So after using this shitty laptop
[img]http://i.imgur.com/aCWzSwP.png[/img]
to play games for the past two years, I decided to get a decent PC for myself. I found a build on Reddit and slightly modified it, and wanted a once-over before I started buying parts just in case:
[url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/C4Xz99]PCPartPicker part list[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/C4Xz99/by_merchant/]Price breakdown by merchant[/url]
[b]CPU:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54690k]Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor[/url] ($219.95 @ SuperBiiz)
[b]CPU Cooler:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2]Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler[/url] ($28.75 @ OutletPC)
[b]Motherboard:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-z97g45gaming]MSI Z97-G45 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard[/url] ($109.99)
[b]Memory:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-memory-bls2kit4g3d1609ds1s00]Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory[/url] ($74.99)
[b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-internal-hard-drive-ct256mx100ssd1]Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive[/url] ($104.99 @ SuperBiiz)
[b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex]Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive[/url] ($49.99)
[b]Video Card:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-gtx970gaming4g]MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card[/url] ($349.99 @ B&H)
[b]Case:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-rc912kkn1]Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case[/url] ($44.99 @ Micro Center)
[b]Power Supply:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx600m]Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply[/url] ($39.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Keyboard:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-keyboard-sgb3010kkmf1us]Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse[/url] ($27.99 @ NCIX US)
[b]Total:[/b] $1051.62
[i]Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available[/i]
[i]Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-24 19:43 EST-0500[/i]
Any help is appreciated.
Only problem I see is the CPU cooler. It's really good at its job, but it's the ultimate pain in the ass to install. Since this is gonna be a new build, it should be less of a problem though. Just remember, before you install it, make sure you move the screws on the clamp to the middle position, as the included instructions don't mention doing it to the clamp. Also they don't play nice with mid tower cases, as it's a massive cooler.
If you want a pretty much fool-proof cooler, go for a Noctua, but those are about double the price of the CM. Another thing to note, the fan on the CM spins at a fairly low RPM for me(sub 600rpm) and set off an alarm on my BIOS regarding a low fan RPM, you may have to change the low fan alarm to 400rpm or so to even boot the computer.
Other than the processor(i7 here, regrets), it's pretty much identical to mine and should serve you well.
A good idea is to install the cpu and heatsink before putting the board in the case, gives you more room to work with.
[QUOTE='[EG] Pepper;47004365']A good idea is to install the cpu and heatsink before putting the board in the case, gives you more room to work with.[/QUOTE]
That's the requirement of the 212 EVO, as it has a backplate that goes on the other side of the motherboard. I got one as an upgrade to the stock cooler and it was a nightmare to install. Had to take the mobo out and lay it on the table to work on.
The case and PSU could definitely be improved. The case is just an old design, it doesn't have much for new features in the way of SSD bays, dust covers, has an unpainted interior, but is still a very functional case. The PSU really leaves some quality to be desired though, and has subpar voltage ripple which will put some extra wear on your components.
[editline]24th January 2015[/editline]
[QUOTE=zombini;47004383]That's the requirement of the 212 EVO, as it has a backplate that goes on the other side of the motherboard. I got one as an upgrade to the stock cooler and it was a nightmare to install. Had to take the mobo out and lay it on the table to work on.[/QUOTE]
Most midrange and high end cases have a cutout to access that without taking it out, though. It's definitely a pain to install your first time around though, but after a couple it gets pretty easy. The directions just suck ass, looking up a youtube video helps loads.
How's this? I changed around a couple of things (and had to add a few more because I forgot an adapter)
[url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/y7TfGX]PCPartPicker part list[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/y7TfGX/by_merchant/]Price breakdown by merchant[/url]
[b]CPU:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54670k]Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor[/url] ($237.98 @ OutletPC)
[b]CPU Cooler:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/zalman-cpu-cooler-cnps9900maxb]Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Cooler[/url] ($34.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Motherboard:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-z87gd65gaming]MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard[/url] ($99.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Memory:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f31600c11d8gns]G.Skill NS Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory[/url] ($63.98 @ Newegg)
[b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7te250bw]Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive[/url] ($122.98 @ Newegg)
[b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st1000dm003]Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive[/url] ($48.88 @ OutletPC)
[b]Video Card:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-04gp42972kr]EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card[/url] ($329.99 @ SuperBiiz)
[b]Case:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/deepcool-case-tesseractbf]Deepcool TESSERACT BF ATX Mid Tower Case[/url] ($40.98 @ Newegg)
[b]Power Supply:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx600]Corsair Builder 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply[/url] ($34.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Wireless Network Adapter:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/trendnet-wireless-network-card-tew726ec]TRENDnet TEW-726EC 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter[/url] ($26.99 @ SuperBiiz)
[b]Case Fan:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-fan-r4l2r20agr2]Cooler Master SickleFlow 69.7 CFM 120mm Fan[/url] ($4.99 @ NCIX US)
[b]Keyboard:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/azio-keyboard-kb501]AZIO L70 Wired Gaming Keyboard[/url] ($21.99 @ Amazon)
[b]Total:[/b] $1068.73
[i]Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available[/i]
[i]Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-24 21:13 EST-0500[/i]
Any suggestions on what to change/get?
Looks good, however, FYI I've used the CPU cooler from the first set, I actually really like it. I however, have never used the second cooler. And it looks silly to be honest and [U]looks[/U] more prone to breakage. (Which wont be repairable since the fan is integrated.
Also, it [U]may[/U] be a better choice to get 8GB dimm's for your memory rather then 2x4's Since that allows more room for expansion.
If you're looking to save money, 250GB's for a SSD isn't all that worth it. A smaller one will let you load your OS an super useful apps on it. But be more cost effective. Since you probably don't wanna put a 40GB game on your SSD anyway.
I guess it all depends on how you plan to use it. All my personal opinions.
[QUOTE=Ybbat;47007914]Looks good, however, FYI I've used the CPU cooler from the first set, I actually really like it. I however, have never used the second cooler. And it looks silly to be honest and [U]looks[/U] more prone to breakage. (Which wont be repairable since the fan is integrated.
Also, it [U]may[/U] be a better choice to get 8GB dimm's for your memory rather then 2x4's Since that allows more room for expansion.
If you're looking to save money, 250GB's for a SSD isn't all that worth it. A smaller one will let you load your OS an super useful apps on it. But be more cost effective. Since you probably don't wanna put a 40GB game on your SSD anyway.
I guess it all depends on how you plan to use it. All my personal opinions.[/QUOTE]
I went ahead and picked up most of the parts already, but I intended on placing any games I was currently playing on the SSD (or if they were games I would delete after a single playthrough / wasn't planning on coming back to). I barely use 300GB on my current laptop as is so I don't think it will be too big of a problem for the SSD if I use like 150GB of it for OS/Games.
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