How hard is it to build a computer

A complete novice here. I watched some youtube videos and it looks pretty simple. Here is what I plan on building

Thermaltake Armor Case, 12OO W Power supply, Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650, Thermaltake V1 Cooling fan, 500gb Hard Drive, DDR2 4 Gb mem, 2xGTX 280 in SLI, 2 DVD Burners, Intel Pro network card, Vista 64 bit OS. I figure I could build this for half of what some of these computer sites are asking for but HONESTLY, is it as easy as the videos show? As for things like thermal paste, what kind should I use? And after building this thing, do you just turn it on and install Vista, or do I have to configure some settings in the BIOS? Thanks for the help. I would pay someone a hundred bucks (no joke), if they could be my tech support while building this thing.

It's essentially LEGOs,it's pretty easy, don't know about the BIOS thing but other than that it's "plug card into port it fits into" then "plug in power cord that fights in card" and for installing an OS(reinstalled mine many times) simply keep clicking next, and english

It really depends on what PC you are building. Picking out the proper parts is usually more complicated than building the thing. The main thing when building, especially for the fist time, taking your time and reading manuals and guide make it much easier.

Just a few thing, a 1200w PSU is way overkill for 99.9999% of PC's. Intel Extreme CPU's are also way over priced, the only thing they have going for them is the unlocked multiplier, which is great for OC'ing, but not worth it IMHO.

Also all motherboards come with built in ethernet, so the network card is also unnecessary, now there could be a reason you need it, but most do not.

What motherboard are you looking at?

Are you a dentist?

What kind of motherboard do you plan on using?

Another tip:Always make sure you have a big enough power supply( you don't have to worry about that though) ;)

It really depends on what PC you are building. Picking out the proper parts is usually more complicated than building the thing. The main thing when building, especially for the fist time, taking your time and reading manuals and guide make it much easier.

Just a few thing, a 1200w PSU is way overkill for 99.9999% of PC's. Intel Extreme CPU's are also way over priced, the only thing they have going for them is the unlocked multiplier, which is great for OC'ing, but not worth it IMHO.

Also all motherboards come with built in ethernet, so the network card is also unnecessary, now there could be a reason you need it, but most do not.

What motherboard are you looking at?

Are you a dentist?

ch5richards

Yeah, Im a dentist. lol. I am looking at the motherboard Asus Stirker II 780i. Okay, so I would like to overclock at some time so should I stick with the Extreme quad core? Also, I would like to have it hooked up wirelessly, so wouldnt I need a wireless card like I put in above?

If I go dual gtx 280 in sli should I stick with that 1200w or go lower? Also, does the sli cable come with the cards or do you typically have to buy that seperately? Also, any info on what type of therma paste to use when mounting the cooling unit?

[QUOTE="ch5richards"]

It really depends on what PC you are building. Picking out the proper parts is usually more complicated than building the thing. The main thing when building, especially for the fist time, taking your time and reading manuals and guide make it much easier.

Just a few thing, a 1200w PSU is way overkill for 99.9999% of PC's. Intel Extreme CPU's are also way over priced, the only thing they have going for them is the unlocked multiplier, which is great for OC'ing, but not worth it IMHO.

Also all motherboards come with built in ethernet, so the network card is also unnecessary, now there could be a reason you need it, but most do not.

What motherboard are you looking at?

Are you a dentist?

drdrillnfill

Yeah, Im a dentist. lol. I am looking at the motherboard Asus Stirker II 780i. Okay, so I would like to overclock at some time so should I stick with the Extreme quad core? Also, I would like to have it hooked up wirelessly, so wouldnt I need a wireless card like I put in above?

I plan on straight plugging for gaming online, but for the time being I would like to have the wireless option.drdrillnfill

[QUOTE="ch5richards"]

It really depends on what PC you are building. Picking out the proper parts is usually more complicated than building the thing. The main thing when building, especially for the fist time, taking your time and reading manuals and guide make it much easier.

Just a few thing, a 1200w PSU is way overkill for 99.9999% of PC's. Intel Extreme CPU's are also way over priced, the only thing they have going for them is the unlocked multiplier, which is great for OC'ing, but not worth it IMHO.

Also all motherboards come with built in ethernet, so the network card is also unnecessary, now there could be a reason you need it, but most do not.

What motherboard are you looking at?

Are you a dentist?

drdrillnfill

Yeah, Im a dentist. lol. I am looking at the motherboard Asus Stirker II 780i. Okay, so I would like to overclock at some time so should I stick with the Extreme quad core? Also, I would like to have it hooked up wirelessly, so wouldnt I need a wireless card like I put in above?

Yes for wireless you will need a card, or a USB adapter. But like napp said wired is better(especially for gaming), but wireless will work.

When overclocking a CPU you can raise the multiplier or the FSB. Only Extreme (for Intel) CPU's have an unlocked multi, other CPU's you will be limited to raising the FSB, which works just fine. If money is no issue then the extreme is great. But if by buying it you have to cut somewhere else it is not worth it.

I am not a fan on any Nvidia chipset board(I have owned the 780i and sold it on ebay already), I much prefer Intel. If you want to go SLI now or later, you have no choice but Nvidia. If you don't want SLI, I would suggest looking for a P45 or X3, much better boards IMHO.

But I must admit, I am afraid of you, and that darn avatar does not help, LOL.

*EDIT*

IMHO Newegg is better than Tiger. I have had some issue's with TigerDirect, and never one with Newegg. Newegg takes much better care of it's customers.

I have heard this also about nvidia boards, but what is so scray about them? I would like to build with the ability to go sli if not now, sometime in the future.

Im very gentle..lol. my patients love me. they call me painless. lol.

I have heard this also about nvidia boards, but what is so scray about them? I would like to build with the ability to go sli if not now, sometime in the future.

Im very gentle..lol. my patients love me. they call me painless. lol.

drdrillnfill

I have owned 3 Nvidia boards, and have issues with each. They seemed to get better with each board though.

First was the P5n32-SLI. Had so many problem I had to RMA it at least three times. I got on a first name basis with Asus's 3rd time RMA rep.

Second was the eVGA 680i SLI. I had to RMA it once thank to Ntune(never use that program). Then later it just started randomly restarting.

Then EVGA offered to step-up users of the 680i to the 780i. So I bought me my current X38 board, and sent off my 680i. I then used the 780i in my GF's rig. It suffered from the video corruption problems and would BSOD half the times I opened the SATA DVD drive.

Well thats the shortened version of my Nvidia based boards history. On the other hand I have never had a problem with my Intel based boards, well at least not of the same scale.

Yet I know of quite a few people who have never had any issues. Maybe I was using thing they were not, or maybe my luck with Nvidia boards is just bad???????

*EDIT*

DDR3 is "better", but in real world performance it is little if any better than good DDR2. What motherboard you get will determine the RAM type, the CPU will work with both.

780i is DDR2, 790i is DDR3 just FYI.

A complete novice here. I watched some youtube videos and it looks pretty simple. Here is what I plan on building

Thermaltake Armor Case, 12OO W Power supply, Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650, Thermaltake V1 Cooling fan, 500gb Hard Drive, DDR2 4 Gb mem, 2xGTX 280 in SLI, 2 DVD Burners, Intel Pro network card, Vista 64 bit OS. I figure I could build this for half of what some of these computer sites are asking for but HONESTLY, is it as easy as the videos show? As for things like thermal paste, what kind should I use? And after building this thing, do you just turn it on and install Vista, or do I have to configure some settings in the BIOS? Thanks for the help. I would pay someone a hundred bucks (no joke), if they could be my tech support while building this thing.

drdrillnfill

Took about 3 hrs... "hardest" part was the assembly of the list on newegg...but it looks like $ isn't an issue for you. ;)

It is basically, a puzzle...except that your filling in the blanks instead of doing it from scratch. There are not any real consequences as long as you concetrate and spend a little time thinking about your actions you'll be fine!

and is DDR2 memory the way to go is is DDR3 the way to go. The extreme processor is compatible with both so Im a bit lostdrdrillnfill

Since money doesn't seem to be much of a constraint for you, I would say just get the DDR3; hell, the 2000Mhz DDR3 for the fun of it. ":P You'll need a higher end Intel board or the 790i if you want to use DDR3, though, I could be mistaken about the 780i not supporting DDR3.

Ok so here is what I have picked out so far.....let me know what you think and if I am screwing up. Only listing the main ingredients

Thermaltake Tower, Core 2 QX9650 Extreme (for overclocking), Asus Maximus II Formula Intel p45 motherboard, Thermaltake 1000w power supply, Corsair Dominator DDR2 Memory 2x2gb, GTX 280 1gb or maybe two of them. Seagate Barracuda 7200 rpm 16mb cache, sata 3.0 gb/s.

Any problems so far? Please let me know where and what I should be looking for.

Bump, Im getting ready to order these products and would like a once over by someone or two, that know alot about computers and if they see any problems with the core items I picked above.?

While I like the P45 motherboard over the 780i, it will not be able to run SLI. It will run one GTX 280 just fine, but to run a second one you will need a SLI board, 780i or 790i.

The P45 is a crossfire based board and can run 2 ATI cards in crossfire.

also when building a rig, do the cables that you need come with the parts you order or are there any specific cables that you really have to buy?

A complete novice here. I watched some youtube videos and it looks pretty simple. Here is what I plan on building

Thermaltake Armor Case, 12OO W Power supply, Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650, Thermaltake V1 Cooling fan, 500gb Hard Drive, DDR2 4 Gb mem, 2xGTX 280 in SLI, 2 DVD Burners, Intel Pro network card, Vista 64 bit OS. I figure I could build this for half of what some of these computer sites are asking for but HONESTLY, is it as easy as the videos show? As for things like thermal paste, what kind should I use? And after building this thing, do you just turn it on and install Vista, or do I have to configure some settings in the BIOS? Thanks for the help. I would pay someone a hundred bucks (no joke), if they could be my tech support while building this thing.

drdrillnfill

If anyone here asks for 100 bucks to help you out while building they are a not worth the support.

Building is easy. It is getting all parts that work that is a issue. DoA, dead on arrival, is the bane of building the first time because you have no spare parts in case you need to wait on a RMA. It is reality.

The actual building is easy and will go easy if you take your time. Thermal paste I usually use Arctic Silver 5 of MX 2.

If everything comes working then after installation you install vista and enjoy. If something isnt working or is somehow damaged internally as they do come that way sometimes you will need to RMA it.

Just a note on the P45:

The results really do speak for themselves and it's clear that there is a performance difference between a x16 / x16 configuration which the X48 offers, and the x8/x8 one on the P45

http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1472/10/intel_p45_vs_x48_crossfire_performance/index.html

If, you plan on going with two video-cards, I would stick to either X38 or X48 motherboards.