- Feb 28, 2011
- 7
- 0
- 18,510
I am in the process of purchasing the parts for a build I have been dying to do for a while now. I am fairly confident in my part selection, but I would like to hear from any who would like to comment on their thoughts on anything I should adjust, tweak, or just how they feel about this build in general. Not looking for any specific answers, just need fresh eyes on something I have been staring at for a while now. It is all based on using the Fractal Design Node 202 case, so that will not be changing. But I am open to replacement suggestions on any other pieces. I am really happy with where I am at currently. Edit: I should mention, I am also building this to be my Oculus Rift system, when the time comes, so that is a requirement*
I will list out the parts in more detail below, but here is the link to the current state of the build:
PrinceRecluse's (that's me) Arcadius build breakdown on PCPartPicker
Approximate Purchase Date: Pieces per paycheck over the next month or so.
Budget Range: Dynamic based on needs. I buy what I can each paycheck until all pieces are purchased. But nothing insane. Just high-end.
System Usage from Most to Least Important:
1. Gaming (from old arcade and emulation, to brand new AAA games) using Steam, emulators, Origin, GoG, etc.. Also, mobility, so I can just pick this thing up like a console and take it over to a friend's house to LAN/Game. NEEDS TO BE OCULUS RIFT READY*
2. HTPC movie and media viewing (System will most likely boot into Kodi front-end, using Aeon Nox skin). Would like to go 4K eventually but currently don't have the screens for that. Will mainly be on a 120" projector screen at 1080p most likely. Media both locally on machine as well as streamed from LAN and Internet based.
3. Streaming gaming and webcam video, via Twitch, etc.
4. Fairly heavy Photoshop work with lite video editing.
5. Day to day productivity and entertainment use. Web browsing, maybe some MS Office use.
Are you buying a monitor: Not currently. At least not "as part of the build." But I would like to ensure the build is ready when I decide to go in on 3 curved widescreen hi-res monitors. Some day. ... not soon though.
Parts to Upgrade: All parts are new. Some have already been purchased. Feel free to comment on any part, as I will take all the information I can get.
Do you need to buy OS: Most likely. Planning on it. Although I am sure I probably have a Windows 7 key lying around that I could use for my Windows 10 install. But for now, let's go with yes.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.com, Amazon.com, I am willing to branch out, but if it is not a well known retailer, I will most likely stay away and pay the minimal price difference.
Location: Jacksonville, FL, USA
Parts Preferences: I prefer Intel for CPU, nVidia for GPU (though AMD is acceptable, I have had issues with my last 2 AMDs), G. Skill for RAM, PSU only preference is modular (but having to be SFX limits options), I am open to all opinions if there is logical backup to it though.
Overclocking: Perhaps, but in this cramped of a case with no options for watercooling, if any, it won't be much.
SLI or Crossfire: No. Not against it, just not an option in this build.
Your Monitor Resolution: Most probable current day-to-day usage? 1920x1080. on 2 screens, a 120" projector screen as well as a basic monitor. But would like to get as high as possible within the capabilities of this small build (4K?)
Additional Comments:
The limitations of this build will really be in the size and that fact that it is mini-ITX. I essentially would like to have the most powerful machine I can get within this limited space. I originally had planned on an ASUS 980ti STRIX, but there was talk of thermal throttling in this case. So decided to go with a Blower style card to attempt better temps for better performance. But as far as this build is concerned, Top-priority is performance followed by price. Although I am not spending $1000+ for any individual piece, GPU included. Other than that, though, if it will work in this build and increase performance, then I will make the price work. Would like it to be as quiet as possible, being an HTPC, but not at the cost of performance.
And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Long story short, I have been itching for another build for a while now, and have been wanting to do an HTPC form factor build that was a powerhouse. I recently purchased an X-Arcade Tankstick, so that was the bump I needed to create a family computer for gaming and more. I have 2 other computers that are more than capable, but they are towers and I wanted something that doesn't really feel like a computer, more like a console, that would be right at home in the entertainment center of a theater room, without sacrificing too much performance.
Edit: Because Oculus Rift
BREAKDOWN
CASE: This will not be changing. This is what the entire build is built around.
Fractal Design Node 202
PSU: Must be SFX form factor. Modular personally required.
SilverStone 600W 90+ Gold Fully-Modular SFX PSU
CPU: Want latest and greatest, cause ... why not?
Intel Core i7-6700K
CPU COOLER: Low clearance.
Noctua NH-L9i
MOBO: Heard good things, for a mini-ITX board. Come with WiFi adapter too.
ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming-ITX/ac motherboard
RAM: Looking for as much RAM as I can get, that the board will allow.
G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 SDRAM 3200 (PC4 25600) RAM
VIDEO CARD: Going with blower style card, because fan style will keep too much heat in small case, and there is no room for a liquid cooled block.
EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB SC Gaming Video Card
OS AND PROGRAM MAIN STORAGE: M.2 performance for Operating System and main programs, with a little room to grow.
Samsung 950 PRO 512GB M.2 SSD
GAME AND MEDIA STORAGE: The case only supports 2x 2.5" SSDs. Need to get as much storage capacity, at highest speeds, within those constraints. I will be getting 2 of these.
Samsung 850 EVO 2TB SSD
CASE FANS: The case has space for 2 thin 120mm fans directly below the Video Card. I purchased 2 of these, with rubber pads for each to reduce noise/vibrations.
Scythe Slip Stream SY1212SL12H 2000rpm 120mm Slim Case Fan
OPERATING SYSTEM: I will be using Windows 10 as the main OS, but will most likely mod to boot directly into Kodi.
Do you really need a link for Windows 10?
... And that is about it. The peripherals on the list are not definite (and not really needed). I look forward to hearing what you have to say about this build. I am excited about it. Should be a powerhouse, in a tiny package.
Thanks for your time.
I will list out the parts in more detail below, but here is the link to the current state of the build:
PrinceRecluse's (that's me) Arcadius build breakdown on PCPartPicker
Approximate Purchase Date: Pieces per paycheck over the next month or so.
Budget Range: Dynamic based on needs. I buy what I can each paycheck until all pieces are purchased. But nothing insane. Just high-end.
System Usage from Most to Least Important:
1. Gaming (from old arcade and emulation, to brand new AAA games) using Steam, emulators, Origin, GoG, etc.. Also, mobility, so I can just pick this thing up like a console and take it over to a friend's house to LAN/Game. NEEDS TO BE OCULUS RIFT READY*
2. HTPC movie and media viewing (System will most likely boot into Kodi front-end, using Aeon Nox skin). Would like to go 4K eventually but currently don't have the screens for that. Will mainly be on a 120" projector screen at 1080p most likely. Media both locally on machine as well as streamed from LAN and Internet based.
3. Streaming gaming and webcam video, via Twitch, etc.
4. Fairly heavy Photoshop work with lite video editing.
5. Day to day productivity and entertainment use. Web browsing, maybe some MS Office use.
Are you buying a monitor: Not currently. At least not "as part of the build." But I would like to ensure the build is ready when I decide to go in on 3 curved widescreen hi-res monitors. Some day. ... not soon though.
Parts to Upgrade: All parts are new. Some have already been purchased. Feel free to comment on any part, as I will take all the information I can get.
Do you need to buy OS: Most likely. Planning on it. Although I am sure I probably have a Windows 7 key lying around that I could use for my Windows 10 install. But for now, let's go with yes.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.com, Amazon.com, I am willing to branch out, but if it is not a well known retailer, I will most likely stay away and pay the minimal price difference.
Location: Jacksonville, FL, USA
Parts Preferences: I prefer Intel for CPU, nVidia for GPU (though AMD is acceptable, I have had issues with my last 2 AMDs), G. Skill for RAM, PSU only preference is modular (but having to be SFX limits options), I am open to all opinions if there is logical backup to it though.
Overclocking: Perhaps, but in this cramped of a case with no options for watercooling, if any, it won't be much.
SLI or Crossfire: No. Not against it, just not an option in this build.
Your Monitor Resolution: Most probable current day-to-day usage? 1920x1080. on 2 screens, a 120" projector screen as well as a basic monitor. But would like to get as high as possible within the capabilities of this small build (4K?)
Additional Comments:
The limitations of this build will really be in the size and that fact that it is mini-ITX. I essentially would like to have the most powerful machine I can get within this limited space. I originally had planned on an ASUS 980ti STRIX, but there was talk of thermal throttling in this case. So decided to go with a Blower style card to attempt better temps for better performance. But as far as this build is concerned, Top-priority is performance followed by price. Although I am not spending $1000+ for any individual piece, GPU included. Other than that, though, if it will work in this build and increase performance, then I will make the price work. Would like it to be as quiet as possible, being an HTPC, but not at the cost of performance.
And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Long story short, I have been itching for another build for a while now, and have been wanting to do an HTPC form factor build that was a powerhouse. I recently purchased an X-Arcade Tankstick, so that was the bump I needed to create a family computer for gaming and more. I have 2 other computers that are more than capable, but they are towers and I wanted something that doesn't really feel like a computer, more like a console, that would be right at home in the entertainment center of a theater room, without sacrificing too much performance.
Edit: Because Oculus Rift
BREAKDOWN
CASE: This will not be changing. This is what the entire build is built around.
Fractal Design Node 202
PSU: Must be SFX form factor. Modular personally required.
SilverStone 600W 90+ Gold Fully-Modular SFX PSU
CPU: Want latest and greatest, cause ... why not?
Intel Core i7-6700K
CPU COOLER: Low clearance.
Noctua NH-L9i
MOBO: Heard good things, for a mini-ITX board. Come with WiFi adapter too.
ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming-ITX/ac motherboard
RAM: Looking for as much RAM as I can get, that the board will allow.
G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 SDRAM 3200 (PC4 25600) RAM
VIDEO CARD: Going with blower style card, because fan style will keep too much heat in small case, and there is no room for a liquid cooled block.
EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB SC Gaming Video Card
OS AND PROGRAM MAIN STORAGE: M.2 performance for Operating System and main programs, with a little room to grow.
Samsung 950 PRO 512GB M.2 SSD
GAME AND MEDIA STORAGE: The case only supports 2x 2.5" SSDs. Need to get as much storage capacity, at highest speeds, within those constraints. I will be getting 2 of these.
Samsung 850 EVO 2TB SSD
CASE FANS: The case has space for 2 thin 120mm fans directly below the Video Card. I purchased 2 of these, with rubber pads for each to reduce noise/vibrations.
Scythe Slip Stream SY1212SL12H 2000rpm 120mm Slim Case Fan
OPERATING SYSTEM: I will be using Windows 10 as the main OS, but will most likely mod to boot directly into Kodi.
Do you really need a link for Windows 10?
... And that is about it. The peripherals on the list are not definite (and not really needed). I look forward to hearing what you have to say about this build. I am excited about it. Should be a powerhouse, in a tiny package.
Thanks for your time.
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