Custom Computers...Who Has Them?

[200hpAltima]

Who here builds custom computers? I am in the process of building my first one and would like to run it by someone.

Come one, come all!!! Looking forward to it

200hp

[N1rve]

I build custom computers. Computer Information Systems Major with an Option in Information Technology. I'm currently working on cloud computing.

[dubya]

What are you planning to put in it?

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by dubya

What are you planning to put in it?

I bet it's one of those octocores that run on a nuclear powerplant.

[gameguru1360]

@OP, are you looking to build a gaming rig or multimedia super computer?? are you looking to do water cooling??

[dubya]

Originally Posted by N1rve

I bet it's one of those octocores that run on a nuclear powerplant.

Overclocked to over 9000 GHZ!

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by dubya

Overclocked to over 9000 GHZ!

Cooled by polar ice caps.

[200hpAltima]

LMAO. Guys, I am not some punk kid looking for a super computer for under $500. But I am going to build a nice rig that can handle multiple multiple application launch with a good hi-res video playback.

This rig will be hooked up to my 30" LED monitor via HDMI or VGA (it does not accept DVI).

So far, I have an existing case...IDK why, but I want to use it. However, it only accepts Micro ATX

Here is what I am looking at:

Motherboard: Newegg.com - MSI 760GM-E51 (FX) AM3+ AMD 760G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

Processor: Newegg.com - AMD FX-4170 Zambezi 4.2GHz (4.3GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 125W Quad-Core Desktop Processor FD4170FRGUBOX

PSU (I wanted to use the PSU I have, but stupid HP skimped out and put a 250 PSU in their desktops): Newegg.com - CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply (I might need a bigger PSU)

HDD will be any 1TB or above I can find. I have over 300GB's of movies.

I have yet to select my wireless card. I also have 2 80mm fans already.

LMK what you guys think...also, if you have an extra internal HDD lying around, don't be afraid to say so

No liquid cooled. Not something I need ATM

[dubya]

Too bad you have to use a micro ATX
-but build your computer to what you want to use it for. Are you going to/what kind of graphics card do you plan to put in?
Windows 7? 64 bit?
Memory?

[200hpAltima]

Whoops! Have not shopped memory yet. I will put at least 8GB of Ram in her. Not sure if I am going to put a graphics card in right away. I might run with the onboard graphics for a while.

Windows 8 Pro. 64 bit. I have a Windows 8 bootable ISO to use

Also, going to VM a Linux build on her

[dubya]

Memory is so cheap nowadays. I have 8 gb ddr3 myself and it performs great even for recent games (recent mild upgrade from 4gb ddr2). I know you can probably find cheaper deals but this Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-16GBXL may be a good choice for you. Great ratings and value with room to expand if you choose to in the future (32 gigs?!)

You can hold off the graphics card until you decide if the onboard is inadequate - plus if your not going to use it for gaming there's no rush.

Do you use windows 8 right now? I've been out of the computer stuff for a while but I hear there's still lots of unsupported apps right now.

[200hpAltima]

That memory is a great price for the performance! Added to wishlist

I am currently dual booting windows 8 pro and windows 7 on my DV6. I can tolerate 8 right now as a daily driver if I really overlook a few minor issues.

If I cannot get my Windows 8 to boot to that computer for free (since I have the ISO), I will just re-wipe the drive and run Linux for a while. I know their GUI isn't anything to write home about, but it is better than nothing on a fresh build

[dubya]

Nice one on the dual boot. When do you plan to start this build? I hope you don't run into any problems. Computers can be just like cars

[nismo9132]

I've built two. My first was ~7 years ago (when I was 12 lol) and the other was 1.5 yrs ago.

My latest build:
Core i7-2600K (4.2GHz OverClocked from 3.4GHz)
Noctua NH-C14 CPU Cooler
Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600 MHz 8GB RAM (OverClocked to 1866MHz)
Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD4 Motherboard
Gigabyte Super Overclock Series GTX 560 Ti Windforce 1GB 256-bit
Western Digital Caviar Black 750GB HDD 64Mb Cache SATA 6.0GB/s
Patriot Torqx2 32GB SSD
LG Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Burner Drive with LightScribe Technology
Thermaltake Black Widow 850W Power Supply
9- 120mm Blue Computer Fans (expandable to 15)
Antec LanBoy Air Blue/Black Computer Case

AMD processors will definitely have better built in graphics, but the Intel processors are more powerful out of the box. From my experience, if you want an AMD to perform as well as an Intel, it has to be overclocked. If you aren't going to do any gaming on it though, it should be plenty good. I don't have any experience with MSI boards but heard they're junk after a year or so... I've always bought Gigabyte mobos since I've had pretty good luck with them. I almost bought an Asus board but heard from a few people they require more "setup" to get it to work nicely. As for the Power supply, depending on your plans for dedicated graphics cards later on 500W's might not be sufficient but it will depend on the card you go with. Corsair PSU's also tend to be pricey but if you can get a deal on one around the holidays, they're a good choice. Definitely go with HDMI for hooking it up to your TV. VGA is a really low-resolution alternative and the quality might not be pretty on a 30" monitor. VGA on my 23" looks a bit pixely. G.SKILL RAM is good quality. I've always gone with Corsair because I had no issues with it in my old build. I'd recommend a Seagate or Western Digital hard drive. They're good quality and reliable. I have a Hitachi hard drive in my laptop and it's starting to make louder and louder noises when used that sound like birds chirping.

Be careful with Win 8. If you dual boot it and Win 7 or some other OS is installed on another drive, Windows might try to be kind and "Scan and Repair" your other partitions. It did that to me after installing some updates. It totally corrupted everything on my Win 7 partition. Contacted Microsoft to see if they could help me salvage it based on the updates installed, but all they wanted to do was Remote Desktop to my PC so that he could get the information that I had already provided him.
I would imagine a VM should be safe from feeling the wrath of Win 8 though

[200hpAltima]

Originally Posted by dubya

Nice one on the dual boot. When do you plan to start this build? I hope you don't run into any problems. Computers can be just like cars

Plan to purchase soon to do the build over the holidays. I would like to be up and running christmas day or shortly thereafter

Originally Posted by nismo9132

I've built two. My first was ~7 years ago (when I was 12 lol) and the other was 1.5 yrs ago.

My latest build:
Core i7-2600K (4.2GHz OverClocked from 3.4GHz)
Noctua NH-C14 CPU Cooler
Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600 MHz 8GB RAM (OverClocked to 1866MHz)
Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD4 Motherboard
Gigabyte Super Overclock Series GTX 560 Ti Windforce 1GB 256-bit
Western Digital Caviar Black 750GB HDD 64Mb Cache SATA 6.0GB/s
Patriot Torqx2 32GB SSD
LG Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Burner Drive with LightScribe Technology
Thermaltake Black Widow 850W Power Supply
9- 120mm Blue Computer Fans (expandable to 15)
Antec LanBoy Air Blue/Black Computer Case

AMD processors will definitely have better built in graphics, but the Intel processors are more powerful out of the box. From my experience, if you want an AMD to perform as well as an Intel, it has to be overclocked. If you aren't going to do any gaming on it though, it should be plenty good. I don't have any experience with MSI boards but heard they're junk after a year or so... I've always bought Gigabyte mobos since I've had pretty good luck with them. I almost bought an Asus board but heard from a few people they require more "setup" to get it to work nicely. As for the Power supply, depending on your plans for dedicated graphics cards later on 500W's might not be sufficient but it will depend on the card you go with. Corsair PSU's also tend to be pricey but if you can get a deal on one around the holidays, they're a good choice. Definitely go with HDMI for hooking it up to your TV. VGA is a really low-resolution alternative and the quality might not be pretty on a 30" monitor. VGA on my 23" looks a bit pixely. G.SKILL RAM is good quality. I've always gone with Corsair because I had no issues with it in my old build. I'd recommend a Seagate or Western Digital hard drive. They're good quality and reliable. I have a Hitachi hard drive in my laptop and it's starting to make louder and louder noises when used that sound like birds chirping.

Be careful with Win 8. If you dual boot it and Win 7 or some other OS is installed on another drive, Windows might try to be kind and "Scan and Repair" your other partitions. It did that to me after installing some updates. It totally corrupted everything on my Win 7 partition. Contacted Microsoft to see if they could help me salvage it based on the updates installed, but all they wanted to do was Remote Desktop to my PC so that he could get the information that I had already provided him.
I would imagine a VM should be safe from feeling the wrath of Win 8 though

I really want a Gigabyte board. But their Micro ATX's don't offer much. The lack of integrated graphics means I HAVE to buy a video card. Then a wireless card. And that means that all of my PCI's will be sucked up.

I really wish I could run a full ATX. I give up like 4 PCI ports coming down to Micro...not to mention the lack of availability of USB 3.0

I have never really let Windows *do its thing* because (quite honestly) Windows has NO IDEA what it wants to do and how to do it well...at least for us devs and nerds .

If you can point me to a nice Gigabyte mobo, that would be great! Needs to have AM3/3+ socket and be Micro ATX