Building a Desktop

• Chockeh wrote on 2012-09-30 03:30
  My current budget is 800$, but I could probably add 200$ if I have to. I can probably provide my own peripherals (monitor, keyboard, mouse). The only problem would be acquiring a legit copy of Windows 7 (I'll probably just pirate it if I can't find a discount on them). I also have thermal paste and a toolkit.
  
  I'm probably going to go for an Asus Sabertooth motherboard. I'll go with AMD if I can't find a cheap Sandy Bridge i5 processor. I may want an SSD for the faster boot time, but I don't know if I'll be satisfied with the storage capacity. I like Cooler Master cases, but I don't care as long as it looks cool. As for the other components, I don't know.
• Knightmehre wrote on 2012-09-30 03:48
  If you're going for Sandy Bridge, an ASUS Sabertooth is too overkill considering the other items in your list are not on par with it. You should go for a lesser one, maybe try ASROCK? As far as Win7 copies go http://www.discountmountainsoftware.com/miwi7hoprfuv6.html?cmp=gp&utm_source=google.com&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=Microsoft+Windows+7+Home+Premium+Full+Version+OEM+64-Bit+(Branded)&utm_campaign=google_product_search&id=%7Badwords_producttargetid%7D
  
  You should get a SSD for boot drive only or grab a big SSD like the 128gb Vertex 4
• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2012-09-30 06:15
  don't college students get discounts on windows?
  anyways
  The only point in sabertooth is if you have those clear cases... because it looks awesome.
  
  MOBO: ASUS P8Z77-V LK $178.99
  http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2522311&CatId=6976
  
  CPU: i5-3570k $ 229.97
  http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2373004&CatId=1969
  
  Corsair 8GB RAM $52.99
  http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6611013&CatId=3433
  
  Power Supply 450W $45.99
  http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3276575&CatId=1078
  
  GPU: Radeon HD 7870
  http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2318242&CatId=7387
  
  Hard drive and case are up to you
• Cucurbita wrote on 2012-09-30 06:16
  Man a really good SSD was like 60 dollars off yesterday too. Too bad.
• Knightmehre wrote on 2012-09-30 06:21

  Quote from BobYoMeowMeow;957406:

  don't college students get discounts on windows?
  anyways
  The only point in sabertooth is if you have those clear cases... because it looks awesome.
  
  MOBO: ASUS P8Z77-V LK $178.99
  http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2522311&CatId=6976
  
  CPU: i5-3570k $ 229.97
  http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2373004&CatId=1969
  
  Corsair 8GB RAM $52.99
  http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6611013&CatId=3433
  
  Power Supply 450W $45.99
  http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3276575&CatId=1078
  
  GPU: Radeon HD 7870
  http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2318242&CatId=7387
  
  Hard drive and case are up to you

  
  
  :L power supply is like 150 lower than the requirement for the GPU alone (although it won't use most of that unless you really need it). Students no longer get win7 discounts, offer expired.
• Cucurbita wrote on 2012-09-30 06:47

  Quote from Knightmehre;957409:

  Students no longer get win7 discounts, offer expired.

  
  
  You can still get huge discounts if you buy THROUGH the school, though the price differs per school.
• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2012-09-30 14:24

  Quote from Knightmehre;957409:

  :L power supply is like 150 lower than the requirement for the GPU alone (although it won't use most of that unless you really need it). Students no longer get win7 discounts, offer expired.

  
  no..
  it's only 50 W less
  my bad
  get this instead
  
  550W 66.97
  http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1393380&CatId=5438
• Yoorah wrote on 2012-09-30 20:43
  Don't have the time to mess around looking at parts atm (might look later), but as far as Windows is concerned, you might be able to get a free copy through MSDNAA/DreamSpark if your school is enrolled in it. You're in comp sci or whatever, so if your school has a subscription to this, you should have access to some free stuff from Microsoft. :3
  
  They have Windows 8 Professional now. :D
• Chockeh wrote on 2012-10-01 05:40

  Quote from Yoorah;957589:

  Don't have the time to mess around looking at parts atm (might look later), but as far as Windows is concerned, you might be able to get a free copy through MSDNAA/DreamSpark if your school is enrolled in it. You're in comp sci or whatever, so if your school has a subscription to this, you should have access to some free stuff from Microsoft. :3
  
  They have Windows 8 Professional now. :D

  
  
  Visual Studio and Windows OS? What have I not heard of this O_O? I'm going to ask my teacher later today if we're part of the program, I don't think so though.
• paladin wrote on 2012-10-03 01:49
  Cat made a pretty good pick of stuff
  heres a 128gb sdd on sale both in america and Canada go figure
  http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3400884
• Chockeh wrote on 2012-10-05 02:53
  I decided to go with this DIY kit since it actually looks pretty decent. Has some similarities with Cat's build.
  
  MOBO: Asus P8Z77-V LK
  CPU: Intel i5-3570k
  GPU: EVGA GTX660
  RAM: G-Skill Ares Series (2 x 4GB) DDR3
  Power Supply: Rosewill Hive-750W (Modular Design)
  Case: Rosewill Blackhawk
  
  Comes up to about $803 with tax and shipping.
  
  
  

  Quote from paladin;958654:

  Cat made a pretty good pick of stuff
  heres a 128gb sdd on sale both in america and Canada go figure
  http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3400884

  
  
  It's nice, but I'll probably go with OCZ Vertex 3 (SSD)-80$ for the faster read/write speed. Also might buy the WD Caviar Black 1TB (HDD)-104$ (I don't trust Seagate). It comes up to about $199 with tax and shipping.
  
  I'm not sure what else I'm missing. Don't know if I should get this, it's quite pricey and I'm not sure if it'll fit in the case (it should though). I'll probably pirate W7 since I'm out of money. What else should I get?
  
  Also, Dreamscape is only available to Computer Science students in my school. I'm in Computerized Systems Technology, which is another department. It would make sense to include us in the program, but sadly that doesn't seem to be possible.
• Knightmehre wrote on 2012-10-06 05:56
  You can have a friend in CS buy you one I think. That works at my school too. You definitely need an aftermarket heatsink/fan for your cpu (most that come with mid/high end CPU's are throwawap crap ones that cause too much noise).
• Chockeh wrote on 2012-10-09 02:10
  Ordered the parts, comes up to a bit over 1.1k.
  Chose the Thermalright Silver Arrow CPU cooler. 1156 should work on a 1155.