My New Planned Builds

Anthony N

Anthony N

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Joined
Jun 13, 2012
Posts
619
Location
Michigan, USA
These are my planned builds. From a price point, they all make sense but I probably could do better.

The Main computer is everything, must be able to withstand games maxed out, must be able to muilt task effortlessly. Budget $3000, Current $2803 (without shipping)
The netbook replacement is my main computer's right hand, it also needs to be able to throw some weight around. Budget $1000, Current $645.
My media streaming computer which I expect will get the most commentary, is just that, for streaming music from my main computer to my shop 2 floors down. It must be able to stream effortlessly and still have enough power to run Itunes visualizer as smooth as a babies butt. Budget $1000, Current $806.

I am opening up to Intel, and trying my best to get my feet wet with Nvidia. Note, that I only buy parts from newegg, and yes I understand that my current are all under budget, but that's where you guys come in, revise parts and maybe even drive the cost down even more.

One more thing, those UPS units will be shared between the main computer and the netbook's replacement.

MAIN COMPUTER
Case: COOLER MASTER Storm Stryker
Power Supply: CORSAIR HX Series 750w
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3
CPU: AMD FX-4100 Zambezi 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 95W Quad-Core
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (4 x 2GB) DDR3 1333
HDDs: Western Digital 320GB HDD, Crucial M4 64GB SSD
Video Card: XFX Double D Radeon HD 6950 2GB
Monitors: 2 x Acer 23" LED-Backlight LCD monitor
Optical: HP 24X Multiformat DVD Writer
Mouse: Logitech Performance Laser Mouse MX
Cooling: XIGMATEK Dark Knight II Night Hawk Edition CPU Cooler, XIGMATEK XLF 120mm White LED Fan (CPU add-on for push-pull), 2 x XIGMATEK 120mm Blue LED Case Fan, 3 x XIGMATEK 140mm Blue LED Case Fan
Other Hardware: Logitech C615 HD Webcam, HP Officejet 6700 Premium Printer, 2 x ERGOTRON LX Desk Mount LCD Arm
Data & Power Cables: 4 x OKGEAR 18" SATA 6 Gbps Round Cable, 2 x OKGEAR 12" PWM fan Y cable, StarTech 12" TX3 Fan Power Splitter Cable, 5 x Cables To Go 1 ft. 18 AWG Outlet Saver Power Extension Cord
Software: Microsoft Office 2010 Home and Business, Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
UPS: CyberPower UPS 810W, CyberPower UPS 900W

NETBOOK REPLACEMENT
Case: COOLER MASTER Gladiator 600
Power Supply: CORSAIR Professional Series 650W
Motherboard: Intel BOXDH67BLB3 LGA 1155
CPU: Intel Pentium G850 Sandy Bridge 2.9GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (4 x 2GB) DDR3 1333
HDD: Western Digital 320GB HDD
Video Card: HIS IceQ Radeon HD 6570 1GB 128-bit
Optical: LITE-ON DVD-ROM Drive
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

MEDIA STREAMING MACHINE
Case: COOLER MASTER Elite 361
Power Supply: CORSAIR Enthusiast Series 650W
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-H61MA-D3V LGA 1155
CPU: Intel Celeron G530 Sandy Bridge 2.4GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1333
HDD: Western Digital 250GB HDD
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 6750 1GB
Optical: LITE-ON Black SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model iHDS118-04
Keyboard & Mouse: Microsoft Wireless Desktop 2000 Keyboard & Mouse Kit
Cooling: 2 x XIGMATEK Crystal Series 120mm Green LED Case Fan, 3 x XIGMATEK Crystal Series 80mm Green LED Case Fan
Other Hardware: Creative Inspire T6160 50w 5.1 Speakers, Fellowes 8 Outlet 1300 joule Surge Protector, ASUS Dual-band Wireless-N900 USB Adapter
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit
 
Why so many builds??? If you don't mind me asking....

My media streaming machine = xbox360 :lol:
 
Main computer = crap emachines computer

Netbook = Need I say more

The Media stream machine is for my shop. :) Gotta have tunes! And then when I move to my apartment it'll be converted into my TV box/entertainment box.
 
If it's only a media streamer, why don't you save that for last and go with one of the new Trinity APUs? More than enough oomph for Tunes and HD and you could probably fit it in a smaller case! Heck, I fit one of the Llano APUs in an NES... :lol:
 
Funny thing about me dude is I have the tendency to do more with the machine than its original intention.

As it is already, people are asking me why need 2 computers. My answer is simple. if I'm busy with one, I have another to back me up.

Now as for keeping the power bill under control. First, that's why the 65w CPUs. and second, these machines are definitely not 24/7 machines, not even my new main computer.

Everything will be on 1hr sleep timers.
 
Update!

Main Computer's cost is dropped to $2737.
RAM was increased to 16GB, SDD increased to 128GB, 320GB HDDs went from single to double.
Printer was removed from quote. Webcam was purchased early.
 
It still puts a smile on my face when I get the reaction that I do when people ask why I need 16 gb of ram.

I've wanted to be a smart a** and say "the same reason you think need to overclock to be a showoff"

Either way after careful consideration I thought the increase in ram would help make for more headroom and be easier on the computer. I mean heck I can barely make 3gb work *.*
 
I am currently running 16GB of RAM...

My specs need to be updated, but I need to replace my video card first... The 9800GTX+ went the way of the dodo and I am currently running an HD5450... :banghead:
 
Grrrr... I cant get my avatar to be bigger...

ANYWAYS!

I hear ya. But with the CPU cooler and motherboard I might not get to use all 4 sticks...
 
Hmm... Why would that be? I have a quite large cooler in my PC and I have no problem populating all four slots.
 
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Dang, nice cable management.

I see what you mean, I guess it should work. I just want to know I can install and remove dimms without messing with the CPU cooler.

I just noticed you have your WD Drives :D facing with cables to the front.

Why?
 
Yeah... Yours looks narrower than mine... Slot A and Slot B are under the edge of my heatsink... I have to remove bank C and D to get the others out...

You may have to do the same. The only problem is, if you get RAM with the large heat-sinks with fins that extend well above the DIMMS, then you may have an issue.
 
If anything I won't get to use a second fan, that's all.

and I'll more than likely do a few dry runs first before I put that sticky thermal paste all over.

I'm also gonna do a full record of the build so once the orders start getting made.... I'll just be itching to build it!
 
Oh now look who the wise one is :P

Anyways, Yea besides some of those full height heatsinks do nothing other than just looks....


I know I was slow on this reply back, I was doing the math on time it'd take to acquire the main computer and netbook replacement. Using current costs, I'm looking at about 7.9 months.

*sigh*

There's a lot to get done, so little time :(
 
They help a little by drawing some of the heat away from the memory chips, but memory temperature is rarely a problem anyhow. They are only there for serious overclockers who like to ramp up the voltages and speeds well past stock... That creates a lot of extra heat... Running most RAM at stock speed, a heatsink is hardly necessary. Right now it is en vogue.
 
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