The PC Build Thread

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I've said this time and time again, unless you're going to overclock your RAM(which is utterly pointless) buy the cheapest RAM they've got, 'gaming' RAM is for idiots...
 
ScottulusMaximus said:
I've said this time and time again, unless you're going to overclock your RAM(which is utterly pointless) buy the cheapest RAM they've got, 'gaming' RAM is for idiots...
Click to expand...

If you're building a budget rig (read home PC with some light gaming capabilities) AMD's A-Series APU's benefit from higher RAM clock speed, because the CPU and integrated GPU share the system memory, watched some benchmarks the other day where they compare 1333mhz with 2133mhz, and in some titles they got 20frames more with the higher RAM
 
Ahem, ''which is utterly pointless except in an incredibly small minority of cases that have absolutely nothing to do with what the poster asked...''

Better?
 
ScottulusMaximus said:
Ahem, ''which is utterly pointless except in an incredibly small minority of cases that have absolutely nothing to do with what the poster asked...''

Better?
Click to expand...

Better thanks:)

Next time quote the poster, so I can see whose question you're answering:p but yeah didn't mean to be funny, I was just impressed when I saw what big difference higher ram speeds makes on those APU's, so I thought I'd at it to this thread
 
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Wikkels88 said:
Better thanks:)

Next time quote the poster, so I can see whose question you're answering:p but yeah didn't mean to be funny, I was just impressed when I saw what big difference higher ram speeds makes on those APU's, so I thought I'd at it to this thread
Click to expand...

I was sure I clicked quote but it's been a long day... That is fairly interesting yes
 
ScottulusMaximus said:
I've said this time and time again, unless you're going to overclock your RAM(which is utterly pointless) buy the cheapest RAM they've got, 'gaming' RAM is for idiots...
Click to expand...
I hate these pointless statements. Some guys are still stuck 2 years ago when pricing of RAM was very low and for "gaming RAM" you payed R100 more. Value RAM and Gaming RAM cost the same nowadays!!! So why settle for cheap stuff when the good stuff costs the same?
 
EmileS said:
I hate these pointless statements. Some guys are still stuck 2 years ago when pricing of RAM was very low and for "gaming RAM" you payed R100 more. Value RAM and Gaming RAM cost the same nowadays!!!
Click to expand...

Because they're the same :p
 
Same ram, better looking heat sinks :)

I actually paid a bit cheaper than similar kits and got some nice ram with very nice black heatsinks that form a rifle if you look carefully. This works well for me in my case as it has a window and let's be honest, if you are styling your rig, who wants plain old ugly green ram? lol
 
So here is my new case, got it from Takealot for R711 (now R800 - I must have gotton lucky cause it was R800 on Wootware as well)
All around very happy with Takealot, COD is an absolute wonder!
2nun2fl.jpg

Also got 4 Blue LED fans from Takealot, in hindsight I should have went with 4 pin fans, these were all 3 pins.
30asxom.jpg

Eh, this was my first PC build.
sdcs4g.jpg

53vbkz.jpg


Did it 2 weeks ago actually, but LED's always look so **** in photo's that I eventually just said '**** it'.
As some of you may know I spray painted my fan and I/O panel blue because the silver was breaking the black look.
fu8js0.jpg



Case came with 1 top mounted 120mm LED fan, I added a second - which was a terrible job to do, there is a lot of plastic in this case that you can't just unscrew, it requires finicky clips and tugging and it was just all around a unpleasant experience to work it. Next time I'll definitely go for a more standard form factor case.

Added a bottom intake 120mm LED fan.
Case also had 2x80mm fans in the side panels which I wanted to replace with 80mm LED fans, but alas, the 80mm LED fans were too thick to fit, so now I am sitting with those >.>

Cable management was a disaster for a first timer, ended up just cable tying as much as I can to the back plate and forced the side panel on, ugh. I also needed to purchase a 4-pin to 4x3 pin adapter, which made my case look cluttered.


Things I still need to do

Add a CPU Cooler with 2xBlue LED fans.
Like this
350x700px-LL-5873f02e_IMG-20140318-00293.jpeg


Replace front fan with one that can force air (SP fans) through the hard drive cage. Replace the PoS Zalman LED fan mounted in the top, that fan is so crap.


Things to note, the Zalman Z11 Plus case's USB 3.0 front ports are not built in, you need to run a cable to the mobo, which my mobo did not support, so I only have 2 usable front ports out of 4, but I honestly don't care because all I connect any of my USB ports to are peripherals, I don't even own an external HDD.
 
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Replaced my front 120mm LED fan with a Xigmatek 120mm LED fan, holy balls this thing motors!

Then put the old blue led fan in another fans spot.

2mmozq.png
 
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Time for a new PC,
Thoughts please?

PowerColor AXR9 280X 3GBD5-T2DHE/OC TurboDuo RADEON R9 280X 3GB 384bit PCI Express 3.0 Desktop Graphics Card


AMD FX-4300 Vishera Black Edition 3.8GHz (4.0GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ Desktop CPU



MSI 970A-G46 970 Chipset AM3+ ATX Desktop Motherboard


Kingston KHX1600C9D3B1K2/8GX Hyper X 8GB 1600MHz DDR3 CL9 240-Pin 1.65V Desktop Memory



Western Digital Caviar Blue WD10EZEX 1TB, 64MB Cache, Sata6G, 7200rpm Internal Hard Drive


DVD Writer


Thermaltake Versa H21 Mid-Tower ATX Windowed Chassis



seasonic-m12ii-620-bronze-620watts-80-plus-bronze-certified-semi-modular-desktop-power-supply.html
R1160
 
DrewChan said:
Time for a new PC,
Thoughts please?

PowerColor AXR9 280X 3GBD5-T2DHE/OC TurboDuo RADEON R9 280X 3GB 384bit PCI Express 3.0 Desktop Graphics Card


AMD FX-4300 Vishera Black Edition 3.8GHz (4.0GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ Desktop CPU



MSI 970A-G46 970 Chipset AM3+ ATX Desktop Motherboard


Kingston KHX1600C9D3B1K2/8GX Hyper X 8GB 1600MHz DDR3 CL9 240-Pin 1.65V Desktop Memory



Western Digital Caviar Blue WD10EZEX 1TB, 64MB Cache, Sata6G, 7200rpm Internal Hard Drive


DVD Writer


Thermaltake Versa H21 Mid-Tower ATX Windowed Chassis



seasonic-m12ii-620-bronze-620watts-80-plus-bronze-certified-semi-modular-desktop-power-supply.html
R1160
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What is your budget? What games do you plan on playing?

Looks good, great choice on the GPU.

That mobo looks decent specs wise, I looked at the Newegg reviews and it's a mixed bag of people saying it sucks and others loving it. You can read it here I'll leave that decision to you: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130637
Do you plan on OC'ing?

Why did you want a FX-4300? If you compare benchmarks an i3-4330 is superior despite being a dual core. So unless you're getting the FX for cheaper or plan on upgrading to a 8320 in the future, I don't understand that choice.

Any particular reason you wanted 1600 RAM? I don't know the price you're paying but generally 1333MHz is cheaper and you are better off getting 4gb DDR3 x2 in dual channel. It will be faster than 1600 x 8, but the overall difference is actually quite negligible especially for gaming. So get what is cheapest. If you can save R200 on your RAM you can probably get a FX-6300 more easily which is imo a far more balanced gaming setup with your 280x.

PSU looks perfect.
Case is very nice.
 
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UsernameLadiesMan217 said:
Also that Case supports front USB 3.0 Ports, but mobo has lack of USB-3.0 for front panel
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Awesome, thanks for so much feedback. Will look into the i3, cpu was because I already have an amd fm3 mobo and deciding whether to give the whole thing to the GF or salvage some parts to save cash :)
 
DrewChan said:
Awesome, thanks for so much feedback. Will look into the i3, cpu was because I already have an amd fm3 mobo and deciding whether to give the whole thing to the GF or salvage some parts to save cash :)
Click to expand...

From what I've heard the speed of the RAM makes a big difference to performance on AMD and 2133 is mostly recommended to get the most from your cpu.
Maybe just Google it and make sure I'm not talking out my behind. But I'm pretty sure I read that about AMD.
With Intel you can get the 1333 modules no problem.
 
hey guys
gonna start my first build soon
wanted to go SFF with a mini-itx build

The list I have so far:
Gigabyte Z87N-WIFI Socket 1150 Mini-ITX Motherboard
Intel Boxed Pentium G3220 - 3.00GHz Dual Core Processor - Socket 1150 - Will go i5 when I can
Seasonic M12II 80 Plus Bronze Modular Power Supply - 520W
Cooler Master Elite 120 Advance Version - No PSU - Actually wanted to get the 130 before the Takealot vouchers came out but at R222 I cant complain!

Getting ram from carbonite and already have a HDD

What you guys think?
 
rodga said:
hey guys
gonna start my first build soon
wanted to go SFF with a mini-itx build

The list I have so far:
Gigabyte Z87N-WIFI Socket 1150 Mini-ITX Motherboard
Intel Boxed Pentium G3220 - 3.00GHz Dual Core Processor - Socket 1150 - Will go i5 when I can
Seasonic M12II 80 Plus Bronze Modular Power Supply - 520W
Cooler Master Elite 120 Advance Version - No PSU - Actually wanted to get the 130 before the Takealot vouchers came out but at R222 I cant complain!

Getting ram from carbonite and already have a HDD

What you guys think?
Click to expand...

Myself and rodga's build are almost the same, unfortunately he has more money to spend than I do lol.

Gigabyte GA-B85N Phoenix Mini ITX Haswell 1150 board
WD Blue 500GB 3.5 inch SATAIII Hard Drive - 16MB
Cooler Master Elite 120 Advance Version - No PSU
Crucial Ballistix Tactical Tracer DDR3 1866 Gaming Memory - 4GB
Thermaltake LitePower 450 Watt Power Supply -
Intel Boxed Pentium G3220 - 3.00GHz Dual Core Processor - Socket 1150
*
Hardly any gaming so should be good with no GPU.

Rodga, will post pics soon.
 
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