First gaming computer.. (Advice and help)

Simp · 07-14-2009, 11:33 AM

Hey guys, I have been playing games on the computer for as long as I can remember. I have always gotten my computers prebuilt from the usual companies. Just recently, I have made the decision to try and build my own gaming computer. I figured its going to be much easier to do future upgrades and keep the computer up to date, let alone the money I could save. I have watched a few videos on the internet and read some guides. I think I may have a very basic understanding of how these computers are put together.

I was hoping you guys could help me out and let me know if I am making any mistakes with the parts I am picking out.

Motherboard : GIGABYTE GA-MA790
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128387

Video Card : GeForce GTX 275
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130475

Sound Card : Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102006

Power Supply : OCZ StealthXStream OCZ700SXS 700W ATX12V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341019

Memory : OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227365

CPU : AMD Phenom II X4 810 2.6GHz Quad Core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103650

Fan : ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835185125

DVD Burner : LG Black 22X DVD+R SATA 22X DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136168

Hard Drive : HITACHI Deskstar
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822145250

Tower : NZXT Apollo Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811146025

I am extremely new to all this, I am kinda looking for direction. If you guys have any suggestions or changes you may recommend, feel free. I am looking to make this a decent gaming computer for myself, I don't have too many other plans for it.

Are all those parts selected compatible?

What version of windows do you recommend?

Does this seem to be in line for what I am looking to do with the computer?

Thank you so much in advance guys,
Simp

**manic** · 07-14-2009, 01:57 PM

Go here,,,great info,,,
Want to Build A New Intel or AMD Computer? Here are 6 suggested models with Spec
I would really go for a intel solution,,not a big amd fan,,others will differ.
With that video card you should really be looking at the corsair power
supplies,,,,at least the 750watt corsair tx,,but preferably the 850.

**wrench97** · 07-14-2009, 03:25 PM

I agree Intel is the way to go but if you prefer AMD you should use the Phenom II 955 for the larger Cache size, it's also the closest to the performance of the Intel chips.

**Tyree** · 07-14-2009, 08:05 PM

Another Intel vote and go with a DDR2RAM Mobo.
I would also suggest trying the Onboard sound before purchasing a sound card. Onboard sound is quite impressive on the new Mobo's.

Dacads · 07-15-2009, 12:48 PM

Yep defo go with a Intel quad core processor instead of AMD.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115055
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16813138080R

Good over clocking potential :p

**Tyree** · 07-15-2009, 08:36 PM

The Intel E8500 Dual Core is a great choice for gaming.

Phædrus2401 · 07-16-2009, 01:50 AM

I use that sound card myself, and to be honest there is only a slight improvement over my mobo's (Asus P5Q Pro) onboard sound, mainly in how crisp the bass is, but I don't think that alone is worth paying $100 for unless you have a 7.1 speaker system. I got it mainly because I wanted to be able to record my guitar playing without it turning out staticy like with the mobo's sound, and also get that crisper bass in the process.

Also, like everyone else is saying, Intel is the winner of this generation of CPUs, Intel's quad cores slaughter AMD's in the benchmarks, and the dual cores are far ahead as well. AMD really only shines in the budget computer build; their low-mid range CPUs can sometimes give better performance for the price in the <$100 range. For gaming you'll want a high-end dual core processor, like the E8500/E8600. If you really want you can get a quad core, but the performance increase over dual cores is very small for the price, and can actually be slower on some games.

For a GTX275 the Corsair tx750w is probably your best bet, the tx850w if you want to be on the safe side.

07-14-2009, 11:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
Simp Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1 OS: Vista	First gaming computer.. (Advice and help) Hey guys, I have been playing games on the computer for as long as I can remember. I have always gotten my computers prebuilt from the usual companies. Just recently, I have made the decision to try and build my own gaming computer. I figured its going to be much easier to do future upgrades and keep the computer up to date, let alone the money I could save. I have watched a few videos on the internet and read some guides. I think I may have a very basic understanding of how these computers are put together. I was hoping you guys could help me out and let me know if I am making any mistakes with the parts I am picking out. Motherboard : GIGABYTE GA-MA790 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128387 Video Card : GeForce GTX 275 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130475 Sound Card : Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102006 Power Supply : OCZ StealthXStream OCZ700SXS 700W ATX12V http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341019 Memory : OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227365 CPU : AMD Phenom II X4 810 2.6GHz Quad Core http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103650 Fan : ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835185125 DVD Burner : LG Black 22X DVD+R SATA 22X DVD Burner http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136168 Hard Drive : HITACHI Deskstar http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822145250 Tower : NZXT Apollo Black http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811146025 I am extremely new to all this, I am kinda looking for direction. If you guys have any suggestions or changes you may recommend, feel free. I am looking to make this a decent gaming computer for myself, I don't have too many other plans for it. Are all those parts selected compatible? What version of windows do you recommend? Does this seem to be in line for what I am looking to do with the computer? Thank you so much in advance guys, Simp Last edited by Simp; 07-14-2009 at 11:36 AM.

07-14-2009, 01:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,241 OS: xp	Re: First gaming computer.. (Advice and help) Go here,,,great info,,, Want to Build A New Intel or AMD Computer? Here are 6 suggested models with Spec I would really go for a intel solution,,not a big amd fan,,others will differ. With that video card you should really be looking at the corsair power supplies,,,,at least the 750watt corsair tx,,but preferably the 850. __________________

07-14-2009, 03:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,521 OS: Win7	Re: First gaming computer.. (Advice and help) I agree Intel is the way to go but if you prefer AMD you should use the Phenom II 955 for the larger Cache size, it's also the closest to the performance of the Intel chips. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

07-14-2009, 08:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,566 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: First gaming computer.. (Advice and help) Another Intel vote and go with a DDR2RAM Mobo. I would also suggest trying the Onboard sound before purchasing a sound card. Onboard sound is quite impressive on the new Mobo's. __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.

07-15-2009, 12:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dacads Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: UK Posts: 188 OS: XP SP2 My System	Re: First gaming computer.. (Advice and help) Yep defo go with a Intel quad core processor instead of AMD. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115055 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16813138080R Good over clocking potential :p

07-15-2009, 08:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,566 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: First gaming computer.. (Advice and help) The Intel E8500 Dual Core is a great choice for gaming. __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.

07-16-2009, 01:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,782 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: First gaming computer.. (Advice and help) I use that sound card myself, and to be honest there is only a slight improvement over my mobo's (Asus P5Q Pro) onboard sound, mainly in how crisp the bass is, but I don't think that alone is worth paying $100 for unless you have a 7.1 speaker system. I got it mainly because I wanted to be able to record my guitar playing without it turning out staticy like with the mobo's sound, and also get that crisper bass in the process. Also, like everyone else is saying, Intel is the winner of this generation of CPUs, Intel's quad cores slaughter AMD's in the benchmarks, and the dual cores are far ahead as well. AMD really only shines in the budget computer build; their low-mid range CPUs can sometimes give better performance for the price in the <$100 range. For gaming you'll want a high-end dual core processor, like the E8500/E8600. If you really want you can get a quad core, but the performance increase over dual cores is very small for the price, and can actually be slower on some games. For a GTX275 the Corsair tx750w is probably your best bet, the tx850w if you want to be on the safe side.