First time building PC

[fifaworld]

Hey I have never built a computer before and I am pretty much very new at this but here are my components list. Please tell me and inform me of everything you know. Preferably:

1. Are all of these parts compatible? Please click on link to go to newegg and make sure.

2. What major difficulties will I have setting the computer up?

3. After I assemble a computer and plug it in, what steps must I take to get it up and running? (BIOS,OS Install)

4. I want this computer to be able to play high-end games, do homework, and internet-related activity.

5. Any suggestions on a bad component I chose?


CPU: http://www.newegg.com/product/Produc...82E16819115029

CPU Cooler: http://www.newegg.com/product/Produc...82E16835200026

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128059

Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231098

Graphics Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130285

Sound Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102012

Keyboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823107120

Mouse: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16826104051

Speakers: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16836150033

Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152085

Optical Drive (DVD Burner): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827248008

Optical Drive (DVD-ROM Drive): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135097

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144151

Power Supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817162020


Remember, as of right now, compatibility is my number one issue. I need to know if everything will fit, connect, and work together. Thank you so much and I will really appreciate anyone who helps me out.

[shadowpr]

you don't need the cpu cooler unless you're overclocking.

memory link is bad, and so are a few others. make sure they work.

for the hd, samsung isn' really recommended around here, might want to look at a seagate 7200.10 series.

as for a guide to help you along: http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/

once you fix the links, we can help you more. also, what is your budget with this build?

[flanzig1]

Sorry, but looks like Newegg is having problems, can't get to any of your links.
Was able to open a couple of links, you don't need the CPU cooler. The CPU comes with a good unit. If you OC then maybe an aftermarket CPU heatsink but wouldn't use that Rosewell.

[Alaron]

Fixed your links for you. If you copy them from elsewhere on the forums, they appear truncated, so you need to right click and Copy Shortcut to get the whole thing.

[drummerboy92]

This 8600gt graphics card is about $25 more than the one you picked and is a lot better based on these charts.

graphic card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130085

charts:
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphi...=856&chart=318

You said you wanted to run high-end games. This will do the job, but it won't run all the eye candy as smoothly as those $300-400 cards. But, if your on a budget this would probably be the one to get.

Also, you probably won't need a sound card since your motherboard comes with onboard audio.

[shadowpr]

i would change the dvd drive to this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135151 it's a sata connection.

and i would choose a psu that's on the "good" list located here: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195

[drummerboy92]

Is there any reason you chose a dvd drive and a dvd burner, because a dvd burner will read and burn both cds and dvds. Most people in these forums recommend Lite-On for an optical drive.
Here is a good one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106072

[andper10]

That CPU has great bang for your buck. Try the stock CPU cooler to start with. It will cool your CPU adequately at stock speeds. If you want to overclock, a good cheap cooler is: $20 - ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835186134

People around here usually use Asus motherboards (P5K being the current pick: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16813131180), although I don't see a problem with using Gigabyte.

I believe G. Skill makes pretty good ram. People around here usually recommend Corsair, but again, G. Skill should be fine.

I would try to fit an 8800GTS into the budget if you want to be able to handle the latest games with max settings smoothly. 8600GTS would be a minimum IMO. You could even drop the CPU down a notch to the E6550 if that lets you get an 8800GTS: $280 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130082 . You can look at the Tom's Hardware VGA charts to get a good idea of preformance for different video cards: http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html . Their CPU charts are good too.

Like others have said, try onboard sound first, then buy a sound card if onboard doesn't suffice.

I would just grab this MS keyboard and mouse combo unless you specifically want those brands: $17 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823109132

I have a Cyber Acoustics speaker set and it is pretty good. Definitely not high end speakers but I think they are great for gaming, music, movies, and HDTV audio from my hdtv tuner card. (I got my 5.1 set for $30 at a local Fry's Electronics Store): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16836150049

I would switch the hard drive to Seagate. They have a 5 year warranty and they are known for good quality, while Samsung is not. $100 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148138 . The 320GB model has more bang for your buck but if you think you will need 400GB's then better to have too much space than not enough. $80 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148140

Like others have said LiteOn is recommended around here for optical drives: $40 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106072
You could get a DVD & CD reader for quick buring without writing the data to the hard drive first: $25 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106040

$100 ($90 if you pay w/ google checkout) - Corsair 520W PSU - http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-520w...203270716.html - This is a very high quality PSU and that is key for a stable system. You could probably get by with something like this (Good manufacturer, just lower watts/amps and no active PFC): $37 - FSP Group (Fortron Source) ATX400-PA ATX12V 400W Power Supply 110-127/220-240V UL, CSA, TUV, NEMKO, CB & FCC - OEM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104952 for now but it won't power anything above an 8800GTS, so next time you upgrade your video card you will need to replace your PSU too if you go with the cheaper PSU. That one that you picked out is not made by a quality manufacturer. Somone else linked to the PSU sticky that has the good/bad list: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195 .

The case link is still broken. Is this the one that you are refering to?: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144151 . Case is really a personal choice, so if you like it, get it.

Don't forget an operating system:
$90 - XP Home OEM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116056
$112 - Vista Home Premium OEM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116202 - It may not agree with some older games.

Also, beware that sending in MIR's voids your newegg warranty for that part.

Hopefully that helps. Enjoy your build!

[fifaworld]

Thanks for the help guys. A couple things:

1. I do not understand this, how are some video cards with higher VRAM (mine has 512 mb) not as good as some with 256 MB? Wouldn't that mean that new games that come out will not work on the recommended 256 MB video card??

2. Also, if I give up a processor for a better video card, would that make my computer worse in every way?? (except for gaming of course) I always believed that the CPU was the most important?

3. Changed a couple things:

DVD Burner: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106057

DVD-ROM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135143

CPU Cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835186134

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136037


Have not changed video card yet due to my above mentioned comment. Need to know why a 256 MB video card will be better than a 512 MB. Continue on the feedback and thanks alot.

[fifaworld]

Thanks for the help guys. A couple things:

1. I do not understand this, how are some video cards with higher VRAM (mine has 512 mb) not as good as some with 256 MB? Wouldn't that mean that new games that come out will not work on the recommended 256 MB video card??

2. Also, if I give up a processor for a better video card, would that make my computer worse in every way?? (except for gaming of course) I always believed that the CPU was the most important?

3. Changed a couple things:

DVD Burner: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106057

DVD-ROM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135143

CPU Cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835186134

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136037


Have not changed video card yet due to my above mentioned comment. Need to know why a 256 MB video card will be better than a 512 MB. Continue on the feedback and thanks alot.

[fifaworld]

Ok is this video card good? It got some pretty nice reviews so I would think it is.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130286

[andper10]

It is difficult to explain, but memory is definitely not the most important thing on a video card. Take the 8800GTS for example. First they came out with a 640MB version. Then they released a cheaper 320MB version. If you look at the 3D mark scores of the two different cards they are almost the same: http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphi...=778&chart=310 . So, basically if there is more memory on a video card was originally designed to have (example: 512MB card, but the "normal" is 256MB) then you probably won't see much preformance gain from that extra memory.

That video card is probably good, but honestly, I don't think you will see much of a gaming improvement over the base model with 256MB: $160 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130084
If you like a cool PC there is a MSI brand version with a cooler that pumps the hot air out the back of the case instead of recirculating it: $153 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127284 - And it comes with a factory overclock .

[fifaworld]

Ok I decided to get the factory-over clocked MSI card. So tell me what you think on this rig. And please let me know if there will be any issues such as voltage, power, connectors, incompatibility, etc.) This is my biggest concern of all.

CPU Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115029

CPU Cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835186134

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128059

Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231098

Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127284

Sound Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102012

Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136037

DVD Burner: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106057

DVD ROM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135143

Power Supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341001

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144151

OS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116056




Once again, give me absolutely any suggestions you have and inform me of any difficulties I may have. As of right now, this is my absolute final rig. And also, with the optical drives I chose, will I be able to play and create CD's and DVD's? Thank you so much for the already given help and all of the help in the future.

[flanzig1]

If you don't plan to OC, would drop the AC Freezer CPU cooler. Using an aftermarket cooler may void the CPU warranty. And a possible problem with that side mounted fan on the AC is that you may run into inadaquate cooling to the chipsets on the motherboard.