My first build, much advice needed..

[savage1987]

(original thread here)





Hey guys, after giving up on my other disaster of a PC, and running over my laptop, I'm looking to build something new. Basically a gaming setup that offers strong results for the money.. not necessarily the highest spec PC in the world, just something that'll perform well and be upgradeable, as well as be a good learning experience to put together.


Parts I have now:

• GPU: Gigabyte 9800GT
• PSU: Thermaltake LP-500NL1NH (14+15A on 12V rails)
• Lian Li Armoursuit case - the dragon one

Parts I think I've decided on

• CPU: 965BE

Other points of note:

• I will overclock this setup.
• I'm unsure if it is worth using an SLI capable MB for upgradeability
• Budget isn't really set but it has to be sensible. On the cheap side of sensible.

Sorry to be so open ended, I feel like I've been reading so much about different builds and a thousand parts reviews that I've overloaded and just become lost.


Any and all help appreciated.

Sam

[D3V14NT]

Hey mate, personally I'd be looking to invest in a good solid motherboard with plenty of support for upgrading your components to a more powerful system later onwhen you get the funds. I'm more of Intel guy so can't help you too much on whats going to suit the AMD processor you're after unfortunately. That said though, definitely get something thats going to allow multiple graphics cards, plenty of ram and some good overclocking support.

I've recently gone out and bought a whole new system after I got stuck with a motherboard that couldn't support anything more powerful than what was already in it. Got a Gigabyte UD7 motherboard, i7 950 cpu, GTX460 gpu and 3gb ram for a pretty good price. Not a lot of RAM and I re-used an old hdd, case and power supply but with the new motherboard I can add another 1-2 gpu's and run up to 24gb of ram when I get the funds. Point is the motherboard will always be the biggest restriction on what you can and can't do with your system so get a good one to start with and save any on headaches later.

[sources]

hey man the best site for this stuff is Overclock3D :: Technology News & Reviews

a suggestion for a new rig that will last ages and is a budget type,

first of all amd cannot compete with intel hands down....only in intels lower range they can

i7 950
asus sabertooth x58
a gtx 570
corsair 750ax or 850 or 1200ax power supply (if ur sli ing then go for 850ax)
muskin redline ridge back ram or if u cant get them get the corsair dominator gt 2000mhz c8
look at a ssd aswell they will improve a systems speed no matter how good it is (look at corsair or kingston)
hdds i reccomend wd re3 1tb caviar black or you could go cheaper and just get a eco one depends on what u want
for the cpu cooler get the noctua nh d14 (its the best air cooler on the market its blows mainstream watercooling rig out of the way and its cheap aswell) well sort of
noctua fans around the case (there just so dam good) not cheap tho but there in audible there that quiet but push so much air through the case

NOTE: this is just a guide u can go higher and if u want or lower it realy depends on what u want keep me updated mate

[savage1987]

thanks but i don't think i want to play around with i7 or ianything really at the moment, I don't know enough about them and i've always had intel so keen to try out AMD for a change

someone find me a motherboard to suit the 965 that has usb3, provision for crossfire/ SLI / physX / whatever setup, and perhaps most importantly will look good in this case

[Grennan]

Meh I love AMD. They are very affordable and the Phenom Processor is fantastic for games. Sure the i7 will be better for overall performance but youll notice dick all difference when gaming, and for a ~200 dollar saving.