards come with 2gb ive noticed, and i doubt it will be much more expensive, but id look around.

[slimhouse]

Best advice I can give (or anyone) if this is your ~First Build then ALWAYS have a buddy/friend (reliable) with you

who has done one or two himself and is not just there to stand by and take the ^*&! as he watches it ALL go South

for YOU in a swirl of blue smoke... and post it on YouTube.

 

1) Don't rush.. read all the boring stuff / then read it again.

 

2) Loads of walkthroughs / builds posted all over the web just do a search may even have exactly your kind of build.

 

3) Setting up BIOS to optimise the cpu and ram (can) is tricky (CAS / LATENCY times Front Side BUS / CORRECT cpu Voltage etc.)

 

4) lastly ...don't be too hard on yourself if it don't all go right First Time ...cus many before you (me too) 'av all beeN......tHerE !!

[Dan3345]

I know this is going to sound lame, but watch the really long newegg youtube vids where the newegg guy (Todd I think) does step by step builds. Taught me how to build my PC on my first time.

[hoofhearted4]

good videos

 

full video

 

the first one is a very in depth walk through. very nice.

 

the second one is not long. its quick. but 3 of the 4 builders showcased are new to building PCs, and they show a couple of issues to look for when building a PC.

 

third is a 3 part series. not as in depth as the first one, but still very useful...newegg actually has a bunch of videos that are worth watching. :)

Edited January 31, 2012 by hoofhearted4

[FMod]

Also is it better to go with a 2gb graphics card?

If you are using 6870, no. No reason at all, it's too weak. You can't load max settings with it anyway.

 

I think you should consider the following changes:

CPU - downgrade to i5-2320

Mobo - might downgrade to Pro3 (depending on how much it saves)

RAM - might downgrade to DDR-1333, Samsung is best, then overclock it to 1600 anyway

GPU - upgrade to 6950.

 

That is, if and only if you don't plan on upgrading your GPU sometime in late 2012. If you do, better save up for that upgrade. Late 2012 GPU are going to rock - you'll have AMD 7000 series much cheaper than they are now, and you'll have Nvidia 600 series to compete with them.

[hoofhearted4]

That is, if and only if you don't plan on upgrading your GPU sometime in late 2012. If you do, better save up for that upgrade. Late 2012 GPU are going to rock - you'll have AMD 7000 series much cheaper than they are now, and you'll have Nvidia 600 series to compete with them.

 

not to mention cheaper cards that are out now. like Cheaper 580s!

 

 

on a similar note. what is a good cheap card that could be used as a place holder until the 600 series and/or price reduction of other cards?

[FMod]

GTX580 is never going to be cheap, other than a used one, and not soon. They'll just stop making them, if they aren't about to already.

The GF110 die it uses is 520mm^2, such large chips are expensive to produce due to low yield per wafer. Its 384-bit wide memory bus isn't helping either. Such cards don't turn cheap.

 

In contrast, HD6970 is only 390mm^2 with a 256-bit bus, which is why AMD could afford to drop their price to a very moderate level.

HD7970 is also fairly large, however, so don't expect its price to plummet. But HD7850 can end up very affordable.

[us11csalyer]

I'd get an ASUS motherboard. Better digital power phase.

 

And this PSU

 

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0328087

Edited February 1, 2012 by us11csalyer

[FMod]

I'd get an ASUS motherboard. Better digital power phase.

First of all, "digital power phase" is a misspelling of nothing more than a marketing term.

Second, all upper-range mobos today use digital VRM controllers. Not that it makes a difference in stock operation or even mild overclocking (anything air-cooled or any LCS-in-a-box).

 

The PSU picked by OP is a bit more expensive than it should be, but it's quieter than CM-branded unit.

Generally it's better to take this one instead: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-s12ii620bronze

It's an older Seasonic, but it's still one, from hands down the best PSU maker. For $70, there's no beating it.