Echostar001

For me it means something slightly different, 'most machine for the money' would be buying and using everything that has the best performance-to-cost ratio. Most bang for the buck, however, means that I'm going to take a little bit of time to make a machine that looks nice AND performs well. The water cooler fits the criteria of looking good, doing its job excellently, and as an added bonus is quieter than the cooler that comes with the CPU. And, yes, I could have used that $60 to buy a better mass storage solution or something, that really isn't a concern for me at the $1000-$1200 mark.

I chose that particular cooler for those two builds because I wanted these builds to all have a 'premium' feel and look. I also chose it as the water cooler would travel, as these parts lists could be used as an upgrade structure (which is how I'll probably use them)

Heya! So, after some thought I came to the conclusion that I could streamline and reinvent my original proposed PC; Project Baseclock. I now introduce to you Project Endgame, a series of 10 PC builds going up in $200 increments from $1000 to $3000. These machines are designed to fit what I would classify as the most machine for the money. I'm putting these up for your observation, consideration, possible admiration, and definite criticism. Enjoy! Endgame 1k -> https://pcpartpicker.com/user/RebelMindPCs/saved/HG7XLk Endgame 1.2k -> https://pcpartpicker.com/user/RebelMindPCs/saved/npy4D3 Endgame 1.4k -> https://pcpartpicker.com/user/RebelMindPCs/saved/TmnLkL Endgame 1.6k -> https://pcpartpicker.com/user/RebelMindPCs/saved/cFcTWZ Endgame 1.8k -> https://pcpartpicker.com/user/RebelMindPCs/saved/TqDcf7 Endgame 2k -> https://pcpartpicker.com/user/RebelMindPCs/saved/wFcTWZ Endgame 2.2k -> https://pcpartpicker.com/user/RebelMindPCs/saved/rXTJxr Endgame 2.4k -> https://pcpartpicker.com/user/RebelMindPCs/saved/hJj23C Engame 2.6k -> https://pcpartpicker.com/user/RebelMindPCs/saved/GzBcf7 Endgame 2.8k -> https://pcpartpicker.com/user/RebelMindPCs/saved/tFcTWZ Endgame 3k -> https://pcpartpicker.com/user/RebelMindPCs/saved/3DDcf7

I just really wasn't thinking there. Thanks for pointing that out! Found a 7200 2Tb barracuda from seagate for the same price

The choice of a founders edition card is because I intend to move to a 2x SLI custom water cooled loop in the future.

Alrighty, so this first machine is a simple word-processing and websurfing machine that I am building for my dear pops for Christmas! Just any input in general would be nice on this machine because I know that I don't know everything. >>http://pcpartpicker.com/list/FqxK7h And now to the second machine. This one is going to be my personal machine that I am planning to build as soon as I can save/raise/hoard enough cash to compile the peices. I call it Project BaseClock (Ver 3.1) as this pc is designed with upgrading in mind. Like, lots of upgrading. But anyway I'll get to those later. PBC is designed to be a gaming machine/work pc that will be able to handle pretty much anything I throw at it. Your thoughts, questions, concerns, recommendations, and donations are welcome. PBC3.1>>http://pcpartpicker.com/list/TPDMFd

Did some editing, thoughts? I know it's over my stated budget, but I could probably swing it http://pcpartpicker.com/list/v38d6X

I'm wanting to build the most powerful gaming machine that I can for under $2000 (US) For now it is only a singe-screen rig but I may update that in the future. I have a parts list which I will link in this post but as a newbie to all of this I am open to suggestions and advice! I am also thinking about water-cooling down the road, so that is something to be kept in mind. http://pcpartpicker.com/list/v38d6X <(Old machine) Machine Update! After carefully considering all of your wonderful replies, this is the updated machine. This is also still open to comments, thoughts, and critique http://pcpartpicker.com/list/v38d6X

So, I was thinking today about active chilled water cooling and how to improve upon it. In all of the guides and discussions I've seen about it there seems to be a consensus that a passive radiating section is not at all needed, since all radiators do is return the liquid to room temp and keep the whole loop there. And what we want with our chilled loop is liquid that is below room temp. Case closed. Nope. My theory is that a radiator section, when placed directly before the return to the chill box could actually make the system more efficient. Since there is a marked difference in the temp of the water in the chill box and the water that is cooling the machine, I think it makes complete sense to use a radiating section to cool that warm liquid down a bit to conserve the material that you're using to chill the liquid in the cooling chamber. (most of these I have seen use ice, so that is what I am basing my theory on) I would love to hear the communities thoughts on this!