HASWELL-PC: The build that took me a year

[Speedbird]

Hello LTT Community.

 

Ever since I found out it's possible to build your own PC, I have always wanted to build one. I started making plans in mid 2014. The original plan was to have an i5 and a GT630 (derp). When I learned more about tech, and my needs changed, so did this build. This is the final result.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($284.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus Q87M-E/CSM Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($124.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  (Purchased)
Storage: Crucial MX200 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (Purchased)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive  (Purchased)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card  (Purchased)
Case: Corsair Air 240 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  (Purchased)
Power Supply: Corsair RM 450W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  (Purchased)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit)  ($89.75 @ OutletPC)
Total: $499.73
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-11 09:40 EDT-0400

 

This PC is designed to be a workstation, mostly for virtualisation. I chose the CPU and motherboard with Intel VT-d in mind. If you don't know know what it is, it is a technology that allows a virtual machine to have direct access to a hardware component, such as the GPU. This is also why I chose i7, and not a Xeon - if a VM is going to take the GTX 970, something has to be left for the host. This build will also be used for gaming. Mostly CS:GO, but I plan on trying games that require more powerful hardware, such as Battlefield 4 or Grand Theft Auto V.

 

Also, to anybody building in an Air 240 with a 970 - this Gigabyte Windforce card did fit. I have heard that the Asus Strix and MSI TwinFrozr do not.

 

Here's most of the parts laid out. The PSU is in the case already, and the RAM is somewhere on my desk.

 

CPU and RAM installed to the motherboard.

 

Will it work?

 

Yes it will.

 

PSU, SSD and HDD installed the rear of the case.

 

Motherboard installed.

 

Yes, it does fit. Stop saying it doesn't, PCPP.

 

And here is the finished result.

 

@JoaoPRSousa @FuzzyYellow @bear-in-the-air

 

[PlayStation 2]

if you were getting a locked i7 why the fuck did you not get a xeon e3-1231v3 instead

otherwise looks good

[Muz]

Fucking sick man, nice work.

[Speedbird]

if you were getting a locked i7 why the fuck did you not get a xeon e3-1231v3 instead

otherwise looks good

I think I mentioned this in the OP - I wanted the iGPU.

[PlayStation 2]

I think I mentioned this in the OP - I wanted the iGPU.

oh

okay then, i see where that can be used

[ANUPLUCIFERGAMER]

Pretty surprised you got a nice PC for <500$

[don_svetlio]

Neat - looking good.

Personally - I would have gone for a 550W PSU for future expansion but 450W is enough if you don't plan on OCing.

[JoaoPRSousa]

Air 240 :wub:

 

(Noobness incoming)

 

One little question, what are the differences between i.e. a H87/97 and a Q87?

[JoaoPRSousa]

Pretty surprised you got a nice PC for <500$

 

Under 500$? He had most of the stuff already

[sms1202]

You made a huge mistake(THE GTX 970)

The R9 390 is a better choice hands down

[don_svetlio]

You made a huge mistake(THE GTX 970)

The R9 390 is a better choice hands down

390 is a better card but the 970 is still decent.

Air 240 :wub:

 

(Noobness incoming)

 

One little question, what are the differences between i.e. a H87/97 and a Q87?

H97 is haswell refresh - H87 is haswell OG

Q87? no idea.

[Speedbird]

Pretty surprised you got a nice PC for <500$

I bought most of the parts months ago and marked them as purchased.

 

Neat - looking good.

Personally - I would have gone for a 550W PSU for future expansion but 450W is enough if you don't plan on OCing.

No way I can OC with this board and CPU.

 

Air 240 :wub:

 

(Noobness incoming)

 

One little question, what are the differences between i.e. a H87/97 and a Q87?

Q87 is a business-grade chipset with business-garde features like Intel vPro and VT-d

 

You made a huge mistake(THE GTX 970)

The R9 390 is a better choice hands down

I bought the card in December 2014. There was no R9 390 back then. Also, I wanted an NVIDIA card for flight simulation. Most tweaks only work on NVIDIA.

[ANUPLUCIFERGAMER]

Under 500$? He had most of the stuff already

Oh fuck. I didn't see that coming

[JoaoPRSousa]

H97 is haswell refresh - H87 is haswell OG

 

 

[don_svetlio]

I bought most of the parts months ago and marked them as purchased.

 

No way I can OC with this board and CPU.

 

Q87 is a business-grade chipset with business-garde features like Intel vPro and VT-d

 

I bought the card in December 2014. There was no R9 390 back then. Also, I wanted an NVIDIA card for flight simulation. Most tweaks only work on NVIDIA.

I was talking about OCing the GPU actually - The 970 can pull up to 300W post-OC and some models can go even higher than that.

[Speedbird]

I was talking about OCing the GPU actually - The 970 can pull up to 300W post-OC and some models can go even higher than that.

I'm not sure about OCing the GPU. Maybe I will do it.

[don_svetlio]

I'm not sure about OCing the GPU. Maybe I will do it.

If you do - upgrade the PSU before hand.

The RM while decent, are overpriced for what they are. The secondary capacitors aren't exactly great and it's CWT . ..  yeah.