Building My First Computer

[titanic3]

I recently found a part time job and I figured that in about 2 months, I'll have enough money to build my own PC. My budget is around $700, and I have never built a PC before. The closest thing I got to was plugging a GPU into my motherboard.

I'm a gamer. Plain and simple. I need a best of the best (within that price range).
Some of the graphically demanding games I play are Battlefield 3, Metro 2033, and Crysis.
I plan on watching tutorials while assembling the PC from my phone, so i probably will have zero issues with putting it together. I just don't know the parts I should get and whether or not those parts would be compatible with each other.

[Tac]

Its not hard to build them..the physical act that is. If you can plug lego's together you can build a PC yourself. I taught a 12 year old how to build her own system in 30 minutes..and she did put it together herself with zero help or guidance from me after that.

Choosing the components is what takes know-how.

I can tell you right now that $700 is too much. You can build your own for less than 500 bucks if you have a few components from your old PC you can recycle (hard disk, case and even power supply if it is big enough).

[TequilaChaser]

I recently found a part time job and I figured that in about 2 months, I'll have enough money to build my own PC. My budget is around $700, and I have never built a PC before. The closest thing I got to was plugging a GPU into my motherboard.

I'm a gamer. Plain and simple. I need a best of the best (within that price range).
Some of the graphically demanding games I play are Battlefield 3, Metro 2033, and Crysis.

Choosing the components is what takes know-how.

I can tell you right now that $700 is too much. You can build your own for less than 500 bucks if you have a few components from your old PC you can recycle (hard disk, case and even power supply if it is big enough).

well titanic,

you are saying you will be playing Crsis & Metro2033....... which most say Crysis ( the first one ) is the most demanding PC game their is , while a few others might claim that Metro2033 is more demanding than Crysis is......... but these 2 PC games are at the top of the pile as far as being demanding on GPU/CPU/Memory ........

Battlefield 3 is a lil less demanding than those first 2 I mentioned.......

I would say that at this current time, if you are going to be building a completely brand new PC from scratch that you might need to jump up to the $1,000  range to have a 1/2 decent system to play those games at better than middle of the road settings.......

now if you was building just for Aces High and those other games are an after thought I would say you are ok in the $700 range but you are going to be paying an over inflated price for your new Hard Drive if you buy your system before the beginning of next Summer  ( prob Mid June )

also, with AMD's New  FX-4100 Zambezi 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 95W Quad-Core L2 cache 1 MB x 4  L3 Cache 8 MBs  at only $119.99

I would advise you to go with AMD to get better bang for your buck.........  a comaprable INTEL cpu will cost you 3 times what this new AM3+  AMD cpu costs...

hope this helps

TC

[Debrody]

Look,
a 700 bucks system can run those games on nearly full settings, with a good fps.
But if you wait a couple months, save some money, plus hopefully the hard drive prices go down a bit (they are truly horrible here!), you will be able build a buttkicker system from 800-850.
For gaming, the big and expensive multi-core CPUs arent as necessery as a good video card. If i had the money, i wouldnt buy anything weaker than a hd6950 or a gtx560ti. I favorize the AMD tho, with its dual bios.
On AMD line, as TC said, an FX-4100 can be a decent choice, since its cheap, and with a good custom air-cooling it can be overclocked pretty much.
ddr3-1600 ram is dirt cheap. I would get like 8 GB (4*2GB). Its more than enough for nowadays CPUs. Make sure your motherboard can deal with four sticks tho.
SSD: do not buy one, it wont improve your FPS. They add an insane boost to the load-in times, but from a limited budget, i would go for the most decent GPU available. You can upgrade later tho.
Dont forget a decent PSU, a brand 550-600W one should be more than enough. Also take care with the case, some video cards may not fit into some cheaper/smaller cases.

Good luck with the building, its really like Lego: one part after another, you cant go wrong.
Best wishes!

[guncrasher]

you are a new guy, go intel less headaches.

also, with AMD's New  FX-4100 Zambezi 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 95W Quad-Core L2 cache 1 MB x 4  L3 Cache 8 MBs  at only $119.99

I would advise you to go with AMD to get better bang for your buck.........  a comaprable INTEL cpu will cost you 3 times what this new AM3+  AMD cpu costs...

hope this helps

TC

you saying a $360 intel is comparable to a $120 amd? which one?


semp

[titanic3]

Thanks for the input guys, but there's really nothing I can recycle from my old PC except monitor and keyboard/mouse. I'm leaving the old one for my dad and this for myself.

But I also thought that you needed parts together or compatible with each other for it to work. Does that mean you can make a Frankenstein PC with a bunch of mixed up parts from different brands?

So basically:
Intel CPU
8GB of Ram
700W+ PSU
(I like Radeon but never tried nVidia so I don't know) Latest GPU
1TB HDD
CD Drive
Motherboard
Case

Am I missing anything else?
Also, what is SSD?

[Debrody]

But I also thought that you needed parts together or compatible with each other for it to work. Does that mean you can make a Frankenstein PC with a bunch of mixed up parts from different brands?

Thats risky. The key is: if you have an AMD cpu, get a radeon graphics card, and the same way, an NVidia card for intel cpus. Its not AS necessery, a total "fankeinstein" build should work too, but i would go for the same brand.
I would still say, an FX4100 is better than an intel i3 for the same price. An i5 sounds good (2500K), but thats more expensive, also not really better than the AMD cpus.
Here in Hungary, i can buy an FX6100 (six core) AMD cpu cheaper than an i5 2500K.  Just saying.
700W+ PSU is a bit overkill for a 700 bucks system. A brand 550-600W should run your build just fine, unless you want to upgrade your system to a SLI/Crossfire one later. If so, then get at least a 800W one.
CPU cooler. The default factory ones are othen not enough/noisy. Im using a Cooler Master Hyper 212+, fits both to Intel and AMD, only 35 bux here. My phenomII 955 runs at 4GHz, never goes over 45 celsius, totally quiet.

[SilverZ06]

I'm running an Intel CPU (2500k) and an ATI card (HD6950 2gb) with zero problems. I wouldn't get too caught up in matching CPU and gpu brands.

[FBLazy1]

Titan

Next time you see me on remind me to get you some info for a squaddie of ours that owns a computer business. (He built my machine but we are family so my price is not your price  )

[gyrene81]

But I also thought that you needed parts together or compatible with each other for it to work. Does that mean you can make a Frankenstein PC with a bunch of mixed up parts from different brands?

So basically:
Intel CPU
8GB of Ram
700W+ PSU
(I like Radeon but never tried nVidia so I don't know) Latest GPU
1TB HDD
CD Drive
Motherboard
Case

Am I missing anything else?
Also, what is SSD?

in most cases you do not need to match chipsets or brands. if you use an asus intel mobo you do not need to use asus components throughout the rest of the system. an amd mobo/cpu can have an nvidia graphics card.

i personally would not touch the current generation of amd fx cpu's yet...let people with money to burn figure out what problems exist, and so far the fx series cpus are not living up to the hype.

ssd = solid state drive, no moving parts.

[Drano]

I'm running an Intel CPU (2500k) and an ATI card (HD6950 2gb) with zero problems. I wouldn't get too caught up in matching CPU and gpu brands.

Agreed. Mine is 2600-K CPU with a 2GB MSI R6950 video card and I have zero problems as well. I would say this pairing along with the 16GB of Corsair Vengeance memory is way overkill for AH. According to Aida64 I only use about 10% of my CPU and maybe 40% in a massive furball. It's like killing a fly with a bazooka. If AH is all you're gonna use it for--aim lower and save some bucks.

[cattb]

Look at hardware and what your going to use your computer for ( software application, games,we browsing, whatever). Look at what you want to spend. Do your research and make a decision.
Get the correct motherboard for your CPU. Get the correct RAM. Get a good Power Supply.

The fx amd cpu would be good if all the game and your usage is multi threaded, single thread app the fx is not as good. I have  looked at benchmarks and the fx does well with crysis or whatever it is called. That game is multi threaded.

If I were to rebuild right now and spend a 1000, I would go Intel Sandy Bridge.
Now if I were to go 600 700, I would look more towards AMD phenom.
This is just me. I would not go with fx because I don't think it would serve my purpose for the use of my computer.

Just my opinion.

[TequilaChaser]

Look at hardware and what your going to use your computer for ( software application, games,we browsing, whatever). Look at what you want to spend. Do your research and make a decision.
Get the correct motherboard for your CPU. Get the correct RAM. Get a good Power Supply.

The fx amd cpu would be good if all the game and your usage is multi threaded, single thread app the fx is not as good. I have  looked at benchmarks and the fx does well with crysis or whatever it is called. That game is multi threaded.

If I were to rebuild right now and spend a 1000, I would go Intel Sandy Bridge.
Now if I were to go 600 700, I would look more towards AMD phenom.
This is just me. I would not go with fx because I don't think it would serve my purpose for the use of my computer.

Just my opinion.

from a different perspective, I have built and also use both an Intel i7-2600k 3.4 GHz Quad-core PC and an AMD Phenom II X4 Q975 Black Edition Deneb 3.6GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core PC

and playing Aces high, the AMD cpu using just ONE core runs Aces high maxxed out with all settings maxed except shadow textures is set at 4096 instead of 8192, AA at  login video settings screen is on notch 3  screen res is 1920 X 1200 steady at 60 FPS

my Intel i7-2600K runs the game using TWO cores the exact same performance , it is still maxed out at 1920 x 1200 ( and or 1920 x 1080 ).......  only difference between the 2 computers is that the intel has an XFX HD6950 2  GIG VC  and the AMD has an XFX HD6870 1 GIG  VC  ( well their are a few minor other things like different type of Sound Card and the i7 is running a RAID 0 setup using (2) 128GB sata III  SSD's  while the AMD is using just 1 128 GB sata III SSD )

I currently have 3 computers running with AMD phenom II cpus ( 2 quadcores and 1 dual core ), and I hopfully will be updating all of them to the AMD FX  AM3+ series, if I have enough money left over after my oldest Daughter's wedding at end of Dec. ...... I will be looking for the Rev B  version of the FX4100 cpu, though ....... these new FX AM3+ cpu's  run cooler, they are on newer technology and they are les power hungry.......

The only thing that my i7 cpu does better than my AMD Phenom II 975 cpu is Video editing/ripping/coding/burning etc........  my AMD cpu blows my Intel away when I am working with my AutoCad and for gaming it is a wash between the 2 different makes......

now you said you are wanting to build a new Computer and you are going to be playing 3 certian Named mmo games: Crysis, Metro2033 and BF3 ....... 2 of these 3 games as I posted earlier are of the most extreme demanding pc games for cpu's / gpu's / systm ram.......  if you are building your New PC to play those games and you want better than mid level / middle of the road playability, then you will certianly need to step up all components of your PC  meaning PSU, CPU, GPU, HD, Case & Case Cooling, CPU & GPU cooling


if you are only going to be playing Aces High, then as Drano posted.... the i7-2600K & 6950 2 GIG VC  is overkill .........


I recently throwed a system together for a  friend...... it was an old Athlon II 6400 dualcore 3.2GHz AM2 cpu,  ATI HD3870 512 MB GDDR4  VideoCard, 4 gigs of PC6400 DDR2 800 MHZ Ram, 750 watt PC P&C PSU and a 320 GB sata II HD with win7 SP 1 64 bit as the OS......
it ran Aces High with most settings maxxed except shadows turned down to 1024  and AA set at x4 with 512 textures and held a steady 59/60 fps using 1920x1080 screenres....... turning the hi res skins textures on and it still ran a modest 48 to 52 FPS and never below 42 FPS in some of the thickest furballing / smoke / fire etc....

so as mentioned above do your research, and then research some more......... you said you will be doing this in a month or 2, so you have plenty of time to do some solid reviewing and comparing....

as for staying with the same brand or staying with AMD cpu / AMD-ATI GPU vs intel / nvidia  matchup........  most of the Motherboards today will accept both types of Video Cards the intel/nvidia  AMD/ATI  myth is almost completely removed from the equation these days with only a very small few exceptions to where you might run into a problem...... meaning  you can use ATI or nividia  on both  Intel & AMD MB's  and not have a problem...

and remember, each of us posting here are posting a personal opinions..........  although some of the recommendations posted are coming from current or previous experience.....

whether you decide Intel  or AMD for your cpu  or decide  Nvidia or AMD/ATI for your gpu .......... is all up to what you desire ........ you can make any combination work

as for Intel being easier and less problematic to build .........  they both are just 1 part of the whole PC.....  as posted it is as easy as Lego's to build a PC....... the hardest part is researching and deciding on a good matched set of components then loading / installing the OS and setting the BIOS settings ........

Do not Be Affraid to post and Ask questions

Good Luck on your New PC build adventure

edit: I don't pay much attention to most of those benchmarking results articles/reviews ...... I find that I get more from "Real Life / Real World User results/ experience"  than I can get from some lab telling me something is a leser product when my own personal experience using the compnents they are benchmarking is giving me arguably different results than what they claim........  but as always the case  YMMV


TC

[titanic3]

Thanks for all the info (again), but I plan to play more than just those three games, those were just examples of the graphic demanding games I (would like to) play. I want to be able to use this PC to run future games for at least 2 years or 3 before upgrading.

I'm currently thinking about an Intel i5 2500K and a Radeon 6950 right now, trying to find the right build on Newegg, but I'm hitting over $700. I think I have a couple of friends who might let me borrow their OS install disk so no worries there. And yes, I know about the 32-Bit OS' using only 4GB of RAM. Also, would it matter if the computer case is "too big"? Or would it be a case of "bigger is better"? Because what happens if the motherboard and screws and pins and all that, don't line up with the holes in the case?

Right now, I can run AH maxed out at 1920x1080 on my Radeon 5570 at 2048 shadows, but not other games like the ones mentioned.
One more thing, would my new PC use a lot more electricity? I'm currently using a 220W PSU and it's not so bad with power consumption. Would using a more powerful computer mean a higher electric bill? And how much does your PC use? (Guys with gaming rigs).

[MaSonZ]

a larger PSU Will use significantly more power and you will see a rise in electric bill. 220 watts vs. 850, thats 630 watts extra your using. also, when looking at video cards look at the specs of a 6950 and do research on 6870's. my 6850 can very easily over clock to run with 6870's. as far as matching ovther components you need to simply make sure the cpu has the same socket as the motherboard. also, there are 3.0 gb/s and 6.0 gb/s HDD's. not sure if it matters, but until someone says otherwise i would make sure you put a 3.0 gb/s HDD in a 3.0 sata connection on your motherboard. as far as how big a psu you need there are many people that will chime on that when you get a tentative list of hardware. for upgrading safety i would do minimum an 850 or 900 if you want to put in a 6950 right off. get a gold plus certified PSU too, best on energy effiency.