Question The Old Guy Considers Repeating The Long-Standing Habit Of The DIY Build

[BonzaiDuck]

In discussions with our friends here -- on the "Windows" forum and "OEM-Pre-built" or whatever it's called, I've looked at some OEM options, but also decided that I shouldn't feel so overwhelmed by jumping from Kaby Lake Z170 to Arrow Lake and Z890.

I started a preliminary iteration of parts selection. First off -- there will be no dGPU graphics. I'll depend on the Intel iGPU instead.

As for the computer case? Y'all gonna say I'm nuts. I have another spare 20-year-old CoolerMaster Stacker 832 midtower. Some simple Lexan-plate and foam-art-board mods and "good to go".

I've already and long-ago purchased a slim-line BD/DVD burner, now sitting in its cardboard package, and an ICYDOCK 5.25" bay assembly for two 2.5" HDDs and the burner. [I don't give up on dated hardware -- I can use it.]

The initial list:

series 2 Core Ultra 7 265K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $299.00
ASUS TUF Gaming Z890 Pro mobo . . . . . . . . . $280.00
G.SKILL Trident Z5 CK 2x (2x24GB) RAM . . . . $560.00
Seasonic Focus V4 GX-750 80+ Gold PSU . . . . $130.00
SK Hynix Platinum P51 2TB PCIe Gen5 NVMe . $270.00
Ocypus Iota A62 Digital Air Cooler . . . . . . . . . . . $ 58.00

TOTAL: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,597.00

As I said -- VERY PRELIMINARY -- a Window-shopping exercise. Constructive comments encouraged.

I have a lot of spare -- even brand new -- additional parts that will fit in the case and complete the project. There are spare 2TB Hynix NVMe Gen 3 drives and 4TB 2.5" HDDs. I may want to spend between $25 and $50 for a 3.5" front-panel USB 3.0 4-port device.

And if I decommission my original Skylake system, more parts yet.

Except for the OEM SFF cases of Dell and HP versus my "free" Stacker, the total outlay isn't significantly different, and I feel more confident of getting what I want, as opposed to what Dell etc. choose to put into their box for Mainstreamers.

AMENDMENT: The Windows 11 Pro OEM OS license and installation media. It's about $150, as I recall. You get that for free with a Dell or HP -- if they aren't bundled with "Home".

 

[manly]

What do you do with your PC? At a glance, this just seems very "imbalanced." What I mean is that $1600 is a lot to spend, and you aren't even getting a new case or Windows license included. Just reuse the spare 2TB NVMe drive you already have, and pocket the savings.

Many of us are partial to AMD these days, but that's a separate argument. I'd also hate to see Intel fail as an independent company, and get bought by a Broadcom or other tech giant. (So supporting them while they are still in the game isn't a bad thing.)

My humble opinion is that you aren't that far from Micro Center in Tustin. You can buy one of their off-the-shelf PowerSpec systems built off of standard components OR you can even pick your own components, and they will assemble it for a small fee. I don't go to Micro Center much, but their selection is good enough that you should be able to put together a solid build.

Just for example, here's an OK bundle at Micro Center for a DIY build:

AMD Ryzen 7 7700X, ASUS B850-PLUS TUF Gaming WiFi AM5, G.Skill Flare X5 Series 32GB DDR5-6000 Kit, Computer Build Bundle - Micro Center $429.99

Ram latency could be better, but maybe not a bad price on this bundle? Still in stock at over 20 stores as of 6/11 https://www.microcenter.com/produ...ild_Bundle

slickdeals.net

 

[BonzaiDuck]

What do you do with your PC? At a glance, this just seems very "imbalanced." What I mean is that $1600 is a lot to spend, and you aren't even getting a new case or Windows license included. Just reuse the spare 2TB NVMe drive you already have, and pocket the savings.

Many of us are partial to AMD these days, but that's a separate argument. I'd also hate to see Intel fail as an independent company, and get bought by a Broadcom or other tech giant. (So supporting them while they are still in the game isn't a bad thing.)

My humble opinion is that you aren't that far from Micro Center in Tustin. You can buy one of their off-the-shelf PowerSpec systems built off of standard components OR you can even pick your own components, and they will assemble it for a small fee. I don't go to Micro Center much, but their selection is good enough that you should be able to put together a solid build.

Just for example, here's an OK bundle at Micro Center for a DIY build:

AMD Ryzen 7 7700X, ASUS B850-PLUS TUF Gaming WiFi AM5, G.Skill Flare X5 Series 32GB DDR5-6000 Kit, Computer Build Bundle - Micro Center $429.99

Ram latency could be better, but maybe not a bad price on this bundle? Still in stock at over 20 stores as of 6/11 https://www.microcenter.com/produ...ild_Bundle

slickdeals.net

I see your point. I probably wouldn't notice any difference between the 3.5 GB per second and 14 GB/sec. That's one cost saving. If I opt for the 2-stick 48GB of RAM initially, I've saved a total of -- whazzit? -- $550 or thereabouts.

Of course, this is why I would always opted for this DIY approach in the past. The thought would be to add stuff later. If I buy a Dell EBT 2250 tower, I wouldn't feel so confident about some of the imagined future upgrades. And the cooling solutions on those Dell models aren't very cool -- to use some 20th-century hip slang.

Two of my Sky/Kaby systems have 64 GB or RAM, but that's because these were configured with PrimoCache, so that even the NVMe boot drive was cached to RAM. The benchies showed enormous performance for that, but -- really -- I suppose I wouldn't miss it.

Even so -- these Win 10 systems on the old Z170 platform don't miss a lick for most of my apps.

On the other hand, having retired early as I did, I would build new systems just because . . . just because I could. It was something "to do".

I need to get through the summer with some key restorations on my old Trooper, so then I'll see how much spare change I have to throw at a "project".

Maybe I should investigate the MicroCenter possibilities as you suggested -- as well.

 

[BoomerD]

Also, if you really want to build your own...microcenter has some decent CPU/motherboard bundle deals.

Amazing Intel Bundle Deals | Micro Center

Shop bundle deals with featuring processors and more!

www.microcenter.com

Amazing AMD Bundle Deals | Micro Center

Shop bundle deals with featuring processors and more!

www.microcenter.com

Unfortunately, their Tustin store is the closest one to me...(about 1200 miles) Looks like they're opening a store in Santa Clara...only about 850 miles.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Also, if you really want to build your own...microcenter has some decent CPU/motherboard bundle deals.

Amazing Intel Bundle Deals | Micro Center

Shop bundle deals with featuring processors and more!

www.microcenter.com

Amazing AMD Bundle Deals | Micro Center

Shop bundle deals with featuring processors and more!

www.microcenter.com

Unfortunately, their Tustin store is the closest one to me...(about 1200 miles) Looks like they're opening a store in Santa Clara...only about 850 miles.

That's good! I'd been tethered here at home for short in-town trips because of the eldercare. But Tustin? Less than 40 miles and just west on the 91 freeway. I used to take the same route to my dentist and travel at least a 3rd of that hike. If I do it at the right time of day, I'll get the full HWY mileage on the old Trooper-Pooper.

I think I've grown slightly retarded since I retired. I should be keen to these things. Should've picked up on this years ago . . . I may even be able to score their bundle customized with my own mobo choice . . .