Topic: new computer build

[JasonSobel]

alright, any thoughts or suggestiong here:

case:
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068
$50

motherboard:
GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128500
$140

video card: (I looked for a while, but it seems like most of the intel motherboards didn't have onboard video?)
GIGABYTE GV-N84STC-512I Rev2.0 GeForce 8400 GS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125359
$30

power supply:
Antec NEO ECO 620C 620W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371031
$70

CPU:
Intel Core i5-2300 Sandy Bridge 2.8GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115076
$185

RAM:
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311
$65

hard drive:
Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136795
$60

DVD burner:
HP 24X Multiformat DVD Writer 24X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827140042
$25

misc:
Rosewill RTK-002 Anti-Static Wrist Strap
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16899261005
$5

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007
$12

-------------------------
Total cost = $642

So this one breaks the budget.    and with the cost on Win 7 on top of that, I'm probably looking at the $800 - $830 range.
It's $100-$130 over budget, but at least it doesn't blow the roof off the budget.  I could probably swing it, but it's not ideal.

The CPU is a nice step up from the previous CPU's discussed in this thread.

For reference:
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html
Intel Core i5-2300 is rated at 5,478
AMD Phenom II X4 955 is rated at 3,955
Intel Core i3-2100 is rated at 3,829

any thoughts on this build?

any hardware changes where I could save some money, without giving up too much performance?
For motherboards, did I miss any good ones with on-board video?
If you've got any other motherboard suggestions, I'd like it to have both SATA 3 (6Gb/), and USB 3.

Thanks again to everyone who has provided input.

[mattmiller]

So this one breaks the budget.    and with the cost on Win 7 on top of that, I'm probably looking at the $800 - $830 range.
It's $100-$130 over budget, but at least it doesn't blow the roof off the budget.  I could probably swing it, but it's not ideal.

I don't have time to look at all your new components right now (long, busy day at work), but Windows 7 Home Premium is only $95, so I'm not sure how you're getting to $800+

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

[JasonSobel]

So this one breaks the budget.    and with the cost on Win 7 on top of that, I'm probably looking at the $800 - $830 range.
It's $100-$130 over budget, but at least it doesn't blow the roof off the budget.  I could probably swing it, but it's not ideal.

I don't have time to look at all your new components right now (long, busy day at work), but Windows 7 Home Premium is only $95, so I'm not sure how you're getting to $800+

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

I was looking at this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116716

seems to be the only difference is retail vs OEM.  what really the difference here?  Should I just go with OEM and save $100 (relative to the retail version)?

[dnsacks]

Windows 7 prices -- if you have access to a .edu email address, windows 7 can be had for $29.99 http://www.microsoft.com/student/en/us/windows/buynow/default.aspx

Also, just received this offer from Dell today -- http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dxdoma4&c=us&l=en&s=eep&cs=6099&model_id=xps-8300&link_number=17967581

$579, shipped, for a xps 8300, i5 2310 processor, 6gb ram, a dvd writer/bluray reader and a 1tb hard disk drive. 

If you pick up a 60gb ssd for your primary drive (after purchase -- keep an eye on slickdeals.net and a good one can be had for well under $100) and make the included drive your secondary hard drive, you'd have a SCREAMING system that would come in under budget.

While I've wanted to build my own system for a while, deals like this have kept me buying (and modding) cheap dells for decades. 

[slightlys]

I have been running the AMD 955 for almost  two years and I love it! It has been a solid CPU for me. I do a lot of gaming and audio editing and it just cooks. the AMDs tend to run a little hotter then the Intels and consume a higher wattage as well. I have been running mine overclocked to 3.8 mhz since I got it with a aftermarket cooler and it always stays stable and in a safe temp range. I Highly recommend this AMD processor to you it is a work horse.

[mattmiller]

I was looking at this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116716

seems to be the only difference is retail vs OEM.  what really the difference here?  Should I just go with OEM and save $100 (relative to the retail version)?

The OEM is specifically for system-builders.  The difference in price reflects the fact that by buying it OEM you are saying that you will provide Windows support for the end user (which is you).  Unless you want the ability to call Microsoft for help figuring out how to use Windows to move a file from one folder to another, there's no reason to pay the retail price.

[slightlys]

Here is what I suggest you pick up from newegg. Fast and it will keep you under budget. I prefer Corsair power supplies(solid and cool temps) MSI mainboards (The board listed below has on board GPU and Audio), Mushkin RAM ( a Colorado company w/ excellent customer service )

   

LITE-ON 24X DVD Writer Black SATA Model iHAS424-98 LightScribe Support
Item #: N82E16827106335
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

    
$23.99
1   

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Item #: N82E16811119068
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$5.00 Instant

    
$54.99
$49.99
1   

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822136319
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$5.00 Instant

    
$65.99
$60.99
1   

MSI 880GM-E41 AM3 AMD 880G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813130295
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$5.00 Instant

    
$74.99
$69.99
1   

CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 V2 600W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
Item #: N82E16817139028
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card

    
$79.99
$69.99
1   

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
Item #: N82E16835100007
Return Policy: Consumable Item Refund Only Return Policy

    
$11.98
1   

Rosewill RTK-002 Anti-Static Wrist Strap
Item #: N82E16899261005
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$2.00 Instant

    
$6.99
$4.99
1   

Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model 996988
Item #: N82E16820226184
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy

    
$69.99
1   

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX
Item #: N82E16819103808
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy

    

$119.99
Subtotal:   $481.90

[morst]

I suggest going with this coolermaster case for a couple bux less ($40 with free shipping from clamazon), I love mine. http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Elite-Tower-Black/dp/B000K3N1RG

And I prefer Intel chips 'cause you can run "hackint0sh" on them.

And I don't like Dell 'cause you can't overclock them.

[rjp]

The OEM is specifically for system-builders.  The difference in price reflects the fact that by buying it OEM you are saying that you will provide Windows support for the end user (which is you).  Unless you want the ability to call Microsoft for help figuring out how to use Windows to move a file from one folder to another, there's no reason to pay the retail price.

There is one disadvantage to the OEM version - it locks itself to your hardware, and if it detects major changes (e.g. imaged onto a different hard drive, or a different CPU installed), it will phone home to Microsoft for re-activation. Do that too many times, and it won't re-activate.

[Colin Liston]

I have no idea if this site is legit, but Window Ultimate is only $20:

https://wholesalesoftwareprovider.com/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=2

[flipp]

if you want an actual disc and COA rather than just a download w/key it's $100, not really that much cheaper than unquestionably legit dealers

[mattmiller]

I have no idea if this site is legit, but Window Ultimate is only $20:

https://wholesalesoftwareprovider.com/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=2

Unquestionably, this is NOT legit.  They're selling MSDN generated keys which will work at first but then will be blacklisted by Microsoft.  I discovered this the hard way (not this particular site).  Last year I built a new system for my parents and bought a copy of Win7 Home Premium on eBay (for much more than $20, but still a little less than I could have gotten it on Newegg).  When I got the package, it was Win7 Ultimate instead, with a note included reading "out of stock...free upgrade!".  I didn't think anything of it, and the installation and activation went fine.  Fast-forward about 7 months (to about a month ago) and my mom told me that she was getting popups saying that Windows wasn't genuine.  Turns out, the factory sealed VERY real-looking package I received was, in fact, counterfeit.  There are websites and YouTube videos all over the place showing the difference between the genuine and counterfeit.

[Colin Liston]

^^ Sorry for the brief highjack but thanks for the info on that site.  Knew it had to be too good to be true.

[JasonSobel]

question about some motherboards.

this one, for example:
MSI Z68A-GD55 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130606

in the details, it says that it does not have an Onboard Video Chipset.
Based on that, I'm thinking that I need a seperate graphics card.
BUT, under the connections, it has plenty of options to hook up a monitor.  It has a d-sub, DVI, and HDMI outputs.

So how does that work?  do I need a seperate graphics card?  Can I use the connectors from motherboard without a seperate graphics card? (in my case, my LCD monitor is pretty old, so I'd probably just use the d-sub vga connector).  and if I can use the connectors from the motherboard with a seperate graphics card, why does it say that it does NOT has an onboard video chipset?

thanks.

edit:
I think I got it figured out.
The MSI website for that motherboard says:

MSI Reminds You...
HDMI, DVI-D & Graphics Card ports can only work with CPUs with GPUs core inside.

ok, so that makes some sense.  the ports are there, if the CPU I select supports it.
On the intel website, the core i5-2300 (linked to above) has a check mark under "Intel HD Graphics".
Actually, all the i5 chips have "Intel HD Graphics".  I assume that this means that if I go with any core i5 CPU, it has graphics support, and I will therefore be able to use the video outs from the motherboard, and that I will therefore NOT need a seperate graphics card.

is that correct?

[Gordon]

ok, so that makes some sense.  the ports are there, if the CPU I select supports it.
On the intel website, the core i5-2300 (linked to above) has a check mark under "Intel HD Graphics".
Actually, all the i5 chips have "Intel HD Graphics".  I assume that this means that if I go with any core i5 CPU, it has graphics support, and I will therefore be able to use the video outs from the motherboard, and that I will therefore NOT need a seperate graphics card.

is that correct?

yes.