Build Template: My new machine

After looking at many posts I have decided to try my first build instead of buying a prebuilt. I have no problem with the mechanical aspeect of the build. The compatibility of the components is where I need help. Here is what I intend to go with:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811156209
RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WB530P Black 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case With 530W Modular LED Power ... - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDet...st=Combo.269251
AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Callisto 3.1GHz Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Processor Model HDZ550WFGIBOX - Retail
MSI NF750-G55 AM3 NVIDIA nForce 750a SLI HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820227324
OCZ Special Ops Urban Elite 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model ... - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814125266
GIGABYTE GV-N250ZL-1GI GeForce GTS 250 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822136283
Western Digital Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive -Bare Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16827118032
Sony Optiarc DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model AD-7241S-0B LightScribe Support - OEM

I also plan to run windows 7 home premium. I know i need thermal compound but what about cables? The hard drive is listed as a bare drive so I believe I need a eSATA cable, is this correct? Others?

Any help would be great.

Just realized this should have been under the build section. If anyone knows how to move it that would be great.

I'm busy atm, but I'll have a look in a wee while. Also, how much you willing to spend and what you gonna use the comp for?

Ps. Great to see someone leap right in there willing to build, good to see!

Edited by IrishGrimReaper, 04 November 2009 - 02:03 PM.

Moved for you. Now in System Building and Upgrading

If you're going to use the stock heatsink, DO NOT use thermal compound. There is TIM already applied to the heatsink.
Furthermore, get the case and PSU separately. The included PSUs are usually junk.

The COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UB with the OCZ GameXStream OCZ600GXSSLI 600W would be a good combination.

Would you ever use lightscribe? If you go with the Sony Optiarc Black 24X without lightscribe instead it will save you some money.

I would also suggest going ATI because they give you more for your money. The ATI Radeon HD 5750 would be good.

Here's a Crossfire-supported MB: ASUS M4A77TD Pro
It only comes with one SATA cable, so you'll need another.

Edited by RainbowSix, 04 November 2009 - 05:14 PM.

Thanks for the info. I kept the case but switched the power supply to the OCZ. Haven't decided if I am going to switch the video card. The Radeon sounds good but wasn't crazy about the mobo.

After reading further, the GTS 250 is actually better than the Radeon HD 5750. Don't change your video card to that one.
The Radeon HD 4890 would offer much better performance than either, but I'm not sure if you'd be willing to spend that much.

Edited by RainbowSix, 04 November 2009 - 11:01 PM.

OK, Here is the new lineup changes:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811156063
RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WB Black 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817341001
OCZ GameXStream OCZ600GXSSLI 600W ATX12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDet...st=Combo.280155
AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Callisto 3.1GHz Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Processor Model HDZ550WFGIBOX - Retail
OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P16004GK - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDet...2535.13-157-167
ASRock M3A785GXH/128M AM3 AMD 785G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

I went to this configuration to take advantage of some of the package deals and with the mobo to add firewire.

What do you think?

Edited by bilkyb, 05 November 2009 - 12:51 AM.

That MB supports crossfire but does not support SLI. Is that okay? If you're going with the GTS 250 you probably should find a MB which supports SLI, just in case.
Just be aware that the slot directly under the video card(s) will be unusable because most video cards take two expansion slots.

Edited by RainbowSix, 05 November 2009 - 07:08 AM.

To possibly take advantage of the crossfire in the future, what video card would you use that would be comparable to the GTS 250?

Also, how much you willing to spend and what you gonna use the comp for?

Tbh. Or did I miss you post it

If you don't post a budget, I'll assume your budget is endless. If so be it, get a bigger case and a 5850 :D

I do suggest change the case to something else. Antec 300 would work wonders.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...9-042-_-Product

So far I am at about $700 after rebates and don't want to go up more than say $50 or so. I still need to get my OS and when all is said and done I want to be below $1000. I am also thinking of another MB, http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDet...2535.13-128-398, let me know what you think.

I have looked at the Antec case and my only concern was external bays, not sure if it would be an issue or not. I plan on adding a card reader to go with the dvd/cd drive and maybe a blueray player in the future. That would fill it.

To possibly take advantage of the crossfire in the future, what video card would you use that would be comparable to the GTS 250?

The Radeon HD 4850 is almost identical in performance.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814125258

Edited by RainbowSix, 05 November 2009 - 04:36 PM.

Tbh. With $1000 I would get this.

Better CPU. A CPU cooler for it.
Better case, Lian Li rock.
The motherboard will come with Sata cables.

Edited by IrishGrimReaper, 05 November 2009 - 05:29 PM.

That's nice though I would change a few things. In IrishGrimReapers setup, you cannot use DDR3 RAM with that Gigabyte motherboard as it only supports DDR2. This is because that motherboard allows for AM2 which only supports DDR2, also the full non-OEM version of Windows 7 is a waste. For reference, the GTS 250 is basically a rebranded 9800 GTX. Anyway, below is also an alternate setup.

Case: Broadway Com Corp R-910 Black thick Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - This is a large full ATX case which means you can install the huge graphics cards and fans in it. This makes it perfect for future upgrades. $79

Motherboard: ASUS M4A77TD Pro AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - This supports AM3 processors only and allows for DDR3 along with Crossfire. Since you're getting a graphics card, you do not need on-board video. $89 (Before $10 mail-in rebate)

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz - I would suggest the Phenom II 965, but the difference in price for an added 200MHz. is not worth it. Like all other Black Edition processors, this one has an unlocked multiplier. $175

Graphics Card: SAPPHIRE 100283L Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB - This card is on par with the HD 4890 in many ways, but this is a much better card than either the 4890 or the GTS 250. This card is smaller, consumes less energy, produces less heat, allows for Crossfire, and has DirectX 11. Alternatively, you could go for the SAPPHIRE 100282SR Radeon HD 5850 1GB which is about the second most powerful card on the market for about $150 more. $169

Power Supply: OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ700MXSP 700W - This produces enough power for a 5770 Crossfire setup, so there is upgrade potential built-in. Power cables to all SATA devices come with this, so you don't need to purchase any adapters. $99 (Before $30 mail-in rebate)

RAM: Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 - This motherboard requires DDR3 memory. Remember, with 4GB or more of RAM, you need a 64-bit operating system. $79

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB - Plenty of space. $79

Optical Drive: Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - A simple optical drive. $27

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - This OEM version is the same as the full retail edition, only the licensing and pricing is different. Basically, it says that you cannot move this copy of Windows to a new PC whereas the full retail version allows you to move it. A PC, by Microsoft's terms, is defined as a motherboard, so if you get a new motherboard, you get a new PC. You can replace everything else and not violate the EULA, besides, the AM3 socket will be around for a while so there is little reason to switch out the motherboard for the foreseeable future. $106

Aftermarket Heatsink and Fan: COOLER MASTER Intel Core i7 compatible V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - This cooler will work with the i7's but it will also work with 939/AM2/AM2+/AM3. Also, it comes with a free sample of thermal compound, so you don't have to buy any. $59

Total Price: $970 (Before rebates)

Edited by DJBPace07, 05 November 2009 - 10:56 PM.