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Baa?21242 Posts
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On August 10 2009 09:44 Carnivorous Sheep wrote:http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=11489032Here's a build that mahini (you're awesome, thanks <3) put together for me really quickly as a guide/rough draft sort of thing. (I kinda just went "ooh shiny" at most of the stuff. I feel so clueless  ) He told me to check this with other people as I start researching myself, so yeah, anyone have anything to say about any of these parts/have personal experience/suggestions for something better/cheaper/etc.? Budget: ~$1000 Main goals: SCII, Diablo 3, run Windows 7, and possibly upgrade in the next few years if needed. (PS researching computer parts is hard work @_@)
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I'm considering building a computer to use. Before I actually delve in, I would like to ask for you guys who have had experience with this kind of thing, what should I know about building a computer before I actually start. Like, nothing technical, but is there unexpected stuff that I should know/watch out for? How long does it typically take? How much effort/expertise? Will I hate life/myself/computers in the middle of this process? Stuff like that.
Also, a little related-ish question, for gaming, is RAM, Video card, or CPU the most important part of performance?
edit: Title is awesome. thanks pachi
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[QUOTE]On August 08 2009 10:44 Carnivorous Sheep wrote:
Also, a little related-ish question, for gaming, is RAM, Video card, or CPU the most important part of performance?QUOTE]
All three are largely important, but seeing as how most new computers today come with a decent amount of ram and CPU power, I'd say the GFX card is usually the thing that can make the difference.
What do you mean? Are you building a computer, i.e. buying the parts and putting them together (a real headache)? or are you customizing it on a site?
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those are weird questions. video card is usually the most important.
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Melbourne5338 Posts
Just give mahnini a budget and ask him nicely to build you a sc2 computer
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On August 08 2009 10:44 Carnivorous Sheep wrote:
I'm considering building a computer to use. Before I actually delve in, I would like to ask for you guys who have had experience with this kind of thing, what should I know about building a computer before I actually start. Like, nothing technical, but is there unexpected stuff that I should know/watch out for? How long does it typically take? How much effort/expertise? Will I hate life/myself/computers in the middle of this process? Stuff like that.
Also, a little related-ish question, for gaming, is RAM, Video card, or CPU the most important part of performance?
edit: Title sounds weird. I guess I shoulda just called it "Before building a computer" or something...
Building itself is strait forward but choosing the components is where most of the work comes in.
Establish a budget and your priorities (what are you going to use this computer for?). This will greatly aid you and whoever else may help you when choosing parts.
Know how to choose the right power supply. Look around for reputable brands (Corsair, OCZ, PC Power & Cooling, etc), and know how much Wattage you'll be needing. A quick google search should turn up several recommendations.
Make sure everything is compatible (obviously). The main things are does your motherboard support your processor and ram speed.
Building a computer is incredibly simple itself compared to choosing the components and will take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours for a first timer depending on how much cable management and problems you run into. If you follow a basic guide and insert things in the right order (so you don't have to take other things out to fit another thing in, thus wasting time and patience), everything should go smoothly.
Most important in this order: Video card, Processor, RAM.
Generally, RAM is irrelevant as long as you have 2GB+. Processors affect performance quite a bit but you won't be seeing jumps in framerates from a processor upgrade like you in video card upgrade.
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Baa?21242 Posts
See I always thought video cards were the most important too (so does some very basic googling), but one of my friends who is usually right on computer stuff told me not. Meh.
I guess the questions in this blog can be summed up to "Do I want to take the leap o.o?"
PS thanks pachi.
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On August 08 2009 11:13 Carnivorous Sheep wrote:
See I always thought video cards were the most important too (so does some very basic googling), but one of my friends who is usually right on computer stuff told me not. Meh.
I guess the questions in this blog can be summed up to "Do I want to take the leap o.o?"
PS thanks pachi.
I hear its very much worth it, but..what's your budget and how much power do you want.
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Baa?21242 Posts
As I said, this is more of a pre-blog. I haven't actually looked at the pricing/technicalities/what parts I want and stuff yet. Still contemplating if I want to before delving really deeply into it.
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Yeah, it's worth it. Custom-made PC's are usually way better than the mass produced stuff that HP and Dell spit out.
Since you're building your own PC you might as well get some real quality parts, while you're at it, so that you have some leeway for overclocking as your computer becomes more and more outdated.
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On August 08 2009 11:13 Carnivorous Sheep wrote:
See I always thought video cards were the most important too (so does some very basic googling), but one of my friends who is usually right on computer stuff told me not. Meh.
I guess the questions in this blog can be summed up to "Do I want to take the leap o.o?"
PS thanks pachi.
important is relative. what you plan on doing with your computer drastically affects how much you "need" to spend and how to allocate them benjis.
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Baa?21242 Posts
I said it was for gaming. Obviously needs change for different stuff.
I was also talking to a few of my friends, and as of right now, I'm leaning heavily to taking the leap and building a computer. Got nothing to do until school starts anyways...
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how much are you looking to spend?
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Baa?21242 Posts
Not sure. Let's go with somewhere in the 800-1000 range. A general idea of what kind of computer that would give me?
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it'd get you a mid-high end gaming computer :o
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Here's how i did it: i had a guide on how to put your computer together on my old comp sitting just beside so i read up on how to do it step by step while doing it. It all went like a charm! don't be afraid to do it cause it's much easier than you might expect, some things i recommend from my experience:
1. Make sure you have LOTS of light, preferrably more than one source so you can always see clearly from different angles and when your hands block the light, it makes a world of difference.
2. Check and double check if your component is put in the right way before you apply any pressure if it doesn't seem to slide into it's place comfortably, after u've done that be prepared to actually use some (very carefully!) force cause some things just don't want to align perfectly  when i installed the ram comes to mind, i actually had to force it a slight bit.
3. When applying thermal paste it's very fucking hard to put too little, but very easy to put too much.
4. I don't know what your budget is, i would recommend posting it here and what you want to do with the computer. me and I'm sure lots of others here can put together the best choices of components for you. you want to do it yourself then there's usually lots of places on the web where you can get infIf ormation on the best current computer builds for a specific pricerange.
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that's a broad range but graphics shouldnt be a problem (if this doesnt include monitor)
800-900 you're probably looking at phenom 955
900-1000 core i7 920
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shits like a clock. Put the pieces together and you'll be amazed out what your missing out on.
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Making your own computer is the most amazing thing ever. I just wish I had money to buy a new computer more than every 3-4 years, I look forward to it every time.
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All that is required for building a computer is common sense.
Don't do anything that will damage the components. Don't short circuit anything.
Don't block air flow. Don't get shits that don't fit with each other.
The rest can be solved by google.
One thing I have to say is get a good brand name power supply. It will give you so much less headache.
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I've read this statistic like 50 times online but I built my entire computer from online and dodged it all. Here it is anyways: 25% of all online parts do not work and need to be RMA'd. The only exception to this is my mobo came with the south bridge heat sink un fastened and it was quite a bitch to get back on.
Another somewhat technical tip is that when installing the CPU into a MOBO it is freaking scary, it makes ridiculous crunch and requires a great deal of force to clamp down. (even when you check and recheck that it is in the correct position).
Protip, use newegg.com for most/all purchases, I found most of the shit cheaper on there. But I dunno if you are from USA.
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Baa?21242 Posts
Yeah I'm from the US.
OK, currently, it is August 9th. Let's say I research for a week, and order sometime next weekend. Approximately how long will parts take to get here with the cheapest shipping or whatever? Can I have my computer built by the end of August comfortably or not?
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On August 09 2009 12:55 CharlieMurphy wrote:
I've read this statistic like 50 times online but I built my entire computer from online and dodged it all. Here it is anyways: 25% of all online parts do not work and need to be RMA'd.
Unsurprisingly considering the source, this is total bullshit.
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If you are using Newegg, you can comfortably get your comp built by the end of August. I just built my first comp recently, the parts all came within a week (it felt longer because a number of them were purchased on weekend due to weekend deals). Newegg's cheapest shipping is 3day UPS, though keep in mind that's a pretty hefty price tag, so when you order try to look for free shipping. Depending on the stuff (cough case cough) you can be shaving off a lot of money. Also, look for combo deals (newegg). I didn't pay too much attention to that initially when I choose my parts, but when I went back to it while homing the final build, combo allowed me to squeeze out a bit more bang for the buck.
About the actual building of comp, I had no experience before, so I had a friend's assistance, though his experience was limited too. We ended up putting together an i7 with customer heatsink/cooler in about 3~4 hours. It isn't too bad if you did your homework beforehand, I kind of wish I took the time to read up on thermal compound application and such better though, reinstalling the heatsink when I ran into temperature issues while OCing was a pain. OC is by far the most annoying part though, I've been chipping away at it steadily (but slowly) for the first time ever, rather frustrating, but overall wasn't too bad. So yeah, you should be fine if you order by next weekend, though I'd recommend taking your time some to solidify your budget and deadlines if you have a tight wallet.
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I've never had a problem with installing CPUs. The heatsink and FANS are a pain in the ass if you use an after-market product as case, heat sink and fans can physically not fit into each other.
I have found that AMD stuff are a generally a little easier compare to intel ones.
So the lesson is; if you are unsure, buy a good and spacious tower case. I've made the mistake of buying a micro atx case when I started out and spend ages and money trying fit different shits into it.
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Baa?21242 Posts
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=11489032
Here's a build that mahini (you're awesome, thanks <3) put together for me really quickly as a guide/rough draft sort of thing. (I kinda just went "ooh shiny" at most of the stuff. I feel so clueless ) He told me to check this with other people as I start researching myself, so yeah, anyone have anything to say about any of these parts/have personal experience/suggestions for something better/cheaper/etc.?
Budget: ~$1000
Main goals: SCII, Diablo 3, run Windows 7, and possibly upgrade in the next few years if needed.
(PS researching computer parts is hard work @_@)
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Looks good, solid parts. That system is considerably more capable than what you need for you "main goals" - you should be OK.
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On August 09 2009 12:55 CharlieMurphy wrote:
I've read this statistic like 50 times online but I built my entire computer from online and dodged it all. Here it is anyways: 25% of all online parts do not work and need to be RMA'd. The only exception to this is my mobo came with the south bridge heat sink un fastened and it was quite a bitch to get back on.
Another somewhat technical tip is that when installing the CPU into a MOBO it is freaking scary, it makes ridiculous crunch and requires a great deal of force to clamp down. (even when you check and recheck that it is in the correct position).
Protip, use newegg.com for most/all purchases, I found most of the shit cheaper on there. But I dunno if you are from USA.
I've done 6 full builds for me/brother/friends and I used newegg for all of them. Still have not gotten a dead on arrival. So +1 on the newegg. Use it if you're in the states.
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As an option you can choose to drop to a Q6600 + P45/X48 Mobo + DDR2 and with the money you save get an aftermarket cpu cooler. Not only will your hardware run cooler/quieter but it gives you significant headroom to overclock with, and the q6600 is a ridiculous overclocker. On the other hand it is not quite as good and it isn't futureproof. IMO i7 isn't a huge upgrade over Core2 and unless you want to run Crossfire its not really worth it. Theres a ton of threads online comparing the i7 920 to the Q6600 so if you want, you can do your own research.
The Freezer 7 Pro is a popular heatsink due to its price/performance : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134
If you want the top of the line heatsink then go for a Thermalright Ultra Extreme (TRUE). For some reason its discontinued on Newegg though =/.
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q6600 is built on a a way older architecture. the core i7 at stock probably still performs better than the q6600 at maximum overclock and will run cooler while doing it. not to mention people have overclocked the i7 920 past 3.2ghz. i wish people would stop recommending the q6600, it was a great processor back in the day and when 45nm quads were still new it was a huge bargain, but not so much anymore.
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Baa?21242 Posts
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hm. it looks like a lot of the socket 1366 boards have similar problems. i don't know if it's a common issue but i wouldn't be too concerned about it. newegg usually has superb customer service so you can rma it within 30 days if it has problems or just use the manufacturers warranty. of course, this wouldn't be the optimal situation but i don't think changing boards would do much but raise the price.
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On August 10 2009 15:34 mahnini wrote:
q6600 is built on a a way older architecture. the core i7 at stock probably still performs better than the q6600 at maximum overclock and will run cooler while doing it. not to mention people have overclocked the i7 920 past 3.2ghz. i wish people would stop recommending the q6600, it was a great processor back in the day and when 45nm quads were still new it was a huge bargain, but not so much anymore.
Yes it is a much older architecture, but if you are purely gaming on this pc the new architecture doesn't offer much. Most new games are so gpu bound that an increase in processor speed does not result in an equivalent increase in fps. At best, i7 gives about a 10% increase in fps and at worst, equivalent frames. For a pure gaming pc, the only reason to go i7 is to go crossfire. If it were a PC for video editing or hardcore number crunching I would go with Nehalem because it has so much bandwidth but for gaming applications the benefit isn't there. With regards to the price differential, it isn't as large as it was half a year ago but you can still save ~$150-250 going with a Core2 setup over i7. All I'm saying is that there are options out there and that buying the best and newest isn't always the most cost efficient.
On August 10 2009 15:44 Carnivorous Sheep wrote:I'm reading the reviews for the recommended motherboard ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128375 ) and I'm starting to get paranoid about all the people getting duds on this...can someone shed some light on this? Should I look into a different motherboard?
It looks to me that other x58 boards in your price range all have about 10% DoA =/. Take solace in the fact that Newegg's RMA policy is incredibly easy, if anything is wrong with your board just ship it back to Newegg and you can either get a refund or an exchange in just a few days.
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if we're talking about pure gaming he can have a q9550 for $20 more than the q6600 or a phenom x3 720 for $100 cheaper than the q66 and still have an upgradable platform. the q66 simply isnt a viable choice anymore.
a core2 setup might be $200 cheaper but by Q1 next year it's effectively a dead platform. buying it now is a terrible choice.
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On August 10 2009 16:22 mahnini wrote:
if we're talking about pure gaming he can have a q9550 for $20 more than the q6600 or a phenom x3 720 for $100 cheaper than the q66 and still have an upgradable platform. the q66 simply isnt a viable choice anymore.
a core2 setup might be $200 cheaper but by Q1 next year it's effectively a dead platform. buying it now is a terrible choice.
Wow, had no idea the Q6600 was still $200 -_-. Yeah, in that case a Q9550 would make much more sense.
And there's nothing wrong with a dead platform if you don't upgrade constantly. If you upgrade every 3 years or so you're going to replace most everything anyways. Even if the socket is the same (which it probably wont be) you're going to want a new chipset at that point. I can see how you'd want the newest platform if you plan to get parts every year or so but its pretty expensive for minimal benefit.
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Baa?21242 Posts
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Two of your links are dead :p
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Baa?21242 Posts
Sad D:
Screw it, can I just take the exact stuff mahini laid out for me and use it lol?
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I'd definitely recommend building your first computer with an experienced friend. Even though it's pretty easy to put the parts together, you'll appreciate the peace of mind of having someone else there to help. Otherwise, you'll spend 3-4 hours worrying that you're screwing something up and going to destroy a few hundred dollars worth of parts. Plus, it helps to have someone else to troubleshoot because 90% of the time your computer isn't going to turn on the first time you try (PSU set on wrong voltage, RAM not seated properly, jumpers hooked up wrong, etc.). And yes, you probably will hate life, yourself, and computers during the process, especially if you cut yourself on some sharp edges, drop a screw behind the motherboard, or something like that.
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might want to looks for an aftermarket heatsink fan. if it's anything like the c2d coolers it's going to be loud as butt.
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Baa?21242 Posts
Bah, unexpected circumstances are popping up, I might have to end up leaving for school a bit earlier than I thought. With that in mind, I was looking at Ava Direct and just having them build my computer for me. From what I see (on paper, I guess), this actually seems like a great idea right now. Thoughts?
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Vatican City State491 Posts
I wonder if you just cant find someone who would build a computer for you if you paid them. Perhaps some skilled friend (you could work together)/ or maybe a local shop.
If you decide that someone else should assemble the computer for you (even including big shops!), you should always inspect if you received all the right parts! This might be a problem if they will seal the case, so maybe use a program like EVEREST to check the components. This sounds unreal but they "made a mistake" and put less ram in my comp (this is very easy to spot of course).
In the past they would also try to cheat on graphic cards and mount worse ones than requested.
If you will decide to build it alone, you should take care when preparing/unpacking the parts - static electricity might kill them. Pros use special rings that they put on their hands, but you can just discharge by holding something metallic that connects to the ground (a radiator etc).
Also take care when choosing the case - some of them can have sharp edges and you can cut yourself (obviously it might be hard to see when purchasing through the internet...).
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On August 11 2009 10:46 ShadowDrgn wrote:I'd definitely recommend building your first computer with an experienced friend. Even though it's pretty easy to put the parts together, you'll appreciate the peace of mind of having someone else there to help. Otherwise, you'll spend 3-4 hours worrying that you're screwing something up and going to destroy a few hundred dollars worth of parts. Plus, it helps to have someone else to troubleshoot because 90% of the time your computer isn't going to turn on the first time you try (PSU set on wrong voltage, RAM not seated properly, jumpers hooked up wrong, etc.). And yes, you probably will hate life, yourself, and computers during the process, especially if you cut yourself on some sharp edges, drop a screw behind the motherboard, or something like that.
[looks at his mangled hands]
[recalls the fear with which he wielded the magnetically tipped screwdriver]
Yeah life freaking sucks, if I need to take my fan off again I am going to hurt someone. Probably myself for ever bothering with OC.
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EPT
