Planning to build pc from scratch.

[Dazoosk]

I am planning to build a gaming pc from scratch and was wondering if anyone could suggest a good motherboard and processor.

[Cello]

We'll need to know a couple of things before we can help out:

What's your budget looking like?

Do you prefer AMD or Intel processors? Intel's better but far more expensive, while AMD processors are still good and affordable.

How well are you looking for your computer to play games; on their highest settings or lower/recommended settings?

[RikuoAmero]

Check out any and all threads by me in the Tech Centre, I'm also building from scratch, this will be the first computer I've ever built. So reply here or PM me for any advice. I will try and respond as soon as possible.

[Dazoosk]

my budget is unlimited as i will be building over time so one month i will spend large for motherboard the next month for processor and so on

---------- Post added at 02:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:34 PM ----------

and I would have to say intel

[RikuoAmero]

my budget is unlimited as i will be building over time so one month i will spend large for motherboard the next month for processor and so on

One month? Really? I did it the exact same, except I did it more or less once a week. So first off, are you serious about the budget? Are you thinking of getting the absolute top of the line models and can you easily afford them, after accounting for rent/food/gas/electricity, other essential expenditures?

[Dazoosk]

I should mention I already have a decent enough computer but I want a highend gaming machine

---------- Post added at 02:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:37 PM ----------

I am serious about budget i could probably get it don sooner that is just a guess before pricing

[RikuoAmero]

Right, read the following word....RESEARCH. I'll say it again. RESEARCH. One more time, RESEARCH. You can never do too much RESEARCH. I'm still researching even though I'm just about finished, as of the time of writing, I'm waiting on the power supply and graphics cards.

Right, you wanna go Intel. First off, you need to pick a case.

[RikuoAmero]

First off, what are you looking to put in your computer? How many storage drives/disc drives/graphics cards? The more you say, the bigger the case you'll need.

The following is the biggest and newest case I've heard of. If this had been out back last October, I would have picked one up for myself, it's that good.

http://www.coolermaster.com/product.php?product_id=6792

[Dazoosk]

I have to say thats one sick looking case (sick means good) thanks for the ideas

---------- Post added at 02:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:47 PM ----------

I just opend up my eyes a little and realized i might have been ready to jump the gun I think Im going to take a bit more time to research and get a full plan going

[RikuoAmero]

Okay assuming you're going with that (or the case I got, check my signature, the Antec DF-85, it does the trick), next you want your motherboard.

Now, assuming you're going for the latest and greatest in hardware, in Intel, you're looking at this motherboard

http://ie.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_2011/Rampage_IV_FormulaBATTLEFIELD_3/

It supports the newest LGA2011 Intel CPUs, and it has up to 4 way SLI or CrossFireX support.

EDIT: Yeah, that's what I meant by research. I'm jumping the gun here too by going for literally the most expensive, the most high end components, most of which you don't actually need. You'll need to research what exactly you're going to be using in terms of features from your motherboard for example: the one up above says its PCI-E 3.0 ready, but you don't want to pay for that, since there are no PCI-E 3.0 graphics cards out, so that's money gone down the drain, with no return on investment so to speak.

[Dazoosk]

although you are correct on not getting certain items I do still want high end and appreciate your advice thanks to u I have several new windows 7 sticky notes to further research. thanks again

[RikuoAmero]

Okay then, if you want, feel free to copy the rig I'm building. Apart from the case (which has a couple of features that I don't like), everything was picked after months of research and comparing price-to-performance ratios. I fully expect my rig to play EVERY latest game at highest settings on 1080p no problem, including Crysis 2. Just go here, where I've listed all my components

http://forums.kametsu.com/showthread.php?t=32743

[† An IP BreAKDoWN]

my budget is unlimited as i will be building over time so one month i will spend large for motherboard the next month for processor and so on

I would save up the money then buy it all at once as prices will usually go down by the time you get enough money or can spend the same amount and get better parts.

[Dae314]

If you really have unlimited money... I can suggest for you a build which will cost ~$7000

First of all, the highest of high end in terms of CPU is the Sandy Bridge-E CPUs. Specifically, this one. The thing doesn't get amazing reviews because it runs hot, and it's not quite as amazing as Sandy Bridge, but the fact remains that although it's not reviewed as highly, the SB-E architecture IS still all-around more powerful than the SB architecture.

Next, there's the motherboard. I personally like this one, but I can't find it in any retailers so you'll have to look for it yourself >.>

Now memory, that board can accept up to 128GB of memory at up to 2400MHz so why not go for broke and get 8x8GB at 1866MHz (or two sets of these). Note: I chose that memory just b/c it's shorter than the Corsair ones, but if you wanna choose some other set of 8GB memory go ahead . I also chose 1866MHz b/c there's slightly more selection at that speed. You make good use of LGA 2011's quad channel memory support too with this.

Next we have the graphics which will be the heart of your gaming rig (the CPU is the soul). I personally would get 3 of these because each card will only take up 1 slot on your computer, and it's on a closed loop water cooling system so the cards shouldn't heat up your case a ton.

So you'll need a pretty strong power supply to handle all those video cards. The best high wattage PSU I found reviewed is this one. Looking over the connectors, you should have enough PCI-E power connectors for those graphics cards, and enough peripheral power connectors to power your storage array which will be...

This thing and a RAID0 array of at least 3 HDDs (choose your size, 1TB/1.5TB/2TB is recommended for example this. OS and whatever programs you want to load quickly go on the SSD which has the current best Sandforce controller, and the rest of your anime and whatnot go on the RAID0 array which should total to at least 3TB of space.

That CPU runs kinda hot, so if you're looking to overclock you would probably be better off with a full water cooling system, but if you're too lazy to set one of those up this is the next best thing. I highly recommend setting up a full water cooling system though.

That motherboard is a very weird form factor >.> so you might have some trouble getting it to fit in a regular case. this or this might do it for you, but I can't garauntee a fit b/c no case actually lists support for the XL-ATX format >.> so you have to gamble on E-ATX compatibility cases having a little extra room to fit XL-ATX. The Fractal Design case would probably be easier to fit the board in and do water cooling with.

That pretty much wraps up the main components. I'd get a sound card too, and you should probably go shell out the money to buy a monitor like this (or two or 3...) since that'll make good use of your tri-SLI'd cards. Oh that reminds me, you're going to need a 3-way SLI bridge to make those cards work like this.

That is probably the very best computer I can recommend parts to you for that isn't a server xP. If you really have unlimited money I would love to see something like this built. As an extra note, AMD recently released their next flagship card, the 7970 (here). You might want to consider doing 3 way Crossfire, but you'll need to get a different bridge and you might need a different motherboard .

[RikuoAmero]

Can I just say....humanahumanahumanahumanahumanahumana ^^

Now excuse me while I find a towel to wipe up the drool.