First Build, ever. (Need some part help/verification)

Amzee · Feb 1, 2012

silent-circuit said:
Have you looked at the Fractal Design Arc Mini? (mATX case, one of my personal favorites)

I love it, can't seem to find it anywhere though.

Never mind, just saw it on new egg... choices, choices

silent-circuit · Feb 1, 2012

Amzee said:
I love it, can't seem to find it anywhere though.

Never mind, just saw it on new egg... choices, choices

It's a little more expensive than some you've been considering but the cable management options are great and cooling is pretty solid as well without being a mass of mesh.

Here's a review: http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2011/06/22/fractal-design-arc-mini-review/1

Amzee · Feb 1, 2012

silent-circuit said:
It's a little more expensive than some you've been considering but the cable management options are great and cooling is pretty solid as well without being a mass of mesh.

Here's a review: http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2011/06/22/fractal-design-arc-mini-review/1

I want this one

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/microatx-gaming-overclocked,3039.html

Igor99 · Feb 2, 2012

Amzee said:
I love it, can't seem to find it anywhere though.

Never mind, just saw it on new egg... choices, choices

I looked at that one too, but it's a little large. There are actually full ATX cases that size, and if I was going that big I'd get one of them and use an ATX motherboard. Then you could easily go SLI/crossfire down the road, without using the $600 water cooled GPUs.

silent-circuit · Feb 2, 2012

Amzee said:
I want this one

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/microatx-gaming-overclocked,3039.html

Honestly, that little thing is pretty badass.

If you want sealed water and get a case that'll support it I'd get the Corsair H100 (2x120 radiator) over the double-thick Antec. A 2x120 will always outperform a double-thick 120. Price looks to be similar if you look around a little.

Igor99 said:
I looked at that one too, but it's a little large. There are actually full ATX cases that size, and if I was going that big I'd get one of them and use an ATX motherboard. Then you could easily go SLI/crossfire down the road, without using the $600 water cooled GPUs.

Trick is, a case that small with a full ATX board in it is going to feel fairly cramped. With a mATX board it's generally more pleasant to work with. That said, I did love my Lian Li A05B and it's not much larger.

Amzee · Feb 3, 2012

)

mATX:

Case - TJ08-E - 99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163182
Power Supply - Seasonic 620W - 89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151095
Memory - G. Skill 8GB 1600 MHz - 43.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416
Graphics Card - EVGA GTX 560 Ti 448-Core - 279.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130738
Wi-Fi Dongle - TP-Link 802.11 b/g/n - 18.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704045
Operating System - Windows 7 Home Premium - 189.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116716
HDD - Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM - 124.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840
SSD - Crucial M4 128GB - 179.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442
CPU - i5 2500k - 179.99
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0354589
Mobo - Asus P8Z68-M - 74.99
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0375390
Fans - 2x Cougar 120mm PWM fans - 33.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835553002
Water Cooling - Antec 620 - 49.99
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0361180
Blu-ray drive - Samsung Blu-Ray Drive - 57.99:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151222

Total: 1424.86

So, I did leave out the push-pull fans on the Mini-ITX just because I was sure they would fit; I plan on doing more research into that later.

Changed the mATX's case to the TJ08-E, because I really like the look of it, and it seems to have plenty of space for my watercooling unit.

Also, the Antec Kuhler 620 is only 49.99 at Microcenter

e2g · Feb 3, 2012

Amzee, hurry up and purchase the m4 here.....you will save $20:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...ffiliateID=lw9MynSeamY-xWrnOAENoGxbGlryTilsAQ

I personally don't like tigerdirect but its $20 savings that you can put towards something else??

I also love Fractal cases. I have their full tower (Define XL) and not the mini. I just felt the need to mention that also

Dangman · Feb 3, 2012

I recommend the mATX setup: It has a better quality mobo with a longer warranty and better support, better cooling case, significantly higher quality power supply, and therefore better chance of a sustained OC. The only real advantage that ITX setup has over the mATX setup is size.

silent-circuit · Feb 4, 2012

...and it really isn't that much smaller.

xyexz · Feb 4, 2012

Definitely go mATX, you won't be disappointed, much more upgrade-ability options and better reliability from what I've read on these forums.

Amzee · Feb 4, 2012

Alright, mATX it is then. Any idea if I should get aftermarket fans? The ones I have on the build list were originally there to match the Vulcan. Any fans you guys can recommend, if the stock fan on the 620 isn't enough? If it is, I guess I won't have to get any lol.

Igor99 · Feb 4, 2012

Amzee said:
Alright, mATX it is then. Any idea if I should get aftermarket fans? The ones I have on the build list were originally there to match the Vulcan. Any fans you guys can recommend, if the stock fan on the 620 isn't enough? If it is, I guess I won't have to get any lol.

With that water cooler you're going to have way more CPU cooling capacity than that mobo will let you use: it is a little limited in it's power controls, so I wouldn't worry about messing about with other fans. (It only allows differential VCORE and doesn't let you tweak one of the other important setting for higher OC (LLC maybe it was?). You can get to around 4.5 easy, which is quite good, but above that will run into power problems before heat issues.

Here's a review of the cooler using its stock fan:

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/antec_kuhler_h20_620_review/4.htm

That performance is should be more than you need.

Amzee · Feb 4, 2012

Igor99 · Feb 4, 2012

Amzee said:
So, I'd consider the parts list finalized.

Is there anything else I'd need for building it, such as tools or extra cables?

I used these cable ties:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16899996091

I also used some of these velcro straps:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16848035587

A good little flashlight will come in handy.

There's a good three part video Newegg did about how to build a system. Part 1 is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPIXAtNGGCw

Some of the introduction is a little slow, but they are worth watching if you haven't done this before.

catcherintherye · Feb 4, 2012

You can get the OEM Windows Home Premium at Microcenter for just over $100.

Amzee · Feb 4, 2012

catcherintherye said:
You can get the OEM Windows Home Premium at Microcenter for just over $100.

I suppose you didn't read the OP, in which I specifically stated that I didn't want an OEM version of Windows.

silent-circuit · Feb 4, 2012

Amzee said:
I suppose you didn't read the OP, in which I specifically stated that I didn't want an OEM version of Windows.

Are you a college student? If so, just get the Windows 7 Professional upgrade edition and look up how to install using an upgrade edition. $65, download, use the tool to make it in to a bootable USB drive. It's a full retail version.

catcherintherye · Feb 4, 2012

Amzee said:
I suppose you didn't read the OP, in which I specifically stated that I didn't want an OEM version of Windows.

You won't run into any issues if you need to reinstall Windows, I've reinstalled Windows on OEM many, many times even with upgraded parts and the most I've had to do was do a phone verification.

First Build, ever. (Need some part help/verification)

Amzee

Limp Gawd

silent-circuit

[H]F Junkie

Amzee

Limp Gawd

Igor99

n00b

silent-circuit

[H]F Junkie

Amzee

Limp Gawd

e2g

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Dangman

Ninja Editor SuperMod

silent-circuit

[H]F Junkie

xyexz

Limp Gawd

Amzee

Limp Gawd

Igor99

n00b

Amzee

Limp Gawd

Igor99

n00b

catcherintherye

Gawd

Amzee

Limp Gawd

silent-circuit

[H]F Junkie

catcherintherye

Gawd