Computers Home Built Computers

**SuperChief** · 06-30-2011, 01:33 PM

Stealing some mojo from another thread, I was curious as to who here has built theiir own computer? If you do, would you mind sharing what hardware/software you're using and what you primarily use the computer for (gaming, home office, etc)?

Also, links would be greatly appreciated to the hardware parts, but if you're too lazy, it's all good. I'm going to start building my own system, and I'm looking for some advice.

Thanks in advance.

**Saulbadguy** · 06-30-2011, 01:35 PM

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/fea..._rig_under_700

Edit: Good starting point for a budget gaming PC. I'd get a better case, though. Probably a better hard drive (WD Black). You could also step it up to an intel i5 for not much more. The motherboard limits expansion too.

I order everything from newegg.com.

**loochy** · 06-30-2011, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dante Hicks

I order everything from newegg.com.

This. Also I buy stuff from Fry's. I've noticed that the stuff is usually the same price except for tax. Sometimes when I want something now I'll go to Fry's. What works extremely well is getting the newegg app and cruising around frys and checking out the reviews as you shop.

If there is any one thing you should know, it's this:

ALWAYS READ THE REVIEWS ON NEWEGG! ALWAYS! It's probably THE best place there is to find out how good or reliable something is.

**loochy** · 06-30-2011, 02:12 PM

From my post in the other thread:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sofa King

What did you get?

How much did it cost you?

I'd like to get a new system sometime soon.

It ended up at about $600, but I re-used some stuff from my first machine.

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition

ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3

CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3

COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Corsair Force CSSD-F120GB2-BRKT 2.5" 120GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive

Plus I already had this stuff:

Hauppauge Colossus HD Video Capture Card

Thermaltake TR2 RX 750W Power Supply

XFX Radeon HD 5850

2x 160 GB Western Digital 7200 rpm HD in Raid 0
1 TB Samsung HD for backup
1 cheapo dvd burner

**loochy** · 06-30-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperChief

So how is this system working for you? Pros? Cons? Do you use it mostly for gaming?

This thing works great. I use it for gaming and TV/movies mostly.

Pros:

everything runs super smooth
windows boots in about 10 seconds
all of my programs load almost instantly, including outlook, excel, and windows media center
the ssd makes no stupid click click noise like a normal HD
I love watching and recording HD tv on my computer
the case is awesome and keeps everything super cool
no matter what I do, I can't seem to get the CPU utilization up to 100%
multitasking like crazy. I can run WMC and play a netflix instant movie streamed onto my big TV in the living room while playing BF2 on my monitor
six cores + ample overclocking room + good mobo + crossfire capable = somewhat future proof
this system is very overclockable
anything else you can think of

Cons:

I had to pay for it?
it won't make me a pizza and bring me some beer
I don't have a blu ray burner yet so I can't copy my netflix movies...yet
it's not quite up to the top end Intel i7 speeds, but you can't beat the price to performance ratio of the 1090T
BF2 loads so fast that the server kicks me on every map change due to an erroneous "modified content" error. Then I have to go back and rejoin and I'm still one of the first ones in.

**SuperChief** · 06-30-2011, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loochy

[*]six cores + ample overclocking room + good mobo + crossfire capable = somewhat future proof[/LIST]

How necessary is this? Would I be fine for gaming purposes with just the quad?

Valiant · 06-30-2011, 02:58 PM

See I differ now. I used to build my own. Now I just new late model desktops that I know I can upgrade memory and graphic card. I just use it for internet and bf3 and the new starwars game.

Should be able to get a 8gig memory and 2gig pc done for under 700 from wjat I have seen with prices out there.

**loochy** · 06-30-2011, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperChief

How necessary is this? Would I be fine for gaming purposes with just the quad?

Yeah, six cores is overkill for right now as I can't name any single programs that can use all 6 cores at once. However, it does help for the future AND it is rather helpful in multitasking.

The thing that I think has made the most difference is the SSD. I put my OS and commonly used programs (MS Office, Firefox, BF2, Steam) on the SSD, then my other stuff and music and video files on my RAID.

**Baby Lee** · 06-30-2011, 03:33 PM

Asus P5K Mobo
Intel Q6600 Quad core
two Western Digital [300GB, 160GB] and one Maxtor [240GB] internal hard drives, as well at a MyBook external [1 TB]
Invidia GeForce 9600 GT
ATI HD Wonder HDTV Tuner
LiteOn LH-20A1S DVD reader/writer
Rocketfish BTCombo Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse
Envision G19LWk 19 inch widescreen monitor
2 GB Corsair RAM

Also dedicate a 4GB USB drive to ReadyBoost

Use the computer for;
Internet Access
Home Theater/Media Management [Window 7 Ultimate, specifically Windows Media Center is awesome for that]
Engineering computation [AutoCAD, Matlab, PSpice, Electrc, ModelSim, MathCAD, FilterPro, etc]

**Baby Lee** · 06-30-2011, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loochy

Yeah, six cores is overkill for right now as I can't name any single programs that can use all 6 cores at once. However, it does help for the future AND it is rather helpful in multitasking.

The thing that I think has made the most difference is the SSD. I put my OS and commonly used programs (MS Office, Firefox, BF2, Steam) on the SSD, then my other stuff and music and video files on my RAID.

One of the coolest instance of letting my PC feel its oats is to use Xilisoft Video Converter. Uses all 4 cores at full speed, and can convert an 8 GB .wtv show into Ipod friendly format in like 4 minutes.

Mr. Laz · 06-30-2011, 03:53 PM

I've built every desktop computer i've own(for immediate family too) for the last 20+ years. It's not hard, you just have to educate yourself on the current hardware specs and find the 'sweet spot' that fits your budget. Usually i look for the biggest,baddest hardware out there and then take a step or two down.

good forum to read about the best hardware etc: http://hardforum.com/

**Saulbadguy** · 06-30-2011, 04:34 PM

ReadyBoost? lol

Simplex3 · 06-30-2011, 06:00 PM

Depends on what you want. Just want a capable machine for doing some web surfing, some Flash games, watching some Youtube or Netflix? You can build that with off-the-shelf parts at Microcenter for $215 (no monitor, keyboard, mouse).

Contrary to other posters I don't like to buy my parts online. If something isn't working I don't want to have to pay to ship it back and Microcenter's prices are generally within 5% of the reputable online dealers.

Mr. Laz · 06-30-2011, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simplex3

Microcenter's prices are generally within 5% of the reputable online dealers.

**Baby Lee** · 06-30-2011, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dante Hicks

ReadyBoost? lol

It cost me all of a 100 yard walk from Trader Joe's to MicroCenter with my free USB drive coupon.

06-30-2011, 01:33 PM
SuperChief Damn it feels good. Join Date: Mar 2011 Casino cash: $7537978	Home Built Computers Stealing some mojo from another thread, I was curious as to who here has built theiir own computer? If you do, would you mind sharing what hardware/software you're using and what you primarily use the computer for (gaming, home office, etc)? Also, links would be greatly appreciated to the hardware parts, but if you're too lazy, it's all good. I'm going to start building my own system, and I'm looking for some advice. Thanks in advance.
Posts: 3,305

06-30-2011, 01:35 PM	#2
Saulbadguy When a nightmare becomes real Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $736966	http://www.maximumpc.com/article/fea..._rig_under_700 Edit: Good starting point for a budget gaming PC. I'd get a better case, though. Probably a better hard drive (WD Black). You could also step it up to an intel i5 for not much more. The motherboard limits expansion too. I order everything from newegg.com. __________________ http://www.goemaw.com
Posts: 47,020

06-30-2011, 02:58 PM	#7
Valiant Valiant 'The Thread Killer' Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $4502380	See I differ now. I used to build my own. Now I just new late model desktops that I know I can upgrade memory and graphic card. I just use it for internet and bf3 and the new starwars game. Should be able to get a 8gig memory and 2gig pc done for under 700 from wjat I have seen with prices out there.
Posts: 18,558

06-30-2011, 03:33 PM	#9
Baby Lee Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $8028275	Asus P5K Mobo Intel Q6600 Quad core two Western Digital [300GB, 160GB] and one Maxtor [240GB] internal hard drives, as well at a MyBook external [1 TB] Invidia GeForce 9600 GT ATI HD Wonder HDTV Tuner LiteOn LH-20A1S DVD reader/writer Rocketfish BTCombo Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse Envision G19LWk 19 inch widescreen monitor 2 GB Corsair RAM Also dedicate a 4GB USB drive to ReadyBoost Use the computer for; Internet Access Home Theater/Media Management [Window 7 Ultimate, specifically Windows Media Center is awesome for that] Engineering computation [AutoCAD, Matlab, PSpice, Electrc, ModelSim, MathCAD, FilterPro, etc] __________________ We need the kind of courage that can withstand the subtle corruption of the cynics - E.W.
Posts: 95,642

06-30-2011, 03:53 PM	#11
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	I've built every desktop computer i've own(for immediate family too) for the last 20+ years. It's not hard, you just have to educate yourself on the current hardware specs and find the 'sweet spot' that fits your budget. Usually i look for the biggest,baddest hardware out there and then take a step or two down. good forum to read about the best hardware etc: http://hardforum.com/ __________________
Posts: 95,626

06-30-2011, 04:34 PM	#12
Saulbadguy When a nightmare becomes real Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $736966	ReadyBoost? lol __________________ http://www.goemaw.com
Posts: 47,020

06-30-2011, 06:00 PM	#13
Simplex3 MVP Join Date: Sep 2003 Casino cash: $10004900	Depends on what you want. Just want a capable machine for doing some web surfing, some Flash games, watching some Youtube or Netflix? You can build that with off-the-shelf parts at Microcenter for $215 (no monitor, keyboard, mouse). Contrary to other posters I don't like to buy my parts online. If something isn't working I don't want to have to pay to ship it back and Microcenter's prices are generally within 5% of the reputable online dealers.
Posts: 28,527