I have done lots of research over the past couple weeks looking at review sites and forums, and I have a carefully crafted a parts list that should suit my gaming, Photoshop, video editing, and strange desire to have a fast computer needs. This will be my first build so any feedback will be appreciated.
My priorities are:
- Stability: I want this computer to be rock solid and never give a BSOD caused by incompatibility of hardware or low quality components.
- Quietness: I know I can't have a dead silent computer at this level of performance without going to major trouble, so I will be happy to compromise with a “quiet” computer.
- Performance: I like the cutting edge and am not afraid to get my feat wet with the latest and greatest, but I am completely willing to compromise with less than the best if need be.
- Case: Antec P183 V3 $150; this is one of the best “quiet” cases I have found, is well known, not exorbitantly expensive, and I like the aesthetics better than most cases; I would love a Silverstone Fortress FT02 but it is not worth $250; I also looked at the Fractal Define R3 but decided it was a slightly cheaper version of the P183.
- Motherboard: Asus P8P67 B3 $160 (when it's available, rumors are any time now); I decided to go with Asus over Gigabyte because I need Firewire; I decided on the P8P67 over the P8P67 Pro because I have never used SLI in my current system and do not think I will ever use it in my new one.
- PSU: Antec CP-850 850W $120; I know this is way overkill for my rig, but it came down to the Antec or the SeaSonic X650 and I decided the Antec would be more future proof.
- CPU: Intel i5-2500K Sandy Bridge $230; best bang for your buck with top of the line performance; I will experiment with a small overclock.
- CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-C12P $75; It is the best silentpcreview.com reviewed top down cooler, and with my hope to use the least number of case fans possible, the added benefit of top down cooling should help keep air moving.
- Ram: Corsair 2 x 4GB DDR3 1333 $75 (with rebate); I do lots of Photoshop with big raw photo files and I decided a upgrade from my current of 4GB was well in order; a slight premium for the Corsair but it is well worth it for the reliability.
- GPU: I will use my exesting Nvidia GTX 470; it will most likely be the the loudest thing in the case, but hey, its what I have.
- OS Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB $60; I work with lots of big photo files and so I would like a fast drive (I’m not ready for a SSD), as far as I can tell this is a single platter drive (and so should be relatively quiet); Western Digital seems to be the most reliable brand.
- Data Hard Drive: I will be porting my current Seagate Barracuda ST3500320AS from my old system to my new.
- Optical Drive: I will also use my existing Pioneer DVR-115D drive
- Case Fans: I have two Noctua NF-S12B ULN(s) and one Noctua NF-S12 from my existing computer; I plan to place one ULN in the bottom front, in front of the hard drives, and the other in the back; I plan to put the S12 as a intake fan in the “middle”.
- OS: Windows 7 64-bit
*updated parts list below*
(green=I am getting this in less there is a very good argument not to) (orange=open for talk)
- Case: Antec P183 V3 $140.
- Motherboard: MSI P67A-GD55 (B3) $160.
- PSU: SeaSonic X650 650W $140.
- CPU: Intel i5-2500K Sandy Bridge $180 (at Micro Center).
- CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-C14 $90
- Ram: Corsair 2 x 4GB DDR3 1333 $75 (with rebate).
- GPU: I will use my exesting Nvidia GTX 470. I will add an after market cooler at a later date.
- OS Hard Drive: Micro Center 64GB SSD $100.
- For games, and other programs that will not fit on the 64GB SSD: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB $40.
- Data Hard Drive: I will be porting my current Seagate Barracuda ST3500320AS from my old system to my new
- Optical Drive: I will also use my existing Pioneer DVR-115D drive
- Case Fans: I have two Noctua NF-S12B ULN(s) and one Noctua NF-S12 from my existing computer
- OS: Windows 7 64-bit