New PC Build - Looking For Critique

[Jakeb777]

PCPartPicker is fine for helping you organize your thoughts about a build. It's just not a substitute for doing your own research and comparison shopping.

If you're referring to the "I hate PCPartPicker" that's in a signature or two I wouldn't put too much stock in that.

Edit: Incidentally, the Nine Hundred wouldn't be my choice for a number of reasons. One, it's BigMcLargeHuge. If you really want that it's fine, but generally for the kind of machine you're building there's not a ton of benefit to it. It's designed to look "cool" if you like that flashy aesthetic and allow a lot of room for expansion and airflow - more airflow than you need for a build like yours. One thing it isn't going to do is be particularly quiet if that's of interest to you.

That said, more than anything else in the entire build the case comes down to personal preference, and it's the only part of the build you're going to see no matter where you are in the room. You should absolutely buy the one that appeals to you.

You have a point, but I am looking for an aesthetically appealing case. Plus, it's at a great price. $69.99 AR AP. With that being said, will the graphics card I chose definitely fit in this case?

On a side note: Have you ever had issues with promo codes not working at checkout on Newegg? I've been trying to purchase this build for the last 12 hours and every time I get to check out, all of the promo codes are disabled. It says to call customer service, but it's Memorial Day, so they are closed.

 

[lehtv]

The Antec 900 is almost a decade old design, renewed with some modern features here and there, but it still lacks cable routing completely and the HDD cage design is just horrendous. Those reasons alone are enough to look elsewhere.

I don't really get how the 900 is aesthetically pleasing. I mean, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that, but to me it looks bulky and unfinished. Like a bad space ship prop from a 90's B-class sci-fi movie. The geometry and window design is toyish, the interior isn't painted (despite having a window), the cables can't be hidden away neatly.

In your price range, and taking into consideration the need to fit a 11.61" / 295mm video card, I'd recommend Corsair 500R. $80 AR with a $20 gift card (which you can use on the same build in a different shopping cart after they've emailed you the code). It has the LED fans that you seem to be attracted to (and the LEDs can be switched off), but none of 902's drawbacks. Maximum graphics card length 316mm with HDD cage installed (yes, it is removable).

 

[Jakeb777]

The Antec 900 is almost a decade old design, renewed with some modern features here and there, but it still lacks cable routing completely and the HDD cage design is just horrendous. Those reasons alone are enough to look elsewhere.

I don't really get how the 900 is aesthetically pleasing. I mean, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that, but to me it looks bulky and unfinished. Like a bad space ship prop from a 90's B-class sci-fi movie. The geometry and window design is toyish, the interior isn't painted (despite having a window), the cables can't be hidden away neatly.

In your price range, and taking into consideration the need to fit a 11.61" / 295mm video card, I'd recommend Corsair 500R. $80 AR with a $20 gift card (which you can use on the same build in a different shopping cart after they've emailed you the code). It has the LED fans that you seem to be attracted to (and the LEDs can be switched off), but none of 902's drawbacks. Maximum graphics card length 316mm with HDD cage installed (yes, it is removable).

Those are some pretty good reasons, actually. I think I'll go ahead and switch it out for the Corsair. Thanks for that.

Have you ever had issues with promo codes getting removed at the final step of checking out?

 

[Jakeb777]

Just wanted to say thanks to everybody for their help! Completed the entire order on newegg, and should have everything by the end of this week or beginning of next. If any of the members involved in helping me would like to see pictures of the build, please feel free to send me a pm and I will happily oblige when it is done.

Happy Monday!

 

[mfenn]

PSU: I'd look for something from Seasonic or XFX in the 500 to 550 watt range, fully modular if you like that. There are a few under $100 and occasionally as low as $70 or so if you catch them at a discount.

I find it somewhat unusual that you put a PSU ODM (Seasonic) in the same list as a PSU brand (XFX). Really, what you should be looking at is the ODM behind the PSU, not the brand. There's nothing wrong with the M12II of course, but its a design that has been around for a while.

The EVGA PSU wouldn't be at the top of my list of choices.

Similarly, discounting the EVGA NEX 650 G without looking into the ODM behind it is a bit shortsighted. It's based on FSP's new 80+ Gold platform and is quiet unless you load it up to 100% (similar to the M12II in that respect).