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This topic has moved here: Subject: Want to build a PC? PC Building Guide and FAQ of The Flood
  • Subject: Want to build a PC? PC Building Guide and FAQ of The Flood
Subject: Want to build a PC? PC Building Guide and FAQ of The Flood

Is it recommended at all to just skip a DVD drive altogether? I mean, I haven't used a DVD in the longest time, seeing as how I download all my software.

I'd be saving a bit of money, power, and space...

  • 07.07.2012 5:46 PM PDT

Posted by: ABotelho
Is it recommended at all to just skip a DVD drive altogether? I mean, I haven't used a DVD in the longest time, seeing as how I download all my software.

I'd be saving a bit of money, power, and space...

How are you installing your OS?

  • 07.07.2012 5:48 PM PDT

Thanks, for an extra ten bucks I'll go for the Ivy Bridge. For the PSU would you guys suggest modular or non-modular? From the looks of it its kind of a person preference though.

Well shoot, if Chris is right than I'll definitely spring for a separate CPU cooler.

[Edited on 07.07.2012 5:50 PM PDT]

  • 07.07.2012 5:49 PM PDT


Posted by: CostlyAxis
Posted by: ABotelho
Is it recommended at all to just skip a DVD drive altogether? I mean, I haven't used a DVD in the longest time, seeing as how I download all my software.

I'd be saving a bit of money, power, and space...

How are you installing your OS?
I'd probably be slapping the ISO unto a USB stick.

  • 07.07.2012 5:53 PM PDT

Posted by: CHRISLY0NZISBACK
;_;

Hooray for advancements in everything, but the heat spreading technology?.... (you rain on my parade too often >.<)

Well, I'll look out for that when I get around to overclocking my Ivy Bridge processor... At least I'm still making use of PCI-e 3.0..... (I do use an after market heatsink for the record)

Posted by: CHRISLY0NZISBACK
Well, if you download the Windows 7 .iso, you can extract the contents of it to your USB with 7zip. That's literally all you need to do to have a bootable Win7 USB installer.

If want to do it from the actual disc you'd need access to an optical drive from another computer (friend, family, spare), but again, all you need to do is copy the contents of the disc to your USB.

I was under the impression he was buying the OEM version that comes on CD. Though as you suggested he could simply borrow an external CD drive if he needed to.

[Edited on 07.07.2012 6:04 PM PDT]

  • 07.07.2012 6:00 PM PDT

Went ahead and took your advice Chris. How much extra wattage should I shoot for in regards to my PSU? According to Newegg all my major components are going to run at about 490 watts.

  • 07.07.2012 6:07 PM PDT

Posted by: YahwehFreak4evr
Went ahead and took your advice Chris. How much extra wattage should I shoot for in regards to my PSU? According to Newegg all my major components are going to run at about 490 watts.

100+ Watts extra should be a good amount of elbow room unless you plan to make major upgrades later on.

  • 07.07.2012 6:10 PM PDT

Radeon HD 7870.
Posted by: CHRISLY0NZISBACK
What graphics card are you opting for?

  • 07.07.2012 6:16 PM PDT

I'm completely lost about power supplies. What's the difference between non-modular, semi-modular and modular? I'm finding things about the amount of wires, but is that it?

  • 07.07.2012 6:26 PM PDT

Posted by: ABotelho
I'm completely lost about power supplies. What's the difference between non-modular, semi-modular and modular? I'm finding things about the amount of wires, but is that it?

Fully modular means all of the cables are separate from the power supply, and you plug in the ones you need. Semi-modular has the main power cables pre-attached (like the 24 pin, supplemental CPU power, etc...) with the rest being disconnected unless you need them. Non-modular has all of the power cables pre-attached and you just use the ones you need, but have to deal with the ones you didn't need too.

[Edited on 07.07.2012 6:28 PM PDT]

  • 07.07.2012 6:28 PM PDT


Posted by: CostlyAxis
Posted by: ABotelho
I'm completely lost about power supplies. What's the difference between non-modular, semi-modular and modular? I'm finding things about the amount of wires, but is that it?

Fully modular means all of the cables are separate from the power supply, and you plug in the ones you need. Semi-modular has the main power cables pre-attached (like the 24 pin, supplemental CPU power, etc...) with the rest being disconnected unless you need them. Non-modular has all of the power cables pre-attached and you just use the ones you need, but have to deal with the ones you didn't need too.

Ok, sounds good. Thanks.

  • 07.07.2012 6:31 PM PDT

Any suggestions?

My first real build, and it's with very basic knowledge about hardware. Anything I could replace for a similar price? Anything I could upgrade for slightly more expensive?

I currently have a 640GB I'm going to use. Should I slap in a small SSD for the OS and important applications?

I can go up up to 800-900$.

As for it's applications, I'd do a bit of gaming and design.

[Edited on 07.07.2012 6:38 PM PDT]

  • 07.07.2012 6:36 PM PDT

Posted by: ABotelho
Any suggestions?

My first real build, and it's with very basic knowledge about hardware. Anything I could replace for a similar price? Anything I could upgrade for slightly more expensive?

I currently have a 640GB I'm going to use. Should I slap in a small SSD for the OS and important applications?

I can go up up to 800-900$.

As for it's applications, I'd do a bit of gaming and design.

Unless you overclock, it doesn't look like you'll be taking advantage of your RAM speed. Your processor supports up to 1333 without overclocking, but your RAM is 1600.

Otherwise, it looks like those parts will work together just fine. Now if you're getting the best bang for you buck, I do not know as I'm not as familiar with AMD hardware.

  • 07.07.2012 6:49 PM PDT


Posted by: CostlyAxis
Posted by: ABotelho
Any suggestions?

My first real build, and it's with very basic knowledge about hardware. Anything I could replace for a similar price? Anything I could upgrade for slightly more expensive?

I currently have a 640GB I'm going to use. Should I slap in a small SSD for the OS and important applications?

I can go up up to 800-900$.

As for it's applications, I'd do a bit of gaming and design.

Unless you overclock, it doesn't look like you'll be taking advantage of your RAM speed. Your processor supports up to 1333 without overclocking, but your RAM is 1600.

Otherwise, it looks like those parts will work together just fine. Now if you're getting the best bang for you buck, I do not know as I'm not as familiar with AMD hardware.

Any suggestions on how I could improve the performance in the build? I have about 100$ left in my budget.

Should I get a processor that supports 1600, or bump down to 1333 and use that little extra cash to bump a different part up a notch?

  • 07.07.2012 6:53 PM PDT

Posted by: ABotelho
Any suggestions on how I could improve the performance in the build? I have about 100$ left in my budget.

Should I get a processor that supports 1600, or bump down to 1333 and use that little extra cash to bump a different part up a notch?

It doesn't look like 1600 is a natively supported speed so you'd probably have to overclock with another processor anyways. On that note, that's an interesting heatsink now that I think about it. I use the Cool Master Hyper 212 Plus heatsink personally (and it seems to work just fine), but overclocking doesn't seem to be beyond your means.

Also, I did take a look at some Radeon GPUs and saw this guy for like ~$30 more. The power requirements are the same too.

  • 07.07.2012 7:03 PM PDT


Posted by: CostlyAxis
It doesn't look like 1600 is a natively supported speed so you'd probably have to overclock with another processor anyways. On that note, that's an interesting heatsink now that I think about it. I use the Cool Master Hyper 212 Plus heatsink personally (and it seems to work just fine), but overclocking doesn't seem to be beyond your means.

Also, I did take a look at some Radeon GPUs and saw this guy for like ~$30 more. The power requirements are the same too.

I don't think I'll be overclocking. I'm still rather new at this, and I'm not so sure I'm comfortable with it.

That said, I bumped down to 1333, and added the video card you suggested.

I'm at this. Would you suggest a small SSD for my OS and important applications?

  • 07.07.2012 7:23 PM PDT

Posted by: ABotelho
I'm at this. Would you suggest a small SSD for my OS and important applications?

If you're willing to spend the extra amount for one, it would definitely make booting and shutting down faster, and make starting the programs on it faster. They just tend to get expensive really quickly (I use an SSD for my OS).

Also, Newegg has that GPU for less than that PCpartpicker's choice. Maybe it's factoring in shipping or something, but the price difference is because of a rebate.

  • 07.07.2012 7:30 PM PDT

How hard is it to put together a computer?

Do I need a degree in Engineering? Or can I Google it and be on my way?

  • 07.07.2012 7:32 PM PDT


Posted by: CostlyAxis
Posted by: ABotelho
I'm at this. Would you suggest a small SSD for my OS and important applications?

If you're willing to spend the extra amount for one, it would definitely make booting and shutting down faster, and make starting the programs on it faster. They just tend to get expensive really quickly (I use an SSD for my OS).

Also, Newegg has that GPU for less than that PCpartpicker's choice. Maybe it's factoring in shipping or something, but the price difference is because of a rebate.

I'll definitely be double-checking my prices.

As for the SSD, I'd be getting something around 60GB. Nothing big.

Any other suggestions? I have somewhere between 40$-80$ left.

  • 07.07.2012 7:35 PM PDT

Posted by: Gandalf
How hard is it to put together a computer?

Do I need a degree in Engineering? Or can I Google it and be on my way?

It's not very difficult, but it does require patience and research. Of course if I may recommend a little guide I wrote, or Newegg has a video series you can watch (Part 1 of 3).


Posted by: ABotelho
As for the SSD, I'd be getting something around 60GB. Nothing big.

Any other suggestions? I have somewhere between 40$-80$ left.

I don't really have any more suggestions (doesn't mean more don't exist, and my single opinion shouldn't be the determining factor), and I would just pocket the difference you have left in your budget. No reason to spend your entire budget if you don't need to.

[Edited on 07.07.2012 7:38 PM PDT]

  • 07.07.2012 7:35 PM PDT