Building a Computer

[ResonanceSD]

I didn't get the new sandy bridge. I had originally planned to buy one but before I could order they had the recall, so I could not get a compatible motherboard new.

Ok well he's getting a 2400. Which is SB, which means it comes with a bitchin' stock cooler.

http://www.overclock.net/attachments/intel-cpus/189183d1294625396-i7-2600k-stock-cooler-question-img_0656.jpg

and for comparison, here's what i use on a 2600k

http://www.overclock.net/attachments/air-cooling/163044d1278553272-thermalright-thermalright-silver-arrow-price-revealed-dsc_0347.jpg

 

[grindedstone]

Depends on what you are going to do with the computer.

 

[yundex]

That silver arrow looks nice. I just bought a self contained water cooling system (H50) because it was the best they had at best buy at the time. I didn't feel like waiting on shipping from newegg for one of the better fans. If I ever overclock though, who knows. Most likely my i7 will die of natural causes before we get a game that can truly test it.

Edit: for some reason the forums won't let me quote, FML -_-

 

[Scizophrenic Llama]

I'm looking to build a computer this summer and as it's to be my first, I was hoping the lovely people of the escapist could help me out.

Right now I'm looking at:
CPU-i5 2400 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074

GPU-Radeon HD 6870 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161349

Storage-Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433

Memory-8GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311

Motherboard-Biostar TH67B http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138308

Power-Antec 550W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

Case-Antec http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

Disk Drive-Asus http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Any recommendations that could be made would be appreciated. Also, will I need to buy any cords or cables or are they usually included with the appropriate parts?

*Edited to accommodate suggestions.*

I actually did a thread [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.291303-Looking-For-Advice-on-a-PC-Setup] last week doing the same thing, so I figured I'd link that so you can see the recommendations on there.

Sandy Bridge does awesome CPUs, so good choice on that. I've been an Nvidia guy all my life so I can't say much about the GPU there, aside from if you want to check it out GTX 560 Ti/570 are good cards, but definitely more expensive than that 6870. The storage device you chose is out of stock, depending on when you're planning on getting this upgrade you might have to decide on another one. The hard-drive I have on there now came recommended from about four other Escapists, so it's worth checking out.

Your memory is exactly what I ordered, I was getting the 1600s but they sold out literally the night before I could order. Never heard of that brand of motherboard, but it has great reviews aside from the DoA complaint(pretty much have to ignore those unless they are outnumbering the rest of the reviews).

I'd say go with a 650 or 750W power supply. CORSAIR is beastly when it comes to this.

Your case is good for now, but you might just want to up to a slightly bigger one with more fans if you intend on upgrading at some point in the future. Need that cooling and space for bigger power supplies and whatnot. Cool Master does good cases.

Also, make sure you are getting/using an operating system that uses 64-bit as it allows you to make full use of your RAM [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778%28v=vs.85%29.aspx#physical_memory_limits_windows_7].

Disk drive is fine, no need to get all fancy there.

 

[ThePuzzldPirate]

Power-Antec 550W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

I looked on down the comments and saw that you had originally picked out a 1000W power supply, which is a lot of overkill. But here you've got just barely enough, if that. If I were you, I would buy at the very least a 650W and at the most an 850W. A power supply is something that you really, really shouldn't overkill, but you really shouldn't underdo it either. Your rig should probably have a 650 in it, maybe 750. But 550 is low, and I don't think it's a good idea to stick with that one.

I agree with this as well, I would go a little bigger, it, might be be good to overkill a bit in case you change the parts for higher if you don't like them, You won't have to go and buy a new one.

 

[BigTortoise]

Power-Antec 550W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

I looked on down the comments and saw that you had originally picked out a 1000W power supply, which is a lot of overkill. But here you've got just barely enough, if that. If I were you, I would buy at the very least a 650W and at the most an 850W. A power supply is something that you really, really shouldn't overkill, but you really shouldn't underdo it either. Your rig should probably have a 650 in it, maybe 750. But 550 is low, and I don't think it's a good idea to stick with that one.

I agree with this as well, I would go a little bigger, it, might be be good to overkill a bit in case you change the parts for higher if you don't like them, You won't have to go and buy a new one.

Well the 750w he has selected right now is a fantastic deal I must say. 750 is probably the perfect number for any sane build.

 

[mornal]

I think at this point I'm pretty much set. The only thing I'm concerned about is the hard drive. I know Seagate has been having some problems but I haven't heard if they've been ironed out yet, or if it's still safer to go with Western Digital.

 

[synobal]

I think at this point I'm pretty much set. The only thing I'm concerned about is the hard drive. I know Seagate has been having some problems but I haven't heard if they've been ironed out yet, or if it's still safer to go with Western Digital.

I've still got a working Western Digital 80 gig drive I bought when that was the largest they sold. I use it for my OS drive it's a great drive. That said I bought a Seagate drive a year and a half ago and it's been fine as well.

 

[Scizophrenic Llama]

I think at this point I'm pretty much set. The only thing I'm concerned about is the hard drive. I know Seagate has been having some problems but I haven't heard if they've been ironed out yet, or if it's still safer to go with Western Digital.

If you do go with Western Digital, I've always been told go with caviar black, the blue and greens have failed on a few people I know. Have yet to hear about black dying on anybody.

 

[urahara75]

1000W is probably a bit overkill for that system. For less money you could get one that's ~800W which is better quality. I've always had good luck with coolermaster PSU's, but that's just personal preference.

As for the case, I've got the older generation of that case and my only complaint is the lack of room. It's pretty cramped and tough to route cables to keep good airflow. My computer has never overheated or anything crazy, but if I could do it again I'd go for a slighty bigger case.

Avaholic03 hit it on the head here, especially concerning the size of your case. Compare the [a href="http://www.hisdigital.com/un/product2-574.shtml#specification"]length of your card[/a] (the table on upper-ight of the page) and the relative width of the [a href="http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=MjQ="]Antec 300's interior[/a]. If the card fits at all, it's bound to be wedged up against/alongside/into something else once your case is populated with components. Seriously, at least look into something a little larger for that beef-ish graphics card (I recommend an Antec 600, DF-30 or larger case for your build).

 

[BigTortoise]

I think at this point I'm pretty much set. The only thing I'm concerned about is the hard drive. I know Seagate has been having some problems but I haven't heard if they've been ironed out yet, or if it's still safer to go with Western Digital.

If you feel you want to go with WD, go for the caviar black:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

1000W is probably a bit overkill for that system. For less money you could get one that's ~800W which is better quality. I've always had good luck with coolermaster PSU's, but that's just personal preference.

As for the case, I've got the older generation of that case and my only complaint is the lack of room. It's pretty cramped and tough to route cables to keep good airflow. My computer has never overheated or anything crazy, but if I could do it again I'd go for a slighty bigger case.

Avaholic03 hit it on the head here, especially concerning the size of your case. Compare the [a href="http://www.hisdigital.com/un/product2-574.shtml#specification"]length of your card[/a] (the table on upper-ight of the page) and the relative width of the [a href="http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=MjQ="]Antec 300's interior[/a]. If the card fits at all, it's bound to be wedged up against/alongside/into something else once your case is populated with components. Seriously, at least look into something a little larger for that beef-ish graphics card (I recommend an Antec 600, DF-30 or larger case for your build).

Regarding you I will assure that the Antec 300 is one big ass case. Will hold whatever. Hell I can stock drinks in it.

 

[ResonanceSD]

I think at this point I'm pretty much set. The only thing I'm concerned about is the hard drive. I know Seagate has been having some problems but I haven't heard if they've been ironed out yet, or if it's still safer to go with Western Digital.

Samsung. Spinpont. F3

Or the F4 2TB

Awesome drives.


And if you're still puzzled about a case and can live with having one for the next 20 years, go for the NZXT Phantom. Full tower, Most moddable case in existence, comes with 2 WC loops, space for 7 HDD's, 5 Drive bays and I've managed to shoehorn in some of the bigger computer parts on the market into it with little difficulty.


EDIT: If you're after sizes, I fit a GTX 580 and a Thermalright silver arrow into it and it's still looking like it can hold more. The SA is about the size of a kid's head and a GTX 580 is a full sized, two slot GPU.