• PC Building Thread
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[QUOTE=Mind Man;48779107]Can someone elaborate? I've looked this up and it seems to have good reviews. Is Thermaltake a brand I should avoid or something?[/QUOTE] They're not great but far from being the worst. And besides, when looking for a good PSU, the brand doesn't matter quite as much as the individual model, where you'll wanna look for things like a good OEM (seasonic, superflower, fsp to name a few), high quality parts like japanese capacitors, and psu performance terms like ripple suppression and load efficiency, which will always be mentioned in a review (in other words don't just skip to the end and look for a numerical score). Even Corsair who have "made" some of the best PSU units ever (AXi series) have made some rather lackluster ones as well (CX series I'm looking at you...) so brand is certainly no guarantee of quality. Unless you're talking about shitty no name Chinese brands then yes, avoid those like a dirty needle filled with every venereal disease known to mankind. Just make sure that you put more research into the individual PSU more than the brand and you'll quickly find that some brands are much more reputable than others. Thermaltake is unfortunately not one of them.
stick to this [img]http://i.imgur.com/PnaDnFb.png[/img]
Was thinking of building a small PC for a relative. Is 150W PSU enough for a computer with the following? [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/9M8DRB]PCPartPicker part list[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/9M8DRB/by_merchant/]Price breakdown by merchant[/url] [b]CPU:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-ad7600ybjabox]AMD A8-7600 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor[/url] ($81.89 @ OutletPC) [b]Motherboard:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-fm2a88xitx]ASRock FM2A88X-ITX+ Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard[/url] ($89.98 @ Newegg) [b]Memory:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-memory-ct2kit51264ba160bj]Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory[/url] ($44.99 @ Adorama) [b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st1000dx001]Seagate 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Hybrid Internal Hard Drive[/url] ($69.49 @ OutletPC) [b]Optical Drive:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-optical-drive-bt30n]LG BT30N Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer[/url] ($71.99 @ SuperBiiz) [b]Operating System:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700615]Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit)[/url] ($86.89 @ OutletPC) [b]Total:[/b] $445.23 [i]Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available[/i] [i]Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-28 09:58 EDT-0400[/i]
[QUOTE=daigennki;48779325]Was thinking of building a small PC for a relative. Is 150W PSU enough for a computer with the following? [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/9M8DRB]PCPartPicker part list[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/9M8DRB/by_merchant/]Price breakdown by merchant[/url] [b]CPU:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-ad7600ybjabox]AMD A8-7600 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor[/url] ($81.89 @ OutletPC) [b]Motherboard:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-fm2a88xitx]ASRock FM2A88X-ITX+ Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard[/url] ($89.98 @ Newegg) [b]Memory:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-memory-ct2kit51264ba160bj]Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory[/url] ($44.99 @ Adorama) [b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st1000dx001]Seagate 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Hybrid Internal Hard Drive[/url] ($69.49 @ OutletPC) [b]Optical Drive:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-optical-drive-bt30n]LG BT30N Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer[/url] ($71.99 @ SuperBiiz) [b]Operating System:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700615]Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit)[/url] ($86.89 @ OutletPC) [b]Total:[/b] $445.23 [i]Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available[/i] [i]Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-28 09:58 EDT-0400[/i][/QUOTE] No worthwhile manufacturer makes PSUs that output that little power
[QUOTE=Sand Castle;48779332]No worthwhile manufacturer makes PSUs that output that little power[/QUOTE] It's a very small case that comes with a 150W PSU.
[QUOTE=daigennki;48779349]It's a very small case that comes with a 150W PSU.[/QUOTE] PSUs that come with cases are an even bigger nono What case is it? I can find you a good one that will fit
[QUOTE=daigennki;48779325]Was thinking of building a small PC for a relative. Is 150W PSU enough for a computer with the following?[/QUOTE] I wasn't even aware they sold units with that kind of low wattage. And no, that's not gonna be good enough, not necessarily because you'll need more power but because any halfway respectable manufacturer doesn't sell units that small, which means you'll have to get some cheap ass sub-20 dollar paperweight held together by the tears of child labor and voodoo magic that'll turn your components into black corn tortilla chips within a week. My advice? Get a 450/500w PSU cuz most good ones start there, and that'll also give you some room to upgrade in the future if you ever wanna add a GPU or something
[QUOTE=Sand Castle;48779369]PSUs that come with cases are an even bigger nono What case is it? I can find you a good one that will fit[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=AltF4 All Day;48779380]I wasn't even aware they sold units with that kind of low wattage. And no, that's not gonna be good enough, not necessarily because you'll need more power but because any halfway respectable manufacturer doesn't sell units that small, which means you'll have to get some cheap ass sub-20 dollar PSU held together by the tears of child labor and voodoo magic that'll turn your components into black corn tortilla chips within a week. My advice? Get a 450/500w PSU cuz most good ones start there, and that'll also give you some room to upgrade in the future if you ever wanna add a GPU or something[/QUOTE] Whoa whoa whoa. I'm a bit limited on space here, I'm looking for something real small, not one of those cube PCs. Also do remember this is for a relative who doesn't play video games or anything, just wants a fast computer for everyday stuff. I was looking at a slim mini-itx case only sold here which looks like this: [img]http://image.yodobashi.com/product/100/000/001/001/062/686/100000001001062686_10204.jpg[/img] I also want it to fit a disc drive on the front. Although you are right, it's pretty cheap (5230 yen, or about $52) so I am kind of worried about the PSU myself.
[QUOTE=daigennki;48779398]Whoa whoa whoa. I'm a bit limited on space here, I'm looking for something real small, not one of those cube PCs. Also do remember this is for a relative who doesn't play video games or anything, just wants a fast computer for everyday stuff. I was looking at a slim mini-itx case only sold here which looks like this: [img]http://image.yodobashi.com/product/100/000/001/001/062/686/100000001001062686_10204.jpg[/img] I also want it to fit a disc drive on the front.[/QUOTE] You can either have them have an overpowered PSU, or one that might not run for more than a few months if at all [editline]28th September 2015[/editline] Are you sure it has to be mini-ITX? You could have a ton more options if you go MicroATX, it's small enough for most people, and mini ITX slim cases are usually a pain in the ass to build inside
[QUOTE=Sand Castle;48779411]You can either have them have an overpowered PSU, or one that might not run for more than a few months if at all [editline]28th September 2015[/editline] Are you sure it has to be mini-ITX? You could have a ton more options if you go MicroATX, it's small enough for most people, and mini ITX slim cases are usually a pain in the ass to build inside[/QUOTE] Yeah maybe you're right, I might have to go with MicroATX. Might be cheaper anyways.
[QUOTE=daigennki;48779435]Yeah maybe you're right, I might have to go with MicroATX. Might be cheaper anyways. Thanks.[/QUOTE] It's pretty easy to get one that supports a mini-ITX board so you wouldn't have to change any of your other parts and you can use a regular size power supply as a bonus
Do you happen to have the Antek ISK cases in your area? They come with an external brick and are pretty decent. [editline]28th September 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Sand Castle;48779411]You can either have them have an overpowered PSU, or one that might not run for more than a few months if at all [editline]28th September 2015[/editline] Are you sure it has to be mini-ITX? You could have a ton more options if you go MicroATX, it's small enough for most people, and mini ITX slim cases are usually a pain in the ass to build inside[/QUOTE] Depends on the case. Some come with a decent FSP unit, some come with a trash Athenapower one. They're not that bad though, I've built a few dozen systems in similar cases.
[QUOTE=Levelog;48779451]Do you happen to have the Antek ISK cases in your area? They come with an external brick and are pretty decent. [editline]28th September 2015[/editline] Depends on the case. Some come with a decent FSP unit, some come with a trash Athenapower one. They're not that bad though, I've built a few dozen systems in similar cases.[/QUOTE] Yeah, the store has just the ISK-110, but that's even worse, [del]120W[/del]90W. It doesn't even have a place to put the disc drive in, which is a must for my relative as they use it often. I might reconsider the CPU though, the A8-7600 might be a tiny bit overpowered for what my relative does.
[QUOTE=daigennki;48779474]Yeah, the store has just the ISK-110, but that's even worse, 120W. It doesn't even have a place to put the disc drive in, which is a must for my relative as they use it often. I might reconsider the CPU though, the A8-7600 might be a tiny bit overpowered for what my relative does.[/QUOTE] Yeah, it's relatively powerful. I've got an A8 in my light gaming rig. If their uses are extremely basic, you could pick up a dirt cheap Celeron J1900 passive ITX board and throw in into one of those cases. They take like 12w of power. [editline]28th September 2015[/editline] One of those combined with a cheap ~$60 SSD will make a snappy cheap browsing/email system.
Alright, how about this: Motherboard: ASRock N3150B-ITX Memory: DDR3-1600 4GBx1 (nothing special) Case: Antec ISK-110 Storage: Toshiba 128GB SSD Both the CPU and the case is fanless, but I probably shouldn't have to worry about that?
[QUOTE=daigennki;48779837]Alright, how about this: Motherboard: ASRock N3150B-ITX Memory: DDR3-1600 4GBx1 (nothing special) Case: Antec ISK-110 Storage: Toshiba 128GB SSD Both the CPU and the case is fanless, but I probably shouldn't have to worry about that?[/QUOTE] Running a CPU without a fan/heatsink in any way would be a huge mistake. What CPU are you using?
[QUOTE=Sand Castle;48779857]Running a CPU without a fan/heatsink in any way would be a huge mistake. What CPU are you using?[/QUOTE] The motherboard has a Celeron N3150 on it from the start, with a heatsink of course, like this: [t]http://image.yodobashi.com/product/100/000/001/002/750/046/100000001002750046_10204.jpg[/t]
[QUOTE=daigennki;48779863]The motherboard has a Celeron N3150 on it from the start.[/QUOTE] Ah well it has a heat sink on it -- didn't realize it was embedded. I'd at least recommend a case fan however
[QUOTE=Sand Castle;48779881]Ah well it has a heat sink on it -- didn't realize it was embedded. I'd at least recommend a case fan however[/QUOTE] The case can't fit a fan but it's perforated on all sides so I assume it shouldn't be much of a problem. Well, enough of that. That's all I need to know for now, thanks guys! :happy:
[QUOTE=daigennki;48779900]The case can't fit a fan but it's perforated on all sides so I assume it shouldn't be much of a problem. Well, enough of that. That's all I need to know for now, thanks guys! :smile:[/QUOTE] I'unno, you can never be too careful
[QUOTE=daigennki;48779863]The motherboard has a Celeron N3150 on it from the start, with a heatsink of course, like this: [t]http://image.yodobashi.com/product/100/000/001/002/750/046/100000001002750046_10204.jpg[/t][/QUOTE] You'll want one with a J1800 or J1900 over an N series one. They're really not powerful, but will definitely suffice for basic browsing and such on a very strict budget. [editline]28th September 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Sand Castle;48779916]I'unno, you can never be too careful[/QUOTE] The entire board/proc takes about 12w of power at full load.
[QUOTE=Levelog;48780000]The entire board/proc takes about 12w of power at full load.[/QUOTE] Wow, my processor alone idles at 12W.
I'm looking to upgrade my laptop RAM. Do I need to follow all the compatibility searches on the RAM manufacturers' websites or can I just go with the cheapest 1,35V 1600MHz RAM?
Hey, looking for a video editing pc with around £700-800, can you guys give me any ideas on how to improve this build? [QUOTE][url=http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/ZTqjrH]PCPartPicker part list[/url] / [url=http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/ZTqjrH/by_merchant/]Price breakdown by merchant[/url] [b]CPU:[/b] [url=http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i74790k]Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor[/url] (£257.19 @ Amazon UK) [b]Motherboard:[/b] [url=http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-fatal1tyh97performance]ASRock Fatal1ty H97 Performance ATX LGA1150 Motherboard[/url] (£79.99 @ Amazon UK) [b]Memory:[/b] [url=http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/kingston-memory-hx318c10fbk216]Kingston HyperX Fury Black 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory[/url] (£67.98 @ Amazon UK) [b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/kingston-internal-hard-drive-sv300s37a120g]Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive[/url] (£35.98 @ Amazon UK) [b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex]Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive[/url] (£38.70 @ Amazon UK) [b]Video Card:[/b] [url=http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-gtx960gaming2g]MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card[/url] (£160.77 @ Amazon UK) [b]Case:[/b] [url=http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-200r]Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case[/url] (£50.99 @ Amazon UK) [b]Power Supply:[/b] [url=http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx500m]Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply[/url] (£48.99 @ Amazon UK) [b]Wireless Network Adapter:[/b] [url=http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/tp-link-wireless-network-card-tlwn881nd]TP-Link TL-WN881ND 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter[/url] (£13.60 @ Amazon UK) [b]Total:[/b] £754.19 [i]Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available[/i] [i]Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-28 18:21 BST+0100[/i][/QUOTE] [sp]this is probably terrible[/sp]
[QUOTE=Ejbaker;48780527]Hey, looking for a video editing pc with around £700-800, can you guys give me any ideas on how to improve this build? [sp]this is probably terrible[/sp][/QUOTE] better psu: [url]http://www.newegg.com/global/uk/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151096&cm_re=seasonic-_-17-151-096-_-Product[/url] better ssd: [url]http://www.newegg.com/global/uk/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147371&cm_re=samsung_850_evo-_-20-147-371-_-Product[/url] [editline]28th September 2015[/editline] Also I'd recommend getting a Caviar Black if possible, should play a little nicer with editing stuff
[QUOTE=daigennki;48779900]The case can't fit a fan but it's perforated on all sides so I assume it shouldn't be much of a problem. Well, enough of that. That's all I need to know for now, thanks guys! :happy:[/QUOTE] I just realized I'm not 100% sure on the compatibility for the connectors on the Antec and the Celeron board. I'm fairly certain its good but I'll double check when I get the chance.
Thanks for the advice guys.
Asking: Is the Backblaze article about reliable hard drives accurate? If not is it a good idea to buy 2 TB Hitatchi 7K2000s?
[QUOTE=Sand Castle;48780812]Asking: Is the Backblaze article about reliable hard drives accurate? If not is it a good idea to buy 2 TB Hitatchi 7K2000s?[/QUOTE] That article is not a reliable source. Take it with a massive grain of salt.
[QUOTE=Levelog;48780981]That article is not a reliable source. Take it with a massive grain of salt.[/QUOTE] So 7K2000s or a couple of Caviar Blacks?
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