First new PC in 8 years... Lets see how this goes!

[KeeghanM]

Hi There Forum!

 

So not only is this my first post here on the LTT forums (though I've been watching for almost 2 years), its also my first personal computer build in close to 8 years and my first at all in probably 6 or 7.

 

To give a bit of history, that PC build 8 years ago was also one of my first PC builds and put together from a bunch of hand me downs. Since its initial build, the only thing I have ever changed are the HDD's and a CPU Cooler. So, here is what that build looked like just before I officially retired it a week ago.

 

While that is a little deconstructed, its missing the HDD's and a few cables are unplugged.. that is 90% accurate to how it was being run for the last 6 months.

On its side. No side panel. Cables everywhere. Very sad.

 

However!

I finally took the plunge and bought the new components for a brand spanking new PC. The aim, to both play games and edit videos. With a bit of graphic design on the side.

So heres a run down of the specs:

• Gigabyte GA-970A-D3P AM3+ Motherboard
• AMD FX-8350 Eightcore 4.0/4.2 Ghz CPU
• Cooler Master HYPER 212 X Cooler
• 16GB (4x4) of G.Skill Ripjaws X RAM
• Gigabyte GTX960-G1 2GB OC Edition 
• Samsung 850 EVO 250GB SSD
• Seagate Barracuda 2TB HDD
• Corsair RM650 Fully Modular Power Supply

All housed in the beautiful Corsair Graphite 230T Orange and Black case.

 

My peripherals are a R.A.T 7 mouse, a Razor Black Widow Ultimate keyboard and the Razor Kraken 7.1 Chroma head set.

 

Now for the pictures, I unfortunately don't have any W.I.P photos, only ones from its current put together and running state.

 

The case, with its beautiful orange LED's:

 

Side View:

 

The NSFW shot of the case with its clothes off:

 

And the Cable (UN)Management:

 

Suffice it to say, I am bloody happy with my new PC. Having not built anything in 8 years, and certainly never worked with gear of this quality I thoroughly enjoyed the build process. I got to try my hand at cable management, something I've never done, and while it could do with some work I am fairly happy with how it all turned out.

 

The main issue with the cables I have with it at the moment are those bloody molex to 6 pin adapters coming from the 960. Unfortunately I ran out of 6 pin cables and thats all I had left, so I need to order some new ones and sort that out ASAP.

 

With that said, there is stuff still to be done. The keen eyed among you may have noticed that the parts list said a CM Hyper 212 X, but I'm running a stock cooler. Unfortunately where I bought my parts from was out of stock, so I have to wait a few weeks.

I also have a few other things so here is my...

 

To-Do List:

• Install CM Hyper 212 X when it arrives
• Replace the hideous molex to 6 pin adapters
• Change the WINDFORCE logo colour on the 960 to orange
• Paint the RAM heat spreaders orange
• Install a DVD drive (i have one, just out of SATA cables)
• Re-do the cable management in the back

 

Please let me know your thoughts below, anything I could have done better or think I should do now to improve it. And check back soon for updates on the To-Do list!

 

thanks,

Keeghan

[arronleeds]

should have gone for a 280x bro, 960 is pointless.

[Clyne]

Always special to see a FX 83XX build as most people recommend i5s nowadays.

Although make sure to Disable Turbocore and downvolt the 8350 as it would use less power/lower temps.

[HoiDaniel]

should have gone for a 280x bro, 960 is pointless.

false, 960 is a great choice for noise and heat reduction

 

i would love to have this built, damn

[Mao_Zedong]

should have gone for a 280x bro, 960 is pointless.

First off, this isn't the place to criticize people's part choices. Second, the 960 is very close to the 280x in performance, uses much less power, and is quieter,

[ybriK]

Yea 280X would've been a better choice in regards to pure performance.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Gigabyte/GTX_960_G1_Gaming/14.html

[Arty]

one problem, everything is black and orange expect that windforce logo maybe mod it later on?

-edit- im dumb.

post it when you change to orange.

[Murdoch]

This thread has reminded me how much better looking the internals of PCs are nowadays, compared with a decade ago.

[Arty]

Yea 280X would've been a better choice in regards to pure performance.

 

theres more to a gpu then raw performance

[ybriK]

theres more to a gpu then raw performance

Obviously... that's why I said "regards to pure performance" If you're talking about performance per watt then GTX 960 wins there. If you're talking about performance per dollar then that's location and time dependent. But if it's performance per dollar during release time then GTX 960 wins there.

[Swndlr]

theres more to a gpu then raw performance

+1

[arronleeds]

false, 960 is a great choice for noise and heat reduction

 

i would love to have this built, damn

I'm pretty sure anyone in the right mind would have performance over heat....

[arronleeds]

I see many nvidia fanboys here.

[KeeghanM]

Always special to see a FX 83XX build as most people recommend i5s nowadays.

Although make sure to Disable Turbocore and downvolt the 8350 as it would use less power/lower temps.

I originally was going with an i5, but I ended up getting both this and the mobo for cheaper!

 

one problem, everything is black and orange expect that windforce logo maybe mod it later on?

-edit- im dumb.

post it when you change to orange.

haha no worries! I will post photos, should be soon!

 

This thread has reminded me how much better looking the internals of PCs are nowadays, compared with a decade ago.

Tell me about it! I'm so surprised at how this turned out

 

I see many nvidia fanboys here.

I'll admit it, I'm a fanboy. And that is the main reason I got the 960.

[HoiDaniel]

I originally was going with an i5, but I ended up getting both this and the mobo for cheaper!

 

haha no worries! I will post photos, should be soon!

 

Tell me about it! I'm so surprised at how this turned out

 

I'll admit it, I'm a fanboy. And that is the main reason I got the 960.

HonestGuyKeeghan

[blackadder]

Nice, came from a 7 year build. It like walking into the light.