Home Built Computers

[SuperChief]

Stealing some mojo from another thread, I was curious as to who here has built theiir own computer? If you do, would you mind sharing what hardware/software you're using and what you primarily use the computer for (gaming, home office, etc)?

Also, links would be greatly appreciated to the hardware parts, but if you're too lazy, it's all good. I'm going to start building my own system, and I'm looking for some advice.

Thanks in advance.

[SLAG]

I built one back in Feb of 2010 - The Wife gave me permission to use the tax refund for it
I made my thread here: http://chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=223320

Here are my specs:

CPU:
Intel Core i7 920 - 2.66 GHZ
$199
Motherboard:
Foxconn Flaming Blade X58
$158
RAM:
6GB Triple Channel DDR3-1600mhz
$159
HDD:
WD Blue 500GB SATA
$52
Video Card:
PNY GeForce GT 220 -week i know but its good enough for now
1GB DDR2 GRAM HDMI OUT
$50
Case:
Thermaltake V3 Black Edition
$35
PSU:
CoolerMaster 500W Extreme Power Plus
$35
Windows 7 Pro X64
$65
(will be dual-booting with Linux)
TOTAL: $753 Before Tax

Monitor that I bought for X-mas:
Hannspree 25.1" with HDMI
$200

$953 w/ Monitor

I think I did pretty good - I plan to upgrade the Graphics card eventually and Overclock at some point - but I'm leaving it stock for now

[pr_capone]

My current build which I put together in Feb of '09. Keep in mind, I paid a premium at the time because I wanted cutting edge tech (which this stuff was back in '09)

Intel Core i7 920 Proc - $199
MSI X58 Platinum MoBo - $150
G.SKILL 6GB 240-Pin 1333MHz DDR3 Memory - $139
Radeon HD 4850 1GB Video Card - $149
XION 850W PSU - $89
COOLER MASTER Storm Scout Case - $99
Seagate Barracuda 7200 RPM 320GB HD - $62
Western Digital 7200 RPM 2TB Green HD - $89
Onkyo 5.1 Digital Surround Sound - $299
25" I-INC 1080p Monitor - $145
26' Dynex 720p Monitor/TV - $80 (Used on CL)

My set up is beastly. I can probably run this computer for another 3 years without having to upgrade anything at all... and still easily keep up with most everything I want to do.

I'm set up to pretty much do anything I want with my pc. I edit and convert video & music and do some heavy gaming though my heavy school load has pretty much limited my rig to a homework machine anymore. lol

[Fish]

Nice system for under $650...

Cart Item List:

Qty.	Product Description		Savings	Total Price
1	LG Black Super Multi SATA WH12LS30 LightScribe Support Item #:N82E16827136226 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy			$84.99
1	Optical Quantum 25GB 4X BD-R 5 Packs Disc Model OBBDR04LT-05 Item #:N82E16817607053 Return Policy: Consumable Item Refund Only Return Policy			$6.99
1	Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" SATA 6.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive Item #:N82E16822148697 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy		-$5.00 Instant	$64.99 $59.99
2	ASUS M4A78LT-M Micro ATX AMD Motherboard Item #:N82E16813131672 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy			$139.98
1	HIS Radeon HD 6670 H667F1GD Video Card with Eyefinity Item #:N82E16814161375 Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy			$97.99
1	Thermaltake V4 Black Edition VM30001W2Z Black Computer Case With Side Panel Window Item #:N82E16811133179 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy		$10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card	$49.99
1	RAIDMAX HYBRID 2 RX-530SS 530W Modular LED Power Supply Item #:N82E16817152028 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy		-$15.00 Instant	$54.99 $39.99
1	AMD Athlon II X4 640 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Item #:N82E16819103871 Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy			$99.99
1	G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Item #:N82E16820231416 Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy			$74.99
Grand Total:				$647.91

[SLAG]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Nice system for under $650...

Cart Item List:

Are you running it as a Hackentosh?

[Fish]

Originally Posted by SLAG

Are you running it as a Hackentosh?

No... actually that's a pretty similar build to what I put together for my father a month or so ago.

I've got a nice iMac at home for myself, that I can dual boot into Bootcamp Windows7 and run any game I want.

Hackintosh is a pain in the ass.

[Fish]

OK... let me fix the links.... maybe...

If you don't play hardcore games, subtract $100 and remove the video card.

Qty.	Product Description	Savings	Total Price
select item 1	quantity of item 1	Thermaltake V4 Black Edition Gaming Chassis Mid Tower Steel Computer Case Fully Black Powdered Interior VM30001W2Z Item #: N82E16811133179 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy	$10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card11-133-179	$49.99
select item 2	quantity of item 2	Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive Item #: N82E16822148697 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy Protect Your Investment (expand for options22-148-697|hide options22-148-697) Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge.(more info22-148-697.0.18) 1 year: $9.99 2 year: $14.99	-$5.00 Instant	$64.99 $59.99
select item 3	quantity of item 3	ASUS M4A78LT-M AM3 AMD 760G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard Item #: N82E16813131672 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy Protect Your Investment (expand for options13-131-672|hide options13-131-672) Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge.(more info13-131-672.0.120) 1 year: $9.99 2 year: $14.99		$139.98 ($69.99 each)
select item 4	quantity of item 4	HIS H667F1GD Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card with Eyefinity Item #: N82E16814161375 Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy Protect Your Investment (expand for options14-161-375|hide options14-161-375) Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge.(more info14-161-375.0.18) 1 year: $9.99 2 year: $14.99		$97.99
select item 5	quantity of item 5	RAIDMAX HYBRID 2 RX-530SS 530W ATX12V V2.2/ EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular LED Power Supply Item #: N82E16817152028 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy Protect Your Investment (expand for options17-152-028|hide options17-152-028) Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge.(more info17-152-028.0.18) 1 year: $5.99 2 year: $9.99	-$15.00 Instant	$54.99 $39.99
select item 6	quantity of item 6	G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBSR Item #: N82E16820231416 Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy		$74.99
select item 7	quantity of item 7	AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor ADX640WFGMBOX Item #: N82E16819103871 Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy Protect Your Investment (expand for options19-103-871|hide options19-103-871) Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge.(more info19-103-871.0.120) 1 year: $9.99 2 year: $14.99		$99.99
select item 8	quantity of item 8	LG Black Super Multi SATA WH12LS30 LightScribe Support - OEM Item #: N82E16827136226 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy Protect Your Investment (expand for options27-136-226S32284|hide options27-136-226S32284) Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge.(more info27-136-226.0.18) 1 year: $9.99 2 year: $14.99		$84.99
	1	Optical Quantum 25GB 4X BD-R 5 Packs Disc Model OBBDR04LT-05 Item #: N82E16817607053 Return Policy: Consumable Item Refund Only Return Policy	-$6.99 Saving	$6.99 $0.00
Subtotal:				$647.91

[BryanBusby]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Find the right deals and MicroCenter does just fine. Got my MOBO and Processor there several years ago, and don't think the internet has beaten the price I paid to date.

This. When I built my system a little over a year ago, MicroCenter was beating newegg on CPU's by $50-100.

Originally Posted by KC Fish

ATI has had better video chipsets than NVidia for a while now, and I'll have words with anyone who says otherwise....

This flip flops so damn much.

[SuperChief]

Thanks for the excellent advice everyone. This is something I'm pretty pumped about - not only having a sweet new desktop for gaming but also learning about some of the inner workings of a computer. A few more questions I have:

Is there a clear difference between Intel and AMD in terms of performance?
Can someone explain overclocking in a little bit more detail?

Thank you all again. You guys rock.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by SuperChief

Thanks for the excellent advice everyone. This is something I'm pretty pumped about - not only having a sweet new desktop for gaming but also learning about some of the inner workings of a computer. A few more questions I have:

Is there a clear difference between Intel and AMD in terms of performance?
Can someone explain overclocking in a little bit more detail?

Thank you all again. You guys rock.

Yes. The top of the line Intel chips blow the top of the line AMD stuff away. However, if you don't need absolute top of the line, AMD gives much more bang for the buck. The Intel chipsets also have a bit more memory bandwith (info moves faster from RAM to the CPU). If you can afford a top of the line Intel, go for it. If you don't want to pay that much, go with the AMD.


Overclocking just means turning up the speed and sometimes voltage to make a chip run faster than it is designed to. You can overclock your CPU, GPU, Ram, and system bus. At this stage of your computer development you probably shouldn't worry about that. In all actuality, even a large overclock doesn't increase performance all that much. It's a fun thing and us nerds like to brag about how high of an OC we can get.

[loochy]

I HIGHLY recommend getting a SSD to put your OS and commonly used programs on. The difference it has made is amazing. It was expensive, but sooo worth it.

[Sofa King]

Well shit. I'm gonna have to have you guys build me a computer.

I'll think up some things i want and see what you guys can come up with, if you're willing.

I don't know enough and i don't want to screw myself.

[SuperChief]

Originally Posted by loochy

I HIGHLY recommend getting a SSD to put your OS and commonly used programs on. The difference it has made is amazing. It was expensive, but sooo worth it.

So how exactly does that work?

Also, any specific brand better than others in terms of PSUs? Antec? Xion? Thermaltake?

[Fish]

Originally Posted by SuperChief

So how exactly does that work?

It's a hard drive based on flash media, instead of actual physical platters that spin around like a normal hard drive. Because there's no moving parts, the hard drive doesn't have to wait for the platter to spin or the read head to find the data.

It's much much faster. You'll notice a huge difference in load times for the OS and apps.

The downside is that they're really expensive, and there's questions as to how reliable they'll be over time. Flash media tends to degrade over time.

Read here for more info: http://www.anandtech.com/print/2738

[SuperChief]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

It's a hard drive based on flash media, instead of actual physical platters that spin around like a normal hard drive. Because there's no moving parts, the hard drive doesn't have to wait for the platter to spin or the read head to find the data.

It's much much faster. You'll notice a huge difference in load times for the OS and apps.

The downside is that they're really expensive, and there's questions as to how reliable they'll be over time. Flash media tends to degrade over time.

Read here for more info: http://www.anandtech.com/print/2738

So I could just get a SSD and be fine without a traditional HD?

[loochy]

Originally Posted by SuperChief

So I could just get a SSD and be fine without a traditional HD?

Not really. SSDs are expensive and they won't have enough storage capacity for everything. Use the SSD for your OS and commonly used programs that you want to load quickly. Use your regular hard drive for everything else (data, music, movies, infrequently used programs). For example: My SSD is only 120 GB and it cost about $160 and that was a pretty damn good deal.