Help building pc

[darsparx]

Only because I want to eventually have my own computer that has windows 7 on it and can handle(with modifications) mmo's(on decent settings if not more than decent). School is supposedly going give me access to dreamspark(and in turn windows 7 if it's still up there which is hopefully). I'd like to keep it down to a micro atx, with 4gb ram(to start out), a i5(unless there's a better option that will be faster and cheaper). In the end I'd like to upgrade to 8 in ram but to stay on the cheap side will stick to 4 at first. For the start of it I'd like to keep it down below $600 if i can help it on the cost side so any help would be appreciated, thanks!

[samsonlonghair]

My only advice for now is to buy your motherboard and processor together as a combo. This makes things simpler.

[TSTR]

Any reason you want to go with the Micro ATX form factor? An ATX build will give you more room to expand in the future.

[darsparx]

Well micro seemed like decent enough to save on space, but honestly the regular atx actually does sound better ha ha. But if I'm going the route of atx what would be the best board/cpu combo so that maybe I could knock it out pretty easily? As well if we're talking power a nice energy effiecient psu wouldn't be bad either I want to keep the thing on most of the time if I can help it(since I do want to hopefully have it powered on as a media server too which might be a reason if I can find a decent cheap ssd/hdd combo as well...). I just know I want to get the parts i can buy as the more cheaper to get parts(since I've not actually looked into prices beyond ssd's in quite awhile and even those scare me even though I know they're supposed to be better in some cases) this month and maybe the rest next month....

[Hazerd]

Everything i said on this topic can be found in this thread:
http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 49&t=46784

Check it out, alot of other members have posted also.

[darsparx]

Well the thing is I already know what processor I'm going to use it's just the various other parts(especially since I'm not familiar with brands or even some of the specs especially since they didn't really teach us that when we built a computer in high school enough to choose my own parts I think ). I know that I want to use a i5 in it so that limits down the choices to the boards with that lga(whatever the number is here) cpu slot.

[dsheinem]

I know that I want to use a i5 in it

Why?

[darsparx]

Because a i7 would be too much and I've never been a fan of Amds at all. Everything I've read has said i7 is nice but for most things say i5's are more than enough. Even my macbook has a i5 in it and it's great

[Anapan]

You sound like you know exactly what you want, and it sounds like a good plan. I'd suggest getting a newegg combo deal with a mobo, CPU and Rosewill case (might wanna opt for a more silent fan with some of the money saved).
If you go for the micro ATX, you will have to make sure you get a low profile video card and other expansion cards. The onboard graphics card is mostly capable for web and video but you're gonna want a separate card for your games. How good your onboard is is dependent on the cpu. Finding a cheap/good low profile video card to fit into a slim case might be a challenge.

[TSTR]

If you go for the micro ATX, you will have to make sure you get a low profile video card and other expansion cards. The onboard graphics card is mostly capable for web and video but you're gonna want a separate card for your games. How good your onboard is is dependent on the cpu. Finding a cheap/good low profile video card to fit into a slim case might be a challenge.

I don't think he ever specifically mentioned a low-profile case, which means he is free to use full size cards.