Desktop Build

[nickarmadillo]

I've finally broken down and decided to do my first gaming PC build. The x1600M in my Macbook Pro and iMac simply don't cut it anymore and the 4850M in the new i5 iMacs isn't going to be relevant for too much longer. I'll probably continue to do all of my regular work/music/browsing/downloading on the Macs and use the PC exclusively for gaming and HD video.

The build is as follows:

Antec 902 ATX Case ..... $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129058&Tpk=antec 902

Asus P7P55D Pro Motherboard ..... $170
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...405&cm_re=asus_p55_pro-_-13-131-405-_-Product

Corsair CMPSU-750 750 Watt Power Supply ..... $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=corsair 750

Samsung Spinpoint F3 1Tb Hard Drive ...... $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...e=samsung_spinpoint_f3-_-22-152-185-_-Product

Samsung Black DVD/RW Drive w/ Lightscribe ..... $32
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...8&cm_re=samsung_DVD_RW-_-27-151-188-_-Product

G.Skill Ripjaw DDR3 1600 RAM 2x 2Gb ..... $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303&cm_re=DDR3-_-20-231-303-_-Product

Cooler Master Hyper TX3 i5 CPU Cooler ..... $15
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...64&cm_re=CPU_cooler_i5-_-35-103-064-_-Product

Sapphire Ati 5850 1Gb Video Card ..... $310
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102857&cm_re=5850-_-14-102-857-_-Product

Grand Total: $922


I have a few questions on this build:
*Do I need anything else?
*Are all of these parts compatable?
*Are these good component choices?
*Any suggested changes?

Thanks for your help.

 

[nickarmadillo]

Forgot to add, an Intel i5 750 ... $150
Microcenter

 

[jake.f]

Haha I didn't read the second post at first and was about to add err you need a processor..


But sounds like a good build

EDIT: I was recently quoted a very similar build but slightly lower in spec and it was to be $1100 AUD, everything costs more here.

 

[CarlisleUnited]

I would put in two smaller HDD one for the OS and one for installing games on, makes it run a little bit smoother

 

[djellison]

I would second that. If you can, get a WD Raptor or even an SSD as your system disk - and the a larger drive for 'stuff'.

 

[andalusia]

Nice specced machine.

 

[jav6454]

Everything looks fine. I would just reconsider 1600MHz DDR3 if you aren't overclocking. I'm assuming you will. However, bare in consideration that CAS Latencies are more important some times than Frequency. Stay away from CL9, do touch CL8, great is CL7 and god-like is CL6.

Lower the CL, the better.

 

[nickarmadillo]

Everything looks fine. I would just reconsider 1600MHz DDR3 if you aren't overclocking. I'm assuming you will. However, bare in consideration that CAS Latencies are more important some times than Frequency. Stay away from CL9, do touch CL8, great is CL7 and god-like is CL6.

Lower the CL, the better.

The G.Skill RAM is CL7, so it should be alright. I plan on doing a mild overclock to about 3.7-3.8 Ghz, which is why I got the Antec 900 and a slightly higher spec power supply than one would normally need for the build. As far as the HD, I plan on getting a second 500Gb single-platter in the near future, but for now the one will be fine. Anywhere else I can improve?

 

[XNine]

I'd personally go with a different case. However my room mate just got that same video card and it smokes the hell out of anything out there at the moment.
Good choice!