First Custom Build

[xhalph]

Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601950
Newegg.com - ASUS ENGTX470/2DI/1280MD5/V2 GeForce GTX 470 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
Newegg.com - ASUS Sabertooth X58 LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Newegg.com - CORSAIR Cooling Hydro Series CWCH50-1 120mm High Performance CPU Cooler
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Newegg.com - ASUS Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - CD / DVD Burners
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER RC-692-KKN2 CM690 II Advanced Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - Operating Systems
Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8T-6GBRM


I think that's everything. Is there anything else I should need? This is going to be a gaming computer that I can also use for graphics such as AfterEffects. I'll be ordering the parts next month probably and I want to make sure everything is in line and ready to go.

[XxHEATxX]

My build is quite similar to yours. How much is this one worth? Do you think the cpu cooler is a must?

[glc]

I would advise something other than G.skill memory - there have been quality and compatibility issues. Look at Corsair, Crucial, Kingston, and A-Data.

We also discourage X58 for first builds, we recommend P55 and i7-8xx. The stock CPU cooler is fine unless you are going to be heavily overclocking.

[xhalph]

Newegg.com - CORSAIR Cooling Hydro Series CWCH50-1 120mm High Performance CPU Cooler
This isn't going to be necessary? I thought I definitely needed a cooler?

Can you pick out a better board for me if that one isn't a good idea?

And the total price is around 1300.

[glc]

Intel retail boxed processors come with a heatsink/fan that is plenty good unless you will be overclocking heavily.

I recommend an i7-870 and an Asus P7P55D-E or P7P55D-E Pro board (you only need the Pro if you are ever going to do SLI or Crossfire). Buy dual channel ram for it - a single 4gb x 2 kit is the way to go.

[xhalph]

Newegg.com - ASUS P7P55D-E LX LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TW3X4G1333C9

how do those look?

[glc]

No, not the LX board. It's not true SATA 6.0/USB 3.0.

[xhalph]

Newegg.com - ASUS P7P55D-E LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard ?

[glc]

Yes, that's the one.