My First Build

[pointblank]

Hey, thanks if you are taking the time to read this!

I want to build my first computer soon, I intend to use it for games, music, movies, internet, the usual stuff. I am a joint student in BSc(computer sci) and BComm, so I can get most software cheaper or free so I am only worried about hardware. I intend on buying the i7 2600 and an LGA 1155 motherboard once Sandy Bridge comes out, but till then I am using lga 1156 as an approximation.

This is not all I have in the wishlist(card reader, fan controller, thumbscrews, AS5, dvd drive, surge protector, keyboard/mouse, cable ties all in the list) but for the sake of the forum this is the major stuff and my newegg subtotal all things included is just under $1700 right now.

Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 $60

PSU: Corsair HX 650 $140

CPU(i7 2600, $330-350 I think?) and appropriate mobo: hoping about ~$500

AMD 6870 $245

CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 DDR3 1333 $130

ASUS VE228H 21.5" $160

Mushkin Callisto Deluxe 60GB $130

Samsung HD103SJ 1TB $75

Now things get a little interesting, the CM HAF 912 comes with a front 120mm fan which I plan to remove and use in push/pull with my CPU Cooler:

Cooler Master 212 Plus $30

Then for case cooling(these will be on the Scythe 4 fan cooler). Two will be front intake(case has dust filters) other 2 will be top exhaust.

4x (Scythe S-FLEX SFF21E 120mm) $40

Few notes:
-I will remove the middle HDD cage, for airflow and graphic card breathing room
-Going to remove the 2.5" mount from the bottom of the case
-The 2.5 SSD will be mounted in the bottom cage with the included adapter(the one that came with the case, not the SSD one itself)
-I could suffice on 4gb, but Id rather have 2x4gb than 4x2gb so rather buy 8gb now then end up with 4 sticks later on. Plus this means more future proof, and since I do program memory might become an issue. In the winter I am actually taking a database course as well as one titled something like 'Large Scale Software Development', so huge amounts of data are a very real possibility.

Again, thank you for reading this! Please let me know if you have comments/concerns. I would like to stay around $1700-1800 cause tuition and food are also important :P

[glc]

I would use an Asus P7P55D-E Pro and i7-870 combo, I don't see any reason to wait for Sandy Bridge. I would also get a WD Black instead of a Samsung drive.

I think you are going overboard on your cooling concerns. Any quality case will cool fine the way it comes out of the box.

[David M]

A computer will never produce more heat than the maximum power of your PSU, plus a little waste heat from your PSU which is vented out the back anyway.

[pointblank]

I could always lose one of the front intake fans but really those are pretty cheap. I also have the controller so I can balance noise and cooling needs. It will be a month or two before I have saved enough to buy it outright and I am pretty excited for SB. The onboard graphics are not a selling point, but it is supposed to be 10-15% of an improvement(clock for clock) and even if it is not the processor I want is 3.4ghz, on my first build Id rather not overclock and that way can save on the CPU fan. Plus it will be 95W but out perform the LGA 1336 current 125w processors. Either way, will be a great improvement over the 2.2ghz laptop I am using.

I read good reviews about the samsung drives, I will look into the WD aswell.

[Jbc223456]

Reviews shouldn't be taken very seriously. Especially on Newegg. You can never truly decide whether the product is good or not just based off reviews. Personal experience is what should be considered, and members like glc and David have plenty of that. Glc is the man when it comes to computer hardware, etc.

[quartet-man]

People like GLC and Khalil (SIC)? have built a LOT Of machines and have real world experience. They also keep up on things and know their stuff whereas some reviewers might be at fault for bad reviews or just had decent luck on good reviews. Also, bear in mind that many of the good reviews are written when a product is just bought or soon after. Of course most products might be pretty good then.

[pointblank]

By your very own logic I should deny both your post as well as his, after all, what have you done besides review something Ive written? Who am I to say your opinion is any more valid then any other reviewer for CNet, Newegg or whatever it may be? Rather then go off on a tangent about the validity and availability of reliable data online lets get back to the build shall we?

I am pretty solid with SB but will have to see the price points and availability first. I will reconsider the Antec 300, but then Id have to buy a 5.25" to 3.5" adapter and could just as easily stick with the Haf and get more cooling than I would need for the same price as less cooling with the Antec.

Besides case/fan which is still up in the air rest seem alright?

[quartet-man]

Originally Posted by pointblank By your very own logic I should deny both your post as well as his, after all, what have you done besides review something Ive written? Who am I to say your opinion is any more valid then any other reviewer for CNet, Newegg or whatever it may be?

Whatever floats your boat.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by pointblank By your very own logic I should deny both your post as well as his, after all, what have you done besides review something Ive written? Who am I to say your opinion is any more valid then any other reviewer for CNet, Newegg or whatever it may be? Rather then go off on a tangent about the validity and availability of reliable data online lets get back to the build shall we? I am pretty solid with SB but will have to see the price points and availability first. I will reconsider the Antec 300, but then Id have to buy a 5.25" to 3.5" adapter and could just as easily stick with the Haf and get more cooling than I would need for the same price as less cooling with the Antec. Besides case/fan which is still up in the air rest seem alright?

I have been doing this for some time and I can say, glc and Khalil have probably forgotten more than I know for sure. Samsung drives are to be avoided. I would say, 50% (conservative) of them have been replaced in machines I have built. Liteon drives have the best history in my builds as I have built hundreds of PC's. I do not recommend LG anymore either, I have replaced a few of those recently. Until something changes, Liteon is my brand of choice, I have a few Asus and Sony's out there and they are good so far.

To give you an example, I recently came across a great deal on Corsair builders series power supply's and mentioned it in one of my posts. glc pointed out that the builders series were not the same quality as the HX ones. Well I put one in before the post and low and behold I am looking at it as I write this, dead. Not even two months. Needless to say, I sent all the others back the next day after the post because I trust and value their opinion, as well as many others on here. I thought because it said Corsair on it, I was golden... not so. If I build something for someone, the biggest nightmare is when they push the button and nothing happens, it sends the wrong message, I should of done my homework, which I usually do.

[glc]

Jdeb, this is a Samsung hard drive he's looking at, not an optical. I haven't had good luck in the past with those either. The new ones may be fast and quiet and getting good reviews, but the brand history isn't very good. Samsung makes some really great products, but their hard drives and optical drives are not in that class in my opinion.

Bottom line to the original poster - if you are going to wait for Sandy Bridge, don't waste your time picking everything else out now. The market will be considerably different by the time they are on the street.