Another new PC post...

Hey all, I've been reading through the posts on this thread, and have been to about every online PC store out there configuring my replacement PC. I went to newegg and loaded up a (mostly) matching shopping cart. If the wall of text offends your eyes, I do apologize, and please feel free to move on to the next thread :)

Quick version of the pc build: i7-960; 12G ram; 40 G SSD, 2 T data; Nvidia 580, etc.

My question is this: The price difference between ordering from ibuypower.com and putting it together myself is around $400 or so. For the extra $400, I save at least 6 hours of frustration putting the system together, am confident that all the parts will be compatible, and get a 3 year warranty.

Do you think the parts listed below are compatible? The main difference in the builds is that newegg doesn't have a liquid-cooling package in stock right now (and I've never installed liquid cooling, so not sure how ready I am to put that together myself anyway). I'm leaning toward buying the setup from ibuypower and saving myself the grief of trying to put it together myself in my limited time off work...ibuypower was a lot cheaper than other sites such as alienware, falcon n-w, abspc, etc.

1

Antec Nine Hundred Two V3 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Item #: N82E16811129097
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant


$119.99
$109.99
1

Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARS 2TB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822136514
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$20.00 Instant


$99.99
$79.99
1

MSI N580GTX Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video ...
Item #: N82E16814127567
Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy


$504.99
1

NVIDIA Free Just Cause 2 + Mafia II Coupon
Item #: N82E16800999242
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
-$59.99 Saving


$59.99
$0.00
1

Antec TruePower Quattro TPQ-1000 1000W Continuous Power ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified ...
Item #: N82E16817371012
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant


$199.99
$189.99
1

Kingston HyperX 12GB (3 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) XMP Desktop Memory Model KHX1600C9D3K3/12GX
Item #: N82E16820104127
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy


$169.99
1

Kingston DataTraveler 102 4GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive (Green) Model DT102/4GBZ
Item #: N82E16820139250
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
-$8.99 Saving


$8.99
$0.00
1

GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813128423
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card


$209.99
1

Intel Core i7-960 Bloomfield 3.2GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80601960
Item #: N82E16819115224
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy


$289.99
1

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116754
Return Policy: Software Standard Return Policy


$99.99
1

ZALMAN CNPS9900MAX-B 135mm Long life bearing CPU Cooler Blue LED
Item #: N82E16835118074
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate


$79.99
1

LG Black Blu-ray Disc Combo SATA Model UH10LS20 LightScribe Support - OEM
Item #: N82E16827136183
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy


$68.99
1

imation 8.5GB 8X DVD+R DL Inkjet Printable 25 Packs Disc Model 26732
Item #: N82E16817286063
Return Policy: Consumable Item Refund Only Return Policy
-$16.99 Saving


$16.99
$0.00
1

Intel X25-V SSDSA2MP040G2K5 2.5" 40GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Item #: N82E16820167030
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy


$94.99
Subtotal: $1,898.89


This is the newegg list.

ALSO: Is the 580 vid card overkill? My goal is just to have 5x wows running w/ at least the tank and healer at ultimate settings, with no hardware-caused lag.

When buying parts from newegg you can check the specs of every piece and/or read reviews. There should be no doubt that all the pieces will work together. I cant imagine buying parts without knowing theyre going to work together. Ive only put three computers together but it was easy every time.

A 40g ssd is not going to hold windows 7 and wow. At least not with the page file, the hyberfile, and old wow patch data. Even doing away with all that i doubt it would fit.

Are you going to overclock? If not, why get a liquid cooling system?

Isnt this system overkill for wow? It seems like something to run five rift accounts with or having just to have.:)

Thanks for the heads up on the SSD. I'll upsize it. No i'm not planning on overclocking, but the water cooling is standard on the pre-built system and there isn't an option to remove it. It probably is overkill, which is why I posted here. If I can dial down a couple components and still run 5x wow w/ no problems, I'd be happy to save a few hundred bucks.

Building a computer is actually very easy.

Pick the processor you want. Get the OEM version If buying a cooler.
Pick a cooler. You can do this from the reviews Of your processor or just look at the most popular coolers and make sure it lists your cpu socket as one it accepts. You dont need water if you arent going to OC.
Choose a motherboard that will accept that processors socket size - you can do this from the reviews of the cpu you chose.
Choose ram that the mobo will accept. Just look at the specs of the mobo, often the reviews of the mobo will akso say what ram they bought.
Choose a video card.
Add an ssd, a hard drive, and a dvdrw drive.
Choose a power supply. Corsair keeps winning awards for theirs.
Pick a case if you dont already have one. I like Thermaltake cases because they have a lot of room and are well thought out.

Then you just wait until the stuff arrives. Put the cpu in the mobo. Apply paste. Attach the fan/cooler. Screw in the mobo. Install the power supply. Add the ram. Add the video card. Install and connect all the drives. Hook up all the power cables. Attach the peripherals and boot up the system to make sure you dont get any POST errors from bad parts or operator error. If that works, stick in the windows cd, press reset and off you go.

1000W is way more than you need.
What is the 40GB SSD going to support?
Why did you choose 1366 over 1155?
I do not understand why so many people are building 1366 systems right now.

Go for an LGA-1155 socket instead (sandy bridge) Its basicly the future sockets from Intel

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Glenni

Go for an LGA-1155 socket instead (sandy bridge) Its basicly the future sockets from Intel

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I would not buy that socket to future proof. Intel already has a new one in the works. I would buy the 1155 - Sandy Bridge as it kicks ass. For the cost, nothing comes close right now. Not sure what the 960 is rated but I think it is more than you need for WoW.
Agree on the SSD, get a 120 it you are looking at Windows and WoW on one drive.
$400 is a fair price to buy with the warrenty, but I have always built my own and always save more then promised.

How does the new 990 Extreme compare to a 2600?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ualaa

How does the new 990 Extreme compare to a 2600?

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The 990X is a glorified 980X... it doesn't even have a new stepping to it. It's $700 more expensive than the 2600K, has 2 more
cores, and [the 980X] loses most of the benchmarks to a stock clocked 2600K [3.4GHz]. Seeing as you can probably take a
2600K to 4.5GHz very easily on air cooling I would never suggest at this point to waste your money on any of the EE processors
for the dying 1366 platform.

Now, before someone jumps on me... you said the 2600, not the 2600K. I'm only assuming you meant the 2600K because
you're comparing it to a 990X.

I went with 1366 just because that's how the pre-built site configured it up, and I don't know much about CPUs, so I just went w/ their suggestion. I've upgraded the 40G SSD to 120G in my projected build. I'll look into dialing down the CPU if the one I picked is overkill. I read on Toms Hardware that the higher end Vid cards are currently limited by the CPU capacity though in terms of frame rate, so was thinking a stronger CPU would be of benefit. Not so?

maybe the question you should tell us is all of the uses for this computer. 5 boxing is ram and data exchange bound, not FPS or CPU speed.
I understand your trying to compare apples to apples, but the end result means more and can be arrived at in different ways.

If you are serious about water cooling then I can't stress to you enough that you need to visit Dangerden.com. The guys at Danger Den know water cooling as well as the veteran people here know about boxing. They might be a little on the high side price wise, but once you finish it up you can be sure to have a solid water cooling system that will last you the life of you system. The site has a wealth of information and videos to assist you with getting started.

I built a water cooled system 2 years ago, and a few things I learned real quick. always use copper blocks. never mix metal types in your cooling system, and for coolant (keep it simple) biocide and a anti corrosive is all you need.


I wonder if I was the Oldest Lurker on these forums I have been visiting this site religiously for 2 years and boxing about the same time and this is my first post :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sildenafil

I went with 1366 just because that's how the pre-built site configured it up, and I don't know much about CPUs, so I just went w/ their suggestion. I've upgraded the 40G SSD to 120G in my projected build. I'll look into dialing down the CPU if the one I picked is overkill. I read on Toms Hardware that the higher end Vid cards are currently limited by the CPU capacity though in terms of frame rate, so was thinking a stronger CPU would be of benefit. Not so?

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You said you were using ibuypower.com... well they have 1155 systems to customize the same way for just about the same
price. Just because 1366 is a bigger number than 1155 doesn't necessarily make it a better choice. If you clicked on a 1366
system they wouldn't have suggest an 1155 CPU as it obviously isn't compatible. I was wondering why everyone seems to be
purchasing 1366 systems all of a sudden because:

Code:

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- It's been out for over 2 years and is near the end of its life.
- The prices aren't any cheaper than they were 6 months ago.
- 1155 is the new platform for around the same price and is better.
- AMD is coming out with a whole new platform in a few months that will drive
  1366/1155 and future Intel CPU prices down [cross your fingers].
- LGA 2011 is due out in Q3/Q4 of this year which should decimate everything.

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This is the year that we see all kinds of new stuff hit the computer hardware market, I just can't recommend buying a 2.5 year
old platform when all this awesome new stuff just came out and much more is to come. If you've lasted this long w/o an
upgrade I can only recommend that you do your best to try to last a little longer -- it should pay off. I'm running a Q9550
system and I hate every minute of it when everyone is flashing their 1155/1366 systems in my face. When LGA 2011 is
released... we'll see whose e-peen is the biggest!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wulfsige

If you are serious about water cooling then I can't stress to you enough that you need to visit Dangerden.com. The guys at Danger Den know water cooling as well as the veteran people here know about boxing. They might be a little on the high side price wise, but once you finish it up you can be sure to have a solid water cooling system that will last you the life of you system. The site has a wealth of information and videos to assist you with getting started.

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Try to keep up oldest lurker/new guy...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sildenafil

No i'm not planning on overclocking, but the water cooling is standard on the pre-built system and there isn't an option to remove it.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fenril

Try to keep up oldest lurker/new guy...

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I will see what I can do. not promising anything though ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wulfsige

I will see what I can do. not promising anything though ;)

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+1 For Danger Den, though.

The pc will pretty much be just for WoW. I'll do some general use stuff, but no heavy video, photo, or music editing. If I can get away with less-than-bleeding-edge parts and do WoW x 5 with all settings at max, then Id definitely be all for it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wulfsige

I wonder if I was the Oldest Lurker on these forums I have been visiting this site religiously for 2 years and boxing about the same time and this is my first post :(

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No I think that may be me :rolleyes: I could be wrong

but ask yourself Sildenafil do you have to get the latest and greatest I know some folks have deep pockets but me personally I would wait let the new stuff come out ,but still get the LGA 1155 but now at a much cheaper price. :o

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alcattle

maybe the question you should tell us is all of the uses for this computer. 5 boxing is ram and data exchange bound, not FPS or CPU speed.

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Well FPS (lag) is ram and data excahange bound, not CPU speed bound; which I think is what you ment.

But ya thats really something that most everyone dosn't get and everyone wants the best processor possible and for wow its just a waste of money thats better spent on video ram or system ram in my opinion.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sildenafil

The pc will pretty much be just for WoW. I'll do some general use stuff, but no heavy video, photo, or music editing. If I can get away with less-than-bleeding-edge parts and do WoW x 5 with all settings at max, then Id definitely be all for it.

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scanning over the other posts, have concern that you are getting a 40g SSD, At that size, you really can't fit wow + bare bones windows 7 HomeP and from what I have seen, you really want to have the OS AND wow on an SSD... also you shouldn't ever get too close to the actual capacity of an SSD drive that isn't just doing reads with no writes.

1366 is fine especially if you want to max out the ram as sam said and besides, "future proofing" isn't really reasonable for wow pc's. 2 years from now, you will have an entire new system minus possibly case and maybe power supply. If you don't go out and buy the absolute newest components as they are released, then you have no business future proofing.