Mahdi

Well, here I am. I'll post more shortly but Hi!

I will say no. I couldn't even bring msyelf to buy the hardcover of sisterhood of dune when it was on clearance for $4. Paul of Dune killed this series for me. I had tried until then. I really did. But PoD was so,, so, so very bad and canon destroying I couldn't do it again. When they announced this was released on the facebook page I replied by posting this pic from the Simpsons. They deleted my post. http://simpsonswiki.com/w/images/thumb/d/d6/Accountants_of_Dune.png/250px-Accountants_of_Dune.png

I was hoping to get some more ram (Crucial ballistix sport) this holiday but RAM prices are still crazy high - the black friday sale price for it was $5 more than the price I paid for it back in May. Hopefully they go down again soon.

Total War: Rome 2 is coming out this fall. Combo of civilization and an RTS.

Cool, I'll take a look for it. I never answered your question about bioshock- No I have't played any of the others. I have them on my wishlist for steam but witht he three free games iwht the new gpu (Infinite was one of them) I currently have 10.5 games bought at 75 - 90% discountsbut unplayed - and Steam summer sale is coming soon. Plus, now that the weather is nice I've been spending mroe time outside than inside. I need some rainy days to start catching up!

I'm using core temp to track my tem, core + ram usage on a widget. I'll try some of those suggestions, see if they work.

I found it was down a lot the last couple weeks - the entire site not just the forums.

Well I've had it all together for a couple of days now and it is fantastic. The ssd makes things load crazy fast - although turns out my laptop was only 300 gb so I will need to add in a new hd when I find one on sale for cheap. I ran biohock infinite on ultra high settings and the game played super smooth and the computer ran at less than 50 C. Most of the time it runs in the high 30's, even with numerous programs running. Windows key still worked so that saved some money. I do have a small problem though. Whenever I select shut down or restart Windows turns off but the PC itself stays on. I have to use the manual button to make it actually power down. Any suggestions?

I didn't see any. I did some research and apparently the speed is the same between all three sta, just attachments are different? Anyway I did buy one sata III in case so I will use it on the SSD just to be sure. How are you using a remote control with your pc? I have an air mouse, got it for christmas a couple years back since we hooked up old busted laptop up to the tv the as a home theater pc. We will be using it.

Thanks Shai and Andrew. They arn't big anyway - 80 gb and 160 gb. The laptop one will work fine. The motherboard came with a few SATA cables so that's good. I have a question about Sata cables - are they all SATA III that come now or is there a way to check? Thanks for the link to windows 7 usb boot. I'll try and create the usb this weekend. I'm hoping the last of the parts will be in on Wed and I can build it that night, setting it to download/update overnight.

Well, I opened up my old pc's and found a couple surprises. First, neither of them are dvd rw - they are both cd rw. Next, I don't think the cables are sata(attached pic) or if the hd can be connected to the new mb since the cables are whatever they are. I didn't see a slot for them on my mb either. But that's okay I still have the laptop hd. Is it possible to download win7 onto a usb and load it that way, since I currently don't have an optical drive....

Oh well - between sales and price matching I'm still well over $300 saved so I'm happy:). This case has cable management behind the right hand panel so hopefully it will be a bit cleaner :) I downloaded xbmc on my laptop to test it out - it's awesome. Will be super nice on the pc. Thinking about installing it on the ssd - it is pretty slow loading on the laptop.

Well almost everything is in- just missing gpu, some cords, and another processor. It went on sale the day after I bought it and best buy refused to price match so I ordered from another Site which would price beat by 25% (memory express ) and need to wait for their new processor to arrive. Also retroactively price matched my case, so between the two another $50 saved. I've got to hand it to newegg and memory express - they have fantastic customer service.

I think at this point the parts are all settled, eh Andrew? No problems you see with anything?

Ok, new post: ------------------------------- Have Already: 1 TB HD 1 DVD Optical Drive ------------------------------------------------------ Purchased: SSd 250 gb - Best Buy $ 164.98 Corsair HX Series Power Supply HX750 - DirectCanada $ 119.79 Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB 1X8GB - NCIX $ 59.99 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Currently on sale - will they get any cheaper?: Diamond Radeon HD 7850 2GB $200 - $20 Rebate - $125 in free games - NewEgg GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD5H LGA 1155 Intel Z77 - $176.25 price matched to Memory express -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reg Price: I5-3570k - $230 - BestBuy/Futureshop Rosewill Blackhawk Case - $100 - NewEgg ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So if Andrew doesn't see anything wrong with the rest of this I will likely order the remaining parts tonight/tomorrow and wait for them all to come in - unless someone thinks the case/processor will go on sale int eh next week, or GPU/motherboard will go on sale for cheaper? Editing MAchine: I am back to needing an optical drive - preferably one with blue ray as the old optical drive is just CD.... Answering questions: GDDR5 RAM on the 7850. All specs match everyting else.

I picked the one I had because it was asus - never heard of sapphire? What would I ever need dual lan for? Built in wifi is nice but you are right, I can get the adapter for less than the price differece between this and the asus. all mouses/keyboards are wifi through usb. I'll definitely switch to that motherboard. Thanks Andrew. Now I'll have to figure out overclocking sicne this motherbard can switch between overclocking for gaming, and regular clocking ;) Turns out it is far cry 3: Blood Dragon anyway. I've switched the power supply. Modular cables are definitely better and I do want to future proof this as much as I can, without spending a ridiculous amount of money. I wish newegg would say when there sales end, since this power supply is currently on sale. Might pull the trigger and order it today, lock myself into something! I'm not adding any fans other than what comes with the case - think I still need to order the splitter if adding in the new motherboard and psu? Picture and sound are bothgoing to my tv via hdmi (unless there is some reason sound won't go via hdmi??) Do you think that's an issue with the ram? Price creep has definitely crept in. It's hard to cut off. Edit: How about this for a wifi solution? http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/tp-link-tp-link-wireless-n150-pci-adapter-tl-wn751nd-tl-wn751nd/10219139.aspx?path=d22338a5d299b16b56f3e09210da3798en02&SearchPageIndex=1 Edit again: Ordered the power supply. I did some comparison shopping and it is far cheaper on sale now at newegg than it is anywhere else (by $70!) and while I could get some cheaper I don't believe they are as good - and I ahve to start buying stuff or I never will! Now I have a power supply, a SSD, a HD, and an optical drive. Yet a third edit: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103229 Found the same graphics card with 2gb ram for $5 more after rebate. Mroe editst: When do newegg sales start? Fridays like most stores or are they on a different cycle? Rebates expire april 30th so I am going to start ordering the motherboard and GPU in the next few days so I can take advantage of them. Compbuild April 21.pdf

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131820 How about that for a motherboard? Full ATX like you suggested PLUS built in wifi which cancels out a chunk of the price difference between it and the previous one I had. 191 reviews, rated 4 star, customer choice award. I can't see where it says what power supply is needed, if the one I have picked out now will work with it or if I need a better one... Edit: April 20 Build.pdfAttached is latest build with new motherboard, graphics cards, and I think all the wires you told me I needed? Up $40 but also with Bioshock Infinite (yay) Tomb Raider (cool) and Far Cry 3 (I believe this is multiplayer? I don't play them) free from AMD I wasn't getting with Nividea.

yeah, I realized the pdf failed a little while ago but doesn't really matter. I've went over a lot of benchmarks but I'm having trouble differentiating the different types of cards. Yours above, for example, is comparing the 2 gb versions of each. I'm looking at the 2gb nividea vs the 1 gb amd. There are : Nividea 650 650 Ti 650 Ti 1 and 2 gb variations of each Then AMD 780 has 1 and 2 gb versions I'm looking at Nividea 650ti boost 2 gb vs AMD 7850 1 gb. The benchmarks I've found go back and forth. So I guess the cards are pretty equal, although the Nividea is actually supposed to be the direct competitor with the step down AMD. My big hang up now is the ram. 2 gb vs1 gb. When I have 8 gb ddr3 in teh ssytem already is that going to be a huge difference maker? My worry about switching to the AMD card is now I ahve to change powersupply and motherboard again? But you're recommending I find a different motherboard anyway....the only way I picked tha tmotherboard out was because it was the most recommended for an i5-3570k processor. Back to the drawing board I guess....

On another forum I'm being told the Radeon HD 7850 is a little cheapter than the card I have and runs twice as well. Any thoughts Andrew? I looked up comparisons but to be honest there are so many variations of each card I'm not sure if the comparisons even match. Some have the radeon better, some the geforce. So it's hard to tell which 650 they are comparing it to, or if they are comparing the 2gb to 1 gb.... I believe this is the card they are talking about but it only has 1 gb ram? http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121704 I think newegg has a special right now you get bioshock infinite and tomb raider ror free with the purchase of amd radeon card... that makes it tempting if it is jsut as good of a card.... Edit again: Why are there so many different "manufacturers" of these cards? Diamond, saphire, visiontek, asus all have thier own versions of these cards, all at the same price - is there any difference??

Ok. I saw the build and the guy had like 8 bays but only stuff for three, so I didn't know what to do if most of them ended up being filled. The power supply he used had multiple connections on each cord but I wasn't sure if that's the case if you can use the multiple connections (three power plugs on each) or if they were just there for spacing.... but if there are 8 for harddrives/optical drives that's fine. What about the motherboard? Can it actually handle all that stuff hooked up or do I need to upgrade it? In good news from today I ended up owing considerably less than I had saved for taxes, so actually have a lot more free money than I had anticipated. I don't want to spend it on this comp as I have many other (expensive) projects, and I doubt I'll have any issues with the performance from what we've figured out, but if a little bit more gets me a more futureproofed device (ie. in two years I don't want to be restricted with what I want to do by my motherboard not allowing it...) I'm down with that. Definitely switching to he one gb stick of ram you suggested now to save up future slots. I guess I will need one of those static bracelett things? All my screwdrivers are magnetic tip - any issues with that? I believe comps are all shielded now but I dunno if that will impact stuff when installing the motherboard? Edit: Attached upgraded build CompBuild April 20.pdf

Both the rosewill and Antec can hold 2.5 drives in the 3.5 slots - so no worries there. I didn't think the optical drive from the laptop would work but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask. The laptop has a lot of ddr2 ram - would it hurt to add that to the desktop's 8 gb ddr3? I'll try and find the specs on my old pc. Likely they are here in the tech forum somewhere! Win 7 is on a cd, if I can find it. You don't think by plugging in the laptop drive win 7 will automatically run on the new pc? I swapped hdd on my "good" laptop a few weeks ago and it did it. I believe the ssd drive comes with software for migrating os over - at least one of them did, I dunno which. I'm hoping, worse case, to just find someone with an extra win 7 key. Why I want so many USB ports: 1) Unified usb plug for keyboard and trackball 2) Wireless connector for my home theater air mouse (used all of the time unless game requires keyboard and mouse with my comp hooked up to TV) 3) Logitech wireless gampad connector 4 - 5) External harddrive/USB flash drives - preferably two 3.0 so I can move stuff from one drive ot the other in one go isntead of transferring to cop,then switching, then to other 6) usb wifi adapter 7) bluetooth adapter So that's already 1 more port than available - I'll be using my nextech usb hub with it as well :) I want front accesibility for ease of access. Router is in same room but otherside - I'd have to drill through floor and buy ethernet cord and then have issue of mice chewing through it in the basement. It's jsut wasier to use wifi:) Plus, I'm not sure where we are going to put this now that I've given up on the idea of fitting it in the entertainment center. I might actually put it beside the couch, then I don't need the adapter, but would need a hella long hdmi cord from ebay. I ahdn't evne thought of cords to connect the stuff to the motherboard - I assumed they would all be included! I definately want the right cord for the part - no point in buying ssd if I cheap out n the cord and close allt he speed advantages. I assume they are available on newegg, tiger, best buy, etc as well? Do I need to solder these or do they clip in? Edit:. Found the answer to connecting wires to motherboard through build videos but now I'm wondering if the power supply has enough cords to connect all the bays/optical drives, etc? The build video had the cables pre installed in the power source - I don't know if that is the same for every power source?

Thanks Andrew. Another question here. I have a 9 year old pc and a 4 year old laptop. Most of the stuff is too old/shitty to re-use, but is there any reason I can't cannabalize the optical drives from them and the one terabyte harddrive from the laptop? The laptop is actually the device this pc is replacing. Would this also save me buying a new os key, lettings use the os already on the laptops harddrive? Edit: The wireless adapter you have there, It takes up a usb slot? Edit again:. Is the antec actually better though? It costs a little more, has fewer usb, fewer drives, fewer fans? Other than the brand name, why is antec better?

I don't want it for that much money! I'd much rather spend $35 less and get that good antec case. I've redone again with the new ssd, powersupply, and case and starting to get a bit high but still conceivably affordable. See attached. What about internet? Do I need a seperate networking card for wifi/ethernet or are they included inthe motherboard? Edit: Hmm... with the deal on the SSD, HDD - think I should order them now to be sure I get them nice and cheap, or do newegg deals tend to run on and on/possibly get cheaper? Edit again: I have found two other cheaper cases that I think would work better: $100 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147107 $75 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811322053 Any thoughts? Edit a third time: Futureshop and bestbuy have this WD 1 tb harddrive for $69 reg price with free shipping. http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/wd-wd-caviar-blue-1tb-3-5-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex-wd10ezex/10232877.aspx?path=262cf0605f2367507047dffc92eb51a8en02&SearchPageIndex=1 It's $100 at tiger direct. http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3232686&CatId=2459&SRCCODE=CANWGOOCAHDD&cm_mmc_o=mH4CjC7BBTkwCjCECjCE&gclid=CMiU8K-t2LYCFYtDMgodTysAIw Any concerns before I pull the trigger and get it? I think I'm going to buy piece by piece as they come on sale and try to save some cash that way. Ordering the samsung ssd tonight. And another Edit: Bestbuy (and also futureshop) have the same ssd online for the same price as reg price but only 17 left in stock. http://www.bestbuy.ca//en-CA/product/samsung-samsung-840-series-2-5-250gb-internal-solid-state-drive-mz-7td250bw-mz-7td250bw/10239699.aspx http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/samsung-samsung-840-series-2-5-250gb-internal-solid-state-drive-mz-7td250bw-mz-7td250bw/10239699.aspx?path=5d167da9bf080b3eb476184020cda894en02 Or is there a difference I am not seeing? Model numbers match.... I ordered from futureshop for easier returns if needed. Compbuild April 19.pdf

So I can install a card reader and more usb 3.0 slots on the front above/below the optical drive? That works for me, they don't have to be built into the case then. Just want front access to four usb, at least two of which are 3.0 and an sd card reader.

It's not fancy that I am concerned about - I don't want lights or the like - but the antec won't fit in either of the locations I have for it, is only usb 2.0, and only has 2 usb ports and no card reader, unless I can put in a usb 3.0 and card reader in the front somehow it doesn't match my needs, and still I couldn't keep it with my tv unless I put it on top of the entertainment Centre, which I guess is possible.