Helping a friend build a PC

Use the CD that comes with the motherboard to ensure everything works driver-wise. In Windows 7, GPU and motherboard drivers come in as optional Windows updates in the Update Center, so you should be up to date on the most common components.

To pick and install the most commonly used apps for your new computer, use Ninite.com. You pick what you want, it spits out an installer that's a couple of kb is in size, and downloads and installs everything in the background using default options. It won't install any bundleware that's normally included with any of the programs.

You need to install the catalyst control panel from ATI, without this you can't do crossfire. This is the main reason that you need to install the drivers from ATI's website. Its not just the standard display driver, its all the stuff that gets intsalled along with it.

Frostmourne said:

PSU you want would be a Corsair HX 650.

I would agree with this. I have the older Corsair HX 620 and it's a great power supply.

The OCZ will be fine...

win7clutz said:

The OCZ will be fine...

I concur with this.