Help with building a computer

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  1. Posts : 349
    MS Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1
       #11

    I'd have to agree with a different power supply. I'd only trust the good names brands. I've never heard anything about Diablotek. A good Asus board would be nice too, but there are other alternatives like the others mentioned.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 41
    Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #12

    Newegg.com - ASUS M5A97 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

    I wan planning on an ATX MB for the sake of room. This one seems pretty nice.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #13

    You say the New Egg calculator said you needed 400 watts.

    Here are some decent and fairly inexpensive PSUs around that output level:

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151072
    Seasonic 380 watts; 54 bucks.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371046
    Antec 400 watts; made by Seasonic; 60 bucks

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371030
    Antec 520 watts; made by Seasonic; 60 bucks

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151074
    Seasonic, 430 watts; 60 bucks

    Those are the best I can find at that price point.

    Make sure the one you choose has the right connectors for your motherboard.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 120
    Win 7
       #14

    There's no shame in not knowing how to build a computer. But the solution is simple: Just buy a computer from HP or Dell. Simpler. Cheaper. More reliable. No build-induced headaches.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 349
    MS Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1
       #15

    lhorwinkle said:
    There's no shame in not knowing how to build a computer. But the solution is simple: Just buy a computer from HP or Dell. Simpler. Cheaper. More reliable. No build-induced headaches.
    It may be simpler, but most of the time not cheaper. Building a computer gives you a better chance to get what parts you want or need. Buying a pre-built computer doesn't give you that chance and it's overpriced for what they put in it so they can make a profit.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 325
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #16

    What you want to do is see what's working well for other people playing the games you want to play. Being your own test bed can get expensive real fast. Reading owner reviews and even looking at specs posted on Youtube work for that. Some vid cards really have trouble with some games. Unfortunately, sometimes people have the card before the game comes out. Game designers can't test every possible combo. That's why I prefer mainstream Intel/nVidia - more likely they were tested during game design testing. But many combos not tested still work well, and finding them isn't hard to do.
    Some MB/vid card combos don't work well together. What's in my specs has worked well with everything I've thrown at it, but there are many setups that work.
    Mine is already pretty old, and the only thing I've noticed wrong in playing many high-demand games was the spider webs blocking some passages in Skyrim were invisible. So when I got stopped I just started hacking, then they showed up.
    I wouldn't get any MB/vid combo that I didn't see working well for the games I play.
    Of course "issues" can still rear up when new games are released, usually solved by new drivers.
    Best not to get into that driver issue in the first place. I'm still using the drivers I installed 2 1/2 years ago when I built this system.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 5,795
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #17

    lhorwinkle said:
    There's no shame in not knowing how to build a computer. But the solution is simple: Just buy a computer from HP or Dell. Simpler. Cheaper. More reliable. No build-induced headaches.
    There's no shame in that...but there's also no harm in trying it. I've taught dozens of people to build them, including my wife, and they have all remakred at how simple it was after doing it. All you need is patience and a basic understand of the parts. Having someone shadow you who has done it before helps tremendously, but isn't necessary.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 24,479
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
       #18

    xDeathSwitchx said:
    Newegg.com - ASUS M5A97 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

    I wan planning on an ATX MB for the sake of room. This one seems pretty nice.
    It's a nice board but make sure your HP case will accept the ATX size.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1,996
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #19

    Since you're on a budget, I'd consider the Antec over the Diablotek.
    It's currently $6.00 more.
    Newegg.com - Antec VP-450 450W ATX 12V v2.3 Power Supply
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 41
    Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #20

    ignatzatsonic said:
    You say the New Egg calculator said you needed 400 watts.

    Here are some decent and fairly inexpensive PSUs around that output level:

    Newegg.com - SeaSonic S12II 380B 380W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
    Seasonic 380 watts; 54 bucks.

    Newegg.com - Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-400 400W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.91 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
    Antec 400 watts; made by Seasonic; 60 bucks

    Newegg.com - Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
    Antec 520 watts; made by Seasonic; 60 bucks

    Newegg.com - SeaSonic S12II 430B 430W ATX12V V2.3/EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
    Seasonic, 430 watts; 60 bucks

    Those are the best I can find at that price point.

    Make sure the one you choose has the right connectors for your motherboard.
    Thank you for the suggestions I'll make sure they have all the connectors I need.

    Victor S said:
    What you want to do is see what's working well for other people playing the games you want to play. Being your own test bed can get expensive real fast. Reading owner reviews and even looking at specs posted on Youtube work for that. Some vid cards really have trouble with some games. Unfortunately, sometimes people have the card before the game comes out. Game designers can't test every possible combo. That's why I prefer mainstream Intel/nVidia - more likely they were tested during game design testing. But many combos not tested still work well, and finding them isn't hard to do.
    Some MB/vid card combos don't work well together. What's in my specs has worked well with everything I've thrown at it, but there are many setups that work.
    Mine is already pretty old, and the only thing I've noticed wrong in playing many high-demand games was the spider webs blocking some passages in Skyrim were invisible. So when I got stopped I just started hacking, then they showed up.
    I wouldn't get any MB/vid combo that I didn't see working well for the games I play.
    Of course "issues" can still rear up when new games are released, usually solved by new drivers.
    Best not to get into that driver issue in the first place. I'm still using the drivers I installed 2 1/2 years ago when I built this system.
    I'm defiantly going to look up reviews on any new products before I buy them. I already have the CPU and GFX card in my old PC and they worked great together. Thanks for all the info!


    It's a nice board but make sure your HP case will accept the ATX size.
    I'm getting a new case so I don't have any heat or ventilation issues. Also It'll look pretty :P

    Sardonicus said:
    Since you're on a budget, I'd consider the Antec over the Diablotek.
    It's currently $6.00 more.
    Newegg.com - Antec VP-450 450W ATX 12V v2.3 Power Supply
    Thanks for the suggestion. I'll make sure It has all the right connections and consider it for sure.
      My Computer


 
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