The Sapphire Dragon

[Sapphire Dragon]

Hello,

 

I've been a Mac user for just about my whole life, and with my trusty Mac Book pro about to die, I looked at getting a new one... Once I found out just how expensive a new 15" laptop would be, I decided that I'd build my own PC.

 

I got some very useful advice for part selection:

Motherboards: As long as you are getting a decent one, then its personal choice, but most of all the price premium isn't always worth it. I was recommended a cheaper motherboard, but the price difference wasn't enough to sway me (In America the difference was $50-60, here in Australia it was $15).

Case: I went over board on the case, and I don't regret it.

GPU: I was told to put more money into it and didn't but I'm very happy with it regardless.

Processor: an I7 is not the best choice for everyone, but for me it was one of the best choices I've made. For games it makes no improvement, in every day use, same, no improvement. But for Engineering, it was worth every cent.

 

So this is my computer. The Sapphire Dragon: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/user/Sapphire_Dragon/saved/LggQzy

I wanted to build a masterful PC for less than a new 15" macbook pro. I have done that. Everything in this build is orange (except the GPU, thanks for the painting tips Linus, I'll be doing that soon), Orange LED fans, Orange Cables, Orange Motherboard, Orange RAM, you get the idea. Building this rig was easy, I followed a few of Linus's guides, and with in a 2 hours I had a computer. The hardest part was cable management, there are so many cables already in this case, than all all the power supply cables and orange cable extensions and you have a real mess. How ever from the front it looks amazing, and there is so much space in the back and down the bottom that it doesn't look to bad.

 

Upon booting it I had trouble with the BIOS, it is to big for my screen, and when I try to change it to HD it tells me it cant. but by using F2 and going to the default it works fine. Everything els was breezy, it took an hour to get up an running properly, I used Nineite to get all the programs I wanted, and then started gaming.

 

Peripherals: 

 

Mouse: Cyborg Rat MMO7, I've had this mouse for years and I love it, I've customised it to fit my hand perfectly, and i love the equivalent D-Pad button on it, as well as all of the other 6 buttons and hold click functions.

 

Keyboard: Cyborg STRIKE 7, I wish it had mechanical keys. If it did it would be perfect, but my parents got it for me, and even with out mechanical keys I love it. The touch screen on it can be used control everything, the best thing is individual volume controls for each program.

 

Monitor: Samsung 27" LED Monitor S27A950D. Its 120 htz, full 3D etc. etc. Its fine for me, I wish I could mount it, but it is so thin, and has no way to remove the base and no way of mounting it. Its clear as day, and I've never seen a problem with the colour, but I'm not to picky when it comes to monitors, my dad had a terrible one, so all the new ones seem amazing to me. It also takes inputs from everything, hooked up to all at once it my PC (Display port), xbox (HDMI) and my mac (DVI).

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/CqkxRB

Price breakdown by merchant: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/CqkxRB/by_merchant/

 

There are some discrepancies: The GPU is 4gb, and my cpu cooler is the stock intel one.

 

CPU:                         Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($395.00 @ CPL Online)  

Motherboard:           Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SOC FORCE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($249.00 @ CPL Online) 

Memory:                   Crucial Ballistix Smart Tracer 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($209.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Storage:                   Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($83.00 @ Centre Com) 

Video Card:              MSI Radeon R9 270X 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card  ($235.00 @ Centre Com) 

Case:                       Cooler Master Cosmos II (Black) ATX Full Tower Case  ($375.00 @ CPL Online) 

Power Supply:          SeaSonic X Series 1050W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($279.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Optical Drive:           Samsung SH-224DB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer  ($20.00 @ Mwave Australia) 

Operating System:   Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($115.00 @ CPL Online) 

 

Case Fan: BitFenix BFF-BLF-12025O-RP 43.5 CFM 120mm  Fan  ($8.00 @ CPL Online) 

Case Fan: BitFenix BFF-BLF-12025O-RP 43.5 CFM 120mm  Fan  ($8.00 @ CPL Online) 

Case Fan: BitFenix BFF-BLF-12025O-RP 43.5 CFM 120mm  Fan  ($8.00 @ CPL Online) 

Case Fan: BitFenix BFF-BLF-12025O-RP 43.5 CFM 120mm  Fan  ($8.00 @ CPL Online) 

 

Other: BitFenix Sleeved 24pin ATX Extension Cable 30cm Orange ($9.50)

Other: BitFenix 8pin EPS 12V Extension Cable 45cm Orange ($9.00)

Other: BitFenix Sleeved 6-Pin VGA Power Cable 45cm Orange ($9.00)

Other: BitFenix Sleeved 6-Pin VGA Power Cable 45cm Orange ($9.00)

Other: BitFenix 4pin ATX Extension Cable 45cm Orange ($7.00)

Other: BitFenix Sleeved SATA III Cable 180 Degree 30cm Orange ($9.00)

Other: BitFenix Sleeved SATA III Cable 180 Degree 30cm Orange ($9.00)

Other: Aerocool Shark Fan 140mm Black/Orange Fan ($16.00)

Other: Aerocool Shark Fan 140mm Black/Orange Fan ($16.00)

 

Total: $2234.50

 

Part Review:

 

GPU: Firstly It has 4gb of DDR5. This card is amazing for the Price. I'm playing Warframe at 120 fps with everything maxed. It drops to 90 in the rain, but other than that it never drops below 105. I have no complaints.

 

CPU: I haven't started over clocking because there was a problem with my H100i so I'm using the intel stock cooler, but even with out over clocking this thing is a beast. It can handle anything thing gaming, engineering or general use that I throw at it.

 

SSD: Get one. I can boot in 2 seconds flat.

 

RAM: Orange glow emanating out of the bottom and orange LEDs that flow faster the more the memory is used on top, I love it. I would have liked it to be in the 1866 - 2133 htz range, but 1600 still seems fine to me. And with 16gb nothing seems to need to load.

 

Case fans: The stock Cooler maser ones are fine, I'm using so many that they are all running at low RPM though the built in fan controler, and the system is quite. EXEPT for the Shark fans. I've had this system for a week and one has already broken, and they other seems incapable of running as a top exhaust, that are also loud, the system is near silent with them off, but annoyingly loud when they are on. I will be replacing them with more BitFenix fans.

 

Case: I love the Cosmos II, its huge, everything fits and I have so many orange LEDs in it that it makes patters all over my roof and walls. I can't complain at all. For me, it was money well spent.

 

Conclusion:

I spent more on this computer than I should have, but It is exactly what I wanted, still cheaper than a new laptop, and when I open it up I feel a sense of pride. I love the Orange theme, everything is so clean, and its unique to me. In hind site I should have been more willing to accept advice, but non of my ideas where horrible, so I'll take the price premium because what I've ended up with is a computer the computer of my dreams.

Here are some Pictures of The Sapphire Dragon

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading, fell free to let me know what you think, what my upgrades should be, or to ask questions. This was my first ever PC build, and it was awesome!

 

[TheKDub]

I'm sorry but what?

 

"I've been a Mac user for just about my whole life, and with my trusty Mac Book pro about to die, I looked at getting a new one... Once I found out just how expensive a new 15" laptop would be, I decided that I'd build my own PC."

 

A mac user all your life, and found out how "Expensive" a new 15" laptop would be.... I guess its expensive compared to a toaster? compared to a mac I find that most 15" laptops are quite cheap.

 

 

Also very nice build, I'm not much of a fan of that case (Just looks ugly to me), but the rest of it looks nice.

[dragoon20005]

your desc say you got a 4GB card but the PCPartPicker say its a 2GB model

 

well i was expecting more MSI Dragon parts 

 

the front ports header could be routed towards the bottom grommets 

[Phllips]

Not sure if you mentioned this but ewwww stock cooler

[Sapphire Dragon]

Not sure if you mentioned this but ewwww stock cooler

I know, I am very ashamed, but my H100i didn't work, so I had to return it

 

 

your desc say you got a 4GB card but the PCPartPicker say its a 2GB model

 

well i was expecting more MSI Dragon parts 

 

the front ports header could be routed towards the bottom grommets 

 

Yep, I have the 4gb model, I'm not sure why it changes it to the 2gb, but on the Australian sight it just doesn't want to work properly.

[Sapphire Dragon]

I'm sorry but what?

 

"I've been a Mac user for just about my whole life, and with my trusty Mac Book pro about to die, I looked at getting a new one... Once I found out just how expensive a new 15" laptop would be, I decided that I'd build my own PC."

 

A mac user all your life, and found out how "Expensive" a new 15" laptop would be.... I guess its expensive compared to a toaster? compared to a mac I find that most 15" laptops are quite cheap.

 

 

Also very nice build, I'm not much of a fan of that case (Just looks ugly to me), but the rest of it looks nice.

 

Sorry, what I meant was that I didn't want to spend $2499 on a new Macbook 15". So I made my self a computer for less. I know I could find a decent 15" laptop for a lot less, but for me it was ether going to be a mac laptop or building a PC, and I think I made the right choice.

[Phllips]

I know, I am very ashamed, but my H100i didn't work, so I had to return it

 

Loving the cables i have blue ones

[pbenologa]

Called it "Sapphire Dragon" nothing blue in the build. 3/10. Should've called it Ruby Dragon. But that's just me.

[Luke]

Very nice. Looks great especially for a first ever build!

[Sapphire Dragon]

Called it "Sapphire Dragon" nothing blue in the build. 3/10. Should've called it Ruby Dragon. But that's just me.

Only the Rarest of Sapphires are orange :3 It occurs when they are around the right amount of Copper and Titanium. I think of it as a unique system.

 

 

Very nice. Looks great especially for a first ever build!

Thanks Luke, I love it! I am going to run the header under the motherboard as someone suggested though

[pbenologa]

Only the Rarest of Sapphires are orange :3 It occurs when they are around the right amount of Copper and Titanium. I think of it as a unique system.

Fair enough.

[FizzyFantom]

That's a very good looking build you've got there and powerful too. I personally really like the Cosmos II and I think it was a good choice for this build. Your cable runs are pretty clean and I like the red accents.

You could neaten up those front connectors by running them through the basement and maybe you should look at the front fans, the blue doesn't fit in with the red motherboard that well. Overall a very good build