Build a new PC

If you want something that's pretty much kept up-to-date, check out the excel file at the bottom of the page.

x2 or x5 next to an item means multiply by that many.

Last Updated 4/9/2010

because I write this at a specific point in time, it is quickly dated. but it gives you an idea of the costs of building your own decent box from scratch. I can't spend all my time constantly updating the prices and content of this page. however, I DO update the Excel 2003 spreadsheet at the bottom of this page, and you should check that out at your earliest convenience to build yourself a box. you will need to do some research on your motherboard though to find out what kind of memory you need though - that is somewhat different for each type of motherboard (AMD, Intel, age and price level of motherboard).

don't skimp on your power supply! Pay $89 or more for one now and save money on power bills and multiple replaced cheap power supplies every 3 months at $35/pop later. Get one from OCZ or Antec, and make sure it's a certified 80 plus. those are usually in the 550W, 650W, 750W, 850W levels. OCZ bought out PC Power & Cooling. When you buy a power supply, start with the maximum of either 430W AND what manual says on your matched video card(s) (whatever power supply rating it recommends in the System Requirements is a absolute minimum, but for system stability, add at least another 80W to that. typically I would recommend a 550W power supply as a starter these days for future expansion (and it runs cooler). video cards are getting lighter on power usage now compared to the old cards.

the 64-bit version of whatever has fewer drivers for it - software availability is the same. 32-bit OS will run on 64-bit AMD processor, and supposedly will run with dual-core as well. No 32-bit versions of Windows vista (7/8?) will be able to play back "next generation high definition protected content" (translation studio-released BluRay and HD-DVD movies). You did buy a blu-ray player didn't you (they are $300)? Well, in any case, choose your OS wisely. I recommend a dual-core cpu for Vista at a minimum because of all the background tasks that are going on that will slow everything way down if you are on a single-core processor.

the 64-bit version of XP has only slightly fewer drivers and software for it - it also does not run MS-DOS applications. 32-bit OS will run on 64-bit AMD processor. Processor is upgradable. 1TB hard disk and SL Blu-Ray burner. Thermally Advantaged Case design.

thermal paste article, PSU quality article

basic AMD box

4/17/2012

case: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with Upgraded USB 3.0 $99.99+$12.99

cables: ATA133 cable 18" pvc $3.99+5.99=$9.98, SATA II cable straight 19.6" w/metal latch on both ends 3×($3.49+$1.99shipping)=$16.44 (I am sure I am calculating this wrong)

HD: Western Digital Caviar Green WD15EARS 1.5TB 64MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $64.99

Optical: HP 24X Multiformat DVD Burner 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model 1270i LightScribe Support $23.99+$6.98=$30.97
Optical: LITE-ON 12X BD-R 2X BD-RE 16X DVD+R 12X DVD-RAM 8X BD-ROM 8MB Cache SATA Blu-ray Burner with 3D Playback iHBS212-08 LightScribe Support $114.99

motherboard: ASUS F1A75-M PRO FM1 AMD A75 (Hudson D3) HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS $104.99

proc: AMD A4-3300 Llano 2.5GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket FM1 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor AD3300OJGXBOX $64.99

2x4GB Ram: Kingston 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Desktop Memory Model KVR1066D3N7/4G 2x$23.99+$0.99 (you can have 4 ddr3-1866 if you want)

PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ700MXSP 700W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7 - Retail $89.99

Video: MSI R6770-MD1GD5 Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card $114.99+$6.98=$121.97

LED Monitor: ViewSonic VA2231wm-LED Black 22" 5ms LED Backlight Widescreen LCD Monitor 250 cd/m2 DC 10,000,000:1 W/ Speakers 1920x1080 $139.99+8.99

AV: Norton 360 3-user (XP and up) $69.99

SPEAKERS: Logitech speakers $25-$399

MOUSE: Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 $32.99+6.98=$39.97

KEYBOARD: KeyTronic CLASSIC-P2 Black PS/2 Standard Keyboard - Retail 20 million keypresses $34.99+$8.95=$43.94

OS: 7 Home Premium Full Retail (can't legally use OEM) $189.99

a $4.99 wrist strap is cheap insurance. clip it to your PC case bare metal and wear it during handling of your parts and installation.

TOTAL: $1140.15-$1598.18

By the way, you can pick up a bew computer with similar or better specs for about $600-700 at wal-mart or costco. zt-affinity is the brand name.

high end 64-bit Adobe/CAD box (intel)

10/10/2011, something with floppy controller

case: Antec Nine Hundred Two V3 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Gaming Case $119.95+$4.99=$124.98
case: Antec Twelve Hundred V3 Black Steel ATX Full Tower Unbeatable Gaming Case $159.99+$11.99=$171.98

cables: cables unlimited flat ribbon 24" dual floppy cable $7.99+$5.99=$13.98, floppy cable $6.99+$2.99=$9.98, ATA133 dual cable 18" pvc $3.99+5.99=9.98, SATA II cable straight 19.6" w/metal latch on both ends 3×($3.49+$1.99shipping)=$16.44 (I am sure I am calculating this wrong)

HD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD2002FAEX 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive 2×$219.99+7.28

Optical: LITE-ON 12X BD-R 2X BD-RE 16X DVD+R 12X DVD-RAM 8X BD-ROM 8MB Cache SATA Blu-ray Burner with 3D Playback iHBS212-08 LightScribe Support $114.99

motherboard: ASUS P9X79 PRO LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with USB BIOS $319.99+8.50

CPU: Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition Sandy Bridge-E 3.3GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) LGA 2011 130W Six-Core Desktop Processor BX80619i73960X $1039.99

8x8GiB=64GiB Ram: GeIL EVO CORSA Series 64GB (8 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model GOC364GB1600C10DQC $494.99

PSU: Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-750 750W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply $109.99+5.99

LED Monitor: ViewSonic VA2231wm-LED Black 22" 5ms LED Backlight Widescreen LCD Monitor 250 cd/m2 DC 10,000,000:1 W/ Speakers 1920x1080 $139.99+8.99

LED Monitor: HP ZR30w 30-inch S-IPS LCD Monitor 2560x1600 $1228

AV: Norton 360 3-user (XP and up) $69.99

SPEAKERS: Logitech speakers $25-$399 (I am choosing the $84.99 2.1 speakers)

MOUSE: Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 $32.99+6.98=$39.97

KEYBOARD: Das Keyboard professional mechanical switch keyboard ("clack" audible and tactile feedback) $130

Video: eVGA GeForce GTX-580 $419,$424 this is for gaming and adobe use

OS: 7 Ultimate Full Retail (can't legally use OEM) $289.99

a $4.99 wrist strap is cheap insurance. clip it to your PC case bare metal and wear it during handling of your parts and installation.

OPTIONAL Software: Adobe CS5.5 Production Premium (includes Premiere & soundbooth) $1,799+$10=$1809
or Software: Adobe CS5.5 Web Premium $1,799+$10=$1809

or Software: Adobe CS5.5 Design Premium $1,799+$10=$1809

or Software: Adobe CS5.5 Master Collection $2.599+$10=$2609

TOTAL: $3721.06(no optional software)-$4990.08(no optional software)

tips:

Quiet your PC if you so desire: try a Zalman CNPS11X (hard for ne to get the nodel number right) or one of their many other silent CPU coolers (they make VGA coolers too) or a Thermalright. There are specialty stores such as Directron and Silicon Accoustics. you can probably get them from nextag.com. Find and replace the loudest part in your case.
Definitely check out silentpcreview.com.

video card/GPU

a $4.99 wrist strap is cheap insurance. clip it to your PC case bare metal and wear it during handling of your parts and installation.

Rosewill RTK-002 Anti-Static Wrist Strap $4.99

Formerly, I recommended against Y connectors. I reconsidered it might be excusable, but not for high current cards! the 12V lines are indeed carrying more current (although not as much! a 6-pin PCIe or 8-pin PCIe actually has 3x12V wires or 4x12V wires, respectively, not 2x12V like the molex Y! ansd also size of the wire makes a difference in carring amount of current). If you are using a Y connector instead of getting a proper PSU, I suggest you get the proper PSU if you can find one that will work for your setup and has proper wattage. Corsair makes some nice ones in the AX series - don't skimp on the PSU. if the video card comes with a 6+8 pin connector set, please, get a PSU which has those connectors on it if possible. also, make sure that the wattage on your PSU meets the minimum wattage listed in the video card manual +100W for stability (especially when you start adding more drives). I guess I am still hesitating on those Y conectors!