Building my PC

[whereinthehellami]

So my 6 year old Dell computer died a week ago. I'm pretty sure it was the motherboard. I've decided to build one myself. I built one previously for my parents who pretty much just wanted a value machine. But this time I wanted to try and build the best machine I could for ~ $1000. I'm planning on keeping my monitor, keyboard, mouse, and DVD player/recorder. I enjoy playing PC games when I get some free time so I wanted something that could handle high end graphics. So here is my build (all prices and parts from NewEgg)...


HIS 1 GB 4890 PCI Express 2.0 X 16 Video Card - $185


AMD Phenom II X4 945 Denab 3.0 GHZ Socket AM3 Quad Core Processor - $185


Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $120


Gigabyte AMD 790X ATX Motherboard - $110


Corsair 650 Watt ATX Power Supply - $100


Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB 7200 RPM - $75


G. Skill 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 SDRAM Memory Model - $47

So my parts came to $851 with shipping. I also ordered Windows XP from Amazon for $85 bringing my total to $936.

[CameronBornAndBred]

You might consider ordering Windows 7, until July 11th at oullets such as Best Buy and Walmart you can purchase the pre-sale upgrade and save tons. The Home premium is $49, and the Pro is $99. After the 11th the prices go back to normal. I believe they are releasing it in October. It would be a shame to put such an old OS on your brand new PC.

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

I've always wanted to try out a project like this, but haven't had the time or patience. If you're so inclined, post some pics of the project along the way. Good luck!

[whereinthehellami]

You might consider ordering Windows 7, until July 11th at oullets such as Best Buy and Walmart you can purchase the pre-sale upgrade and save tons. The Home premium is $49, and the Pro is $99. After the 11th the prices go back to normal. I believe they are releasing it in October. It would be a shame to put such an old OS on your brand new PC.

My last PC, being a Dell, couldn't handle any of the games over the last few years, so that is why we're going with XP. I can get alot of those older games for like $5-15 off Amazon. And we also get to use our other XP applications. Plus I'm not sold on Vista, Windows 7, or any of MS latest software products. They are always limited with compatability and support issues.


I've always wanted to try out a project like this, but haven't had the time or patience. If you're so inclined, post some pics of the project along the way. Good luck!

I'm definately not a big tech guy but do enjoy getting the parts I want in my PC. With the web it is so easy to get the info you need to do something like this. Between PCMech (http://forum.pcmech.com/forumdisplay.php?f=43) and Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Store/Computer.aspx?name=Computer-Hardware)you can get all the info you need to feel comfortable putting a machine together. It it is really quite easy and straightforward.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

I'm definately not a big tech guy but do enjoy getting the parts I want in my PC. With the web it is so easy to get the info you need to do something like this. Between PCMech (http://forum.pcmech.com/forumdisplay.php?f=43) and Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Store/Computer.aspx?name=Computer-Hardware)you can get all the info you need to feel comfortable putting a machine together. It it is really quite easy and straightforward.
TigerDirect's retail stores, now called CompUSA (they bought the defunct retail chain's name and web site www.compusa.com and are located in Raleigh, Durham and Miami) offer free in store clinics to teach you how to build your own PC's. Of course, they'd like you to buy the components from them too.

[Clipsfan]

It's been almost 2 years since I built my last PC, but your specs seem pretty decent there. There used to be a really nice price point on graphics cards around $225 (bang for the buck), has that come down?

[OZZIE4DUKE]

My last PC, being a Dell, couldn't handle any of the games over the last few years, so that is why we're going with XP. I can get alot of those older games for like $5-15 off Amazon. And we also get to use our other XP applications. Plus I'm not sold on Vista, Windows 7, or any of MS latest software products. They are always limited with compatability and support issues.


You might want to read this thread
http://www.crazietalk.net/ourhouse/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=458
where the merits of Windows 7 is discussed. You'll recognize the name of all the posters, which is crazie!

[OZZIE4DUKE]

You might want to read this thread
http://www.crazietalk.net/ourhouse/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=458
where the merits of Windows 7 is discussed. You'll recognize the name of all the posters, which is crazie!
Pay particular to DevilAlumna's posts, especially the one near the bottom where she mentions XP.

[Maxwell1977]

OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) $99, $20 rebate
CASE ANTEC SONATA ELITE 89.99
CPU COOLER ZALMAN CNPS9900 LED $74.99
HD 300G WEST DIGITAL WD3000HLFS $229.99 Velociraptor
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz $279.99
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 $199.99 $15 rebate
Antec BP550 Plus 550W Modular Power Supply $64.99
I'll transfer 2 Samsung 750GB drives from the current Main machine.

I still need an optical drive and an inexpensive video card. I'm planning to install the RC of Windows 7 and see how that goes.

[YmoBeThere]

I have speced out a new system for myself also and have some overlap with you. However, I plan on going with a slower processor from AMD but one that only uses 65W. It's actually a few dollars more expensive but I don't need the speed so much and the few dollars in power saved over time will negate the expense.

[whereinthehellami]

It's been almost 2 years since I built my last PC, but your specs seem pretty decent there. There used to be a really nice price point on graphics cards around $225 (bang for the buck), has that come down?

I got a good combo deal from Newegg on the graphic card and the processor, saving $80 (they were each $225):)


Pay particular to DevilAlumna's posts, especially the one near the bottom where she mentions XP.

There is no doubht that Windows 7 will be better than XP but I've been looking forward to running some of those games which were optimized for XP. I'm not even sure they will be supported for Windows 7. Maybe I'll get Windows 7 down the road but I really need XP for now. Its going to take some time for all third party software developers to get their drivers updated and out for Windows 7.


I have speced out a new system for myself also and have some overlap with you. However, I plan on going with a slower processor from AMD but one that only uses 65W. It's actually a few dollars more expensive but I don't need the speed so much and the few dollars in power saved over time will negate the expense.

My PC is going to use some wattage and no doubht run pretty hot. The Antec 900 has 4 or 5 fans on the inside so hopefully it will be able to move around some air.

You can check out benchmarks of the latest CPUs (http://www.cpubenchmark.net/common_cpus.html) and Graphic Cards (http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html) at Passmark Software.

[Shammrog]

A question - is it feasible/advisable/cost-effective to build your own laptop?

[DevilAlumna]

There is no doubht that Windows 7 will be better than XP but I've been looking forward to running some of those games which were optimized for XP. I'm not even sure they will be supported for Windows 7. Maybe I'll get Windows 7 down the road but I really need XP for now. Its going to take some time for all third party software developers to get their drivers updated and out for Windows 7.


You're not alone with this problem, which is why Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate versions have "Windows XP Mode," the ability to run WinXP virtually.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/windows-xp-mode

[whereinthehellami]

You're not alone with this problem, which is why Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate versions have "Windows XP Mode," the ability to run WinXP virtually.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/windows-xp-mode

I've just learned thru the years that new software releases are quite a hassle for end users. I'll be curious to see how Windows 7 plays out but I'm definately not in any hurry to beta test for MS.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I've checked out the beta, and can vouch it is huge improvement over Vista. Visually, there is not much difference, but performance wise, it is very noticable.

[YmoBeThere]

I've checked out the beta, and can vouch it is huge improvement over Vista. Visually, there is not much difference, but performance wise, it is very noticable.

I'm still in beta mode...testing continues:D:rolleyes:

[whereinthehellami]

All my hardware came in last night. I'm still waiting on Windows XP. I'm going to put all the hardware together tonight. Hoping all my parts work right out of the box and I don't have any returns.

[Indoor66]

TigerDirect's retail stores, now called CompUSA (they bought the defunct retail chain's name and web site www.compusa.com (http://www.compusa.com) and are located in Raleigh, Durham and Miami) offer free in store clinics to teach you how to build your own PC's. Of course, they'd like you to buy the components from them too.

They are also in Deerfield Beach at Hillsborough & Military Trail. :)

[YmoBeThere]

All my hardware came in last night. I'm still waiting on Windows XP. I'm going to put all the hardware together tonight. Hoping all my parts work right out of the box and I don't have any returns.

Yes, I don't have the patience to wait on parts. I was disappointed in CompUSA shutting down because frankly Best Buy doesn't carry the good stuff and it's difficult to find a good local shop these days.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Yes, I don't have the patience to wait on parts. I was disappointed in CompUSA shutting down because frankly Best Buy doesn't carry the good stuff and it's difficult to find a good local shop these days.
With as much high tech as there is in the Boston area, I can't believe there aren't several "local" shops. Perhaps surprised is a better word than "can't believe".

[YmoBeThere]

With as much high tech as there is in the Boston area, I can't believe there aren't several "local" shops. Perhaps surprised is a better word than "can't believe".

Well, I may not have looked very hard...

[OZZIE4DUKE]

with as much high tech as there is in the boston area, i can't believe there aren't several "local" shops. Perhaps surprised is a better word than "can't believe".


well, i may not have looked very hard...
lol! :d

[whereinthehellami]

My Antec computer case arrived damaged. It was dented on the side that the motherboard would sit on, so I'm in the process of returning it. Newegg will take care of the shipping on the refund. I ordered the same case this morning and should get it by Monday (hopefully Saturday). Hopefully that is the only part that needs to be returned.

I also ordered a USB to IDE/SATA cable yesterday from Computer Geeks.com that will allow me to pull all my data (pictures of kids, wife's recipes, and my game files) off the old hard drive from the dead computer.

[whereinthehellami]

The wife I got the PC up and running last night. The hardware took about 5-6 hours, it should have been alot shorter but the wife and I played it pretty cautious, re-reading alot of the cryptic directions. The software took about 3hours to load including the drivers. As long as no parts die in the first week, I think we are going to be good to go. I'm pretty stoked about the build, knowing that all the parts in the PC are the ones I picked out and installed myself. :)

[Schwarz]

Congratulations on a successsful build. Your times aren't horribly slow either. It always takes me one evening to assembe the hardware, and then another evening to install the software. Make sure you run a few benchmarks to make sure you are getting the expected performance.

[YmoBeThere]

There is always a certain satisfaction to having built it yourself.