Project: Dark Storm - Finally Complete :)

[WelshDdraig]

Project: Dark Storm

By: Alexp10v2

 

The goal: To build a new system on a budget of £1200 or less 

My first build on LTT

PcPartPicker Link: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/Alexp10v2/saved/TvbdnQ

 

The Needs:

Fairly good performance in games due to the recent performance issues surrounding PC games

(Cough, Ubisoft, Cough)

To have a fairly long life cycle: At least 3-4 years

To be able to cope with College work, such as Photoshop and animation

To make the needed jump to 1080p - Welcome to 2007

(Currently on crappy 768p, would like 16:10, but panels are so expensive compared to 16:9)

 

 

The Parts List:

Intel Core i5 4690k                                            - Purchased

Phanteks PH-TC14PE Black and White               - Purchased

ASRock Z97 Extreme4                                      - Purchased

Kingston HyperX Fury Black 16GB 1866MHz - Purchased

Gigabyte GTX 970 G1 Gaming                         - Purchased*

OCZ Arc100 120GB SSD                                   - Purchased

Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB                       - Purchased

Bog-Standard LG Optical Drive                         - Purchased

TP-Link WDN4800 Dual Band WiFi Card        - Purchased

Corsair HX750 750W PSU                                 - Purchased*

Phanteks Enthoo Pro Black Windowed              - Purchased

AOC E2460SH 1080p 1ms TN Panel                - Purchased

Roccat Kova[+] Mouse                                      - Purchased

Razer Backwidow 2014 Expert Keyboard         - Purchased

*=Manufacturer Refurbished (Saved about £90)

Total = £1190.28 (All appropriate links used LinusTechTips affiliation)

 

Main goals of the system - Gaming, College Work, and maybe experiment with the Devil known as Mac OSX

 

Pictures to follow shortly

I apologise in advance for any poor picture quality, my phone does not take the best pictures and I don't have access to a decent digital  camera, yet. Considering picking up a DSLR to start to get into photography.

See Update 1.2

[WelshDdraig]

UPDATE 1:

 

Just Purchased 3 new parts for the set-up:

Roccat Sense Mouse Mat

Asus Xonar DGX 7.1 Sound Card

Logitech Z506 5.1 Surround System

 

Last item to acquire - A Desk, off to Ikea I go!

 

Went to get a camera, the two shops I went to, both out of stock. Typical. I'll try somewhere else tomorrow.

Any recommendations? 

I want a nice DSLR as I want to get into photography more than just phone snaps. (£350 or Less) been thinking of the Sony Alpha 58 or the Canon 1200D

(I really want a 650D/700D, but way out of my price bracket)

 

End of Update 1

[Rheinwasser]

 

(I really want a 650D/700D, but way out of my price bracket)

 

nikon d5200?

or maybe used?

[WelshDdraig]

nikon d5200?

or maybe used?

Just managed to get a new Canon 700D (Kit Lens) and a tripod. Thanks for your suggestion though

[WelshDdraig]

UPDATE 1.2:

 

Just purchased a Canon 700D and a Tripod, for just over £400.

Total Cost so far: Around £1700 (£500 more than I originally expected, but I'll get loads of use out of this system and accessories)

 

End of Update 1.2

[WelshDdraig]

Update 2:

 

Parcel 1 out 3 has just arrived from Amazon, No pics yet as waiting for my camera to be delivered.

 

Contents:

 

Intel Core i5 4690K

ASRock Z97 Extreme4

Kingston HyperX Fury Black 16GB DDR3 @ 1866MHz

TP-Link WDN4800 Dual Band WiFi Card

[WelshDdraig]

Update 3:

 

A gigantic parcel has just arrived from Amazon (so that's 2 out of 3) next Amazon parcel will most probably be tomorrow (Friday 16^th Jan) 

Expecting Parcels from Scan and OverclockersUK now. Should be here within 3 hours

 

Contains:

 

Razer BlackWidow 2014 (Razer Green Switch, no backlight)

AOC E2460SH 24 inch 1080p Monitor

[WelshDdraig]

Update 4:

 

3 parcels just arrived from Scan containing

1x Phanteks PH-TC14PE Black and White CPU Cooler

1x LG Optical Drive

1x Referbished Corsair HX750 PSU

1x Phanteks Enthoo Pro Black with Window.

 

Just waiting for OCUK to deliver my GPU and for Amazon to ship my final parcel, along with waiting for my camera to be shipped to me. 

[WelshDdraig]

Update 4.5

 

So, My GPU never arrived today, Kind of disappointed as OCUK and the delivery company themselves said I would have received it today, Opened up an "Order Information request" Hopefully I will get a reply tomorrow as it is out of hours now.

 

Also, I knew the Phanteks was a big case, but holy shit I didn't expect it to be that big. No pics still, unfortunatly

[Jumper118]

 

Update 4.5

 

So, My GPU never arrived today, Kind of disappointed as OCUK and the delivery company themselves said I would have received it today, Opened up an "Order Information request" Hopefully I will get a reply tomorrow as it is out of hours now.

 

Also, I knew the Phanteks was a big case, but holy shit I didn't expect it to be that big. No pics still, unfortunatly

 

needs pics!

[WelshDdraig]

needs pics!

Will do so asap, waiting for more components and my camera should be here tomorrow (Friday 16^th Jan) Can't use my phone even if I wanted to as I sort of dropped it, shattered the glass and water got into it. (stupid Wales for raining)

[Albatross]

The rig looks great so far though. Hurry with those pictures though.

 

Are you going to sleeve this computer?

[WelshDdraig]

The rig looks great so far though. Hurry with those pictures though.

 

Are you going to sleeve this computer?

I'm doing my best on getting pictures. Hang in there.

[WelshDdraig]

Update 4.6 - Brace Yourselves, It's A Long One.

 

So, OverclockersUK in their infinite wisdom had a phone call from a person requesting the order to be cancelled as a fraudulent transaction.

I never made that phone call. So they cancelled the order with the only authorisation request being,

the last 4 digits of my bank card. Didn't bother phoning the number (my mobile/cell phone) linked to the account. They just cancelled it there and then.

After being on the phone, talking to 3 different people (one of them being a manager as neither the two customer reps knew what to do)

and a trip down my local bank, the item should be delivered tomorrow. (Should being the key word)

 

​I am very disappointed at the service I have received by OverclockersUK. This is the first time I have used their service and will most defiantly be the last time as well. I decided to give them a try due to a friends previous experience. Never again. OverclockersUK, you have lost a customer, and I hope that by me bringing this issue to light, people will avoid using your service in the future.

 

On a more cheery topic, My WD 1TB Blue drive just arrived along with my new Canon 700D camera.

(Finding it hard to stay calm as I'm so Excited)

[ShadowCaptain]

 

overclockersUK. 

 

 

used them hundreds of times, strange

[MoDtEc]

ocUK messing things up is strange, they're partners (or owned by, i dont know actually) from the German store "caseking" which offer one of the best services around. I'd expected overclockersUK to be as good

 

oh and subbed btw

[WelshDdraig]

used them hundreds of times, strange

ocUK messing things up is strange, they're partners (or owned by, i dont know actually) from the German store "caseking" which offer one of the best services around. I'd expected overclockersUK to be as good

 

oh and subbed btw

Well, It could just be a one off issue, but its an issue that has resulting them losing me as a customer. If others want to continue using them, fair enough, these are just my opinions about the company after my experience. 

[ShadowCaptain]

Well, It could just be a one off issue, but its an issue that has resulting them losing me as a customer. If others want to continue using them, fair enough, these are just my opinions about the company after my experience. 

 

Yeah absolutely that's fair enough, just nothing that its a not something I commonly hear

 

I use scan an awful lot, but have had them cock an order up once or twice, it happens, and like I use MSI stuff a lot, but I have had a dead card from them, shit happens i cock up at work all the damn time

 

Anyway, if you feel safer shopping elsewhere then that's cool too

[MoDtEc]

Well, It could just be a one off issue, but its an issue that has resulting them losing me as a customer. If others want to continue using them, fair enough, these are just my opinions about the company after my experience. 

just said it was strange id do the same too if i was in your place there

[WelshDdraig]

Update 4.7

 

Just purchased another Monitor, This time a PLS Panel from Samsung, for me to use in Photoshop and with my Camera.

Pics to follow within the next few hours. The Build should be built over the coming weekend/throughout next week.

[WelshDdraig]

I haven't taken any pictures of the CPU Cooler installation and motherboard installation as I am so annoyed with the CPU cooler. Spent about 2 hours just figuring out how the CPU cooler installs. 

 

There will be pictures from now on, I hope.....

[WelshDdraig]

Update 5

 

So my GTX 970 finally arrived from OverclockersUK. All I am waiting on is my SSD and mouse from Amazon and

I should be good to show pictures as soon as I have set everything up. I need to disassemble some draws, move my bed so I can put desk there

and I should be done. 
 

[WelshDdraig]

Major Update

 

So, my GTX 970 decided to Kill my Motherboard. I have asked for a Refund from Amazon once they recieve the item.

I am now looking for another motherboard, any suggestions?

Must be Z97, and at a maximum of £110. It also has to look good, so none of the ghastly gold that Asus and Gigabyte has started using.

 

End of Update.

[SoftenButterCream]

 

Major Update

 

So, my GTX 970 decided to Kill my Motherboard. I have asked for a Refund from Amazon once they recieve the item.

I am now looking for another motherboard, any suggestions?

Must be Z97, and at a maximum of £110. It also has to look good, so none of the ghastly gold that Asus and Gigabyte has started using.

 

End of Update.

 

Um MSI Z97 Krait?

[WelshDdraig]

It's Alive!

 

I just thought to try my motherboard one more time before sending it back and it has decided to start working again!!!!!

But for how long is the question.