My wife and I want a desktop to replace our crappy laptops and I've decided that I would rather build it myself than pay a big name manufacturer. Small problem though: I've never built one from the ground up before and I haven't kept up with what's good in hardware in years. This computer will be mostly a general purpose machine with some gaming thrown in. The only game I really care about (besides Team Fortress 2) will be TES 5 when it comes out. So I would like to be able to play that game at near maximum if possible. I know the specs aren't out yet but I want the ability to upgrade to what is required when the time comes. So to that end I think I would need a good motherboard with high end capabilities that can still use a cheaper video card and such for now. I will be using at least two hard drives. I want one to run windows 7 for my wife and I'm thinking about using the second for either Linux (Ubuntu, I'm a newb), or just backup storage. I am not an audiophile by any means but I would like to get something decent for the sound card. I have picked out the case I think. It can be seen here. If I read the description correctly, it looks like that can use any size ATX motherboard, so...yeah.

Help.

I almost got that case but instead paid $10 more and got the illusion (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066&Tpk=antec%20illusion) because it supposedly had cable management and an SSD mount point. I'm happy with it but as other reviewers have noted, the top fan is noisy (sounds like a hard drive or something).

I'm happy with my intel and core i-5 760, although they now have newer i5's out. Nvidia just came out with the 560 cards which are ~250 bucks and perform well.

The nice thing is that it's hard to put a computer together "wrong" anymore. You can't put the gfx card or memory in the wrong slots. As long as everything is seated properly it will be all good. I love the SATA connectors. In your case, just make sure the drive you want to install windows on is in the first slot (sata0 or something) or it won't work right.

Update: Looks like the only difference in the illusion case is two front led fans.

I really like this case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024&cm_re=sonata-_-11-129-024-_-Product

To play TES5, on max, which isn't even released, you are probably going to have to build a hell of a system. I'll suggest an i5 2500k (People have been overclocking these to like, 5 ghz on air) an Ati 6800 or 6900 series card (you can flash the 6950 to effectively be a 6970, foolproof too due it's dual bios system.) 8 gigs of RAM (it's extremely cheap right now, you can get 16 for like, 200 dollars) I also suggest Asus for the motherboard, though I have no specific models to suggest. If you want to upgrade later I still suggest going with the 2500k and getting a 5770/6770 for video.
E: also i suggest an Antec 300.

I have always had luck with this case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-054-_-Product

I love my Antec 300. Tibby's pick for the i5-2500K is an excellent choice if your even considering overclocking. Just remember if you go with a (K) cpu that you should definately pick a 1155 motherboard based on the P67 chipset (this will allow you to overclock). The cheaper H67 chipsets wont allow to change multiplers and would be a waste of the (K) cpu. I also agree with Tibby's suggestion of the 5770 as a good temporary budget card.

Everyone has a damn antec 300 these days.

I've been looking at the Lanboy Air. Anybody have an opinion about it?

Btw Newegg has a great deal on ram right now:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231424

Use coupon code DM15A0111US for US or DM15A0111CA for Canada for an additional 15% off.

I just got 8gb DDR3 for <$60 shipped. (I cant help myself)

Just go buy a computer from Lenovo.

God ddr3 is so cheap, makes me want to just build an i7, or should I just say sandy bridge, with tax return money.

Other than the fact that it's hideous? I love the (increasingly) modular design though.

Oems suck and making it yourself is so amazingly easy these days.

yes yes, you're passive aggressive. we know.

It's not too hideous. The yellow one reminds me of a certain brand of power tools.

This is the case i have..
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153

couldnt be happier with it.. says it supports ATX and MicroATX

I didn't intend for my statement to be passive.

I don't get it, you aggressively don't want people to build computers? You really like Lenovo?

No, last time I asked for advice on building a computer, JonC kept telling me to go buy a Lenovo. So now he was asking for advice about a computer case so I told him to go buy a Lenovo. I should have quoted his question to make it more clear, sorry.

Ahhh...I have G.Skill Ripjaws 1600 now but that's so tempting..triple my RAM for cheep... I read a response from G.Skill to a review on an 8Gb Ripjaws kit and they said that memory needs to be match-tested to ensure compatibility, and even mixing multiple sticks of the same type wouldn't guarantee functionality. That doesn't seem right, but they're the experts..hmm.

For cases, go Lian Li and never look back.

I've seen it both ways, mostly depends on your motherboard's tolerance for it. Of course every motherboard manufacturer is going to be saying you need the exact same model/type in all slots just to cover their butts. I'm betting you would be fine but yes there is a little risk with that.

I'm thinking this motherboard will work out well for me. SLI support for the future and it supports the K series processors that Tibby suggested. Any reason to stay away from it?

I believe this is the processor that was suggested. Looks good to me, any issues with the motherboard posted above?

Barring any issues, I have the case, motherboard, and processor picked out. As far as I know, all I need now is to choose a video card, sound card, and power supply correct? The motherboard seems to have the NIC, BT, and USB built in.

Edit: Forgot RAM, looking at that next, then video card. Who makes the 5770 that Tibby suggested? ATi?

Edit2: On the subject of RAM, that motherboard supports "DDR3 2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/1600/1333/1066". Any of those I should look at in preference over the others? Should I use the ones that say O.C. if I'm planning to overclock or something?

Motherboard and CPU look good.

You are reusing Hard drive / DVDRW? If so make sure they are SATA, the motherboard you picked doesnt support the older IDE/PATA standard.

I dont have any experience with Sandy Bridge yet. But from my understanding the overclocking is done thru the multiplier now, meaning you shouldnt need the best ram to achieve an excellent CPU overclock. I'll take a look at a few guides and post back here. My guess would be that almost any cheap 1.5v DDR3 should be fine.

The 5770 is made by AMD/ATI: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007709%20600007320%20600007603&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=20

There isnt going to be a significant difference between models, I usually get the cheapest but maybe one comes with a longer warrentee or game bundle that might interest you.

I suggest Sapphire based entirely on personal satisfaction.

I've had good luck with Sapphire as well (current & previous card), but XFX has a double lifetime warranty (i.e. lifetime warranty for you, and lifetime warranty to the next owner if you sell it).

This mobo would be my choice

Asus= good.
Gopher it.

Sapphire it is.

Now how about the RAM? In my last post I asked about the different frequencies supported by my motherboard of choice and I'm still lost. Is any of them more desirable than the others? What should I do there?

My hard drive and CD/DVD drive are picked out and they are SATA (naturally, that's what the mobo supports).

I still need a sound card. As I said before, I'm not too picky here. Just need something that works decent. I may never hook up more than a 2.1 speaker system to it, but I'd like the option for full surround just in case. Other than that, there's not much I need. Anything in particular to stay away from?

Power supply. How much do I need for this setup and what is a good brand? I think I read that the PSU sits on the bottom of my chosen case. Will I need a particular type of PSU for this location or should they all work?

So long as it's 1.5 volt DDR3 it really doesn't matter, though I would check the Asus site for the official supported list. Why do you need a sound card, onboard sound these days is more then enough to do 7.1 and sound great. PSU is easy, just find one around 600 watts and buy it. I have had a corsair and an OCZ that have both lasted several years in several different machines.
I think I covered all that.

I'm a tard. I didn't realize the mobo had onboard sound. Sweet.

Edit: Found a PSU wattage calculator on the Asus site. It suggested at least a 500W PSU, so 600W sounds good to me.

Since the Sapphire card is HDCP ready, will I need a monitor and optical drive that are both HDCP ready as well? My half-hearted e-research says yes. What say the people that actually have a clue?

The power supply will only draw as much power as it needs, the only thing to be concerned about is power supplies tend to be more efficient closer to their rated wattage. Meaning if your PSU is 1000W but you typically only use 200W then your conversion rate might not be at the 80%, but at 73%. Some made up numbers.

I think 600W is a good recommendation, its enough to allow you to Crossfire with another 5770 or upgrade to a much beefier videocard in the future, but not so much as to be overkill or a waste of money.

Any brands to stay away from/ lean towards?

HDCP works like this: HDCP Display requires an HDCP cable and card, you can use HDCP cables and cards with non-HDCP displays, but you cannot use non-HDCP cards/cables with an HDCP display.

It's best to search for reviews on individual models but Corsair, Antec, OCZ, PC Power and Cooling, Seasonic, and Silverstone generally all have a very good reputation. With PSU's it's the cheaper ones like Logisys, Athena, and Sunbeam that are generally unreliable.

Awesome. Thanks guys.

I've had no problems with Antec (I've had TruePower and EarthWatts, I think)..I currently have an Enermax 720w and it's been fine as well.

I'd stay away from anything that's advertising 600w+ and only costs $25.

OK, here is my build. Anything I'm missing? Keyboard and mouse are already set, speakers will be taken care of later. The monitor still needs to be figured out, but I want the main part set first.

Will I need to buy things like cables and whatnot, or are they usually included?

Your link goes to a Newegg login page...can you copy/paste the list?

Retail-box items come with cables (plus your motherboard should come with cables as well). OEM is usually just the part (i.e. OEM CPU will not have a heatsink/fan but a Retail package will, OEM DVD drive will have no cables, Retail will, etc).

HDD may or may not come with SATA cables, Video Cards generally come with an adapter for power supplies, although you shouldn't need one.

If it's retail boxed, it should - and if not, his motherboard should come with at least two.