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mATX LAN build

D

DarkLED

n00b
Joined
Apr 12, 2010
Messages
7
Hello! I have been lurking here for a while, preparing my mATX LAN build. I wanted some more input besides me and my friend, however. I want to hear anything people have to say about the current build, and how it could be improved. (or even a totally new build if this is crap!) :)
(Skip to the bottom if you just want to see the build I already made to comment on).

Right then, to answer the rudimentary:

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? Etc
LAN gaming almost exclusively. During the “boring” parts of the LANs I'll probably Web browse a bit.
My most immediate goal is to be able to play BC2 as that's what people are mainly playing at the LANs and I get bored not being able to play it. However, my computer is incapable of playing anything modern at medium-high to high settings. I really want this computer to last a while as my main gaming rig/LAN box for a long time to come, as the one I have now has lasted me a good 5 years.
I also want to put a cold cathode in the case or something to make it look nice. (something that can be turned off, though).​

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
$1800-2000 USD Shipped/Taxed​

3) Where do you live?
Minnesota, near enough to a Micro Center that it is worth buying certain things there.​

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
Case, Motherboard, RAM, CPU, Monitor, GPU, PSU (maybe... I have a 450W or 550W non-modular corsair supply in my current build)​

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
I plan on re-using the Creative X-fi I currently have. It's not a PCIe, but I'd like to save $100 if I can by not having to purchase the PCIe one.
I might use my Power supply again if it has enough juice. I have a 450W or 550W Corsair one.​

6) Will you be overclocking?
I would like some room to experiment lightly with this. I'm cool with after-market cooling (no pun intended).​

7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
I plan to purchase a 24” ASUS non-glossy LCD monitor. I have heard nothing but good things about this monitor. I am including the monitor in the $1800-2000 budget. Size and type is flexible, however I really want widescreen and a fast response/delay time.​

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Within this month (April). Sooner better than later, though, as I've been very bored not being able to play the games my friends are at the LAN now :(.
​
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
RAID not required, nor Firewire, nor Crossfire or SLI. WiFi isn't a big deal to me. I will purchase a usb dongle if I really require wifi. I would prefer an expansion slot for a soundcard, as audio is very important to me (and onboard sucks).​

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? 32bit or 64bit?
I currently own a copy of 64bit Windows 7 (Professional?). I'm not sure on the flavor because I haven't looked at the disc since I received it.​

Now, on to the build I've already compiled (minus aftermarket cooling, I haven't figured all of that out yet):

Motherboard: DFI LANPARTYJR x58-T3H6 (newegg)
Processor: Core i7-930 (MicroCenter)
GPU: XFX HD-585X-ZAFC Radeon HD 5850 (newegg)
RAM: OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 (newegg)
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750HX 750W <---I REALLY want to know what I need if I don't need this much power. It feels like overkill to me but calculating this has been confusing.
Case: Da Box 100 (Lan Gear)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6402AAEX 640GB (newegg) <---I would love to do dual HDs with one being an SSD as the benefits are awesome. I just haven't figured that out within my budget.

Misc: CaseAce screen carrying...thing. (I want to carry the widescreen monitor around carefully).

Any comments on the build is appreciated. Complete overhaul suggestions are appreciated. I just want some input! :)

Thank you
 
Well first of all, find out exactly which corsair psu you have, and also how old it is. A 550w quality psu can power that system. I would go with this G.Skill ram instead. Also ewiz has a sale on the Samsung F3 1TB which are quite fast for only like $72 (use code: SHOWERS15 ).

Edit:
Found a combo of the G.Skill Ram + XFX HD5850 (saves you $25)
 
If you do have a Corsair 550W PSU, then you'll be set.

HDD wise, I recommend this faster drive:
$56 - Western Digital WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

I also concur with Shadowssong's GPU and RAM recommendation
 
Shadowssong said:
Well first of all, find out exactly which corsair psu you have, and also how old it is. A 550w quality psu can power that system. I would go with this G.Skill ram instead. Also ewiz has a sale on the Samsung F3 1TB which are quite fast for only like $72 (use code: SHOWERS15 ).

Edit:
Found a combo of the G.Skill Ram + XFX HD5850 (saves you $25)
Click to expand...

When I got home today I checked out what PSU I actually had. It turns out I have a Corsair VX450W PSU after all. Bleh.
Thanks for the link to the HD by the way. That's a good deal. Same can be said about the combo deal.

Danny Bui said:
If you do have a Corsair 550W PSU, then you'll be set.

HDD wise, I recommend this faster drive:
$56 - Western Digital WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

I also concur with Shadowssong's GPU and RAM recommendation
Click to expand...

That looks like a nice HDD, too.

Do either of you think I should switch my choice of PSU to buy now that I've figured out I have a 450W not a 550W PSU? The Corsair 650W looks to be the lowest modular Corsair PSU the egg has available.
 
I think that you will probably be ok with that 450w corsair. If you were going sli/xfire I would say you definitly need more, but with a Single GPU solution I think you will be ok with the 450.

Beyond that I am probably just biased, But I dont like DFI. I wouls save 10 bucks and get the MSI X58M. Its gotten good reviews & inst god awful ugly to boot.
 
bastage said:
I think that you will probably be ok with that 450w corsair. If you were going sli/xfire I would say you definitly need more, but with a Single GPU solution I think you will be ok with the 450.
Click to expand...

Here's my reasoning:
130W - Core i7 930
165W - HD 5850
---
295W for the GPU and CPU alone.

Numbers taken from the TDP rating of the Core i7 930 and this GPU power review:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/gpu-power-consumption-2010_3.html#sect0

That 450VX only has 396W on the +12V rail. So that would leave about 100W leftover for the mobo, HDD, DVD drive, etc. In addition, the OP is planning on overclocking and a Core i7 OC'd would use significantly more power as shown in this Core i7 950 OC power consumption review:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/power-consumption-overclocking_11.html#sect0

An OC from 3.07Ghz to 3.6Ghz saw an increase of 23W. If there's a similar increase from going to 2.8Ghz to 3.07Gh, that's about 40W to 50W additional power if the OP decides to OC the Core i7 930 to 3.6Ghz. If he does, that would only leave about 50W to 60W leftover for the mobo, HDD, DVD burner, etc. So virtually no headroom there.

So I'd recommend the Corsair 650HX as a minimum.
 
... it's also good to have more than not enough. ;) Also, you don't want to run your PSU at near capacity, since it would mean more heat and shorter lifetime.
 
enginurd said:
... it's also good to have more than not enough. ;) Also, you don't want to run your PSU at near capacity, since it would mean more heat and shorter lifetime.
Click to expand...

This is the reason I chose the 750W PSU at the start. Also with more headroom it seems generally accepted that less heat is produced which is imporant for the case Im choosing.
Posted via [H] Mobile Device
 
You should be fine with the 650w with plenty of room for an o/c. BTW whats your budget left to spend? We could probably fit an SSD in there me thinks.
 
May as well tally it up then...

DA BOX 100 Blackheart ~ 197.03, Shipped
CORSAIR HX650 ~ 119.99
msi X58M mATX board ~ 169.99
XFX HD5850 + G.Skill 6GB RAM ~ 454.98
ASUS VE246H Monitor ~ 219.99
Intel i7-930 ~ 213.74 w/ Tax
Western Digital Caviar Blue (500GB) ~ 55.99

Newegg Total (shipped): 864.87
Grand Total (shipped): 1061.50

This is still minus the after market cooling which I'm guessing wouldn't be too bad. The gear grip handle doesn't add much either.

So, yeah, it looks like I have some room for an SSD (which I am excited for).
 
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