The Components
Bear in mind that this system is an experimental build. So you’ll get to go along for the full ride, including all the gotchas and warts I encountered. Sometimes you learn more from the mistakes and glitches than if everything went smoothly.
First, cost was no object. That didn’t mean I had a bottomless budget, but it did mean I wasn’t going to skimp on components. The goals for the system were pretty simple:
- Low power usage at idle
- Good gaming performance
- Very quiet
- Relatively small. It would be something you could lug around to LAN parties.
Let’s check out the component list.
|
Component |
Brand / Model |
Cost |
|
CPU |
Intel Core i5 661 |
$205 |
|
Motherboard |
Asus P7H55D-M EVO |
$135 |
|
CPU Cooler |
Scyther Big Shuriken Low |
$ 35 |
|
Memory |
4GB Patriot Viper II Sector 5 DDR3-1600 |
$110 |
|
Graphics Card |
XFX Radeon HD 5850 |
$299 |
|
Hard Drive |
OCZ Colossus 250GB 3.5” SSD |
$849 |
|
Optical Drive |
Asus BC-08B1ST Blu-ray combo drive |
$110 |
|
PSU |
Cooler Master Silent Plus Pro 500W |
$100 |
|
Case |
Silverstone SG04B-FH |
$159 |
|
OS |
Windows 7 Home Premium OEM x64 |
$105 |
|
Total |
|
$2,107 |
That’s over $2,100 for a dual core gaming rig. Of course, for the $850 cost of the SSD, you could practically build a new system. But we’re in the pursuit of knowledge here, so damn the cost and full speed ahead.
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pakotlar - Friday, January 29, 2010 - link
Right, because being informed is such clearly a waste of time. Glad I just bout $120 Monster Cables, and spent $2100 on a dual core PC in 2010. Thank Loyd, and thank you dear poster for re-enforcing my favorite slogan (I tattooed it on my face): Ignorance is bliss (at 20 an hour).xenor - Saturday, January 30, 2010 - link
Being OVER informed is what leads to baldness, strokes, heart attacks and early death.Shhhh..if we didn't have people spending way too much money on kit, then innovation and experimentation would signifcantly decrease.
A lot of research time on a car I'm going to drop $25k on(and another $10k maintaining) and own for 10 years makes sense. Stressing out about $500 I may or may not have spent in the best manner over a system which will lose my interest within 6 months.....yeah not so much.
One might question getting a slogan tattooed on your face though. Unless, of course, you're getting paid to market something...
pakotlar - Saturday, January 30, 2010 - link
I was going to market to GOP representatives :)xeopherith - Thursday, January 28, 2010 - link
I understand that this is the 6th page of comments and my opinions have already been stated in the previous.I do at least want to +bump these opinions though.
Did any intelligent thought go into picking these components?
Why is this article posted?
It isn't pushing some micro PC boundary or some other extreme...
I work as a system admin and when people ask me what I think about x product or how they would like to build a computer I point them to this site. I certainly wouldn't if it was full of these articles.
This is certainly blog quality and doesn't really deserve to be put anywhere on the front page.
notty22 - Thursday, January 28, 2010 - link
This is one , I don't get either. A third of the article telling us, yes these are crazy choices, but I chose them. Then a 1/3 telling us in depth what a bitch it was putting it together, yawn!So you had to put the hsf on before m/b installation, NO WAY. Then we held our breath with anticipation as you slipped in the video card, power connectors already in place, NICE, lol. I enjoy the ride of spending the money with you, but if there were 10 builds with various combination s, users would vote this rig last without even seeing the other selections.
Deosneos - Thursday, January 28, 2010 - link
I understand not having benched this build yet, but what I don't understand is just starting off a build with goals, a list of components and just start building.Why these components? Why this case, why not a cheaper, smaller SSD, why not another brand of graphics card with a quieter cooler?
Right now it just feels like buying the most expensive components and sticking them on a small mb in a small case et voila, money spent, job done.
AstroGuardian - Thursday, January 28, 2010 - link
What the hell are you asking that for? Why why why? Why not?The choice of hardware was only a sample and a suggestion. The purpose was a gaming rig! Why i7 when it can be i5?
And why the hell do you need benchmarks? Would the score be any different if it wasn't for the small form factor, the short cooler etc? No they wouldn't. So why are you asking for benchmarks? Don't you all seen the i5, 5850, SSD benchmarked?
Of course you have all seen it.
So stop ****** around and thank the man for showing the idea of great gaming machine in a small case.
Great post Loyd
AstroGuardian - Thursday, January 28, 2010 - link
What the hell are you asking that for? Why why why? Why not?The choice of hardware was only a sample and a suggestion. The purpose was a gaming rig! Why i7 when it can be i5?
And why the hell do you need benchmarks? Would the score be any different if it wasn't for the small form factor, the short cooler etc? No they wouldn't. So why are you asking for benchmarks? Don't you all seen the i5, 5850, SSD benchmarked?
Of course you have all seen it.
So stop ****** around and thank the man for showing the idea of great gaming machine in a small case.
Great post Loyd
Deosneos - Friday, January 29, 2010 - link
No thank you. I'm asking for information that in my eyes would make this article, you know, informative.No need to take this tone, I clearly don't stand alone in this opinion.
A smaller case does make a huge difference for overclocking, cooling etc, so yes, some info on those would have helped. Or, as the case is meant to be a quiet gaming rig, how about some noise figures?
Anandtech is hardly a showcase for rigs is it?
Teefs - Thursday, January 28, 2010 - link
I've been thinking about trying to do something similar. A few things I would do different:1. Use Antec p180 mini case (since it can fit a more powerful radeon 5870)
2. Use a Sapphire Radeon 5870 Vapor-X (it should have same idle power usage as a 5850 and the Vapor-x cooler should be quieter.)
3. Use an 80 plus gold rated power supply
4. Use a Corsair p256 SSD instead (it is cheaper, smaller and has slightly lower idle power usage)