Trying to cut costs with planned rig

[kuddlesworth9419]

I am thinking of getting an ATX PSU instead and just having it outside the rig or removing the HDD cage so I can fit a full length one is because they are considerably cheaper than SFS PSU's. If there is anything else I could swap out for a cheaper part that would me appreciated however the CPU cannot change. 

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/MSI-Z97I-AC-LGA1150-Motherboard/dp/B00K8KM9CO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1405460138&sr=8-2&keywords=MSI+Z97I+AC Mobo

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-363-SV&groupid=2362&catid=2279      Case

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-531-IN          CPU

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-Builder-Series-Bronze-Supply/dp/B009RMP14M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405450147&sr=8-1&keywords=Corsair+Builder+Series+CX+430W+V2       PSU

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-023-TG&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1180 RAM 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-SDSSDP-128G-G25-Internal-2-5-inch-Device/dp/B007ZW2LY4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405360183&sr=8-1&keywords=sandisk+ssd         SSD

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=KB-019-CS    Mouse

 

 

Total so far is £293.18

[DavidTheWin]

The monitor, keyboard and mouse are pretty overkill compared to the rest of the system but I'm guessing this is a living room PC type deal and you obviously want decent peripherals for that. That would be the first place I'd be looking to save though.

[kuddlesworth9419]

The monitor, keyboard and mouse are pretty overkill compared to the rest of the system but I'm guessing this is a living room PC type deal and you obviously want decent peripherals for that. That would be the first place I'd be looking to save though.

The keyboard and mouse cannot really change and the monitor can change but I want similar quality. Mice and keyboard are important and I really don't want to skimp on them as they are things you keep for a long time.

[DavidTheWin]

The keyboard and mouse cannot really change and the monitor can change but I want similar quality. Mice and keyboard are important and I really don't want to skimp on them as they are things you keep for a long time.

 

You have the option of picking up a keyboard and mouse for like £10 now then saving a little longer for those. You say "really cannot change", but there isn't anything you could really change about the hardware without making a serious compromise.

If you have a crappy keyboard and mouse spare that's useful. If you have a crappy case/psu/motherboard/etc it's useless.

[mooseducks86]

The keyboard and mouse cannot really change and the monitor can change but I want similar quality. Mice and keyboard are important and I really don't want to skimp on them as they are things you keep for a long time.

I just got that mouse on sale for $20 canadian. Shop around, you might be able to find a similar deal in England.

[kuddlesworth9419]

You have the option of picking up a keyboard and mouse for like £10 now then saving a little longer for those. You say "really cannot change", but there isn't anything you could really change about the hardware without making a serious compromise.

If you have a crappy keyboard and mouse spare that's useful. If you have a crappy case/psu/motherboard/etc it's useless.

I have a spare apple wireless keyboard that I just found under my bed. I will use that instead. That saves £69.99.

[Goodmane]

When they are sending you the parts if you can't update the bios, you might have to send it to service for them to upgrade it for you. Or you can just go 2 pounds higher for Z97 Msi PC Mate board. I mean It's only 2 pounds and I think it's worth the time saving there.

For computer Case if you don't have some extra room problem I can suggest Zalman Z3 Plus. 

There is Antec PSU 450W 80 plus.

And you can drop the wireless USB to 150Mbps TP-Link, unless you are planing to use 1Gbps internet and if you are I think a long custom made network cable, which all the electrician shop can make in 5 sec, is just much more better for that. I'm still using that very same adapter after 2 years. they've just upgraded the looks as far as i can see.

Sorry but I didn't calculated how much difference it would make in the end.

[kuddlesworth9419]

When they are sending you the parts if you can't update the bios, you might have to send it to service for them to upgrade it for you. Or you can just go 2 pounds higher for Z97 Msi PC Mate board. I mean It's only 2 pounds and I think it's worth the time saving there.

For computer Case if you don't have some extra room problem I can suggest Zalman Z3 Plus. 

There is Antec PSU 450W 80 plus.

And you can drop the wireless USB to 150Mbps TP-Link, unless you are planing to use 1Gbps internet and if you are I think a long custom made network cable, which all the electrician shop can make in 5 sec, is just much more better for that. I'm still using that very same adapter after 2 years. they've just upgraded the looks as far as i can see.

Sorry but I didn't calculated how much difference it would make in the end.

I also wanted to make sure that if I removed the HDD cage in the case (which I really wan to stay the same, I don't have much room left on my desk so it's going to be suspended underneath my desk) I would be able to fit a normal PSU in the case. It's meant to only take SFX PSU's but I think that is only because of the cage at the front. I am using an SSD so that can literally go anywhere. I found confirmation that if you remove the HDD cage which you can you can fit up to a 180mm PSU in there.

[Goodmane]

You can put case sideways behind monitor. Or raise the keyboard, put monitors stand under it and then put the case behind monitor.

 

Edit: Ooor, a crazy idea but you can open vesa mount holes on the side panel of case and just hang the monitor there.

[kuddlesworth9419]

You can put case sideways behind monitor. Or raise the keyboard, put monitors stand under it and then put the case behind monitor.

 

Edit: Ooor, a crazy idea but you can open vesa mount holes on the side panel of case and just hang the monitor there.

I plan on being able to take off the top panel and fitting a Noctua NHd-15 onto it upside down so I can overclock the CPU a bit. But that might not work so I could get a water cooler and drill some holes for the tubes and have the rad fitted outside. 

[kuddlesworth9419]

You can put case sideways behind monitor. Or raise the keyboard, put monitors stand under it and then put the case behind monitor.

 

Edit: Ooor, a crazy idea but you can open vesa mount holes on the side panel of case and just hang the monitor there.

Is the bios on the Asrock board faulty. I like that MSI board but it's too big to fit into the case. Also why would I have a problem updating the bios. It should already be up to date right out of the box.

[Goodmane]

No usually bios is what they installed at factory. And if the store have that motherboard sitting in their shelf for a year or so you are not going to get latest bios.

I don't know if things have changed since I got my PC, but You can't use a CPU that is not regocnized by your motherboard. So you won't be able to upgrade your bios without sending it back, or fitting a CPU that it supports. Because all you'll get is a black screen. No boot.

[kuddlesworth9419]

No usually bios is what they installed at factory. And if the store have that motherboard sitting in their shelf for a year or so you are not going to get latest bios.

I don't know if things have changed since I got my PC, but You can't use a CPU that is not regocnized by your motherboard. So you won't be able to upgrade your bios without sending it back, or fitting a CPU that it supports. Because all you'll get is a black screen. No boot.

Yea I looked at the latest bios updates for the board and there is an update to get the CPU to work. It's not a big deal though because I can just update the board's bios once I get it to recognise the CPU. Asrock uses instant flash so you can just load the bios files onto a USB drive plug it in boot up and enter bios and there should be an option for instant flash which recognises all usb devices and looks for files that are compatible with the board such as a bios update. It should go ok, if it doesn't I could just send it back. Overclockers has a very good service. I might even be able to ask them to update it for me there, but I will have to check that one.

[brob]

I am thinking of getting an ATX PSU instead and just having it outside the rig or removing the HDD cage so I can fit a full length one is because they are considerably cheaper than SFS PSU's. If there is anything else I could swap out for a cheaper part that would me appreciated however the CPU cannot change. 

 

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-120-AK       Mobo

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-363-SV&groupid=2362&catid=2279      Case

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-531-IN          CPU

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-Builder-Series-Bronze-Supply/dp/B009RMP14M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405450147&sr=8-1&keywords=Corsair+Builder+Series+CX+430W+V2       PSU

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-115-GL&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1180     RAM

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-WN727N-150Mbps-Wireless-Adapter/dp/B001WU2N1G/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1405449500&sr=8-3&keywords=tp+link+150mbps+usb      Wireless USB

http://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-SDSSDP-128G-G25-Internal-2-5-inch-Device/dp/B007ZW2LY4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405360183&sr=8-1&keywords=sandisk+ssd         SSD

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-UltraSharp-U2414H-Widescreen-Monitor/dp/B00H3JIGHA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405408331&sr=8-1&keywords=Dell+UltraSharp+U2414H     Monitor

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=KB-019-CS    Mouse

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TINY-WIRELESS-BLUETOOTH-ADAPTER-DONGLE/dp/B0013BFQUE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405449293&sr=8-1&keywords=bluetooth+usb Bluetooth USB

 

Total so far is £296.25

 

Choose a different case if you want to lower the cost significantly.

 

I can't suggest anything from your two vendors that will reduce the price. However, I would suggest you consider http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabyte-H87N-WIFI-Motherboard-Generation-Processors/dp/B00D8WH636/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405452665&sr=8-1&keywords=Gigabyte+GA-H87N-WIFI+Mini+ITX+LGA1150+Motherboard for the motherboard as it includes on-board WiFi and Bluetooth. This eliminates the need for separate components at a cost that is similar.

 

TeamGroup Elite 4GB (1x4GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Single Channel Module (TED34GM1333C901) has better timings than the memory part in your list. As does Kingston HyperX Fury Blue 4GB (1x4GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Single Channel Kit (HX313C9F/4).

[kuddlesworth9419]

Choose a different case if you want to lower the cost significantly.

 

I can't suggest anything from your two vendors that will reduce the price. However, I would suggest you consider http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabyte-H87N-WIFI-Motherboard-Generation-Processors/dp/B00D8WH636/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405452665&sr=8-1&keywords=Gigabyte+GA-H87N-WIFI+Mini+ITX+LGA1150+Motherboard for the motherboard as it includes on-board WiFi and Bluetooth. This eliminates the need for separate components at a cost that is similar.

 

TeamGroup Elite 4GB (1x4GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Single Channel Module (TED34GM1333C901) has better timings than the memory part in your list. As does Kingston HyperX Fury Blue 4GB (1x4GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Single Channel Kit (HX313C9F/4).

Thanks I will use them. But can you overclock with the Gigabyte board on the Anniversary CPU. Thanks man that helps a low. The case can change but it will have to be a similar form factor that has the potential to hold an ATX PSU otherwise it won't be small enough. The case is pretty cheap for what it is though. The price at the moment though is perfect just under £300 is great.

[brob]

Thanks I will use them. But can you overclock with the Gigabyte board on the Anniversary CPU. Thanks man that helps a low. The case can change but it will have to be a similar form factor that has the potential to hold an ATX PSU otherwise it won't be small enough. The case is pretty cheap for what it is though. The price at the moment though is perfect just under £300 is great.

 

Quick answer: No. But neither did the motherboard in the OP. The only company that has announced oc on other than Z97/87 is Asus. But I have yet to see anything from Asus that specifically mentions oc on a particular H81/H97/H87/B85 motherboard. What they do provide at http://www.asus.com/microsite/2014/MB/New_4th_gen_Intel_processor_compatibility/#models is a list of BIOS versions that support Devils Canyon cpu. I don't know if these BIOS versions are the ones mentioned in http://www.tomshardware.com/news/asus-overclocking-h87-h97-b85,27076.html.

[kuddlesworth9419]

Quick answer: No. But neither did the motherboard in the OP. The only company that has announced oc on other than Z97/87 is Asus. But I have yet to see anything from Asus that specifically mentions oc on a particular H81/H97/H87/B85 motherboard. What they do provide at http://www.asus.com/microsite/2014/MB/New_4th_gen_Intel_processor_compatibility/#models is a list of BIOS versions that support Devils Canyon cpu. I don't know if these BIOS versions are the ones mentioned in http://www.tomshardware.com/news/asus-overclocking-h87-h97-b85,27076.html.

Yea you can overclock with that board. Or at least this guy did.   http://forums.vr-zone.com/hardware-depot/2938533-gigabyte-h87n-wifi.html No I am mistaken. Intel blocked it. That is pretty shitty of them.

[kuddlesworth9419]

Turns out I cannot overclock on the Gigabyte motherboard because it's not a Z socket. Intel disabled it because they are stupid so I will have to pay £30 more to get a motherboard with OC capability.