PureFetus
Description
Introduction
This is my first computer build. I've always been on the fence on pulling the trigger on building a computer. Then one day after work, I decided to browse my local Micro Center. Next thing I know, I walk out with a CPU and Motherboard. A little weird, but I kind of got a rush out of this, a weird feeling that I can't quite explain. Also, my description is lengthy but I wanted it to be as comprehensive as I could make it. Anyway, I hope you like the build!
About Me
Hey everyone,
My name is Alain and I'm currently in college majoring in Mechanical Engineering. I'm finally proud to announce my brand new machine, Divisare. I named my particular machine Divisare, because it is derived from devise (not device). The archaic definition of devise: to imagine. I've been imagining of a system for years, and I found it the most fitting name. My first computer back in middle school was running on an Intel Pentium, 1 GB DDR2 RAM, and an old Nvidia graphics card with 128 MB of video memory. For the longest I could remember, I've always wanted a capable machine. I've never truly had a gaming machine of my own. During my first semester as a sophomore in college I decided to take a part time job as a graphic designer/student assistant. I took this job to as an opportunity to make income to pay student loans and possibly save some for a gaming rig. About a year later here we are. I've finally built the system of my dreams. For my first built system, I'm extremely proud to call it mine. And I couldn't be happier.
Parts
Intel i5-4690K: I went with this CPU as it seems to be the bread and butter of today's machines and I believe it proves itself worthy for the next few years to come before it starts to show it's age. Also, I originally wanted to go with a 4460, but for another $30.00 I saw that the long term investment of the 4690K was too good to pass up so I picked it up instead. I got this as part of a combo deal at Micro Center (Paid $199 for CPU, and $99 for MOBO w/ $30 off). In terms of overclocking, I'm in the early stages of learning how to. I'm in no rush to overclock, but I'll be sure to put up an update on when I do.
CRYORIG H7: In terms of actual cooling performance, it outperforms the EVO 212. And luckily it matches my color scheme. It was a bit awkward placing onto the motherboard since it screws in from the back. But once it's seated, it's held firmly in place. It's also quiet as well.
MSI Z97S SLI Krait Edition: I went with this motherboard for it's simplistic aesthetic. I find it sufficient in terms of upgradability in the future. Although in the process of buying all the parts, I did some research and found out that there are only 3 connectors for PWM (4-pin) fans. In order to compensate for this matter, I went a head and got a PWM splitter. For the most part, it's a great board. And I got a great deal on it too!
Kingston HyperX Fury White - 16GB: What can I say about the ram? Ram is ram right? Personally I like the heatsinks on this particular set of ram sticks. They're aggressive and look fantastic. And some of you may be wondering why I went with 16GB of ram instead of 8GB. I went with 16GB as I do some graphics work and do photography as well so I feel like the 16GB is a sweet spot in terms of performance with the programs I use, such as lightroom and indesign. In addition, I will be holding onto this computer for quite a while. And ram is one of the few things in the system that can be reused later on as well.
Samsung 850 EVO - 120GB: I've looked at plenty of SSD's, and this by far is one of the best performers. Read/write is quick, and for a high end system like this, an SSD is a welcome addition. My boot times for Windows are very quick. I reach the log in screen in less than 14 seconds. Very impressive.
Western Digital Caviar Blue - 1TB: As for storage, I needed a reliable and affordable solution. And the Western Digital Caviar Blue seems to fit that role perfectly. It's enough to store the games, photos, music, and documents that I'll accumulate. I suppose with the size of today's games I might fill it up faster that I would like, but I can always pick up another hard drive no problem.
Asus GeForce GTX 970 STRIX: This is a beast of a card. I've done my research and I've read that all 970's perform just about the same. The only differences are factory overclocked speeds, running temperature, and variations in overclockability. In my case, I went with the STRIX as it was the cheapest model out at the time. In addition, it's optimized for quiet gaming. The fans don't kick in until it reaches it's thermal threshold. Very cool. Sorry, pun was unintentional.
NZXT S340: Cases are always subjective. Some hate the aesthetic, some love it. Obviously, I take the latter. The subdued look is perfect. There aren't any obtrusive mesh panels nor crazy angles. It's simplicity is what won me over. Personally, the way I see it. It focuses on the main components of what makes the system with the large side panel window. Working inside the case in terms of cable management was a pleasure. The PSU shroud makes managing the cables hassle free as there was sufficient space between the hard drive cage and the PSU to place the cables. There are also plenty of tie down points which is a welcomed addition. Lastly the grommetless design is also a unique addition. Not only does it cover the cables, it also gives a nice contrast inside the case. It caters to my needs without any excess. It has enough room for expansion and it has great unrestricted airflow for my intake fans.
EVGA 750W B2: A 750W PSU might be overkill for this PC, but there's a reason why I got it. If at all I decided to SLI my 970, I have enough headroom for SLI and GPU overclocking. In addition, I decided not to skimp out on the PSU since it's going to be powering high quality components. If at any point the PSU fails. My expensive components go along with it. This tier 2 PSU is fantastic. And I got it for a fraction of what the typical price is.
Corsair Air Series SP120 Fans: I got these as intake fans for my case since the S340 did not come with any front fans. They provide ample static pressure and aren't that loud. There is a subtle hum, but it tends to drown out. One caveat of these fans are the rubber mounts. Screwing the fans take a bit of patience. In order to install the fans, I had to create grooves for the mounting screws in the rubber by screwing in and out. Besides that, these fans are a good deal.
Silverstone Sleeved Extension Cables: These extension cables are solely for dressing the build. They feel rigid and add a clean look to the case. The price is also not too bad. It's a great compliment to the build.
Final Thoughts
The process of building this computer was a learning experience. The way I can describe it is, building a computer is like working with large very expensive Lego pieces. I'm happy the way my build turned out. I think I did a pretty great job in terms of picking out the components. I look forward to playing all the latest games coming out. I'm not exactly too sure when, but I'll be picking up a new monitor soon. I'm considering getting a dual monitor setup. But I'm in no rush. So finishing things off, I'd like to say, I'd like to thank you for taking the time to look into my build. It's quite a bit to read, but hopefully it gives some insight into my build. Since I'm a first time builder I'll happy to read any feedback you guys have for me. Oh yeah! Hope you guys enjoy the photos!
Build Log
6/24/2015 - Started building
6/28/2015 - Completed Build Made on PCPartPicker, reseated the GPU to reduce sag
6/29/2015 - I'd like to thank everyone that took the time to look at the build! I also made it as a featured build on the front page! Awesome stuff. Evidently I've had some influence on people as well. Thank you everybody who commented/upvoted my build. I appreciate the love. :)
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