zhiming, if u are planning to get big first, go for serious mass, pure whey protein is when u wanna cut and get lean and tone muscles.
And you should take supplement before and after workout.

I took mass gainer powders, and got from 50kg to 70kg in 4 months. Well, mass gainers is excluding the 6 meals a day i took as well. For now i am only taking whey as my plan is tone and maintain.

Ya, i do agree that definitely whole food is better, the mass gainers is jsut for pre and post workout.
I am what most consider a hard gainer, so i took everything i could to bulk up, with 6 meals, and supplement as well to make sure that i am adding more than i am burning.