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Please comment on my my build before I buy it

R

Renegade23216

Senior member
This PC is mainly for Internet and work. I don't play any games except for a game that's 12-years old, so the integrated video is fine for now.

Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811146075
I originally went with a mini tower, but decided to go with mid-tower since the price is the same, just in case I add a large video card in the future.

MB:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157460

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116899
I read that the main benefit of i7 is hyperthreading, and I don't do video editing or use apps that support it, so I just went with i5. I chose the unlocked version just in case I decide to overclock later (only $20 more). I usually don't overlock anyway.

Memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231428

PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341022

Hard Drive:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER
I like the hardware based full disk encryption. Will the motherboard above support this? I also ordered a 2.5 to 3.5 bracket to mount this small drive into the case.

No optical drive -- I haven't used one in two years. I'll just install Windows 7 using a USB stick.
 
Here are my comments:

- Case: The Source 210 doesn't have front-panel USB 3.0, so I wouldn't bother. I'd check out the Corsair 200R for $60.
- CPU/mobo: Check out this i5 4670K + GA-Z87M-D3H combo for $328. You don't really need a full ATX board since you're not going to be going for a bunch of expansion cards.
- RAM: This $69 Geil DDR3 1600 8GB kit works just as well and costs a little less.
- PSU: OCZ PSUs were never the highest quality and I would especially avoid them now that they've gone bankrupt. The Rosewill Hive 550W for $50 AR costs less and is a newer, more efficient design.
- SSD: The Crucial M500 240GB is a better deal at $150 and is TCG/Opal compliant for better integration with the Windows drive encryption layer.
 
Azo313 said:
Is this memory fine too? Only $1 difference but has a good history of reviews:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Click to expand...

It's also 1.65V, which is more than the maximum recommended voltage of 1.5V for Intel platforms. I'd stick with the Geil.

Azo313 said:
Also should I get Arctic Silver 5?
Click to expand...

The HSF comes with thermal compound pre-applied, so no.

Azo313 said:
A) Do I need any extra case fans or is the default fine?
Click to expand...

The default fan configuration of the 200R is fine.

Azo313 said:
B) Please comment on the following PSU's to choose the highest quality and best price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817182131
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817182200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139048
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817171052
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153166
Click to expand...

The Hive 550W and CX600M are the only two worth considering from a quality perspective. The CX600M is a better value if you don't mind waiting for a $20 rebate instead of a $10 because it is slightly higher wattage and modular.
 
Thanks! I am considering to go with a mini tower just to save space and be more compact. Is this a good choice?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811352008

Secondly, is this memory an OK choice? It costs a bit more, but it has a lot of reviews. I'm worried about buying the other memory with no reviews. In addition, this G.SKILL memory appears on the "supported memory list" for this motherboard.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231428

And finally, I'm considering to pay the extra $100 for an i7. Is it worth it? I don't do video editing, but I use Photoshop, Google Chrome, and play some basic games. I want the system to last 3-5 years.
 
Azo313 said:
Thanks! I am considering to go with a mini tower just to save space and be more compact. Is this a good choice?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811352008
Click to expand...

The Arc Mini is a nice case and fits well with the MicroATX motherboard I recommended.

Azo313 said:
Secondly, is this memory an OK choice? It costs a bit more, but it has a lot of reviews. I'm worried about buying the other memory with no reviews. In addition, this G.SKILL memory appears on the "supported memory list" for this motherboard.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231428
Click to expand...

It's fine, but there's really no reason to be paying extra for it. There's nothing wrong with the Geil, it's plain old DDR3 1600 1.5V. The only reason there aren't any reviews is because it's a new SKU (not that Newegg reviews mean anything).

Additionally, motherboard manufacturer's don't maintain an exhaustive list of supported memory. The QVL is simply the list of memory that they had on hand and happened to test.

Azo313 said:
And finally, I'm considering to pay the extra $100 for an i7. Is it worth it? I don't do video editing, but I use Photoshop, Google Chrome, and play some basic games. I want the system to last 3-5 years.
Click to expand...

If you have any doubts as to whether or not you need an i7, then you don't need an i7. You'd be far better either saving that $100 or spending it somewhere else, like more memory or a bigger SSD.
 
Thanks! You convinced me to get the GEIL memory and the i5.

One more question -- is the GIGABYTE GA-Z87M-D3H the best budget micro board for my setup? If there is any board that is slightly more beneficial in any way, I don't mind spending an extra $10-20 or so.

I noticed this board has a TPM module:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157397

But I guess the full disk encryption with Bitlocker works without a TPM anyway. I usually don't overlock. And this machine will mostly be used for web browsing / business work.
 
Azo313 said:
Thanks! You convinced me to get the GEIL memory and the i5.

One more question -- is the GIGABYTE GA-Z87M-D3H the best budget micro board for my setup? If there is any board that is slightly more beneficial in any way, I don't mind spending an extra $10-20 or so.

I noticed this board has a TPM module:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157397

But I guess the full disk encryption with Bitlocker works without a TPM anyway. I usually don't overlock. And this machine will mostly be used for web browsing / business work.
Click to expand...

The combo deal on the GA-Z87M-D3H means that it smokes and board that doesn't have a similar combo deal. If you ignore the game (which you probably should 🙂 ), then the board is only costing you $88, which is a great value given the features it has.
 
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