critique my build?

TBJ

Gawd
Joined
Oct 9, 2002
Messages
827
1. What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming, Web browsing,

2. What's your budget? Around 2000 canadian

3. Where do you live? middle of nowhere, I usually order from ++++.com

4. What exact parts do you need for that budget? it would be a new build, the parts I do have are from 2004/05

5. If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? I'm still using the same monitor I bought to be able to play Diablo 2 so.. new is good.

6. What specific features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? etc. I'm intersted in SSD, my last build had a raptor harddrive, I really liked the snappiness of that, I don't plan to raid, never used firewire. With a new computer I'd want at least usb 3 and sata 6. For video can be either be SLI or Crossfire, I've never used either but would like to try, whichever is more stable/affordable.

7. What resolution output do you need? 1080p, 720p, DVD quality, etc for HTPC or list Vertical/horizontal resolution for non-HTPC SFF rigs. Do you need multiple monitor output? I only have room for one monitor...but picture quality, fps is important, I am not a professional gamer (counterstrike...) so snappiness is not that important but for example I am playing Obivion right now and would like to be able to get the most out of a game like that.

8. Does this system need to fit into a particular space? Think entertainment center shelves, closet space, rackmount, etc. I have a mostly empty full tower case.

9. How comfortable are you with custom case design/modification and electrical wiring? What tools do you have (Screwdrivers/Leatherman, Drill, Dremel, Metal snips, Soldering Iron, Bending Brake, CNC/Welding machines/Plasma cutter, etc...)? I don't want to modify things if I don't have to.

10. How important is the noise/silence of this sytem? HTPCs typically want to be quiet while all-out SFF gaming rigs don't care. Quiet for web browsing, movies, games not as much of a concern.

11. How mobile does this system need to be? Need a carrying handle or carrying straps? Is weight important (carry-on bag, etc)? Water cooling quick disconnects, etc? I haven't been to a Lan PARTY in years, my computer will sit on a desk and will probably not move. Don't plan to watercool.

12. Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit? Remember that OEM copies of Win7 have issues with new motherboards. I still have my copy of xp home from 2000? I'm interested in win7 64 bit with winxp compatibility. I'd prefer a non-oem disk.


1 x Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Edition 64BIT DVD OEM
1 x Hitachi Deskstar HD31000 IDK/7K 1TB SATA 7200RPM 32MB Cache 3.5IN Hard Drive Retail Box
1 x Intel Core i5 2500K Quad Core Unlocked Processor LGA1155 3.3GHZ Sandy Bridge 6MB
2 x Intel X25-V 40GB 2.5IN SATA2 SSD Solid State Disk Flash Drive W/ Mounting Kit
1 x LG BH10LS30 Blu-Ray Writer 10X BD-R 16X DVD-RW Lightscribe SATA Retail Box
1 x Steelseries Qck Medium Sized Cloth Mouse Pad 12.6X11.2IN
1 x Noctua NH-C12P SE14 LGA775/1155/1156/1366/AM3 I7/I5/PHENOM Heatpipe Cooler W/ NF-P14 140MM Fan (I realize the heatsink and fan are too tall together, was thinking I could replace it with this fan
1 x ASUS P8H67-M Evo REV3.0 mATX H67 LGA1155 2PCI-E16 PCI-E1 PCI DP HDMI Sandy Bridge B3 Motherboard
2 x G.SKILL F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL Ripjaws 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 240PIN DIMM Memory
2 x AMD Radeon HD 6950 800MHZ 2GB 5GHZ GDDR5 PCI-E 2 X DVI HDMI 2 X Mini Display Port
1 x Thermaltake Lanbox Lite mATX Black Modular Case 2X5.25 1X3.5 2X3.5INT No PS
1 x Corsair Professional HX750W 750W ATX 12V 62A 24PIN ATX Modular Power Supply Active PFC 140MM Fan
1 x LG W2442PA-BF 24IN Widescreen LCD Monitor Black 2MS 10000:1 1920X1080 1080P HAS Tilt Pivot HDMI DVI
 
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Hey there. Just curious as to why you chose an H67 motherboard with a K-series processor. If you are going to overclock, you will need a P67/Z68 chipset. If you don't want to overclock there is no need to buy the unlocked K versions of processors. Hope that helps.
 
Get a Z or P motherboard so you can overclock your unlocked CPU
 
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P67 alternative: Asus P8P67-M Pro
Z68 alternative: Gigabyte GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3

I have some more questions for you:

Do you plan on overclocking the i5-2500K?

Why Windows 7 Professional? You do realize that you're buying an OEM license, right? (Not that there's anything wrong with that... I personally have had no problem with OEM/System Builder copies in the past.)

Why do you need 16GB of RAM? (You don't need DDR3 1600 RAM with Sandy Bridge, so stick with the cheaper DDR3 1333 sets.)

Why are you going with two 40GB X25-V SSDs? Why not stick with one Intel 510 or Crucial C300/m4 SSD instead?

Why again are you going CrossFire on a 1920x1080 resolution? Besides Oblivion, what games do you plan on playing?

Since you're considering a Blu-ray drive, is it safe to assume that you'll be watching Blu-ray movies on this system?

Why did you grab the Noctua NH-C12P SE14 if you already knew that it wouldn't fit the case?

Since the Lanbox Lite isn't ideal, as adjas alluded to earlier, do you have a preference in mind towards any particular style of mATX case?
 
Lot's of questions that have already been asked...

Why 2 x ssd?
Why 2 x GPU for only 1900x1080?
Why 16GB? Doesn't seem necessary for usage describe...

Also, personally don't like 1900x1080.
Here is a HP LCD that is 1900x1200 for almost the same price: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824176141
You don't need the extra pixels for BluRay, but they certainly will come in handy in games.

Just a few thoughts.
 
K, after reading some critiques I've revised my build:

1 x Intel Core i5 2500K Quad Core Unlocked Processor LGA1155 3.3GHZ Sandy Bridge 6MB
1 x ASUS P8P67-M Pro REV3.0 mATX P67 LGA1155 DDR3 2PCI-E16 1PCI-E1 USB3.0 Sandy Bridge B3 Motherboard
1 x Noctua NH-C12P SE14 LGA775/1155/1156/1366/AM3 I7/I5/PHENOM Heatpipe Cooler W/ NF-P14 140MM Fan
1 x G.SKILL F3-10666CL7D-8GBRH Ripjaws PC3-10666 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1333 CL7-7-7-21 1.5V Memory Kit
1 x Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Edition 64BIT DVD Retail
1 x OCZ Solid 3 60GB 2.5IN SATA3 Sandforce SF-2281 SSD Solid State Disk Flash Drive
1 x Hitachi Deskstar HD31000 IDK/7K 1TB SATA 7200RPM 32MB Cache 3.5IN Hard Drive Retail Box
1 x Silverstone Sugo SG03B Black SFF mATX Case 1X5.25 1X3.5IN 2X3.5INT No PS W/ Front USB
1 x Visiontek Radeon HD 6970 2GB DDR5 2x DVI 2XMINIDP HDMI PCI-E DIRECTX11 Video Card
1 x Corsair Professional HX750W 750W ATX 12V 62A 24PIN ATX Modular Power Supply Active PFC 140MM Fan
1 x BenQ XL2410T 23.6IN Widescreen 120HZ LCD Monitor LED 1920X1080 2MS DVI HDMI HAS Pivot
1 x LG BH10LS30 Blu-Ray Writer 10X BD-R 16X DVD-RW Lightscribe SATA Retail Box
 
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that noctua cpu cooler won't fit.

Get a Kuhler 920 or Corsair h60
 
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