My new Gaming PC Tower with Blu-ray burning capabilties! (Main goal.)

[Ray_Rogers]

So one of my friends was letting me borrow his copy of WOLFENSTEIN for PC since I also have Wolfenstein 3D and Return to Castle Wolfenstein on my current tower. Not even wasting time I immediately entered the game on the default graphics settings. Oh damn the framerate really dropped very low among other things on my $300 HP/Compaq tower which I bought when Circuit City was going out of business.
The above was the final catalyst for actually going forward with buying a completely new computer after holding off for so long. So with NewEgg and with the advice of various including forums I'm finally going through with this.
Previously I mostly got pre-built computers but this time I figure might as well go with building my own. Here's what I'll be getting.

Tower * - $64.94
Motherboard * - Birthday Present
CPU * - $204.05 (includes tax)
PSU * - $68.19
GPU
RAM * - $64.05 (includes tax)
HDD *1 - $53.61
Blu-ray disc burner
Monitor

Total so far - $454.84

Accessories/Extra bits:
USB 3.0 3.5" Enclosure
Keyboard
Mouse
IEEE-1394 FireWire iLink DV Cable 6P-4P M/M - 15ft (BLACK) * $7.84
15ft USB 2.0 A Male to A Male 28/24AWG Cable (Gold Plated) * $5.03

Grand totale - $467.71

Thing is I'd also like to get more fans for the case and more heatsinks for the cards so it'll run more cool. This is my first time putting together an entirely new computer part by part.
Should I also post a list of games I'm planning to play, purchase and Steam for this in a future post?

EDIT: Of course I'm also wanting to get a new monitor, keyboard and mouse eventually.

[HotRats]

Good choices there, I'd add an after market cooler for the CPU to replace the one that comes with it. They're more effective and usually quieter. I'm fond of Thermalright products which allow you to add your own choice of fan - the Akasa Apache 120mm fan goes well with them. If you're unconfident about thermal grease and the amount to use try Zalman STG1, you just paint it on like varnish. You shouldn't need more case fans as that's a good case and the fans are decent, if you want quieter or more powerful fans (the CFM figure is the most important) try http://www.quietpc.com/us-en-usd/home

[Geezer00003]

If there's any thought of an additional GPU air cooled crossfire set up down the road. Get a full tower and a 4 pci slot motherboard. Todays graphic cards need room between them to keep temps acceptable!
HotRats has good advice there with a CPU cooler.
Otherwise enjoy your new system.

[Ray_Rogers]

Originally Posted by HotRats

Good choices there, I'd add an after market cooler for the CPU to replace the one that comes with it. They're more effective and usually quieter. I'm fond of Thermalright products which allow you to add your own choice of fan - the Akasa Apache 120mm fan goes well with them. If you're unconfident about thermal grease and the amount to use try Zalman STG1, you just paint it on like varnish. You shouldn't need more case fans as that's a good case and the fans are decent, if you want quieter or more powerful fans (the CFM figure is the most important) try http://www.quietpc.com/us-en-usd/home

Originally Posted by Geezer00003

If there's any thought of an additional GPU air cooled crossfire set up down the road. Get a full tower and a 4 pci slot motherboard. Todays graphic cards need room between them to keep temps acceptable!
HotRats has good advice there with a CPU cooler.
Otherwise enjoy your new system.

Thanks fellers! So should I use what comes with everything and buy more fans/heatsinks later? Because due to my limited budget I'd be needing to save alot of money and sell many things I don't need anymore. Especially DVDs I don't even watch at all.
Parts from my eMachines I put up on eBay including a few of the STAR BORES games I'm selling excluding both Knights of the Old Republic. Would Star Bores action figures be a good choice to sell too? No I'm heavily disinterested in the series and IDGAF about the upcoming Blu-ray release for it.
You fooking bet I'll be keeping ALL of my Indiana Jones stuff.
So would the following link work on the motherboard I'm getting? Is for a HammerFX 15-pin controller. Will also be getting the 360 wired controller for Windows along with the XPadder program.
Thanks WOLFENSTEIN for giving me motivation finally to build a new computer!

[Ray_Rogers]

UPDATE: Revision in first post!

[Liselotte]

watercool it bro

[Ray_Rogers]

Originally Posted by Liselotte

watercool it bro

I haven't the funds to liquid or water cool it.

Revision to first post!

[Ray_Rogers]

Complete overhaul to first post. Asterisk denotes I already have it. Operating system will be Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit which I already have.

Here'll be the monitor after I buy the GPU. The mouse maybe.


The two above will be purchased after the GPU oblviously which is the final purchase for the innards of the case. Just a few more months until completion.

EDIT: No I'm not interested in CrossFiring.

[Sharpie]

I built a computer for a friend of mine last year, he insisted on that very same CPU cooler that is in the pics for the video card that you selected...and I must say that it is awesome. It is zero maintenance, self contained and super easy to install. It was just over a 100 bucks retail.

Next PC I build will have it for sure...the only caveat is the case has to have the vertical and horizontal clearance to support it.

[Ray_Rogers]

Originally Posted by Sharpie

I built a computer for a friend of mine last year, he insisted on that very same CPU cooler that is in the pics for the video card that you selected...and I must say that it is awesome. It is zero maintenance, self contained and super easy to install. It was just over a 100 bucks retail.

Next PC I build will have it for sure...the only caveat is the case has to have the vertical and horizontal clearance to support it.

Oh I'm just going for airflow cooled and not liquid cooling. Don't have the budget for it and the case I bought already has a couple 120mm fans in it. Was considering buying more but after the GPU. Very glad the motherboard which I got on my birthday has an integrated GPU so I can play some games in the meantime prior to buying the GPU.

I'll be flashing the HD6950 2GB to the 6970. It'll save me $100 which I can put towards the monitor. Considering calibrating the monitor more for Blu-ray disc/film watching with tons of grain kept, of course due to signature, and just leave it. But I've only calibrated CRT monitors and never the type which I'll be buying.
I'm gonna miss the sound my CRT makes when I degauss it.

EDIT: I'm still deciding on a keyboard too.

[Offender_Mullet]

Ray, there are some cheap (but effective) liquid cooling solutions if you don't want to dump $$$ on a full setup.

I have this: http://www.corsair.com/cooling/hydro...pu-cooler.html

Newer version: http://www.corsair.com/cooling/hydro...pu-cooler.html

People also dig these: http://www.overclock.net/water-cooli...620-920-a.html (a 'better' version of the one I have from a different but well-known cooling products company)

The last Wolfenstein game is so underrated. People mainly dumped on the multiplayer, which is why I think it tanked. I think the single player is awesome.

[Ray_Rogers]

Originally Posted by Offender_Mullet

Ray, there are some cheap (but effective) liquid cooling solutions if you don't want to dump $$$ on a full setup.

I have this: http://www.corsair.com/cooling/hydro...pu-cooler.html

Newer version: http://www.corsair.com/cooling/hydro...pu-cooler.html

People also dig these: http://www.overclock.net/water-cooli...620-920-a.html (a 'better' version of the one I have from a different but well-known cooling products company)

The last Wolfenstein game is so underrated. People mainly dumped on the multiplayer, which is why I think it tanked. I think the single player is awesome.

I'm going to keep it air-cooled and not considering over-clocking for a long time.
I think it's damn funny but also awesome a game I borrowed, WOLFENSTEIN, set me off on building a new computer. I checked game-debate.com and according to my finalised computer with the GPU and monitor, it'll more than be able to play it and tons more games. I torrented WOLFENSTEIN actually since I was too lazy to look for a demo and since I love both Wolfenstein 3D and Return to Castle Wolfenstein, well damn. A game I torrented finally motivated me to build a new computer which I've been putting off for years.
Of course I'll be buying Wolfenstein for PC! Retail obviously.

EDIT: After I install Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit, I'll be moving over the data from the POS pre-built I'm currently using THEN installing every game I own. No distractions hopefully.

[Offender_Mullet]

It's cool. Just an idea if you ever decide to liquid cool your cpu and don't want to go all-out.

Keep in mind too one of the best (if not the best) upgrade you can do is get a ssd drive. It'll blow your mind. I have this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231378 but newer drives with faster controllers have come out already. They can get expensive, but they're well worth it. I use a separate 2TB hard drive used externally for storage.

[Ray_Rogers]

Originally Posted by Offender_Mullet

It's cool. Just an idea if you ever decide to liquid cool your cpu and don't want to go all-out.

Keep in mind too one of the best (if not the best) upgrade you can do is get a ssd drive. It'll blow your mind. I have this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231378 but newer drives with faster controllers have come out already. They can get expensive, but they're well worth it. I use a separate 2TB hard drive used externally for storage.

Solid State Drives are way too costly for me right now. I'll be waiting for the prices for them to drop over the next few years. It's an upgrade which is far too expensive at the moment. So SSD sure but maybe in 4-5 years.
For HDD I'm just going to load up on 1TB HDDs since they one I posted are cheap on Amazon. Only problem with NewEgg, since I'm in California, is I also have to pay taxes there.
I have been considering buying an aftermarket heatsink for the AMD 1100T though. But not considering any of the above, except for more HDDs and POSSIBLY the heatsink until after I buy the GPU, the monitor and using it for awhile.
Thank you for the suggestions though!

[Offender_Mullet]

You're welcome. And I didn't even look at the hd you picked. Thank God finally someone I don't have to convince to get a Samsung on here. lol

But (there's always a but ) This is Samsung's newer line: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152287 runs cooler and despite being a slower rpm 2 of those in raid will be as fast as the Spinpoint F3 you chose. They're also 1.5TB in size. Again it's on NewEgg though.

[Ray_Rogers]

Originally Posted by Offender_Mullet

You're welcome. And I didn't even look at the hd you picked. Thank God finally someone I don't have to convince to get a Samsung on here. lol

But (there's always a but ) This is Samsung's newer line: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152287 runs cooler and despite being a slower rpm 2 of those in raid will be as fast as the Spinpoint F3 you chose. They're also 1.5TB in size. Again it's on NewEgg though.

Oh I'm not considering RAID at all, just multiple HDDs with C: being Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit and the rest just extra space. I'd rather have 7200 RPM compared to 5400 RPM.
When it's finished, all parts are final, I'll be glad to not use my Piece of Shite Pre-built Compaq anymore. I just need to make sure not to get tempted when I'm installing games to test some of them. Otherwise it'd take me several instead of only a few hours. But there's the transferring of data from the current computer to the new one. But instead of an enclosure I'm considering buying a 1TB external HDD. OR I could get the enclosure anyway, use one of the 1TB HDDs and move my data to it. Then when the data is moved, reformat/blank the 1TB HDD and use it as the extra drive in Atomic Monkey.
That way the file structure will be set-up for everything, it's just merging the games when they're installed. Because many of them are already patched and have mods.
But damn, when I finally have everything I listed set-up and running, it's going to be well worth it. Oh yeah Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit will be a fresh install with Atomic Monkey. Current Ooperating System is the same but 32-bit.

EDIT: I think the tower I have, which is sitting in a box, can have 4-6 3.5" HDDs in it. OH YEAH.
Still the blank media for spindles of Blu-ray discs will be expensive. Not interested in making copies of Studio released titles but more for data and interim stuff.

Since this is my first put together computer I'm building, what should I do with the discs most of the parts are arriving with? Any suggestions or best ways to use them?

This'll be my multi-region player for Blu-ray. Region B releases in my wishlist here I go!

[Offender_Mullet]

Originally Posted by Ray_Rogers

Since this is my first put together computer I'm building, what should I do with the discs most of the parts are arriving with? Any suggestions or best ways to use them?

Do you mean the driver discs? I wouldn't bother using them (but keep them in the boxes in case you sell hardware down the road). Go to whatever manufacturer's site and download the latest drivers from there.


Here you go Ray: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc..._-22152185-L0B Same ones you have from Amazon. Using promo code EMCKCKB22 drops the price down to $49.99 for each hd (this weekend only).

[Ray_Rogers]

Originally Posted by Offender_Mullet

Do you mean the driver discs? I wouldn't bother using them (but keep them in the boxes in case you sell hardware down the road). Go to whatever manufacturer's site and download the latest drivers from there.


Here you go Ray: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc..._-22152185-L0B Same ones you have from Amazon. Using promo code EMCKCKB22 drops the price down to $49.99 for each hd (this weekend only).

So very tempting but I'm planning on buying the CPU next. OR I could just buy a few HDDs. I'm still wondering if the stock heatsink and fan for the AMD Phenom II X6 1100T is good or to buy an aftermarket down the line.
I'm thinking if I don't buy the CPU asap then I'll be holding off on buying it except the HDDs, RAM and even the Blu-ray disc burner would be an immediate per monthly purchase.
I'm on a limited income anyway. This will be my multi-regional Blu-ray disc player but why should I make copies of Studio Blu-rays? I'm not, but I am going to make some based on HDTV broadcasts of titles without there being a Blu-ray release soon.
Still attempting to sell all the Star Wars junk I own but even on CraigsList it's going slow.

[Ray_Rogers]

Just a quick update.
Dead-set on buying the CPU this month. Here's hoping I have extra money to get it.

[Offender_Mullet]

Have you seen this yet? https://forum.blu-ray.com/blu-ray-pc...-chipsets.html