Building/Buying a gaming PC

The OS should come with 32-bit and 64-bit CDs. You pick whichever one you want to install.

Also, the HDD really bites. 5400 RPM is slow for a desktop computer. That drive would be great for doing backups or storage, but it's too slow for a gaming system. Get a 7200 RPM even if that means you need to go down to 750 GB. The increased performance is worth it.

The power supply is modular - meaning that you only have to put in the plugs and stuff that you need to have. Traditional power supplies just have a small intestines worth of cords coming out of them. Modular power supplies tend to be more expensive. If you want to cut corners, you can do so here.

You do know that your CD/DVD drive can't do any burning, right? Just reading? Are you cool with that?

I know that my CD/DVD drive can't burn. I'm cool with that.

How do you tell the difference from a modular power supply and a non-modular one? I'm gonna just get a normal one (yay, saving money), but I have no idea what to look for. =P

I also found a 750 GB, 7200 RPM HDD. Here it is What do you think?

The OS should come with 32-bit and 64-bit CDs. You pick whichever one you want to install.

Also, the HDD really bites. 5400 RPM is slow for a desktop computer. That drive would be great for doing backups or storage, but it's too slow for a gaming system. Get a 7200 RPM even if that means you need to go down to 750 GB. The increased performance is worth it.

The power supply is modular - meaning that you only have to put in the plugs and stuff that you need to have. Traditional power supplies just have a small intestines worth of cords coming out of them. Modular power supplies tend to be more expensive. If you want to cut corners, you can do so here.

You do know that your CD/DVD drive can't do any burning, right? Just reading? Are you cool with that?

The EARS aren't bad. It even beats some of the 7200 drives, I personally like quiet computers. When gaming things are loaded into RAM, so what if your loading time is a few seconds slower. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/wd-4...554-2.html

Get this PSU, the 690II is great with hiding cables, so modular or not doesn't matter much, you can hide it all!

Why not get a DVD Burner? http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6827118039

See if you can somehow get qualified for this (Friends, family, friends' friends): http://www.microsoft.com/student/office/...fault.aspx

OEM or not, you can activate the serial multiple times, just shouldn't have two computer with the same serial at the same time. Once you've activated online a few times, it'll ask you to call in to activate. IMO no difference between OEM and Retail.

The EARS aren't bad. It even beats some of the 7200 drives, I personally like quiet computers. When gaming things are loaded into RAM, so what if your loading time is a few seconds slower. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/wd-4...554-2.html

Get this PSU, the 690II is great with hiding cables, so modular or not doesn't matter much, you can hide it all!

Why not get a DVD Burner? http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6827118039

See if you can somehow get qualified for this (Friends, family, friends' friends): http://www.microsoft.com/student/office/...fault.aspx

OEM or not, you can activate the serial multiple times, just shouldn't have two computer with the same serial at the same time. Once you've activated online a few times, it'll ask you to call in to activate. IMO no difference between OEM and Retail.

So, by the looks of it, the EARS aren't too bad, and the performance drop isn't a ton. I guess I'll get that. Any objections?

When you say get "this" PSU, which PSU do you mean? The one I currently have picked out, or did someone recommened one and I missed it?

For the DVD burner...I feel like this is a stupid question. I'll ask it anyways. Would it also be able to read CDs/DVDs? If it can...then I guess there's really no reason to not get it.

And for the OS, I should probably just get the $100 OEM instead of the $200 retail? Any difference other than one's OEM and the other is retail?

haha, by THIS i meant THIS: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6817139006 forgot to post link

Also since you're in canada, you could check out Tigerdirect.ca NCIX.com and Canadacomputers.com all have competitive prices.

and yes, DVD burners can also read dvd/cd and burn CD

Nothing different with OEM for me. I have 2 Windows XP Pro OEM from way back, used it in plenty of reinstalls, no problems ever.

Right, so I've followed your recommendations.

So, I should probably get this for an OS instead, right?

What's up with the whole "for system builders" thing? Does it matter? I'm thinking no.

I'm really not following hard drives anymore. Feeling pretty sure I'm getting an SSD next month. Screw magnetic storage.

For System Builders is the same thing that Dell would buy (though they would get volume cost, you don't). It's for people that are building a system and want an OS to go with it rather than pay full sticker price. Most people just troll Microsoft by getting a SATA cable + OEM stuff.

haha, by THIS i meant THIS: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6817139006 forgot to post link

Also since you're in canada, you could check out Tigerdirect.ca NCIX.com and Canadacomputers.com all have competitive prices.

and yes, DVD burners can also read dvd/cd and burn CD

Nothing different with OEM for me. I have 2 Windows XP Pro OEM from way back, used it in plenty of reinstalls, no problems ever.

The Corsair 750TX uses an outdated Channel Well Technolgy platform. The Antec Truepower new is slightly better, but you do get the trade off of 100 extra watts, so it's up to him.

The EARS aren't bad. It even beats some of the 7200 drives, I personally like quiet computers. When gaming things are loaded into RAM, so what if your loading time is a few seconds slower. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/wd-4...554-2.html
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The samsung F3's are dead quiet. I have 2 in RAID0 and rarely ever hear them lol

Instead of buying 2 f3's, he could buy a single 1TB HD103SJ for 79.99, but he looses the speed of raid0 epicness.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...-_-Product

http://www.harddrivebenchmark.net/high_end_drives.html

Like I said earlier, the F3's are pretty much "the best" and fastest 7200 RPM drives you can buy atm lol

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The Corsair 750TX uses an outdated Channel Well Technolgy platform. The Antec Truepower new is slightly better, but you do get the trade off of 100 extra watts, so it's up to him.



The samsung F3's are dead quiet. I have 2 in RAID0 and rarely ever hear them lol

Instead of buying 2 f3's, he could buy a single 1TB HD103SJ for 79.99, but he looses the speed of raid0 epicness.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...-_-Product

http://www.harddrivebenchmark.net/high_end_drives.html

Like I said earlier, the F3's are pretty much "the best" and fastest 7200 RPM drives you can buy atm lol

Due to popular demand, I guess I'll get an HD103SJ. Plus I like quiet.

For the power supply, what would be the difference? Because it uses and outdated platform, what do I lose?

DO NOT BUY A PROCESSOR YET!

http://www.igniq.com/2010/08/23/intel-i7...rice-cuts/

The i7 950's price is going to be slashed from $564 to $294 on August 30th.

Oh, hey look. (Relatively) Cheap processors. I guess I'll spring for it. Thanks for the info!

When Intel cuts their prices, AMD is sure to follow to remain competitive. Keep your eye on the ball.

Fiel was right, AMD just announced their 16 core processors that are coming out soon.

http://hothardware.com/News/AMD-Excitedl...-Products/

repost delete

Due to popular demand, I guess I'll get an HD103SJ. Plus I like quiet.

For the power supply, what would be the difference? Because it uses and outdated platform, what do I lose?

The antec is generally more efficient, but the 750TX is still a great unit.

Too bad you're not in the states, Newegg is running a killer deal on XFX (seasonic based) PSU's.

Fiel was right, AMD just announced their 16 core processors that are coming out soon.

http://hothardware.com/News/AMD-Excitedl...-Products/

I hope bulldozer leaves a K8 effect... I miss the days when AMD was in the lead

I dont think i can hold out for the bulldozer processor... I need a new computer pretty soon <<

For the HDD: Go with the the Caviar Black 640gb http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...ck%20640gb
The reason is it has 2 platters vs 3 when you compare it to a 740gb. Less platters= more speed
For GPU: I say switch for an Ati because you won't be able to put 2 Nvidia cards in that board for future use. Ati Future use= get another card when you need more performance Nvidia Future use= buy a brand new card and let the old one go to waste
Just remember to look at a PSU review

Edit: Whats with the Retail OS?

For the HDD: Go with the the Caviar Black 640gb http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319&Tpk=caviar%20black%20640gb
The reason is it has 2 platters vs 3 when you compare it to a 740gb. Less platters= more speed
For GPU: I say switch for an Ati because you won't be able to put 2 Nvidia cards in that board for future use. Ati Future use= get another card when you need more performance Nvidia Future use= buy a brand new card and let the old one go to waste
Just remember to look at a PSU review

Edit: Whats with the Retail OS?

Why do people keep recommending the WD blacks when they're slower and louder than the samsung F3s?

The HD103SJ uses 2x500 GB platters while the WD blacks you recommended use 2x320GB.

And not to turn this into a long debate, but he can handle 2x GTX460's on a 650W PSU. The GF104 core found in the GTX460 runs cooler and more efficient than the GF100 core found in the 465/470/480.

If you're worried about SLI, there's a hack for AMD boards.