I'm in need of a new computer, and I've heard that you can build one for fairly cheaper than a pre-built one. Here's the bad part. I have really no idea what I'm doing. I mean, I know enough where I could put it together easily enough, but when I start getting into having the parts all be compatible and whatnot, my head starts to ache a little. I've consulted newegg, and have a list of what I'm looking to buy. My question to you folks is will these parts all work together? And if not, if you could provide an alternative that would give roughly the same results without too much of a blow to my wallet? Also, am I missing anything? I've read about needing fans and such things, but I'm not sure if this setup would need those things. Anything you can give me is a help.

 

 

 

[hide=The List]Processor

 

AMD Phenom 9850 2.5GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor Model HD985ZXAJ4BGH - OEM

 

 

 

Motherboard

 

ASUS M4A78 PRO AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

 

 

 

Case

 

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

 

 

 

Hard drive

 

Western Digital Caviar SE16 640GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s - OEM

 

 

 

Ram

 

Crucial Ballistix Tracer 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model BL2KIT25664AR80A - Retail

 

 

 

Video card

 

XFX PVT98GYDLU GeForce 9800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

 

 

 

 

 

DVD/CD Drive

 

LITE-ON Black IDE DVD-ROM Drive Model iHDP118-08 - Retail

 

 

 

Monitor

 

SAMSUNG ToC T220HD Rose Black 22" 5ms HDMI Widescreen HDTV Monitor 300 cd/m2 DC 10000:1 Built in DTV Tuner & Dolby Digital Surround Speakers - Retail

 

 

 

Keyboard

 

Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000 - Retail

 

 

 

Mouse

 

Logitech SBF-96 Black Wired Optical Mouse - OEM[/hide]

 

 

 

All parts are from NewEgg, if that's important.

I have the same problem as you. I can easily put the computer together, but all those numbers and randoms letters just makes me want to jump out a window...

You will need a cpu cooler (cpu is oem), http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835207004

 

Pick a lightscribe optical drive with sata.

 

Psu (it kinda won't boot without one...), http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817341012

 

Either keep your current card or change to this, performs the same for less money.

 

Also, get a tube of Arctic Silver 5.

 

2 sata cables (if you choose your hd+a oem optical drive).

[hide=Stuff I ordered]Video Card: 4850

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131125

 

 

 

Processor: Intel Core2duo @ 3.16ghz

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036

 

 

 

Power Supply: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005&Tpk=650w%20corsair%20psu

 

 

 

Hard Drive: Western Digital 500gb

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

 

 

 

Ram: 4gb ocz 1066 ones

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227289

 

 

 

Motherboard: gigabyte p45

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358

 

 

 

Disk Drive: samsung optical drive

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171

 

 

 

Case: XION Onyx XON-301 Black Steel ATX

 

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811208020

 

 

 

Vista 64 bit

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488[/hide]

 

I would personally get an intel CPU/mobo instead of AMD, but that's just me.

Thanks much Joe, I would have completely forgot the power supply, lol.

 

 

 

@Nadril- I was going to go with an intel, but they all seemed more expensive when I looked at them. Are they really worth the extra money?

Intel is doing a lot better then AMD at the moment the only issue is that there making new sockets like crazy.

 

 

 

If your gaming a G5 is a much better mouse and you can pick up a ideazon or logitech keyboard fairly cheap now and allow more keys to be pressed at the same time (helps more then you'd think).

 

 

 

Only thing I would change from jaerkd00d's build is the case (I hate gamer looking cases) and maybe drop the 8500 for a 8400 (you can easily OC 0.16 if you wanted).

As far as I've heard, the Phenom 2s are comparable to the intel quad cores, plus are fairly easy to oc.

speaking of logitech, I have a $15 or so keyboard from them that is incredible. Also using a G5 mouse, of course. :P

If you aren't comfortable with putting it together yourself you can just take all the neccesary parts down to a computer store and pay them to put it together for you.

 

If you're hellbent on putting it together yourself then I suggest you take an old tower that you don't use anymore and take it apart & poke around inside (obviously making sure you unplug the thing before you start), if only to get an idea of how things are put together and the general makeup of the computers err...innards.

speaking of logitech, I have a $15 or so keyboard from them that is incredible. Also using a G5 mouse, of course. :P

 

 

 

What model... I need a new keyboard for my new comp. I'm using a $4 piece of compaq poo

Unless I'm way out of touch with the builders' scene, I thought that ATI chipsets were not compatible with NVIDIA graphics cards. If that's true, then you won't have a working machine when you get it finished. [if it's not true, then I'm going to e-bay this Radeon HD card and get a decent GeForce in its place.]

 

 

 

You might want to talk to someone about that, first thing.

Unless I'm way out of touch with the builders' scene, I thought that ATI chipsets were not compatible with NVIDIA graphics cards. If that's true, then you won't have a working machine when you get it finished. [if it's not true, then I'm going to e-bay this Radeon HD card and get a decent GeForce in its place.]

 

 

 

You might want to talk to someone about that, first thing.

 

 

 

You're wrong...

AMD used to be better than intel, then intel started getting better and finally came out with c2d which sealed the deal. However AMD seems to be coming back, the phenom II 940 a fantastic cpu. I think it was a bit under around $380AUS in a pc I just put together. iirc it beats the i7 940 when it comes to games, at less than half the price.

 

 

 

I don't know much about the parts you listed and how much they are, but if the price of the cpu is close to the phentom II then I would recommend it.

I know peripherals aren't your biggest concern, but just in case you like eye-candy, functionality, gaming, I figured I would post this. Here goes.

 

-----------

 

Dude, if you have the money to spare, and want waste it on gaming gear (if you're heading that way...)

 

 

 

1 word.

 

Logitech

 

 

 

G15 Keyboard and G5 Mouse

 

 

 

And if you really want to push your budget...

 

 

 

The new Logitech G19 keyboard and G9x Laser Mouse (Not sure if it's out already... but soon I guess)

 

[hide=Images that make my mouth water]

 

 

 

 

[/hide]

 

 

 

Or get the whole set of new Logitech Gaming gear and look like this guy :P

 

 

 

 

------------- Yes I am that much of a nerd... :(

 

 

 

Back on topic more -

 

 

 

From what I read you are getting some decent gear. I don't know if you're going 64bit OS? if so you could make use of the ram advantage and go 8GB if everything else is OK with that?

 

But yeah, it's looking good so far.