[Build Log] LAN Gaming Build for LAN ETS event (www.lanets.ca)

[duality92]

To be clear, right off the bat, I'm not sponsored by LAN ETS. Sponsors will be listed lower. You can check the OCN thread at http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/293199-hwbot-world-tour-kicks-off-first-stop-north-america-lan-ets-in-montreal-canada/, for this event, I will be present all 3 days and I will be sitting in place N13 (see image at the bottom of this post. didn't want to clutter the top).

 

 

 

First off I want to welcome anyone visiting this thread and to thank you for taking the time to read and possibly follow my thread. The deadline for this build is March the 5th, but for peace of mind, I'd like to be done the 28th of February so I can perfect it. Keep in mind, this rig is 100% for gaming only, as I do not use my computer for anything else. Apart from folding, but I fold with the hardware I can. 

 

I choose to go with a mATX build because it features the expandability needed for a very powerful gaming rig, while reducing the foot print of an ATX system. Most higher end Z97 mATX motherboards now have the same features of their ATX counterparts, they just have a few less expansion slots. This includes power phases and DIMM slots just to name two important ones. I love putting extra attention to cable management, but I am not able to sleeve cables due to my budget having pretty much reached its limit already.

 

For this build I am open to any suggestions, criticism (good or bad), tips or anything really that could help me become a better builder.

 

Here is a list of the parts I will be using and why. (Green = have) (Red = waiting to receive) (Blue = undecided)

 

CPU – I can think of nothing better for gaming that an Intel i5 4690K, I don't need hyper threading as I do not play games like Arma 3 (which is better with an i7).

GPU – MSI Gaming GTX 970 4G, the thing is a beast at 1080p and is awesome at 1440p if and when I decide to upgrade my monitor. The 960 would've been too little and wouldn't have been an upgrade from my MSI Gaming 280X 3G and the GTX 980 would have been overkill for my setup.

RAM – I choose to go with G.Skill Trident X 2400 MHz C10, 2 * 4 GB. At the time the C9 kit wasn’t available at a reasonable price and quite honestly, the benefit in a gaming perspective is quite negligible. Fits the theme perfectly.

MOBO – MSI Z97M Gaming, Gaming build requires a gaming motherboard! Possibility for SLI, ATX size power phases, goes perfectly with my color scheme. It has so many gaming oriented features it’s perfect for this build. (Thanks to MSI for this!)

PSU – Antec EDG550, Seasonic G OEM PSU, 80+ Gold, Modular and the LED fan is what hooked me. It comes with rubber vibration dampeners which is great too if the power supply is horizontal (like most cases). 550W is plenty for this build and I would upgrade if ever I went for SLI. The sides of this PSU are perforated with plexiglass over it to keep the standard airflow path of a PSU. This combined with the LED is pretty darn appealing in my eyes.

Storage – Final storage will be settled once I find out which case I will be using. But I would like it to be able to use all my SSDs and HDDs. Which consists of a m.2 A-Data SP900 256 Gb (motherboard mounted), OCZ Vector 128 Gb (Origin, Battle.net gmaes) and Vertex 4 128 Gb (Steam Library) along with two Western Digital 2 Tb Greens for storage, mainly music, photography, videos, backups, etc. I would essentially like for it all be to away from sight though.

Case – I have not settle on this yet, I would be open to suggestion, but if I don’t find anything interesting I might be forced to go with the Bitfenix Prodigy M I have currently, but I’d rather not due to not being able to put much storage. Open to suggestions. I will be going with the Fractal Design Arc Mini R2. After discussion, it's the best case to fit my needs!

LAN add-on - Rosewill RNX-N250PCe, Wireless N300 Wi-Fi Adapter. In some LANs (at friends or what ever) it can be very convenient to have wireless on your PC!

 

 

Since this is a gaming build and I won’t always have my headphones on I will be going with water cooling so I can have quiet fans (or loud ones undervolted). I will be going with the following water cooling hardware and the reasoning behind it like the section above.

 

Radiator – EK-CoolStream 140mm, thick, low FPI that will get me good temps with low RPM fans. Adding a 280mm radiator just became a possibility, I could use one of my XSPC EX280 radiators. Very undecided on this at the moment because I'd have to use my red Monsoon Compressions with 1/2" tubing instead of the smaller tubing. I will check more once I receive the case. EK-CoolStream PE 360! Great rad, more than enough radiator space for my little 4690K!

Pump – Dazmode DDC pump, low profile, quiet and mountable on a reservoir

Reservoir – EK CSQ DDC Tube res, 100 ML. Compact, easy to fill, plexi glass tube to see coolant levels and three possible inlet ports.

Waterblock – XSPC Raystorm, low flow restriction, proven top contender. EK-Supremacy EVO in red! This will fit the theme so good and is one of the best (if not the best) waterblock on the market!

Fans – Bitfenix Spectre Pro Red LED 140mm, they fit the theme, they’re good for radiators and quiet when undervolted. I will be modding (if needed) the case to use 140mm fans. AND 3x EK-Vardar F4-120 for the EK radiator. Among the best radiator fans out there..

I will be using TFC 3/8”x1/2” red tubing PrimoChill Advanced LRT red tubing 3/8"x1/2" along with various angled fittings with EK CSQ 3/8”x1/2” chromed compression fittings. The red tubing will complement the colors of the build, while the chromed will go well with the nickel plated heat pipes from the MSI Gaming GTX 970 4G.

Coolant - I will be using EK-Koolant EVO Clear premixed to ensure I keep the rig low maintenance!

 

 

 

For gaming, peripherals are also really important so here is the list of items external to the actual computer I will be using.

 

Headphones are my old trusty pair of Phillips Stretch’s, they’ve been through hell and back a few times, but they almost still look like new.

Keyboard will be a high quality Ducky Shine 3 with white LED that will accent the build very nicely. This board is equipped fully with MX green switches. Green switches for those of you unfamiliar with these are like blues, but require a bit more force to be pressed. I like these switches because the tactile feedback is great and the force required to actuate a key is perfect for my jittery hands while gaming.

For a mouse, I will be using a Razer Deathadder 3.5G. I could’ve used my Cooler Master Recon, Mass Luminosity limited edition mouse to fit the theme, but I choose the DA because I’ve had it for about 4 years now (just realized how long I’ve had this mouse for), it’s a proven great FPS mouse, which is mostly what I play (Battlefield 3 and 4, CS:S and CS:GO). The scroll wheel was skipping and jittering about a year ago and I fixed that and now. For my palm grip, it’s perfect.

I usually use my webcam as a microphone, this is one department I’ve been lacking for ages. Any suggestion for something not too expensive, but good quality with a small footprint?

For a display, I'm still using a Dell ST2420L, 24" 1080p, it's not the best, but I really like the colors and the aesthetics are fine.

 

I know this might seem like a great big wall of text, but I want to thank you for taking the time to read through. Most my posts will be as detailed as this and I will log each day I get a chance to work on it. I hope you enjoy this as much as I will enjoy building this rig.

 

Note : All pictures will be taken with my Canon T1i with one of the three following lenses, standard 18-55mm, 50mm f1.8 and a second broken, but modified 50mm f1.8 (creates ghostly macro shots) or my Oneplus One.

 

[duality92]

Table of content

Got my case in the mail! (2015-02-13)

Blackout Arc Mini R2! (first one?) (2015-02-16)

A little tease for you guys on this Monday Morning? (2015-02-16)

EK hardware teaser shots! (2015-02-25)

Final picture before final pictures! (2015-03-02)

Final Pictures! (2015-03-09)

[duality92]

Done, thanks to all that followed 

 

[duality92]

Oh look what I just received in the mail!

 

[willemdoom1]

Subed!

[duality92]

So I think I might be the first with a blackout Arc Mini R2. I took my white Define R4 pci slots covers and HDD trays to have an all black theme. More to come tomorrow!

 

 

 

[duality92]

What if I give you guy a little tease with a pre-testing photo? (shrinked so you can't zoom to much and see some hidden details!)

 

I've added a 500 Gb Western Digital Blue to complete the 3 bay storage rack. (currently not connected, this board only has 4 sata ports. It's a temporary board and will remain blacked out until I get my new awesome MSI Z97M Gaming! biggrin.gif

 

Everything is coming back out so I didn't put much effort into the cable management. I just wanted to see how it looked overall.

 

I think the pattern on the sides of the Antec EDG550 compliments the mesh on the Fractal Design Arc Mini R2 very well! AND it's the same black! (surprisingly)

 

[duality92]

I'm starting to plan out my cable management along with tube routing, I've done tons, but would you guys have suggestions? It's pretty straight forward though.

[duality92]

waiting for another update

 

I can't wait to get moar parts I'm waiting to get the parts from MSI and EK. Should be another week! (I hope it's not much more as I want to overclock and perfect the rig before the unveiling at LAN ETS)

 

edit : right now I have the video card folding 24/7 @ 1521 core, I had it at 1541, but it didn't get me better ppd so I dropped it again.

 

"Clicky"

[duality92]

After discussing with LAN ETS, I will be doing the unveiling the 6th of March during the event so official finished pictures will be out the 7th of March

[duality92]

Time for a teaser

 

 

[duality92]

This will be my last picture post before the event  (100% unedited picture taken with my OnePlus One)

 

[duality92]

I have received all my parts finally!

 

I bought a Antec VP450 also for my HTPC that I will be using to power the pump for leak test so I was able to do all my cable management.

 

Things left to do before LAN ETS (in no particular order):

- Install LEDs (both types)

- Install all the watercooling

- Drill holes to mount the pump

- Overclock as much as I can

- Install Z97M Gaming to replace the current motherboard

- Plastidip the m.2 SSD and wireless card

- "Hide" the m.2 SSD and the other 2 SSD also.

 

I was a bit angry yesterday night, I finished assembling all the water cooling, filled it with the help of my lady friend, just to realize I had a 90° elbow that was leaking (literally at the elbow). So I had to turn the rig upside down so all the liquid could go down and empty the elbow and I had to replace it quickly with a 45° because I don't have anymore 90°s and I need the rig ready for the 6th (overclocking as much as possible takes time).

 

The 90° was an old unbranded that I got from a member here that he basically gave me, I should've tested it prior to using. Bad move on my part, lesson learned, no harm done, just tons of panic when I realized the paper towel was soaked.

 

The rig assembly is basically done, I just need to install my HDDs again.

 

I will be going through a heavy overclocking session tonight and tomorrow. I'm aiming for 5 GHz+ (I need to set the bar high) and 1600/2000 for the MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4G.

[duality92]

Couldn't leave you guys having without pictures!

 

 

 

[Random_her0]

Looks interesting, will check back to see how things are going

[duality92]

Dem feels...

 

[duality92]

Done, thanks to all that followed

 

[PhilBoisvert]

 

 

LanÉTS was awesome this years!! I was just next to the glass elevator with a modded potato on my desk!

[duality92]

LanÉTS was awesome this years!! I was just next to the glass elevator with a modded potato on my desk!

 

I probably passed by your spot a few times then