Updated components list:

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=13-128-543&SortField=1&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=2#scrollFullInfo
CPU: http://tinyurl.com/skyrimcpu
Heatsink/Fan: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=14-125-422&SortField=1&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=2#scrollFullInfo
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231445
HDD: I already have a Crucial M4 256gb SSD. I will buy a HDD when I need the space.
Case: http://tinyurl.com/skyrimchassis
Case Fans1: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103077
Case Fans2: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103022
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010
Disc Drive: http://tinyurl.com/skyrimdvddrive
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium ($25 - Deal from a friend)
Total cost: $1,177.90

I have made a few changes to my original set-up. After doing quite a bit of research, I didn't like the recurring problems that I kept reading about on the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=4166869&SID=1n02fzzlif16g, so I switched my motherboard to the one on the list. The http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=13-128-543&SortField=1&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=2#scrollFullInfo being the bright blue that it is, I decided to switch to some RAM that matches the new motherboard that I chose. So I am now going with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231445 RAM. I was a bit unsure whether or not http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=4166869&SID=2eckehqctkie would get the job done, so I found this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152042 PSU that got great reviews, and is also 700W, on top of that, the fan inside of it has blue LEDs, so I couldn't resist picking that PSU. The changes shave off $30 of the previous cost.

Anyway, those are the (hopefully last) changes that I am making to my set-up. What do you guys think of my new updated list? Any comments, advice, or suggestions?

I have updated my components again and edited the above post with the new information. I am a bit uncomfortable making everything final and purchasing the parts until I get some parting advice on the new set-up on any changes I should make.

Sounds like a very nice computer, will keep you gaming for years to come without any changes.

Just follow some of the popular 'how to put a PC together' videos on youtube and you'll be golden, the only potential problem part is putting in the CPU, but as long as your care and don't touch the pins or contact areas (top and bottom, hold onto it by the edges) then you will have no problem.

Yup, that's one of the last things left on my list now. Actually learning how to put all this together, and scraping up enough money to pay for this monster when I had originally set out on my journey for a $900 budget gaming PC.

Pulled this from the tech thread:

I watched these videos before I built my own pc last year, they were extremely helpful.

I've owned two AsRock boards, including an Extreme 4 without any issues. The only thing I dislike about AsRock is that alot of their software and drivers are bloatware and useless. I think your current choices are also great though. I personally would not buy that power supply, especially since your reasoning for switching the MB was for supposed better quality, that PSU isn't super high on the quality list either. Stick with Seasonic, PC Power and Cooling, Corsair...etc. That being said, I don't think their is anything wrong with that PSU, it's just that for a build of this quality and price it also deserves a similarly priced and quality PSU. All in all though, you should be very happy with what you've selected. I think 650W is enough, though it is probably the bare minimum so I don't blame you for going 700W.

Also, you should check out http://www.tomshardware.com if you haven't already, even the most experienced of PC Enthusiasts can learn something from the forums, and it's always nice to keep up to date with what's going on with the articles.

Thanks for the heads up. I will definitely be checking those links out.

Thanks for your input. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with the ASRock Exteme4/Extreme6 boards, I just feel a bit more comfortable going with the GIGABYTE board for two reasons. One, as you linked me to above, Tom's Hardware seems to have a lot of good things to say about it, and based on my very limited knowledge of motherboards, I just thought it seemed like a better board. And for my second reason... I hope you don't laugh or feel like it is an immature reason to pick one board over another, but the GIGABYTE board is bright blue and matches my case and blue LEDs a lot better.

It's also part of the reason why I picked that PSU. On top of all of the great reviews, it has the 4 blue LEDs on the fan. But you're probably right. If I can find one for $90 or under, I will get a different PSU from a more well known brand. Thanks again. I place great value on your advice.

Updated components list:

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=13-128-543&SortField=1&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=2#scrollFullInfo
CPU: http://tinyurl.com/skyrimcpu
Heatsink/Fan: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=14-125-422&SortField=1&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=2#scrollFullInfo
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231445
HDD: I already have a Crucial M4 256gb SSD. I will buy a HDD when I need the space.
Case: http://tinyurl.com/skyrimchassis
Case Fans1: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103077
Case Fans2: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103022
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010
Disc Drive: http://tinyurl.com/skyrimdvddrive
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium ($25 - Deal from a friend)
Total cost: $1,177.90

I have made a couple more changes to cater to some advice I have been getting about the PSU I had chosen, and for my own personal needs. There are a couple reasons why I have made the changes to my HDD and PSU choice.

1. (PSU) - three different people told me that I shouldn't trust the RAIDMax PSU, so I have decided to heed their advice. Who wants their top-of-the-line computer hardware fried because they decided to cut corners on the PSU?

2. (HDD) - There are two reasons that I tossed the HDD that I had in my build. The first is that I didn't really need the extra 1TB of storage space, despite what anyone would tell me otherwise. I will still be using this laptop after I build the desktop PC, but the desktop will be used for 90% gaming, and only 10% of anything else, which would probably only amount to staring at the computer case in admiration.

The second reason is the budget. After I upgraded to the better PSU, it put me into the $1,300 range, which I do not feel is necessary to spend to get god-tier Skyrim performance. After I chopped the 1TB off my list, it put me significantly back under my $1,200 budget ($22), so it was a no brainer to keep it this way and just stick with the SSD I have in this laptop.

Any thoughts?

256 GB is a lot of space, you probably won't need more for a while to come as long as you're organized with windows. Keep only the software you need and stay away from bloatware and 256 GB will go a long ways.

Until this year, I've always been pretty far behind in the tech world. I've never had a HDD bigger than 170gb until I got this 256gb SSD, and even then I have only ever run out of space one time. That was in like 2008 when I first discovered movie torrents... So yeah, 256gb will be more than enough for me as long as Steam doesn't destroy my wallet.

I would recommend you just go with the latest build you linked above, I think you'll be very happy with it. After a bit of overclocking, it will give all games out there and probably all games for a while to come a solid workout.

What is the deal with Power Supplies? http://www.extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine and the suggestions here are almost always double what any calculator ever comes up with.

I understand the need for a good quality PSU, but why the need for double the power will would need?

Is your friend selling a license that he is already used, or that came from a pre-built? You may have some trouble activating if so. Also make sure its 64 bit.

Windows 7 Home premium (x64) only accepts up to 16GB of RAM, which unless you plan on doing video editing/virtual machines should be plenty.

Windows 7 Professional will also get updates for a longer period of time (I believe Windows 7 Home Premium will only get updates to 2014, while professional will get updates until 2020)

As to hard drives, in the near future, I would recommend getting a 1-2TB drive. Space goes by pretty quickly when installing some massive games.


For PSUs, you are supposed to take 10% off of the total output for every year its used. So buying slightly larger PSUs ensures longer a lifespan.

I am downloading the Windows 7 Home Premium x64 ISO here:
http://www.mydigitallife.info/windows-7-iso-x86-and-x64-official-direct-download-links-ultimate-professional-and-home-premium/

This is the official ISO, so it requires a Windows 7 license to activate, which a long time friend (that I trust inexplicably) has agreed to sell to me for $20, or if I feel like the 16GB RAM limit may be a problem, a Win7 Pro key for $25.