Opinions on a Computer Build?

[Lord Letto 20]

Hi, I was Planning on doing a DIY Computer build for the first time instead of buying a off the shelf computer, I was wondering if anyone here can give their opinions on it and help me choose parts. my budget is $300-400, I plan on getting some used part's from the Local Classifieds (http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/ ) to build it with for cheap, this is my Semi Confirmed Part's list so far (Replied and got a reply back and is still available, Never picked up yet so could change):
Case: Standard White ATX Computer Case with 24 Pin 350W PSU w/Case Fan, 2 USB Ports up front with Audio Jacks for $15: http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-computer-accessories-Standard-White-ATX-Computer-Cases-with-Power-Supplies-W0QQAdIdZ487879175
EVGA NVIDIA GeForce 520 Low-profile graphics card, Asking $40 but i could get it for $35:
http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-computer-accessories-EVGA-NVIDIA-GeForce-520-Low-profile-graphics-card-W0QQAdIdZ488391160 was told it's this one to a T: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_559&item_id=039977 (2GB is a Typo I was told)(Video card could change, View Below for other Options)
Hard Drive: Used "750 GB 3.5" SATA internal desktop Hard drive" ($35 Firm, Hitachi, 7200rpm, mfg: jly 2009, reformatted And wiped):(Keeps getting relisted, link may change often) http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-computer-accessories-750-GB-3-5-SATA-internal-desktop-Hard-drive-W0QQAdIdZ488319159

Other possible Parts (Replied and no reply back yet):
Processor: Intel Core i3-3220 3.30GHz Duel Core for $120 (Replied and asked is it still available and if the ad would be removed when sold?): http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-computer-accessories-Intel-BX80637I33220-Core-i3-3220-Processor-Dual-Core-3MB-L3-C-W0QQAdIdZ485593625
Motherboard: Asus P8H61-MLE Socket 1155 Mother Board for $25 (Replied and said i may be interested if it still works (Had Slightly bent CPU Pins, were carefully bent back and hasn't been tested, was working 100% before the issue)): http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-computer-accessories-Asus-P8H61-MLE-Socket-1155-Mother-Board-W0QQAdIdZ476484368 I Figure it's the same or similar to this one new: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=26_722&item_id=050961
Ram: 2*4GB CORSAIR 1600MHz DDR3 Desktop Memory for $40 (Replied and asked if it's still available): http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-computer-accessories-2-4GB-CORSAIR-1600MHz-DDR3-Desktop-Memory-W0QQAdIdZ485787251
or I could go with some G. Skill Riptide or OCZ Gold Edition 1333MHz DDR3 RAM for $15 per 4GB Stick (Same seller, Replied to the G. Skill ad and ask how many is left, that i would be interested in 2 sticks(1 Pack) for a Computer Build, if none was left that I may be interested in 2 sticks of the OCZ Gold unless I decide to spend the extra $10 for the 2x4GB Sticks of : http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-computer-accessories-DDR3-10666-Desktop-Memory-G-SKILL-4GB-W0QQAdIdZ471717568 & http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-computer-accessories-DDR3-Desktop-RAM-W0QQAdIdZ487722055

Other Video card options (Under $50):
ASUS NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS for $23: http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-computer-accessories-ASUS-NVIDIA-GeForce-8400-GS-EN8400GSSILENTHTP512M-512-MB-DDR2-W0QQAdIdZ434909159
bfg geforce 8600 gts for $20:
http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-computer-accessories-bfg-geforce-8600-gts-W0QQAdIdZ472790688
XFX GeForce 8600 GTS for $40:
http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-computer-accessories-XFX-GeForce-8600-GTS-W0QQAdIdZ483761712
EVGA GeForce 8800GTS for $45: http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-computer-accessories-EVGA-GeForce-8800GTS-Video-Card-W0QQAdIdZ470801856
NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT for $40: http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-computer-accessories-NVIDIA-GeForce-8800GT-graphics-card-W0QQAdIdZ480301100
Pny Nvidia Geforce Gt 610 for $30: http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-computer-accessories-Pny-Nvidia-Geforce-Gt-610-1024MB-video-card-W0QQAdIdZ486266643
video card nx 7300g (Nvidia GeForce 7300GT?) for $15: http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-computer-accessories-video-card-nx-7300g-W0QQAdIdZ476210124

[300rman]

Well, I guess it just depends what you want to do with it. It will definitely be speedy. I am not up to date on graphics cards, but anything over 512 will play any modern PC game (lower settings, but will still play). OCZ makes excellent RAM, I have 4GB of Reaper RAM in my desktop sporting a 3.0GHz Quad Core. Thing can read your mind it is so fast.

My laptop has a 1GB graphics chipset and a 2.5GHz dualcore, and I cam play anything on it really well. Heck, my identical laptop (but with a 512mb chipset) will play anything but the newest games.

My advice-drop some coin on a new hard drive. Who knows what a used one has been through, and for the cost of them nowadays, is it really worth getting it all set up, and then losing your stuff in 6 months? (i understand new ones fail too, but an unknown hard drive could have spent the last few years being on 100% of the time)

[Lord Letto 20]

I was told the GeForce 520 is crap and not to get it, but what good Nvidia Graphics cards are out there for under $50?, New Hard drives are $55-60+ for a 500 or 360 GB at 7200RPM, Less if I get Refurbished, the used 750GB HDD in Question is a Hitachi, mfg: jly 2009, 7200rpm, reformatted, wiped.
will be used for FSX (Microsoft Flight Simulator X), MWO (Mechwarrior Online), WoW (World of Warcraft), LoL (League of Legends), and other games like Minecraft, Kerbal Space Program, FTL: Faster than Light, Doom 3, Halo. Will also be used for browsing and looking up stuff on the internet and watching Videos on Youtube and other sites.
For RAM, I got a reply back from the guy with the ram for $15 per 4GB stick, he got 2 sticks of the G.Skill riptide and Lots of the OCZ Gold Edition RAM Left.

[Lord Letto 20]

Just thought i would Update everyone here on how things are going so far. so far, I picked up the PSU, Ram and HDD, GPU, CPU and a Aftermarket Cooler with Ceramic Thermal Paste, to break it down:
the PSU is a OCZ GameXStream 700W (OCZGXS700) lightly used for 1 year before system upgrade. 2x4GB RAM Sticks of Kingston HyperX 1600MHz (KHX1600C9D3K2/8G). the HDD is a Seagate Baracuda 7200.12 500GB (9SL142-302, ST3500418AS) I Paid $30 For
GPU is a EVGA 560Ti 2GB GDDR5 VRAM, Cost me $120
Most Recently, Got a FX-4100 Yesterday along with a Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus with some Arctic Silver Céramique 2 Tri-Linear Ceramic Thermal Compound, Paid $60, To Quote the Guy I got it from:

I had multiple fx4100s the first one didn't make it out alive....Despite what people will say I will not be hitting 1.5V on a 2 module FX, That particular chip has a very comprehensive log(results table) of clock speeds from 3.6ghz=2.97 stock to 4.92ghz=4.01cinebench11.5, voltages, ram speeds1333CL7-1600CL8, Air cooling and Liquid cooling, all documented.....that chip was Solid stable @ 4760mhz, @1.373V on my Asus M5A97EVO on air(CM212+push+pull), I didn't bother to push harder for everyday OC due to the low volts(low temp too) and high clock. But I had all powersaving states off, and VRM in bios set to EXTREME,FULL OR MAX, Set it and forget it around 4.2-4.4ghz on stock volts. That Cooler will own the heat.....specially if you are not overvolting much.

Should have Mobo Delivered Saturday, will be a Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3 that was RMAed so would be New or Refurb, Should be Paying $85 For it.

All that's left to get would be a Case(Maybe or maybe not a Thermaltake Armour Series I could Maybe get for $30), W7 HP 64 Bit that would cost $105+Tax to go Buy New.
as for optical drive, there is a Lightscribe DVD Burner in My Sister's old Computer( http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/ca/en/ho/...tml?dnr=1) That I Could Use.

[Jason125m]

Just pirate the windows 7, much cheaper and easier.

[kb0nly]

Not bad for a budget build, good choice on the HSF, i have used the newer version of that cooler a few times now, the 212 Hyper Evo, and its always impressed me.

[hatc200x1]

Just pirate the windows 7, much cheaper and easier.and if you get caught you could end up in prison and HUGE fines. Yep, totally worth it. NOT

[Jason125m]

and if you get caught you could end up in prison and HUGE fines. Yep, totally worth it. NOT

hahahaha, how is that even possible? Millions of people everyday pirate it. Unless it is different in Obamaslave land. here in canada, they cannot do anything about pirating.

[hatc200x1]

hahahaha, how is that even possible? Millions of people everyday pirate it. Unless it is different in Obamaslave land. here in canada, they cannot do anything about pirating.

Not millions, not even close. In the U.S. Its the same as for pirating DVD's, up to 5 years in prison and/or $250,000 fine, its a lot easier to catch software pirating. Especially when your dealing with a company as powerful as Microsoft.

[Jason125m]

That's too bad about how it is in the US. No one around here pays for overpriced computer software. Bill gates has enough money.

[hatc200x1]

Lol if you have ever tried to program anything then you would know it costs a lot of money to make a operating system, especially something as advanced as windows 7. Sorry for derailing thread Lord Letto.

[Lord Letto 20]

Don't worry about it, I'll still buy it to be safe. just checked and it's on sale until the end of the month for $10 off, that would make it $95: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=530&item_id=037803
according to Google, $95 CAD= $92.39 USD, that's 2-3.39 USD More then it is Retail/Online Down There.

[Scootertrash]

That's too bad about how it is in the US. No one around here pays for overpriced computer software. Bill gates has enough money.

How would you like it if someone who thought YOU had enough money stole your 3 wheeler? Or what about if someone took an idea or skill you invented/developed, pirated it, then sold it cheaper than you or gave it away for free.

Pirating is stealing plain and simple.

It never ceases to amaze me that some people think they should be the judge of how much someone should be able to make, aquire and/or have before they have "too much" or "enough" and when they should start giving some of what they earn to others for free.

Socialist/Communist mindset at it's finest.

You have 5 trikes listed in your sig, how's about you give one of your 125m's to someone who doesn't have a 3 wheeler. I mean, you can only ride one trike at a time, so obviously you have more than enough trikes. Set an example and show that you're willing to live up to the same standard you seem to want to set for others: If you have too much, you should give to others who have less than you for free.

Lord Letto: sorry to derail your thread.

Do what you know is right.




Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught.

J. C. Watts

[kb0nly]

I have one computer here that i reinstalled W7 on, its 64 bit Home Premium, when it got to the activation stage it said the product key was invalid. Odd i thought, i copied it right off the COA label on the side of the case, so i re-entered it and again it said it wasn't valid and then it put this crap on the desktops lower right corner saying this copy isn't valid or genuine, and every reboot it would say its not genuine. So i called the Microsoft activation line, gave them the code in the activation window, then it said not valid please hold for a representative. I told the guy this computer got a new hard drive, the old one failed, and a new video card. I went to reinstall and now it wont activate. I gave him the info from the COA, read everything on the label to him, he said do you have a genuine installation disk, i said yes and he wanted to know some numbers printed on that, he said well sir its not coming up as valid in our system. I said how is that possible it was on this computer for two years until the hard drive failed. He said i suggest you purchase a new copy, i said why should i have to do that when i have a valid copy, he said its not valid. What???

I have a valid PRINTED COA from microsoft applied to the side of the case, it was a retail copy i bought and put the label on the side just like your supposed to, and now the hard drive dies and they are saying its not valid. Very odd... So anyway after about an hour of going through all this crap i said the heck with it. Cracked the activation and did windows updates and moved on. Its still running on my workbench, that whole episode happened about 2 years ago i think it was, W7 went on that computer in the fall of 2009 i believe and it was a retail copy purchased from Newegg.com.

So its been running a cracked installation for about 2 years, that computer is generally on 24/7... I haven't seen the Microsoft police at my door yet. And if they ever come after me i will show them the holographic and 100% genuine COA label on the side of the case, along with the retail box and disc that belongs to that computer. So they can lick my butt... LOL

[Lord Letto 20]

Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 Just came, $85 Delivered

[Jason125m]

So its been running a cracked installation for about 2 years, that computer is generally on 24/7... I haven't seen the Microsoft police at my door yet. And if they ever come after me i will show them the holographic and 100% genuine COA label on the side of the case, along with the retail box and disc that belongs to that computer. So they can lick my butt... LOL

That is basically spot on for how I got started with my cracked W7, replaced my hard drive, would not reactivate, so I said the hell with it.

Scooter, you can think what you want, not everyone has the $$ to buy all these programs. After all, how would else would I afford all these pretty trikes.

Don't act like you've never done anything illegal. Related to computers or not.

Also, microsoft has sold over 100 million copys, probably more. If I had say even 1 million 3 wheelers, why would i care if one was stolen ;)

Sorry, Letto, goodluck with your computer build.

[jb2wheels]

Letto - what are you going to do with the computer?

I used to build my own but 2 things changed and now I don't bother:
- computers got a lot cheaper
- I quit playing the latest, greatest, bleeding edge video games

We now have 3 laptops in the house. 2 are off the shelf Dells and 1 from HP. I bought these new for around $400 each. They will all play Starcraft 2 which is the only reason I "upgraded".

I also have a couple of Craigslist Dell towers upstairs.
I paid $50 for one that was "dead" - had a loose video card.
Paid $25 for the other and it needed a HD. I had one laying around the garage.

I guess my point is, 99% of the computer usage in my house is web surfing. We stream some Netflix and I play some games but nothing taxing.
For me, the fun's worn off of building one and it's cheaper just to buy one.

[honda200xguy]

hahahaha, how is that even possible? Millions of people everyday pirate it. Unless it is different in Obamaslave land. here in canada, they cannot do anything about pirating.
It's true, in Obamaslave land they are cracking down on all computer crimes.
It will be in canada eventually. (everything in canada is slow)

[spentar]

You have yourself there a very solid computer so far. I built my own computer but I went a bit more extreme as I am a 15 year old kid who plays video games haha. Im sure that will suit every one of your needs. Once you build a PC you will never buy a store bought computer again because you will realize the rip off they can be! Also when you build you can get exactly what you want to exact spec. and save money at the same time!

[Lord Letto 20]

Update, Got everything and will start build tomorrow or next week. Part List:
Gigabite 990FXA-UD3 (Rev 1.0 or 1.1)
AMD FX-4100 (OC to 4.2-4.4GHz on Stock Voltage)
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus
OCZ GamexStream 700W Power Supply
EVGA 560 Ti 2GB
2x4GB Kingston HyperX 1600MHz Ram
Seagate barracuda 500GB 7200.12 HDD
Bitfenix Outlaw Case
Startech DVI-I Male/VGA Female Adapter to use a normal VGA Monitor with my 560 Ti

[Lord Letto 20]

Build complete, done test boot and got Ubuntu 13.04 installed and it's done, wiring is a mess though due to all the cables from the PSU (not a modular sadly). Next step IMHO is to get another HDD (SATA is a must due to the motherboard) to put the Windows 7 Enterprise 90 day trial on till I can afford Windows 7 Home Premium and figure out how to duel boot from 2 different HDDs with a different OS on each (if possible).

[kb0nly]

There is a lot of programs out there that can manage the booting. I use Acronis OS Selector on my workbench computer, that has a quad boot, DOS, 98, XP, Win 7. Why? Because i need access to older Operating Systems for some old programming software. It can boot off any drive, multiple partitions per drive, etc.