Blakeyrat Is Building A New Gaming PC 2: Electric Boogaloo
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Continued/not continued from: http://what.thedailywtf.com/t/buying-a-gaming-pc-give-to-me-recommendations/2282
SO!
The PC listed in the previous thread killed itself yesterday, by vigorously removing its own fluids from its cooling system and dribbling them all over the motherboard, GPU, PSU and bottom of the case. Basically the only things I trust to be 100% salvageable are the Blu-Ray, SSD and spinning HD.
SO!
Time to buy a new box. I was originally going to buy an iBuyPower PC again, but that experience went like: http://what.thedailywtf.com/t/ibuypowers-checkout-page-and-support-yikes/8835 and so I didn't. Then I was going to go to Fry's, but it turns out in the few years since I've last gone there, Fry's has turned into a useless annoying piece of useless annoying crap. (They had nearly zero selection of motherboards, PSUs, and literally zero selection of GPUs in my price range.)
HERE ARE THE MAJOR STUFFS in rough order of cost impact:
- Intel (i7, x99, 3.3 or higher ghz)
- New SSD (Samsung 850 Pro; considering 1 TB if pricing isn't too outrageous)
- NVidia (at minimum a GeForce 970 4 GB)
- 16 GB RAM
- Wifi capability, preferably a card (existing PC has one, but it's under the liquid so I don't trust it to be undamaged)
- New case (mid-tower, sort for noise floor ratings, probably CoolerMaster best option here)
- PSU
- Motherboard
Things it does not needs:
- Optical drive (one from existing PC is perfectly fine, plus I hardly use it)
- Spinning storage HD (one from existing PC is perfectly fine until I see evidence otherwise)
- Any peripherals (keyboard, mouse, monitors, USB hubs, game controllers, speakers-- all fine)
Here's the PC I specced with iBuyPower, but now everything's UP IN THE AIR, especially if there is an opportunity for COST SAVINGS: http://www.ibuypower.com/Store/Intel-X99-Core-i7-Configurator/M/6090835
So anyway, I'm gonna get my browse on and see what I come up with. If you have any suggestions PLOP THEM DOWN HERE.
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My old formula runs like this:
Gigabyte motherboard.
Corsair PSU.
Whatever RAM.
Coolermaster chassis.
Intel CPU.
Whatever GPU.Tweak on those axes for price and spec.
Spec on Newegg, buy at Amazon for gooey prime shipping.
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I don't have any hardware recommendations but when I built my PC last summer I used PC Part Picker to spec it out and compare prices.
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Holy crap, that site is awesome. You get +1 Internetzzz kudos. My only complaint is that it doesn't have photos of the cases, you have to Google them. But the filters work awesomely.
EDIT: here's what I've specced so far. About $400 below what iBuyPower was giving me.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/sVy7gs
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
Type Item Price CPU *Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor $394.98 @ Newegg CPU Cooler Cooler Master Nepton 120XL 76.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler $89.99 @ Amazon Motherboard *Asus X99-A ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard $254.95 @ Amazon Storage Samsung 850 Pro Series 512GB 2.5" Solid State Drive $286.48 @ Amazon Video Card *Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card $329.99 @ Amazon Case *Cooler Master 690 III ATX Mid Tower Case - Power Supply Cooler Master V850 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply $163.98 @ Newegg Wireless Network Adapter *Asus PCE-N53 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter $33.64 @ Amazon Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts Total (before mail-in rebates) $1554.01 Mail-in rebates -$15.00 Total $1539.01 *Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-08 13:09 EDT-0400 [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/sVy7gs]PCPartPicker part list[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/sVy7gs/by_merchant/]Price breakdown by merchant[/url]
[b]CPU:[/b] *[url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80648i75820k]Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor[/url] ($394.98 @ Newegg)
[b]CPU Cooler:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rln12x24pkr1]Cooler Master Nepton 120XL 76.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler[/url] ($89.99 @ Amazon)
[b]Motherboard:[/b] *[url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-x99a]Asus X99-A ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard[/url] ($254.95 @ Amazon)
[b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7ke512bw]Samsung 850 Pro Series 512GB 2.5" Solid State Drive[/url] ($286.48 @ Amazon)
[b]Video Card:[/b] *[url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-strixgtx970dc2oc4gd5]Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card[/url] ($329.99 @ Amazon)
[b]Case:[/b] *[url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-cms693kkn1]Cooler Master 690 III ATX Mid Tower Case[/url]
[b]Power Supply:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-power-supply-rs850afbag1us]Cooler Master V850 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply[/url] ($163.98 @ Newegg)
[b]Wireless Network Adapter:[/b] *[url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-wireless-network-card-pcen53]Asus PCE-N53 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter[/url] ($33.64 @ Amazon)
[b]Total:[/b] $1539.01
[i]Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available[/i]
[i]*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria[/i]
[i]Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-08 13:11 EDT-0400[/i]Wow. Discourse is actually better at displaying the BBCode version of that than the Markdown version. Go figure.
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You forgot RAM. As said, I suggest 2 x 8 GB, leaving 2 slots open in case you need an expansion.
Also, I suggest you check this out: http://www.tonymacx86.com/building-customac-buyers-guide-february-2015.html
If you ever decide you need a Hackintosh dual-boot, you'll be glad you picked compatible hardware ahead of time.
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You forgot RAM.
I hadn't finished yet.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/QFrXpg
I went with 4x4 because 1) I'll never upgrade it, barring an extreme event, 2) I understand the more slots you use the faster your CPU can address the memory in general.
If you ever decide you need a Hackintosh dual-boot, you'll be glad you picked compatible hardware ahead of time.
I can guarantee that will never happen.
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I understand the more slots you use the faster your CPU can address the memory in general.
Seriously, never heard that before…
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I went with 4x4 because 1) I'll never upgrade it, barring an extreme event, 2) I understand the more slots you use the faster your CPU can address the memory in general.
Both your CPU and mobo have quad-channel memory support, so 4something (or 8something) is the best choice there. The mobo seems to have 8 DIMM slots, so you can always later put in another 4x4 GB if you need it.
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(Hanzo'd - posted same link as @aliceif above)
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Seriously, never heard that before…
Yeah well you have the IQ of a particularly dim mollusk, so I'm not surprised.
I've heard it from two different people, both of whom I actually trust.
Also Aliceif's link.
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I'm slightly worried about the size of the case, do you guys think it's too small for the components I'm putting in it?
http://www.coolermaster.com/case/mid-tower-cm690-series/cm693/
It looks ok from their screenshots... it's just not very long (front-to-back), worried about how fucking long modern GPUs are...
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Is the drive bay in the middle removable? If yes, at least you have a fallback if things don't fit from the get-go.
FWIW- my case is about 6cm wider. If I moved up the bottom drive bay to be next to the GPU, that (6cm) would be approximately the space that's left between the card and the bay. (OTOH the middle drive bay in the image seems narrower than the one in the bottom, so..)
But:
[Maximum] VGA card length: 423 mm / 16.6 inch
Compare to the GTX 970 you're buying? (And check pictures if the one you're buying has the power connectors on the side or at the end.)
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Compare to the GTX 970 you're buying? (And check pictures if the one you're buying has the power connectors on the side or at the end.)
Derp. I just checked, the GPU's only 11" so that's plenty.
Current build:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/GFLnFT
Added thermal paste, changed cooler, added some extra 120mm fans, but I might delete those since the case comes with a 200mm fan... between that, the cooler's 120mm and the PSU's fan I think the airflow will be fine.
That case seems to be out-of-stock everywhere though.
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Switched to Cooler Master "Silencio" case:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/wQQYt6
"Silencio" is a stupid name I hate.
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Yeah well you have the IQ of a particularly dim mollusk, so I'm not surprised.
Well, TIL.Also, I have a balloon:
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Ok I think I'm sorted:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/wQQYt6
Gonna sit on this shopping list a few hours, then go spend all the moneys.
Also need to remember to buy a non-Sandisk USB memory drive for the Windows 8.1 install.
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Derp. I just checked, the GPU's only 11" so that's plenty.
Note - the 16.6" is probably without the middle drive bay.
Edit: also for the new case:
(It's actually cool for them to show this explicitly.)
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Yeah, and it's nice that they lay out exactly which of their liquid coolers fit in the case best. I'm trying to minimize the number of vendors this time because I think that'll make it more likely I'll avoid glitches. Who knows if ASUS tested their PCI-X network card with a MSI motherboard, but they certainly tested it on ASUS motherboards.
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Spec on Newegg, buy at Amazon for gooey prime shipping.
Newegg gives you free shipping on most parts via shopp runner, which works on some other sites as well. Depending what credit cards you have, shop runner may not cost you anything.
tl;dr: Prime is a weak reason to use Amazon over newegg.
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there's free shipping. and then there's free two day shipping..... and if you already have prime (nto to mention amazon beats the pants off newegg for price and customer service (not that newegg is a slouch in either department, it isn't))
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This thread reminded me that I really should buy some additional fans for my current machine. It apparently gets somewhat hot in there when the GPU is pushed a bit. (The three stock fans are apparently insufficient.)
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The new case comes with 3 120mm fans instead of 1 200mm fan, so not worried.
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there's free shipping. and then there's free two day shipping.... and if you already have prime ...
Shop runner is free two day shipping. And like I said, it may not cost you anything. I get it for free.
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Another consideration: I pay tax (8.8%) at Amazon, not at NewEgg. (Unless that's changed recently.)
Anyway, still a couple hours before I hit go on the order, so if you have any comments NOW IS THE TIME! NOW NOW NWO NOW NOW!!!
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Yeah, I thought that 3 120mm fans would have been sufficient, but during gaming several of the components get to 60-70 C somewhat regularly. Didn't happen with my old case, so maybe the design of my new case isn't as good.
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Charge me shipping and I'll send you an old PCI Wi-Fi card with no antenna
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Currently using a Phanteks Enthoo pro and it was nice to build in and plenty of easily accessible filters. Can also recommend their customer service. Called in because the plastic bits holding the front panel on had broken and they sent me a new one the next business day. Didn't even ask me to ship the old one back.
Also recommend the EVGA 750/850 Supernova G2. Should be cheaper than the PSU you have listed and just as good.
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Newegg gives you free shipping on most parts via shopp runner
Not since half a year ago.
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Dafuq.png1021x916 877 KB
Seriously, never heard that before…Reading time for RaceProUK. http://lwn.net/Articles/250967/
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I have a working knowledge of computer memory
I just hadn't heard that one particular thing before, s'all ;)
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On advice of a friend, switching wifi card to Intel and paying extra for the "ac" wifi standard:
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ooh documentation! i've been struggling with insomnia lately!
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Not since half a year ago.
You sure? I don't have time to do an exhaustive analysis, but newegg still has a shoprunner faq, and they are still listed as a participating store on shoprunner's site.
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Ok, I'm going to order these parts. Wheee.
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Ok ordered.
Most from Amazon, a few parts from Newegg where Newegg saved me money and let me avoid third-party dealers on Amazon.
Whee.
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This won't help you because the nearest Micro Center is apparently in California, but if anyone lives near one (e.g., Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, DC) you can get some pretty good deals on certain CPUs. For example, that 5820K is only $299 in-store. Plus if you pair it with a motherboard they have, you get typically $40 off the price of the motherboard.
They usually have a couple of high-end CPUs of each generation that are far cheaper than anywhere else: currently it's the 5820K, and they have the 4790K for $280 (although it almost seems silly to buy that when you can get the 5820 for $20 more!) and the i5-4690K for $199. There's usually a high i3 on sale too.
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Pile o' parts.
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More partz, in Intel blue!
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That CPU cooler is a bitch of a whore to get installed.
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That CPU cooler is a bitch of a whore to get installed.
What, specifically, did you have trouble with? For me, it was reaching the central screw that holds the heat block to the brackets.
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You run wireless on a desktop? Is it on a cart for mobility?
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My desktop is wireless because the router is at almost the opposite corner of the house and I rent so drilling holes in the floor is a nono
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What, specifically, did you have trouble with?
The pictogram directions were awful and glommed-together all socket types it supported into one big messy flow of shit. I didn't realize until late that if you have the Intel 2011 socket, you do not need to install the metal backplate. It didn't help that NONE of the tutorial videos on YouTube for that cooler happened to be using the 2011 socket.
It went like this:
- Ok so here's where it screws into the motherrboard, but what do I do with this metal plate? It doesnt fit.
- (watch video) Oh, it goes on the BACK-- shit it's blocked by the case! (remove motherboard)
- Ok now it could fit but there's no screw holes in the motherboard WTF? Do I drill them?
- (watch another video) So far I've read the directions and watched like 4 videos and all of them say there's screw holes, am I crazy?
- (notice microscopic text on directions about the backplate doesn't say 2011 like the other directions) Oooooo
- Screw in supports for cooler, try to place cooler but it won't tighten down? It's all loose, WTF?
- Oh, the 2011 socket requires the OTHER size of screws which is included in the package but literally not mentioned at all in the horrible pictogram directions
- Finally attach it correctly
- Spend ages re-attachng motherboard I didn't even fucking need to remove in the first place uggggh
- Bend a couple of the cooling fins while installing the fan on it
- Gave up for the night because that shit was exhausting.
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You run wireless on a desktop?
Yes.
Is it on a cart for mobility?
No.
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wireless on a desktop
I'll do one better: Before I reorganized my apartment and moved my pc next to the router, I had to connect it using wireless. However, I didn't have any empty slots on the motherboard for a wireless card, so I tethered it to my wifi using an old smartphone.
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Find an item on Newegg that uses ShopRunner, I dare you. You can't even filter by ShopRunner Eligible. They took it all out and replaced it with Newegg Premier.
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The pictogram directions were awful and glommed-together all socket types it supported into one big messy flow of shit.
Ah. Yeah, I got that. I used the same cooler. I read the instructions a couple of times, and test-fitted it first because while I was reading a bunch of articles written by nigh-illiterate savages about optimal thermal compound placement patterns, they said to do that.
Oh, it goes on the BACK
I would swear that was made clear in the instructions, but maybe I just osmoted that out from watching videos first.
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(blakeyrat didn't actually say this, but picking out the nested quote was too much work)
@blakeyrat said:wireless on a desktop?
What's wrong with that? My son's desktop is wireless because it's inconvenient to run a wire, and Ethernet over powerline seems sketchy even when not being set up in a 40 year old apartment complex where the in-wall cable wiring to his room was so degraded we had to have Time Warner run a new drop into his room (aside: that was a typical cable company experience: the tech put the drop on the opposite side of his closet door from where the TV is, and then said he wasn't allowed to leave me a cable because it was a trip hazard).
Multi-channel memory architecture - Wikipedia
