My first build

[razaldo]

Budget & Location

Budget: KWD 85 (USD 280 approx.)

Location: Kuwait

 

Aim

1. Editing on DaVinci Resolve - editing videos shot on 4k from a mobile to be uploaded on YouTube

2. Gaming (COD4, Fortnite, GTA 5) - limited though

 

Monitors

Hooked up to TV (tight budget and space)

 

OS

Windows 8.1 - had purchased a key long back for a laptop that has since died

 

The story

I have taken apart a few PCs but never assembled one.

After selling off some of my electronics I have raised USD 280. I know that is not much, but a friend gifted me the CPU (i7 7700) and I had bought a GTX 960 for cheap that was being used with my laptop through an eGPU setup.

I have shopped the following parts:

CPU: i7 7700 (Free)

GPU: GTX 960 (Already owned)

SSD: Kingston 120GB (Already owned)

HDD: 500GB slim drive (Salvaged from old laptop)

Additional storage: Have an existing 1TB NAS

Mobo: Asus Prime H270M Plus (USD 111)

RAM: 8GB Curcial Ballistix (USD 99.5)

PSU: Corsair VS550 (USD 60)

Cooler: Stock intel (USD 11.5)

 

I landed the above within the budget. You will note that there is no PC Case - and that is because I opined that skipping out on the case helped me get more RAM. And in the mean while I can just wall mount the whole thing. An I have a power switch that I salvaged from a PC that one of my neighbours threw away.

 

There are two concerns though that I have:

1. The stock cooler: Though the CPU is the non-K version, I have concerns on how loud this might be. I wanted to get a low profile Cryorig - but that is not available locally. Not sure on how a tower cooler would impact the  mobo when wall mounted.

2. PSU: This was the last item I bought with what ever was left in budget. Ideally would have liked a CX430 - but that is also not available locally. The cheapest Bronze PSU would cost me twice as much.

 

Why am I here

Would like some guidance on wall mounting and building

This is my first build and I am sure to make some noob mistakes. I have already done a Linus with the CPU - dropping it while taking it out of the envelope it came in.

Comments on my planned upgrade in the future (after I sell some more electronics as they become obsolete):

1. Bronze PSU

2. PC Case

3. Additional 8GB RAM

4. GTX 1060 6GB (the holy grail for my given budget)

[Aidanlockett1]

buy a lower end mobo, if your buying a non overclockable chipset dont splurge for your budget. I would say an 500watt corsair or seasonic supply would be good and please get a case. Also make sure to get either a hyper 212 evo or t4 which ever is cheaper at the time.

[ArduinoBen]

If you want a 1060, you should get another 960 and do SLI IMO.

[Aidanlockett1]

I know its fairly vauge but seasonic is a very reliable brand above around 450 watts same goes for corsair. you need a goodcooler to keep the life of that 7700 going for some time. buy the cheapest case if you want to save money and please buy a b250m or b150m motherboard with good enough vrms for editing. Im using a 6600 and a b150m mobo, i edit and do other heavy work on it with astock cooler and its quite loud, also it gets hot on a stock cooler.

[razaldo]

6 minutes ago, Aidanlockett1 said:

buy a lower end mobo

The lowest mobo available is an B250 and that is USD20 cheaper - would go for that if the coolers I want were available

 

Buying a case - I have very limited space. The cases that would fit would be like the Fractal 202 - but those are premium cases. There is no space for a mid tower in my house.

 

Thanks for the heads up on the hyper 212 evo and t4

[Aidanlockett1]

1 minute ago, ArduinoBen said:

If you want a 1060, you should get another 960 and do SLI IMO.

960 sli is a little slower and unstable, if he holds onto the 960 and buys the next gen gpu then thats cool

[razaldo]

3 minutes ago, Aidanlockett1 said:

960 sli is a little slower and unstable, if he holds onto the 960 and buys the next gen gpu then thats cool

Also I would game on 1080p - do not really care much about the FPS as long as its higher than 30fps

 

 

[razaldo]

5 minutes ago, Aidanlockett1 said:

 also it gets hot on a stock cooler.

I am interested in this - how hot does it get? 

[ArduinoBen]

5 minutes ago, Aidanlockett1 said:

960 sli is a little slower and unstable, if he holds onto the 960 and buys the next gen gpu then thats cool

I guess he could sell the 960 then.  Would a 980 SLI 2 way be better?

 

[Aidanlockett1]

22 hours ago, ArduinoBen said:

I guess he could sell the 960 then.  Would a 980 SLI 2 way be better?

 

I wouldnt go sli in general. lack of support and generally 1 gpu vs 2 lower end in sli is better