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Newbie wanting to build

SL1DEmemphis

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System Name iPwn
Processor AMD 965BE (rev. RB-C3)
Motherboard Asus M4A87t-e
Cooling Prolimatech Megahalems w/ Ultra Kaze
Memory OCZ DDR3 PC3-12800/ 1600MHz / AMD Black Edition / CAS 7 / 4GB Dual Channel
Video Card(s) onboard ati radeon 3300 (until prices go down :) )
Storage OCZ Vertex 30Gb SSD / WD Caviar Black 7200rpm 700Gb
Display(s) Vizio 720p 26in
Case XClio Windtunnel Full Tower
Audio Device(s) Onboard (just for now)
Power Supply OCZ ModXstream 700watt Modular
Software Windows 7 Ultimate
Benchmark Scores Coming as soon as I figure out how.
Hello everyone!

I am interested in building my first homade gaming pc.
I've done quite a bit of research, but since I am new I wanted to come and ask the experienced folks on the forums. I have used newegg.com to put it together a saved wishlist but I'll post what I threw together here.

Specs are as follows:
  1. AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz
  2. ASUS Crosshair III Formula
  3. XCLIO Windtunnel Full Tower Case ( Was thinking about antec 1200, but this is cheaper)
  4. Thermaltake EVO_Blue W0307RU 650W modular
  5. OCZ AMD Black Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
  6. XFX HD-585A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5850
  7. Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA
  8. Prolimatech Megahalems Rev.B CPU Cooler + AM3 adapter
  9. Thermaltake A2018 120mm Blue LED Case Fan
  10. COOLER MASTER SGM-6000-KLLW1-GP Black 8 Buttons Wired Laser Mouse
  11. Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA
  12. Saitek PZ30AU USB Wired Standard Eclipse Blue Backlit Keyboard
  13. ZALMAN VF1000 2 Ball VGA Cooler
$1,363.47

I basically used reviews to persuade me. I've spent hours and hours changing things.
One thing I'm really not sure of is the PSU... is it enough power? I don't know how to tell.

Also, the CPU cooler also covers the memory. I have heard that it will be hard to change out the ram, is it worth it? Its supposed to be a beast of a cooler. Can I get full system water cooling instead and stay under $1400?

oh and I didn't add a monitor because I have a 26" 720p Vizio that I can use.

Comments, suggestions, and questions for me are all welcome. Thanks for reading. :rockout:
 
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Get a better power supply and ditch the V10 for a Megahalems.

Corsair 650W would be a good choice.
 
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Get a better power supply and ditch the V10 for a Megahalems.

Corsair 650W would be a good choice.

Even a 520 or a 550 would do teh job. But for future proofness, 650 is plenty.

But I'm with you on a cooler swap. Ordered a Megahalems myself. Its not een half the price of the V10 and most probably cools a lot better while taking up less space.

For the blue LED fan, I have some blue Zalman fans, they are pretty good and very silent.
 
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The power supply you have is the weakest link in your build. Spend the extra there as a quality power supply is the heart of your system. The Corsair 620 is great, heck even the 550W would suffice well.

As for cooling you could consider the Corsair H5O at nearly the cost of the V10. I have a friend that put it in his i5 and keeps it at 20C idle.
 

CDdude55

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As stated above, definitely change out the Power supply. Some recommend brands to go with include: Thermaltake, Corsair, OCZ, PC&C, Enermax.

The V10 is huge, and i can definitely see how it can be difficult to switch out the RAM. So i would personally pick up a different cooler.
 

SL1DEmemphis

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System Name iPwn
Processor AMD 965BE (rev. RB-C3)
Motherboard Asus M4A87t-e
Cooling Prolimatech Megahalems w/ Ultra Kaze
Memory OCZ DDR3 PC3-12800/ 1600MHz / AMD Black Edition / CAS 7 / 4GB Dual Channel
Video Card(s) onboard ati radeon 3300 (until prices go down :) )
Storage OCZ Vertex 30Gb SSD / WD Caviar Black 7200rpm 700Gb
Display(s) Vizio 720p 26in
Case XClio Windtunnel Full Tower
Audio Device(s) Onboard (just for now)
Power Supply OCZ ModXstream 700watt Modular
Software Windows 7 Ultimate
Benchmark Scores Coming as soon as I figure out how.
Found a Thermaltake PSU that should do nicely, the Thermaltake EVO_Blue W0307RU 650W modular.

as for the megahalems, i see that it is not compatible with AM2/3 sockets, so I don't see how it would work with my setup?
 
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i recommend a different keyboard but everything else looks good
 
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Display(s) 24" Acer V243W
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Audio Device(s) onboard
Power Supply Corsair HX750W modular, sadly only stock sleeving
Software Win 7 64bit
as for the megahalems, i see that it is not compatible with AM2/3 sockets, so I don't see how it would work with my setup?

Yes but there is a retention module for it. You know, a small kit that makes it compatible. And even with that kit its half the prive of the V10.
 

theonedub

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No harm in buying second hand. The build looks good after taking into account the suggestions about the PSU and the Mega.

Someone was selling that exact case on my local CL for $35 yesterday, unfortunately it already sold.
 

SL1DEmemphis

New Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2010
Messages
81 (0.02/day)
System Name iPwn
Processor AMD 965BE (rev. RB-C3)
Motherboard Asus M4A87t-e
Cooling Prolimatech Megahalems w/ Ultra Kaze
Memory OCZ DDR3 PC3-12800/ 1600MHz / AMD Black Edition / CAS 7 / 4GB Dual Channel
Video Card(s) onboard ati radeon 3300 (until prices go down :) )
Storage OCZ Vertex 30Gb SSD / WD Caviar Black 7200rpm 700Gb
Display(s) Vizio 720p 26in
Case XClio Windtunnel Full Tower
Audio Device(s) Onboard (just for now)
Power Supply OCZ ModXstream 700watt Modular
Software Windows 7 Ultimate
Benchmark Scores Coming as soon as I figure out how.
Thanks for all the help folks. Looks like I have my build, though Im not sure where to get a adapter module for the megahalem for AM3. (found one!) :)

Also, would a VGA cooler be a good idea as well?
 
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Cooling Prolimatech Megahalems and four Fractal Design 120mm fans, sleeved
Memory 16GB Kingston Hyper RAM
Video Card(s) PNY GeForce 580 XLR8
Storage 64GB and 180GB SSDs / 1TB and 2TB HDDs
Display(s) 24" Acer V243W
Case Fractal Design Define R2, sleeved all I/O cables
Audio Device(s) onboard
Power Supply Corsair HX750W modular, sadly only stock sleeving
Software Win 7 64bit
Thanks for all the help folks. Looks like I have my build, though Im not sure where to get a adapter module for the megahalem for AM3. (found one!) :)

Also, would a VGA cooler be a good idea as well?

No a VGA cooler is not necessary. I really was surprised upon the quietness of that stock 5850 cooler. And it does a good job at keeping the cards cool (and with that case you have in mind and its two side fans, yours gonna be even cooler). I was literally waiting for the noise, and I was perplex when it didn't appear:laugh: Really ATI finally did a good job on a stock cooler. Compared to the one from the 4890s (imagine a fleet of fighter jets testing their engines outside your house), its heaven.
 
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welcome to TPU
i don't know if you have it already or not but i see INTEL system now looks more efficient , an P55 with core i7 cpu will be same price but sure better performance
other thing i see if you can spend more money for replace 5850 by 5870

at last if your built is also nice and high performance so i post just some suggestions
 
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