First PC Build

[lubglubs]

Hi guys, I'm making my first PC. I already have a monitor, speakers, keyboard, mouse, and Windows 7. I have windows 7 home premium that I bought, and I already used it to upgrade my old laptop. Can I use it again? Also, I would very much like to know if I should get a better power supply. My budget is around $700, no more than $750 including tax. I am from Texas, so the tax percent is 8.25% I also would like criticism in it, but please don't make a completely new build. I like the idea to be original. You can add recommendations too. Also, please tell me if it will all fit, and if it has enough power. I plan to water cool it later on when I have more money.

 

Motherboard: FM2-A75MA-E35 SATA3

 

HDD: 1TB Western Digital Caviar Blue SATA3

 

GPU: XFX Radeon 7870 Dual Dissapation 2GB

 

Case: Cooler Master Storm Enforcer

 

RAM: Patriot Signature 8GB (2x4)

 

CPU: AMD Anthlon X4 750K

 

PSU: SeaSonic G Series 550 Watt ATX 80 Plus Gold

[Youbetternot]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor  ($153.61 @ Amazon) 

CPU Cooler:  Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($29.99 @ Microcenter) 

Motherboard:  Asus M5A97 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard  ($94.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory:  Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($68.98 @ NCIX US) 

Storage:  Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($59.99 @ NCIX US) 

Video Card:  PowerColor Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card  ($209.99 @ Amazon) 

Case:  Fractal Design Core 3000 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($39.99 @ Microcenter) 

Power Supply:  EVGA 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply  ($44.99 @ Amazon) 

Total: $702.53

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-06 17:02 EDT-0400)

[Hirad123]

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor  ($153.61 @ Amazon) 

CPU Cooler:  Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($29.99 @ Microcenter) 

Motherboard:  Asus M5A97 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard  ($94.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory:  Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($68.98 @ NCIX US) 

Storage:  Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($59.99 @ NCIX US) 

Video Card:  PowerColor Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card  ($209.99 @ Amazon) 

Case:  Fractal Design Core 3000 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($39.99 @ Microcenter) 

Power Supply:  EVGA 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply  ($44.99 @ Amazon) 

Total: $702.53

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-06 17:02 EDT-0400)

 

this is SUCH a good build for that price. All I can say is buy it now.

[D3MON]

what @Youbetternot said but with a few minor changes, those "core" cases dont really do it for me, and coolermaster pretend to be a great company theyre not, theyre pretty good but theres better for the price (2 rigs ive built with friends have minor flaws in the case design).
that board only has a 6+2 vrm (albeit a good one) but for a 8 core thats going to be overclocked?? i raise you the gigabyte ud3 with 4 x16 slots:D and 8+2 vrm.
and the corsair 300r case (google images)
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1LE90


nice red//black build

[epkoc]

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[epkoc]

@Youbetternot good well-balanced build for the price. @lubglubs, whats the main use for new build?

[MattEly07]

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor  ($153.61 @ Amazon) 

CPU Cooler:  Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($29.99 @ Microcenter) 

Motherboard:  Asus M5A97 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard  ($94.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory:  Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($68.98 @ NCIX US) 

Storage:  Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($59.99 @ NCIX US) 

Video Card:  PowerColor Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card  ($209.99 @ Amazon) 

Case:  Fractal Design Core 3000 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($39.99 @ Microcenter) 

Power Supply:  EVGA 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply  ($44.99 @ Amazon) 

Total: $702.53

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-06 17:02 EDT-0400)

 

 

get that build! that is such a good price for something that nice 

[LogicalDrm]

If you bought retail copy of win 7 you can't use it again. Some OEM copys allow multiple installations.

[lubglubs]

If you bought retail copy of win 7 you can't use it again. Some OEM copys allow multiple installations.

So do I need a new disk?

[lubglubs]

@Youbetternot good well-balanced build for the price. @lubglubs, whats the main use for new build?

Mainly gaming and school work.

[LogicalDrm]

So do I need a new disk?

 

Yes and no. You need new key code. You can use same install disc if its same version but easiest way is to buy new copy of windows.

[epkoc]

If you bought retail copy of win 7 you can't use it again. Some OEM copys allow multiple installations.

 

Yes and no. You need new key code. You can use same install disc if its same version but easiest way is to buy new copy of windows.

 

 

way no.1) Call microsoft to deactivate the license. during activation there should be an option to call microsoft. just tell them what happen and they will de-activate the license, but remember that the key can only be used on one computer at a time. this is what i did when i had a broken laptop with windows 7 key that i later used on my desktop.

way no.2) if you decide to install windows 7, and you haven't de-activated the license before, you may get a message at start up thay your windows 7 may be pirate...

click on start> type slui 4

Choose your nearest county

Then call the number listed and give them the letters and numbers and they will give you numbers letters to type in and activate.

[LogicalDrm]

@lubglubs,@epkoc, Sorry, I assumed that laptop will be used after build. If license isn't in use in any other machine it of course can be used in new machine regardless of retail/oem version. Sorry if I misread some part here

[WoodenMarker]

PCPartPicker part list =

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1LE90

Rebates and fees destroy the budget.

So do I need a new disk?

You pay for the code, not the disk. Try calling microsoft to reuse the laptop's old code.

 

The matx mobo and md atx case is awkward.

My recommendations: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1MzXm

Remove all stock fans. Use Sickleflows for front intake, rear exhaust, and the Hyper 212 Evo.

[D3MON]

Rebates and fees destroy the budget.

You pay for the code, not the disk. Try calling microsoft to reuse the laptop's old code.

 

The matx mobo and md atx case is awkward.

My recommendations: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1MzXm

Remove all stock fans. Use Sickleflows for front intake, rear exhaust, and the Hyper 212 Evo.

nearly $20 on fans that should come with the case anyway

the 8320 has 33% more cores/threads for 30% more money (not much better but still better bang/buck)

1 dimm of ram and single channel? way to half the bandwidth.

I have that board, it has a 4+1 non heatsinks vrm, i wouldnt trust it with anything over 4 cores (my phenom x4 at stockish or an fx6 at stock but wheres the fun in that?) plus my board has mor I/O supports crossfire  if he later crossfired another 7950 and it has another x16 slot spare (x4 wired) for a soundcard or whatever.

"My budget is around $700"

for the sake of $85....im only $30 over budget with this, as linus has said if you try and squeeze things into a budget you usually cheap on thing you shouldnt, in this case the pc would be fine but your doing yourself an injustice getting less for your cash (allot less in the motherboard) even if it is slightly less cash.

get the fx6300 if you have to cut costs, but never cheap out on a board. thats like buying a cheap psu, you don't do it.

[WoodenMarker]

nearly $20 on fans that should come with the case anyway

the 8320 has 33% more cores/threads for 30% more money (not much better but still better bang/buck)

1 dimm of ram and single channel? way to half the bandwidth.

I have that board, it has a 4+1 non heatsinks vrm, i wouldnt trust it with anything over 4 cores (my phenom x4 at stockish or an fx6 at stock but wheres the fun in that?) plus my board has mor I/O supports crossfire  if he later crossfired another 7950 and it has another x16 slot spare (x4 wired) for a soundcard or whatever.

"My budget is around $700"

for the sake of $85....im only $30 over budget with this, as linus has said if you try and squeeze things into a budget you usually cheap on thing you shouldnt, in this case the pc would be fine but your doing yourself an injustice getting less for your cash (allot less in the motherboard) even if it is slightly less cash.

get the fx6300 if you have to cut costs, but never cheap out on a board. thats like buying a cheap psu, you don't do it.

Sickleflows are better than the stock pushing more air and being quieter while sticking with the red led look that seemed like what the OP was going for from the start. 

The 8320 itself is a better bang for the buck if you look at it that way but you also need a more expensive mobo and you run into diminishing returns as you add more cores.

Single channel ram will still perform similarly to dual channel for all intensive purposes.

The motherboard supports oc'ing just fine. It's just not optimal for it. The system will work--it's not as bad as some may think. It's not spectacular and laced with fancy features but it doesn't look like the OP is looking for that kind of thing. 

It's a good, quiet gaming rig and nothing fancy without breaking the budget. Why spend more for things that won't do anything that actually matters for the OP?