First Time Build - Mulitimedia PC

Goolay · 01-01-2013 5:02pm #1

Hi folks,

My current PC (a fairly ****ey Dell Inspiron) is about to die so need a replacement. I was just about to buy an XPS from Dell website when I realised I would probably get a lot more bang for my back by building my own

1. What is your budget? [€800]

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? [Photo Editing RAW (lightroom) + Audio Recording (ableton + reason)]

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? [Yes]

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? [No] (If possible state brand and model of the parts to ensure compatibility)

5. Do you need a monitor? [No]

5a. If yes, what size do you need. [N/A]

5b. If no, what resolution is your current monitor and do you plan to upgrade in the near future? [1680x1050 - maybe]

6. Do you need any of these peripherals? [Keyboard/Mouse/SD Card Reader]

7. Are you willing to try overclocking? [Maybe

]

8. How can you pay? [Bank Transfer/Credit Card/Laser]

9. When are you purchasing? [Now]

10. If you need help building it, where are you based? [Portmarnock, North County Dublin.]

Main use of PC will be editing RAW images in Lightroom which is currently laborious with my Inspiron, would like a 16gb RAM I reckon. Kinda clueless about everything else.

I don't need a monitor or speakers and I have an external soundcard/audio interface.

I guess my main worry is actually putting everything together as I'm a total n00b in that regard so in terms of case etc the easier the better! I'm pretty good at following tutorials/instructions as long as there's no soldering etc required.

thanks in advance and happy new year

challengemaster · 01-01-2013 5:59pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_56kyib-Ls

Really, it's like lego for adults

You'll have no issues putting it together

Goolay · 01-01-2013 6:35pm

Thanks a million, looks perfect.

Funnily enough I was just watching that exact video. Reckon I won't have too much bother putting it together, have swapped out hard drives in the sky HD box and old xbox years ago and managed not to break them

Goolay · 01-01-2013 6:47pm

Have just realised I already have Windows 7 disk here so that's another €80 back in the budget. Will need a dvd burner too, would this one be ok?

cheers

challengemaster · 01-01-2013 7:03pm

Goolay wrote: »

Have just realised I already have Windows 7 disk here so that's another €80 back in the budget. Will need a dvd burner too, would this one be ok?

cheers

Ah that's good news. Just remember to install 64-bit, otherwise you'll only be able to use 4gb of the RAM.

And that drive looks perfect

U_Fig · 01-01-2013 7:13pm

Why include the radeon 5450 it's gonna be slower than the Onboard graphics on the CPU being hd4000 on the 3570k.. Drop it and use onboard graphics

Also maybe drop the h60 if you are not overclocking and use the stock cooler or of you are overclocking get a cheaper air cooling fan and add an SSD it's the single biggest performance boost you can add to a build.. Go crucial m4 or Samsung 840 of you are

challengemaster · 01-01-2013 7:17pm

U_Fig wrote: »

Why include the radeon 5450 it's gonna be slower than the Onboard graphics on the CPU being hd4000 on the 3570k.. Drop it and use onboard graphics

Also maybe drop the h60 if you are not over locking and add an SSD it's the single biggest performance boost you can add to a build.. Go crucial m4 or Samsung 840 of you are

Must have accidentally added the 5450 into my basket

There's already a crucial M4 in there

U_Fig · 01-01-2013 7:19pm

challengemaster wrote: »

Must have accidentally added the 5450 into my basket

There's already a crucial M4 in there

Must have missed that somehow my bad blaming my iPhone

Goolay · 01-01-2013 9:20pm

Thanks for the responses guys, here's my completed basket:

Item|Price
ASRock Z77 Pro4-M, Sockel 1155, mATX|€82.94
Intel Core i5-3570K Box, LGA1155|€205.99
16GB-Kit Corsair ValueSelect PC3-10667U CL9-9-9-24|€61.35
Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 450W|€42.35
WD Caviar Green 2TB Sata 6Gb/s|€88.19
Corsair Carbide Series 200R, ATX, ohne Netzteil|€55.95
Crucial M4 256GB SSD 6,4cm (2,5")|€177.18
LG GH24NS Retail schwarz|€21.38
Wacom Bamboo Fun Small Pen&Touch 3nd Generation, USB|€89.90
Akasa AK-ICR-07 Interner 6-Port Card Reader 8,89cm (3,5") , schwarz|€9.24
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€853.46

Since I made savings on OS and removing Graphics card & fan I'm treating myself to a graphics tablet

Also increased SSD to 256GB

Am I missing anything important or good to go?

Thanks again

Goolay · 04-01-2013 2:14pm

Bank Transfer went through this morning, but I've just had a thought on the above...

I ordered the Akasa AK-ICR-07 Interner 6-Port Card Reader 8,89cm (3,5") along with Corsair Carbide Series 200R, ATX.

Are these two compatible? I see there are external slots for 5.25" below the dvd drive etc but can't see where the internal reader would pop out?

Do I need to contact them to cancel?

cheers!

Edit: I guess I could just get something like this?

marco_polo · 04-01-2013 2:35pm

That would be perfect to house it

Goolay · 04-01-2013 2:37pm

Good stuff, ordered

cheers

Goolay · 08-01-2013 7:19pm

Packages in the UK now , nearly there

Quick question, am I going to need to pick up Thermal Paste, some of the Tutorials online mention it and others don't. I'm going to be using the stock cooler with the processor.

cheers

challengemaster · 08-01-2013 7:25pm

Goolay wrote: »

Packages in the UK now , nearly there

Quick question, am I going to need to pick up Thermal Paste, some of the Tutorials online mention it and others don't. I'm going to be using the stock cooler with the processor.

cheers

The stock cooler already has it pre-applied. You'll see it when you take the cooler out of the box, it's the grey-ish stuff.

Make sure not to touch it - it's probably not good for you, but you'll also put skin oils between the thermal paste/cooler base and the cpu - which could affect temps

Goolay · 08-01-2013 8:18pm

Good stuff, thanks again challengemaster!

Bummer1234 · 09-01-2013 4:35pm

Looks like you ordered a great kit there Goolay, Could you let me know how you get on as im almost interested in the same as yourself.

Goolay · 09-01-2013 4:36pm

Will do

Seems to be stuck in Tamworth, UK for the moment, hoping it will all arrive tomorrow.

challengemaster · 09-01-2013 5:15pm

Goolay wrote: »

Will do Seems to be stuck in Tamworth, UK for the moment, hoping it will all arrive tomorrow.

Yeah that's usual enough. Guarantee it'll start moving again at 3-4AM :P

Goolay · 09-01-2013 5:19pm

challengemaster wrote: »

Yeah that's usual enough. Guarantee it'll start moving again at 3-4AM :P

Actually, looking at the UPS page again - it left Tamworth at 4am this morning

No updates since though. ETA still End of Day tomorrow.

Feel like a kid at xmas waiting for Santa sightings on the radio, haha.

challengemaster · 09-01-2013 6:01pm

Goolay wrote: »

Actually, looking at the UPS page again - it left Tamworth at 4am this morning No updates since though. ETA still End of Day tomorrow.

Feel like a kid at xmas waiting for Santa sightings on the radio, haha.

Whatever way they work it, it's somewhat stupid. Things seem to get stuck in Tamsworth until ~3-5AM...

I'm also willing to bet that tonight or tomorrow morning, it'll show it arrived into dublin at 18:30, and has an import scan ~10PM. From experience I can say it's probably on time though, the day it leaves Tamsworth is the day before delivery, usually

Goolay · 09-01-2013 7:11pm

challengemaster wrote: »

Whatever way they work it, it's somewhat stupid. Things seem to get stuck in Tamsworth until ~3-5AM...

I'm also willing to bet that tonight or tomorrow morning, it'll show it arrived into dublin at 18:30, and has an import scan ~10PM. From experience I can say it's probably on time though, the day it leaves Tamsworth is the day before delivery, usually

Arrival scan at Dublin 18:45, so close

First Time Build - Mulitimedia PC

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