I have finally completed my last build. The following is the spec:
CPU = Intel Core i5-9600K (3.7 GHz - 4.6 GHz overclock-able to 5.1 GHz)
MOBO = ASUS ROG Strix Z390-F (Premium motherboard with excellent Plug-and-Play BIOS support)
GPU = ASUS ROG Strix RX 570 4GB OC Edition (Stock core speed @1290MHz overclock-able to 1400MHz stable)
STORAGE = Sabrent Rocket 1TB PCIe 3.0 x 4 M.2 (Designed in the USA, outstanding performance costs less then $105)
RAM = Corsair Vengeance LPX 3000MHz CL15 (Low profile DDR4)
COOLER = Corsair H100i PRO RGB (High performance 240mm AIO LCS)
PSU = Corsair RMx 850W (Premium class Corsair power supply unit with monitoring support via iCUE)
CASE = Cooler Master MasterBox MB511 Tempered glass version(Excellent airflow with 3 stock front RGB fans and 1 stock rear non-RGB fan and solid build and spacious interior)
*USB Device = SanDisk Extreme PRO USB 3.1 Solid State Flash Drive 128GB (Upper class extrenal USB Drive, world fastest USB drive at the time of this thread).
*KEYBOARD = Cougar Vantar (scissor switch keyboard feels like using Mac's keyboard)
I'm particularly happy with the Sabrent Rocket 1TB M.2 drive, MasterBox MB511 and the Cougar keyboard. These 3 items are price/performance wise choices. The Sabrent is designed in the USA, manufactured in Taiwan (not China). It's very fast. Comes with a very nice package with a box not just a cheap paper box.
The MasterBox MB511 offers spacious interior and 2 5.25" hard drive bays. It could be a next of kin of their MasterBox NR600 veins. Like the NR600, it has a perforated front panel, and comes with 3x 120mm RGB fans which function as air intake. At the rear of the case, a non-RGB 120mm fan provides air exhaust function. The NR600 which is newer and merely $12 cheaper than the MB511 comes with only 1x 120mm non-RGB front fan and 1x 120mm rear fan. The case provides ample room for fitting a 240mm rad/fan AIO system at the front with the removal of 2 front fans, or at the roof which is an option hardly found in other equally best airflow cases like the Corsair Carbide 275R Airflow, Phantek P400A or the superior Silverstone RL06. Upon comparison, both the MB511 and P400A come with 3 RGB front fans and are controlled by a SEPARATED switch, thus freeing up some motherboard's resources. But P400A, 275R Airflow and RL06 lack support for a 120mm or 240mm rad/fan combo at the roof of the case. So if you want more options of positioning your AIO system, the MB511 and NR600 by far are the best choices. Cooler Master, you've done great! Another beauty of this case is its nice and neat interior. There are sufficient holes for running cables around. There is only 1 drawback though, that is its 24-1 USB connector consists of 4 tied up cables which make the whole thingy rather thick to bend in order to take the shortest route to get connected to the header of the motherboard. Fortunately, as the case is black colour, it is not that obvious once you have the temper glass closed. The shroud at the bottom of the case is also well designed. Reminder to those who want to install a 180mm PSU: when putting in the PSU, let the rear of the PSU go into the PSU comparment first, preferably at angle like 45 degree. Boldly bend the cables with a little bit of pressure as you rotate the unit to fit it into the required position. I did the reverse in my first try and couldn't push the unit in completely. But as the Technical Specification in Cooler Master website promises, the case does support 180mm PSU. The operation of all 4 fans with fixed speed adjust via BIOS setting is fantastic. One would have expected some noise when all the fans are running given the number of fans are more than average. The MB511 performs admirably at "Quiet" mode via BIOS settings. And you can feel the "wind" blowing from the rear fan which is quite brilliant. If you up the notch to Normal, you start hearing the whirling sound but it really is a subjective thing when it comes to noise. I personally find it okay. If you are sensitive to noise then you may find the "Normal" mode a bit loud but even at that speed, the noise just sounds like the fan operating at normal speed in your living room. For your information, the rear fan speed is around high 900s under quiet mode.
I was originally researching the Corsair Carbide 275R Airflow and also the SPEC-06 for full ATX motherboard cases. I deserted these options because
- Both don't support AIO at the roof, big mistakes!
- Corsair forum never replies to my enquiry about the 275R's AIO compatibility even at the time of this thread. I had to did my information searching myself to find out which was quite frankly, TEDIOUS!
And as luck could have it, I happened to watch a video by Tech Deals, a very good YouTube resources about products basically and Mr. Tech Deals is fabulously knowledgeable in products and more importantly he gives fair and balanced advices. He also speaks absolutely clear and fluent English. So far, he and his secretary have held 2 Live Questions Time. In one of his videos in which he recommends the MB511, then this case caught my attentions. Excellent deal! Only $75 with 3 RGB fans and 1 non-RGB fans and excellent Airflow as well as spacious interior, friendly to work in.
The Cougar Vantar Keyboard is classified as a gaming keyboard yet, greatly suitable to office work as well. It is one of the rarely found scissor switch keyboards in the market. My bedroom is next to my brother, and he is very sensitive to noise at night. I used to work late and therefore I am well aware that I must reduce noise at bedtime. It is extremely difficult to find ultra quiet keyboard and mice is no exaggerations. Nearly all gaming keyboards are expensive and very noisy somehow irritating to me. They might be suitable to hardcore gamer who requires fast signal transfer without errors but if you are looking for a keyboard to use for casual gaming and serious office work, this keyboard is a superb choice. You won't regret. It costs only $27 with RGB built-in. Don't expect fancy control like Corsair's iCUE software. The Cougar Vanta's RGB is toggle between different key combinations, less sophisticated as a matter of fact. If your system RAM is less 8GB, this feature saves a bit of RAM resources like the MasterBox MB511's RGB - easy to operate. The keys are light weight and rather short, as such you can approach your prey with stealth. Like other Courgar gaming keyboards, the Vantar implements the Anti-ghost technology making your crouch and fire actions more accurate than non-gaming keyboards. If you're a night gamer, this keyboard is a must to have. In case, the Vantar is not available in your region, you may consider the Aurora variant which has a futuristic carbonlike surface and similar features of the Vantar.
The Asus ROG Strix Z390-F motherboard is a premium build motherboard with many features. It has excellent quality audio and a very user-friendly BIOS. If you're not a PC expert, this board provides you with some plug-and-play features like the EZ version of the BIOS. I booted up my new build and went into the BIOS, click on the XMP_1 profile then save and exit. Next tome when it was booted up, the RAM is set to 3000MHz 15-17-17-3-1.
It's just that the CPU temperature is holding at 34C at idle without any activities in Windows 10. I don't know if this is a good temperature. Can anyone advise?
Another concern I have had is the fluctuation core frequencies. I use HWiNFO to monitor the temperature and core frequencies, noticed that the 9600K fluctuates between 3.7 and 4.2 GHz while I was just doing desktop tasks like browsing mainly. Why the 9600K aletrnates between its base frequency and its turbo frequency? I thought the CPU warps to its TURBO frequency only when gaming. Any clue?