Building a PC for the first time, need questions answered.

[Ellondu]

EDIT: Disregard anything that doesn't affirm that my budget is now 1800 dollars and that I am getting a monitor.

Hey guys, I need to build a computer. I have until January 16th to decide what I want and whether or not I want to build it myself.

I would like to build it on my own, but since I live in a college dorm far away from family with no transportation I do not really have a PLACE to build it. I also have NO experience with hardware, unless you count being able to clean the case of a computer.

Therefore, I am thinking about using an online configurator. I am only considering ibuypowerpc and cyberpowerpc, and I am leaning towards cyberpower. I have a 42 inch LG tv I will be using as the monitor, so I do not need to buy one. My budget will be about 1600 dollars even, and I do not really want to go over that if it is avoidable.

For specifics on what the computer will be used for, I can probably limit it to a few things. I will be doing a good amount of gaming, so I am going to need a good graphcis card. Also, I am starting my first computer programming class, so I want something with a good amount of processing power. Also, I want to have a liquid cooling system so that I do not have to worry about getting a computer until I am out of college, or at least have my B.S. in math. I would like to do some video/audio editing also, but the software for those types of things are pretty expensive, and pirated versions seem to be sketchy and I get a lot of controller errors when I use them. I will of course use the computer for everyday things for college like research and essays.

I was wondering whether or not you guys think cyberpower is better than ibuypower or vice versa, or whether you think it is a terrible idea to use them. I really don't think I should build it myself, and if I do, I won't have liquid cooling. I do not want to risk messing up all the parts I've bought with a mistake on the liquid cooling installation.

I will tell you some specifics I am looking for and also post a build that I have made using cyberpowerpc's configurator.

I would like windows 7. I am not familiar with mac or linux and want to stick with windows.
I would like a good keyboard and mouse. I COULD wait till next semester, but I am going to go ahead and get a razer keyboard and mouse.
I want the processor to be at least 4 cores (preferrably 6) and at least 3 GHz.
I would prefer the GPU to be at least 1 gb GDDR5.
I want liquid cooling.
I want 16 gb RAM, but I can settle for 12 (for now).
I do not need a monitor.

I was wondering whether the 17-2600k is really worth the extra money. I read that it performs almost the same as the i5-2500k, but I do not know. I do not need the top of the line machine, I just need something that has power, performance, is quiet, and will last. Also, since I will have liquid cooling, will that make overclocking an option? I am going to set the overclocking to 10% for now just in case.

My Build right now on cyberpower: (EDITED)

Case: Azza Solano 1000 Full-Tower Advance Cooling Case w/ Dual 230mm Fan + Extra 3 Fans

CPU: AMD FX-8150 3.60 GHz Eight-Core AM3+ CPU 8MB L2 Cache & Turbo Core Technology

OC: Extreme OC (Extreme Overclock 20% or more)

LC: Asetek 510LC Liquid Cooling System 120MM Radiator & Fan (Enhanced Cooling Performance + Extreme Silent at 20dBA) (Dual Standard 120MM Fans (Push-Pull))

MOBO: [CrossFireX] GigaByte GA-970A-D3 AMD 970 Socket AM3+ ATX Mainboard w/ On/Off Charge, 7.1 Audio, GbLAN, USB3.0, SATA-III RAID, 2 Gen2 PCIe X16, 3 PCIe X1 & 2 PCI

Memory: 16GB (8GBx2) DDR3/1600MHz Dual Channel Memory

Graphics Card: AMD Radeon HD 6870 1GB GDDR5 16X PCIe Video Card

PSU: 700 Watts - XtremeGear SLI/CrossFireX Ready Power Supply
HDD: 1TB SATA-III 6.0Gb/s 32MB Cache 7200RPM HDD (If I have the money, should I get a HDD cooling fan?)

Optical Drive: 24X Double Layer Dual Format DVD+-R/+-RW + CD-R/RW Drive

Sound: Asus Xonar DS 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Audio Card

Keyboard: Razer Lycosa Black USB Gaming Keyboard

Monitor: 22" Widescreen 1680x1050 Asus VW224U LCD Display (Black Color)

Mouse: Razer Black Naga Molten 5600 DPI USB Wired Laser Special Edition Gaming Mouse

Mouse Pad: Razer Goliathus Fragged Standard Mouse Pad - Speed

What is a thermal display and do I need one?

Wireless Network Card: Linksys WMP600N Wireless-N Dual-Band Adapter (This will allow me to connect to a wireless network?)

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium

I am also getting all three ultracare options.

Final Cost + Shipping:

$1750

What do you think?

[AznTechie]

First of all, I wouldn't recommend you use most of the custom builder sites out there (ie CyberPower, iBuyPower, etc.). You're better off just assembling everything yourself; it's not difficult, either, though time-consuming and sometimes confusing with the wiring and stuff.
Here's a thorough video guide to building a computer. The only thing different with your system is essentially just the water cooling.

Area-wise, it's probably not going to be too much of a problem in the dorms. I helped a classmate build one recently in his dorms and it was fine for the most part. Just make sure you don't have carpeting or something like that.

You can go for the FX8120 instead of the 2600k if you don't mind AMD (note: this means changing the motherboard ofc). Windows is supposedly going to have an update on the next service pack or something that helps the system make use of more threads, making the FX8120 pretty good for the price, if not already. Otherwise, the 2500k (or even the non-unlocked 2400) is an excellent option. The FX8120/i7 2600 is only really if you're going to be doing intensive stuff all the time, rather than mostly gaming or just schoolwork.

The Asus Xonar series seems better if you are going to be doing audio editing or just listening in general. The NZXT Phantom is also a bigger case for your parts and stuff (even if the "front" fans are a bit of a pain to plug in sometimes).

GPU-wise, it depends on what the software you'll be using supports more. The 7850 seems fine for gaming, though, despite not available at the moment.

And you'll probably save a bit building it yourself, too.

[Saex Conroy]

you dont need mac or linux - the software support for both is so poor, especially on linux - i couldnt even run a portable edition of MS Office 2003 and was too lazy to install another copy, so if one thing doesnt work, it means the OS isnt worth it

i couldnt run hackintosh on my laptop, wont bother with it on this computer, because its retarded, but i can tell you it has a slightly better software support than windows, still you wont be able to play many games

and if you REALLY want to build your own computer, go on, you will save some money, if i were you i wouldnt mess and ask the shop for a descent configuration

why do you need 12 or 16gb ram? do you work at nasa? with so much memory your computer wont get outdated for about 5 years, it makes a bit sense, but its kinda stupid on the other hand, i have 2gb ram and im fine

[Shing]

RAM:
Go for 8GB RAM. Highly enough for everything. If your motherboard support quad-channel memory you can get 4x2GB RAM, but its pretty useless too. NO performance boost with qual-channel. Even a bit slower because of the worse latency. Go for Dual-channel 2x4GB. IMO.

HDD:
Best is Samsung Spinpoint F3 Sata2 (HD103SJ) or Western Digital Black Caviar Sata3 (WD1002FAEX+).

Processor:
About I7 2600k and i5 2500k. Both very good for overclock. The 2600k has Hyper-Threading, so 4 core + 4 "virtual" and different integrated GPU.
I5 2500k is enough for everything and games with 4 core support will work faster on this.

Graphics card:
AMD Radeon HD 7850 isnt out yet, as the whole 7000 series. o.O
You can make crossfire, if you dont want to buy new video card for years.

Mouse:
Razer is very good, maybe a bit overpriced. If you want to save your money, check out the A4TECH XL-747H, almost the same and really cheap.

Sound card:
Creative Labs SB Audigy SE... not much better than the integrated Realtek ALC892. If you want to buy sound card get the Asus Xonar DG or D1/DX (much better than the realtek).

Cooling:
Liquid cooling is expensive and useless if you dont want to "hardcore" overclock...

[AznTechie]

Originally Posted by Saex Conroy

you dont need mac or linux - the software support for both is so poor, especially on linux - i couldnt even run a portable edition of MS Office 2003 and was too lazy to install another copy, so if one thing doesnt work, it means the OS isnt worth it

i couldnt run hackintosh on my laptop, wont bother with it on this computer, because its retarded, but i can tell you it has a slightly better software support than windows, still you wont be able to play many games

and if you REALLY want to build your own computer, go on, you will save some money, if i were you i wouldnt mess and ask the shop for a descent configuration

why do you need 12 or 16gb ram? do you work at nasa? with so much memory your computer wont get outdated for about 5 years, it makes a bit sense, but its kinda stupid on the other hand, i have 2gb ram and im fine

Linux is fine, it's you trying to get Linux to recognize a execution file on the system natively that's the problem. Alternatives such as Open Office will do the same job as Office for the most part (looks like Office 2003, too), and there are software alternatives to most other programs, too.

[coldReactive]

I think the OP meant 6850.

[AznTechie]

Originally Posted by coldReactive

I think the OP meant 6850.

The 7000 series is supposed to come out on Jan. 9th, no? It's possible that he might actually mean the 7850 :x

[coldReactive]

Originally Posted by AznTechie

The 7000 series is supposed to come out on Jan. 9th, no? It's possible that he might actually mean the 7850 :x

It took a while for both ATI and nvidia, if I recall, to get their 6000 / 500 series up to the 700 / 70 versions.

[Ellondu]

I updated my build and my budget is now 1800.

[Shing]

FIRST: MY ENGLISH SUX!
About your questions...
HDD cooling fan... i never used one. After you buy the PC, check out the temperatures. Im sure you will never need one...
That case has 3 fans, you will buy other cooling things too, so its "cool".

With thermal display you can check the hardware temperatures... but you can do that with softwares anyway... useless.

Wireless Network Card: Linksys WMP600N: Yea, with that you can use wifi ofc.. I dont know how good is this.

You want to buy that monitor for sure? 16:10 ratio isnt the best for gaming... theres still new games or MMO's without 16:10 support. Youtube supports 16:9 too. Then screen will be not fully filled out with 16:10.. so you know.. my english sux, i cant explain very well.

"$1750
What do you think?":
I still dont know.. why so expensive is this? O: