first time builder needs some help

[garrett755]

This will be my first build but I've done lots of research and I think I've come up with a pretty good build. I'll mainly be using this computer for everyday stuff like downloading, school work, and the internet, but I also want to be able to play starcraft 2 on some pretty good settings and maybe other games in the future, but I do most of my gaming on my xbox 360 so this doesn't have to be a top of the line gaming rig. I'm not planning on overclocking and probably won't ever crossfire cause I didn't want to have to buy an expensive motherboard, I would like to add on a second monitor at some point though. I think I'm about ready to order my build, just thought I'd check with some experts to make sure everything is compatible and good quality, and I'm hoping to keep this around $1000 CDN after taxes, shipping, and rebates. Any help is appreciated, thanks.

CD/DVD drive:
NCIX.com - Buy ASUS DRW-24B1ST 24X SATA DVD Writer OEM Black - DRW-24B1ST Bulk In Canada.

HDD:
NCIX.com - Buy Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB 7200RPM 32MB Dual Proc 3.5IN SATA Hard Drive OEM 5YR Mfg Warranty - WD6401AALS In Canada.

OS:
NCIX.com - Buy Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64BIT DVD OEM - GFC-00599 In Canada.

Case:
NCIX.com - Buy Azza Helios 910R Black ATX Mid Tower Case 9X5.25 1X3.5 4X3.5INT 230MM Red LED Fan Window No PSU - CSAZ-910R In Canada.

Mouse:
NCIX.com - Buy Gigabyte GM-M6880 Laser Gaming Mouse Black USB 5 Button 800/1600DPI - GM-M6880 In Canada.

RAM:
NCIX.com - Buy G.SKILL F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL Ripjaws PC3-12800 4GB 2X2GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 Core i5 1.5V Memory Kit - F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL In Canada.

Monitor:
NCIX.com - Buy ASUS MS227N 22IN Widescreen Ultra Slim LCD Monitor 1680X1050 2MS 50000:1 DVI VGA - MS227N In Canada.

GPU:
NCIX.com - Buy Diamond Radeon HD 5770 850MHZ 1GB 4.8GHZ GDDR5 2XDVI HDMI Display Port DIRECTX11 PCI-E Video Card - 5770PE51G In Canada.

Motherboard:
NCIX.com - Buy Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3 AMD870 ATX AM3 DDR3 1PCI-E 2PCI RAID HD Sound GBLAN SATA3 USB3.0 Motherboard - GA-870A-UD3 In Canada.

CPU:
NCIX.com - Buy AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Quad Core Processor 3.2GHZ AM3 8MB Cache 125W Retail Box - HDZ955FBGMBOX In Canada.

PSU:
NCIX.com - Buy OCZ ModXStream Pro 500W ATX 20/24PIN SLI Ready Modular Cables 135mm Fan Active PFC Power Supply - OCZ500MXSP In Canada.

Keyboard:
NCIX.com - Buy Microsoft Digital Media Keyboard 3000 USB W/ Media Controls MAC/WIN - J93-00003 In Canada.

[garrett755]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
starcraft 2 and maybe other games, downloading, school work which may include AutoCad, internet surfing

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$1000 CDN after all rebates, taxes and shipping

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
Canada

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
prefer an AMD CPU, and WD for HDD

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
I have a 4 year old CD/DVD drive that has never been used, are the ones out now better?

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
yes I've done a fair amount of research

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
probably won't overclock

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
buy within a week, build within two

9. What resolution do you use?
depends which monitor I get with the build, probably 1680X1050

[Babrbarossa]

Looks like you've done your homework! Looks like a good build to me although I would be tempted to upgarde to this mobo so that in another year you can just throw in another video card for a good upgrade. It's only a single 6 pin power connector on those cards.

NCIX.com - Buy Gigabyte 890GPA-UD3H 890GX AM3 ATX DDR3 2PCI-E 2PCI SATA3 USB3.0 HDMI GBLAN CrossFireX Motherboard - GA-890GPA-UD3H In Canada.

[garrett755]

I was thinking about that, but would the 500W PSU be able to handle two GPU's and everything else? I also wanted to stay with that specific PSU because with it I get free shipping for my whole order! That's a good suggestion though, I'll look into it, thanks.

[BootlegUsher]

Looking at your build you actually have a very similar set up as me when I built my first PC. The only thing I did differently was splurge on the retail copy of windows 7. Yeah I know its 100 dollars more but honestly it will be worth it when I swap out my motherboard and don't get screwed over by OEM windows.

[Babrbarossa]

eXtreme Outer Vision - eXtreme tools for computer enthusiasts

According to this calculator, for your system with two of those cards in crossfire -you would be fine with that PSU (it's says minimum 325W) I wouldn't go any less than 500W, but you could get away with it no problem.

[_dangtx_]

wrong case. great mobo. maybe a duallie for now cpu wise and a nice gtx ? :)

not sure bout monitor either

[garrett755]

what's wrong with the case and the monitor?

Also, I remembered that I already have a LG CD/DVD drive that has never been used but it is 4 years old. Is it better to just get a new one, or have these things not changed in 4 years?

[Zero82z]

A few suggestions:

HD: NCIX.com - Buy Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB SATA2 7200RPM 32MB Cache 3.5IN Hard Drive OEM - HD103SJ In Canada.
Pricematch: Newegg.ca - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Case: NCIX.com - Buy Coolermaster CM 690 II Advanced ATX Mid Tower Case Black 4X5.25 1X3.5EXT 6X3.5INT *No PSU* - RC-692-KKN2 In Canada.
Pricematch: Newegg.ca - COOLER MASTER RC-692-KKN2 CM690 II Advanced Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Mouse: NCIX.com - Buy Coolermaster Sentinel Advance Twin Laser Gaming Mouse 8 Buttons 5600DPI USB with Adjustable Lighting - SGM-6000-KLLW1-GP In Canada.
Pricematch: Buy COOLERMASTER [SGM-6000-KLLW1-GP] Coolermaster Sentinel Advance Twin Laser Gaming Mouse 8 Buttons 5600DPI USB with Adjustable Lighting

RAM: NCIX.com - Buy Corsair XMS3 CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 4GB DDR3 2X2GB DDR3-1600 CL 9-9-9-24 Core i5 Dual Channel Memory Kit - CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 In Canada. (because of the rebate)

Monitor: NCIX.com - Buy LG W2243T-PF 21.5IN Widescreen LCD Monitor 1920X1080 1080P 5ms 30000:1 DVI VGA - Black - W2243T-PF In Canada.
Or if you want something really good: DELL UltraSharp U2211H 21.5-inch Flat Panel Display : LCD, Flat Panel & Widescreen Monitors & Accessorie | Dell Canada

GPU: NCIX.com - Buy ASUS Radeon HD 5770 Cu Core 1GB DDR5 PCI-E VGA DVI-I HDMI Video Card - EAH5770 CUCORE/2DI/1GD5/A In Canada.

Keyboard: NCIX.com - Buy Logitech Wave Keyboard Black USB with Windows Media Keys - 920-000326 In Canada.

[garrett755]

Thanks for the suggestions, I made some changes using those deals. I was also wondering if I bought this motherboard: Newegg.ca - GIGABYTE GA-890GPA-UD3H AM3 AMD 890GX HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard , would I have to buy a network card such as: Newegg.ca - ENCORE ENLGA-1320 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI Ethernet Card 1 x RJ45 in order to plug in a network cable for the internet? I was also still not sure if it's worth while buying a new cd/dvd drive or if I should use my never used 4 year old LG one? Thanks for the help.