This is my first pc build and I need some help with it. First please correct me with compatability issues etc. Second please tell me if you think some parts are to weak or too powerful for my system. For example, you would not want an 850 watt power supply on a system that only requires 500 or you would not want a graphics card that your system can not keep up with. Finally please tell me what you think of the parts, and if yout think I could replace a certain part for a better one. I do not want to spend extra money on parts that my system can not fully uitilize. Sorry for the rambling sentences I wrote this quickly.
PSU--- Thermaltake Toughpower W0178RU 850W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V V2.91 SLI Certified 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail 180$
Is my Psu too much for this system?
memory ---CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1333C9 - Retail 115$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/.....mbo.207308
- combo price 270
Case 1. Thermaltake Xaser VI VG4000BNSB Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail 170$
Hard drive 2. Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives - OEM 100$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/.....mbo.206880
240 combo
Motherboard + cpu choices
1. AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ955FBGIBOX - Retail
2. MSI 790FX-GD70 AM3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/.....mbo.212202
combo is 315
Will my mobo slow down the Phenom 2? IS there another mobo combo that is better than this one at newegg?
Also it says this mobo can be set for crossfire? I do not intend on crossfiring so am I wasting money on that?
Graphics card??? I do not know whic one I should use for this system? I would like to run crysis so...
Other parts and cables. Well have not put much thought into it yet. help would be great. Thanks.
I am using this pc for gaming and video editing via sony vegas.
Sorry for the length of this post. I just need help with buying choices and comptability because I am a noob. I was going to just buy a kit, but where is the fun in that? Any way i am done rambling. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Sam
Also why is the phenom 2 945 like 25$ more than the 955 on new egg? Is 945 beter? Thanks.

well, this list isn't much understandable so I'll draw you up another.

So,
What is your approx. budget?
What is your monitor resolution?

what don't you understand? I listed each component with its individual price and a link to new egg and I also listed the combo price of each combo pair?


PSU--- Thermaltake Toughpower W0178RU 850W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V V2.91 SLI Certified 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail 180$
Is my Psu too much for this system?
memory ---CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1333C9 - Retail 115$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/.....mbo.207308
- combo price 270






Case 1. Thermaltake Xaser VI VG4000BNSB Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail 170$
Hard drive 2. Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives - OEM 100$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/.....mbo.206880
240 combo





Motherboard + cpu choices
1. AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ955FBGIBOX - Retail
2. MSI 790FX-GD70 AM3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/.....mbo.212202
combo is 315


Would it be better if I put all of my parts on new eggs wish list and just gave you the link to that?

quote Noobert

memory ---CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1333C9 - Retail 115$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/.....mbo.207308
Hard drive 2. Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives - OEM 100$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/.....mbo.206880
240 combo
Motherboard + cpu choices
1. AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ955FBGIBOX - Retail
2. MSI 790FX-GD70 AM3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/.....mbo.212202
combo is 315
Will my mobo slow down the Phenom 2? IS there another mobo combo that is better than this one at newegg?
Also it says this mobo can be set for crossfire? I do not intend on crossfiring so am I wasting money on that?
Graphics card??? I do not know whic one I should use for this system? I would like to run crysis so...
Other parts and cables. Well have not put much thought into it yet. help would be great. Thanks.
I am using this pc for gaming and video editing via sony vegas.
Also why is the phenom 2 945 like 25$ more than the 955 on new egg? Is 945 beter? Thanks.

Ahahahaha, your getting the same CPU and mobo as I am
Uhm, first of all, your getting a triple channel kit for a mobo that uses dual channel. Instead of getting that last module, you can get a ddr3 dual channel kit at 1600mhz or higher since that motherboard can get up to 2133mhz For example, this might do. Or if your going for a blue scheme or whatever, this might do also. About using 4 RAM DIMMs, I've heard that the CPU's onboard memory controller (or something) has trouble running 4 DIMMs at higher than 1333mhz. Not sure if it's true.

Your 1TB hard drive < two 500GB hard drives in RAID0

The 945 isn't better than the 955, but the price is higher because there is a little 'You save $40' under the price of the 955. So originally, the 955 costs $255, and the 945 costs I think like $225...

I don't know much on video cards, somebody should educate me


Anyway, incase you didn't notice your links don't work.

For the graphics card. What games (Other then Crysis) will you be playing?

What resolution will you be playing at?

quote Buska103

Your 1TB hard drive < two 500GB hard drives in RAID0

Raid0 isn't all it's cracked up to be.

quote Player1

Raid0 isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Wait till 1 of the disk crash and all data is lost. In all honesty, the performance boost isn't worth the higher risk and loss of time to recover from a dead raid when one of the disk fails. If I had the money, I would rather go with RAID 1 for redundancy over RAID 0 for performance.

well as far as gaming goes battle field 2 left for dead fallout 3 tf2 arma 2 (meybe) halo2 etc.

Also does everything look compatabile? do you have any recommendations? And does it look like a good build over all

am i the only one who cant open the links?

quote

Is my Psu too much for this system?

you can never have too much wattage. its just a matter of how much youll waste.

i think it will be easier if we got an absolute budget and then we give you our opinions on what to get from there.

An absolute budget... 800-900$ But I do not want to blow money for the sake of blowing money if you can picke out components for cheaper than that, that will function just as well. Please do so.

Thanks for all of the help so for. I have tried a lot of forums so far and most don't bother helping a dumb noob like me

quote

Ahahahaha, your getting the same CPU and mobo as I am
Uhm, first of all, your getting a triple channel kit for a mobo that uses dual channel. Instead of getting that last module, you can get a ddr3 dual channel kit at 1600mhz or higher since that motherboard can get up to 2133mhz For example, this might do. Or if your going for a blue scheme or whatever, this might do also. About using 4 RAM DIMMs, I've heard that the CPU's onboard memory controller (or something) has trouble running 4 DIMMs at higher than 1333mhz. Not sure if it's true.

Is dual channel better than tri channel? Since i am not getting the psu and mem combo anymore do you think I should get a psu with a lower wattage? If i do not need that much wattage I do not want to buy one that expensive? I geuss I can not determine my psu amount until I have a full build picked out.

Also I have heard about raid systems but am not sure if I should set one up. I understand it is better to have 2 hard drives than one huge one. People are also talking about ssds. I do not know what to do.I guess I will cross that brige when I come to it.

as far as the links not working... They work on this forum--
http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/my-pc-build-plan-corrections-and-suggestions?replies=2#post-100568

You can access them from there... Sorry about the inconvenience.

This message was merged with other messages by The Slayer (moderator)

quote Noobert

Is dual channel better than tri channel? Since i am not getting the psu and mem combo anymore do you think I should get a psu with a lower wattage? If i do not need that much wattage I do not want to buy one that expensive? I geuss I can not determine my psu amount until I have a full build picked out.

Triple channel is better than dual channel, but when you use a triple channel kit in a dual channel mobo, each module has it's own domains and each triple channel module will act as a single channel. At least, to my understanding >.>
Just get a dual channel DDR3 kit at preferably at 1600MHZ or higher, the triple channel kits are meant for i7s.

As for the PSU ~ I got a 750w, but 600w may be enough. Look for brands such as Corsair, Antec, Thermaltake, Zalman, and OCZ. Here is a PSU I would suggest.

Woah quad post... HAHAHAHA

quote Noobert

Is dual channel better than tri channel?

No, but AMD doesn't have any TRI channel MOBO's. This is perfectly fine anyway, so don't worry about it.

quote Noobert

I should get a psu with a lower wattage?

What other parts will you use? If this is a gaming rig aim for a 750W PSU. At least until your other parts are picked out.

quote Noobert

Also I have heard about raid systems but am not sure if I should set one up.

I wouldn't use Raid0. If you want performance get a 10k+ drive. I like Raid1, but for your purposes it would be pointless. I'd say don't worry about Raid.

quote Noobert

I understand it is better to have 2 hard drives than one huge one.

That depends on the person, but not really.

quote Noobert

People are also talking about ssds.

They're expensive, and unless you're only going to be using for your OS and two or three programs, completely useless. IMO

Would it siginificantly speed up my system if i had one 500gb hard drive and another one which is ssd with my OS on it?

Also do you have any recommended parts that are better and does everything look compatible?

Also can you reccomend any good graphics cards for me?
Someone recommended the 4890 something or other.

Also I am geussing it is not worth it to crossfire.

Thanks.

Before I recommend anything, what will this computer be for?

And

What resolution will you be playing games at?

These questions have been asked twice (or thrice) now and still no answer.

wow, i like the combos i found today. gone wayy under your budget, at $622.56:

---

DVD $26.99

Case $18.99

HDD $59.99

RAM 1 $28.99

CPU $99.00

Video Card and PSU Combo $311.62

Mobo and RAM 2 Combo $76.98

---

also comes with COD5 and Terminator Salvation.

the case and DVD drives were el cheapos. thats all you really need. anything better costs significantly more, but if you want to go for some aesthetics, you can change the case if you wish.

why is there a RAM 1 and RAM 2? well its to utilise the dual channels, and seeing as how this rig will last you several years and ram is dirt cheap, the expåandibility issue is no problem.

player1 will be happy with the video card choice

any questions?