Hello everyone, I am building my own PC here in a few months and I was making a list of things i would need and I need to know what stuff is compatible with other stuff, since this is my first PC I am building.

anyways heres my list so far:

1: core i5 processor
2: 4GB memory card(might even get 8 if need be)
3: 500 GB Hardrive(already have it)
4: AMD 6950 video card


any suggestions on any sounds cards or anything else I might need, oh yes and I am getting all the other internal parts from newegg. I want this to be able to run oblivion max settings.

Anything over 6GB of RAM is a waste and 6 is only any good if you're going to do video editing and the likes. Really don't understand why anyone would recommend 8GB as there's absolutely no need for it and as such you're as well throwing your money down the drain. If you're going to use the PC for gaming, then 4GB is more than enough.

Well you need a motherboard, (I assume you are going for the 1155 socket i5 CPU [I suggest the 2500k, even if you dont plan on overclocking now, perhaps in the future you want to])
Sound card is optional since all motherboards have an onboard sound chip.
Power Supply Unit (Corsair is my personal favorite)
Case
OS install disc
4GB of RAM is good enough, but 8GB is so cheap right now at under $50 for some modules, there is no reason not to get it.
Optical drive
monitor
And of course keyboard/mouse, and speakers/headphones.

What budget are you looking at?

But why buy 8GB RAM? Name one use for 8GB of RAM?

I use 16GB, but I do video rendering with RAMdisks. While true that for gaming alone, 4GB is enough, there really is no harm in somewhat "future proofing" yourself for a while. And while its so cheap, there is no reason not to buy it. Of course this all depends on the OP's budget, but for $35 you can have good quality 4GB, for just $15-20 more you can have 8GB. Prices are low on RAM right now.

Two words: dual-channel. Also, RAM is cheap.

You also get some breathing room, and are prepared for when gaming eventually goes 64bit and is freed from the normal memory shackles of 32bit. Then you can be sure that games will be using lots more RAM than they are now.

a little over 700$, but honestly I am willing to spend more than that if need be.

yes the only reason I was going to get 8 gigs is because it's enough for video game video editing and capture card video editing, ( I am going to do some walkthrough videos on youtube), and like you said it's cheap, so why not you know?

I already have the keyboard mouse and all accessories, theyre all alienware by the way , from my uncles old aurora.

can you tell me where to go find that type of motherboard?

I want to get a transparent case if thats okay.

I do have blue lights btw , got em from my cousin.

by OS you mean like windows 7 disc? if so I have one of those already.

You may have the Windows 7 OS disc, but have you used the product key yet? If you have then that would mean making a call to Microsoft to deactivate the current OS. (1 machine per code, meaning the PC with it already installed will lose its activation)

Since you are on a $700 budget, I would say limit yourself away from the 6950 since that is a ~$250 card. The 6870 would be more then enough to max most games out there. If the Windows OS code is already being used thats another $100 you have to add on there. And you say you have keyboard and all accessories, do you have a monitor as well?

I havent used the disc yet. lol got it from my uncle

do you think the 6870 would be enough to max out skyrim?

and yes I have an alienware moniter as well, its about 17" but I kind of want to get a bigger display.

Ah ok well this would run most games (we dont know the specs for Skyrim yet, but...this PC should run it max since it wont be terribly graphically demanding)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156225
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.660241
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151233
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231417
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 (with plenty of room to upgrade to a more powerful GPU in a year or two if you wish)

That would be enough to max most games out there.

you're amazing man thanks alot, this comp's gonna be so sick lol

so about 725 , wow awsome.

not including shipping, I have a question about new egg though, with the shipping is it 6.69 for each item or is it for your full purchase?

You have $55 of Mail in Rebate cards as well to cut the price down a bit if you take advantage of those. But shipping is (with the items that I listed) $14.55 since only the case and the GPU have shipping fees. ($6.99 and $7.56 respectively)

so add about 15 dollars to the price?

Around there yeah.

Two things: 1. Make sure your Windows 7 version is 64-bit. There will be absolutely no point having more than 4GB, otherwise; and 2. Get an HD6950 rather than an HD6870 - the 2GB variety, to be precise.

Or another card with at least 1.5GB VRAM. 2GB is very much preferable, especially if you want to use hi-res texture packs for Oblivion, or any other game for that matter (recommended).

edit: Oh, and another thing... 3. Might we well buy a good 750w+ (maybe even a good 800w+) PSU, and even more so if you do go with an HD6950 or higher. Yes, those cards will run on 650w (and easily, at that), but plenty of room to move is extremely important, when it comes to power supplies, in my opinion. Plus, that CPU posted above is made for overclocking (get the standard issue, "non-K" variety otherwise), and that can consume a surprising amount of extra power. In my experience, anyway.

2GB of VRAM is only really necessary at very high resolutions. Like above 1920x1080. Anything lower than that, a 1GB Radeon 6950 would be fine.

As for the PSU, The Radeon 6950 and 6870 could easily run off a quality branded 500W PSU. A quality branded 650-750W would allow for Crossfire for either cards. PSU requirements given by video card vendors are over-exaggerated. 750W-800W is just overkill and a waste of money for a single card setup. PSUs are most efficient when around 50% load and aren't efficient when below 20%. This leads to a higher electricity bill since the PC will be idle most of the time unless you're folding or hardcoe gaming. A 750W unit shouldn't even be considered unless there is a true intention of going Crossfire with those cards.

Perhaps you did not read the part (that you quoted) about overclocking? The "K" variety of CPU is made for it, and therefore, I would consider that, when looking at PSU options. Also, having more power there, for when you upgrade (it is never a matter of "if") can only be a good thing.

And 2GB of VRAM is necessary*, when you are using a lot of hi-res textures, at 1920x1080. I know this from direct experience.


* Or, as I said, perhaps 1.5GB would be enough. I use a 2GB graphics card, at "Full HD", and almost always run over 1.5GB. It never quite reaches the 2GB mark, but that is just as well! In other words, I am not posting based on theory, but on direct experience of the thing in question here.