Description
Hello, this is my first build ever! I admit it was tougher than I initially thought, but that was due mainly to the size of the radiators for the GPU and the CPU. This case was amazing, and if you look at the pictures, (there’s two right now, but I will add more soon), you can see Project Xena engraved on the side. My friend Anthony Fiorello helped me by requesting a company to do the engraving especially for me. The case glows red and white at night, and is literally the jewel of my house. I have benchmarked this computer using Heaven Benchmark 4.0 and GFXBench GL. Both produced optimum results. I have little to no issue with games, and my computer has never been quieter.
This computer is also extremely efficient. The PSU has a 94% efficiency rating, the RAM is overclocked at 2666 MHz, and I have an SSD running my OS. In addition to efficiency, there is security. I have two passwords on my computer, the log on password and a boot password for my motherboard. Also, most of my computer is wireless, so it looks clean in the back as well as the front; I have a wireless keyboard, a wireless mouse, and a wireless network adapter.
The build was $2,900 when I purchased everything, and the reason I spent so much on a computer was for it to be not only a great computer now, but also in the future. Later, whenever I choose to, I can upgrade to 128GB of RAM, a 4K monitor, multiple SSDs, and add however many GPUs (as long as they can fit).
Now, some things that were mentioned to me was that I could’ve chosen to buy two GPUs and set them up, but the issue with that was that I had chosen to go with a cheaper CPU that only supports 28 lanes, so I couldn't run two GPUs at x16. The 295x2 can run at 16 lanes and still uses two GPU processors, (hence the x2 in the name). I understand that each processor of the GPU only has 4GB, but it’s enough for me.
Let me mention the issues with the PC: the secret box in the case was nearly impossible to take out because one of the tabs on the side was broken, one of the standoffs in the top left corner broke in the case (the motherboard isn't completely secure), the CPU socket was higher and the screws to the cooler barely reached it, the Ethernet port on the motherboard gave out after a week, the PSU was huge and so I had to push the radiator for the GPU beneath the HDD rack area, the dust filter for the bottom of the case had to be drilled in order to fit the heads of the screws for the GPU radiator, and the case came with a dent on the right panel (replacement panel hasn't arrived yet).
Also, if you have seen this build before, that’s because I had to recently download Microsoft Office and re-type everything. I just deleted it to start fresh.
I have also uploaded a video on YouTube called Computer Build: Project Xena. This is the full build, (or most of it), on video, with two time lapses, (the second one is in a lower resolution), and several pictures of the entire computer and the individual parts. Here's the URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CrVwH28bAk
Thanks goes to my friend Anthony Fiorello for not only helping me to get the case engraved but also helping me piece together the computer. I also want to thank Cooler Master support for being awesome. They helped in the best ways possible. Please comment below, (and subscribe to my channel!)
Part Reviews
CPU
Pretty good, it's a little slower than my original CPU that I chose, and has a 28 lane limit for PCIe, but handles the job pretty well.
CPU Cooler
Was nearly impossible to install on a LGA2011-3 socket. The screws come up short, literally. The LGA2011-v3 socket is higher than the original LGA2011 socket, so it was tough to put on. But other than that, it keeps my processor cool and is nearly silent.
Thermal Compound
Best there is, even though I had to apply it and remove it with cleaner about ten times (separate reason).
Motherboard
Awesome, but the Ethernet port died after a week.
Memory
Fast and reliable; it was detected with no problems.
Case
It's OK, I like the dust filter, the style, the handle, the SSD dock, but one of the standoffs that came with it broke off when being installed (the rest were fine), the secret box had to be removed for a radiator and was hard to take out because it had a tab broken, and the side panel came with a dent. Cooler Master support was pretty chill about it though.
Power Supply
It's a fat-*** PSU; I had to move my GPU radiator just because it was so big, but it gives no other problems and is extremely efficient.
Optical Drive
A little loud here and there, but it does what I want, (I haven't used the blu-ray feature because I have to get a separate program for it).
Operating System
Exactly like Windows 7 Home Premium, but utilizes my 16GB of memory. Easy to use and easy to install on an SSD.
Sound Card
I use it mainly for games that don't use the motherboard integrated audio card, so as far as I know, it's perfect.
Wireless Network Adapter
Makes my computer look so clean in the back, and it gives me a great Internet speed.
Comments