Heart of Gold - Build Update 1
What I have and what I need.
My new PC build, The Heart of Gold, is coming along nicely. Here鈥檚 what I have so far:
Processor
For the processor, I went with an Intel Core i5-6500. An i5 is probably the best CPU you can get for the money. Since the PC is mostly for gaming, getting an i7, or an unlocked i5 and overclocking, just isn鈥檛 necessary. Plus the most CPU intensive task is probably running Plex, which I currently run on a dual-core, older i3 without issues. The i5 should be more than capable enough to handle whatever I can throw at it.
Plus the locked version comes with a cooling fan. No separate CPU cooler required!
Motherboard
Motherboards are tough to shop for. They are all very similar, and it鈥檚 hard to tell why the gaming one鈥檚 are so expensive. I decided on an Asus Z170-E. It鈥檚 not flashy or crazy complicated, but it seems solid and reliable. Plus is has all of the ports and connections I need.
One quirk, it鈥檚 narrower than other ATX boards (I think), so it doesn鈥檛 mount to all the available places in my case. This isn鈥檛 a big issue, it just means I have to be careful when connecting things to the side opposite the IO-shield.
Case
PC cases are terrible looking. They all look like a transformer got shoved into a trash compactor. Panels and grills and weird edges all over the place. Just look at this thing. No thanks.
Thankfully, PC Part Picker recommended the NZXT S340. It鈥檚 simple and, dare I say it, pretty. So far, I love it. Cable management is easy and clean, though it doesn鈥檛 have any font-panel slots for optical drives or anything else. Honestly, that鈥檚 OK by me. It means I can get better cooling with two big fans mounted behind the clean front panel.
Next Steps: Power Supply, Memory, SSD
I actually have ordered a power supply, it just hasn鈥檛 arrived yet. I got a Corsair CX550M from Newegg. It should be here soon.
This coming weekend, I plan on picking up the memory and SSD from Micro Center. Once I get those, I鈥檒l have a barely functional computer, though I won鈥檛 be gaming until I get the video card. Even so, I鈥檒l have something that I can migrate my Plex libraries to.
Here鈥檚 the build so far:
| Type | Item | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor | Purchased For $179.99 from Micro Center |
| Motherboard | Asus Z170-E ATX LGA1151 Motherboard | Purchased For $89.99 from Micro Center after rebate |
| Memory | GeIL EVO POTENZA 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory | $69.99 @ Micro Center |
| Storage | Crucial MX300 275GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | $69.99 @ Micro Center |
| Video Card | EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB SC Gaming ACX 3.0 Video Card | $404.98 @ Newegg |
| Case | NZXT S340 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case | Purchased For $64.99 from Micro Center |
| Power Supply | Corsair CXM 550W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply | Purchased For $69.99 from Newegg |
| Operating System | Microsoft Windows 10 Pro OEM 64-bit | $47.00 @ Best Buy, after gift card |
| Case Fan | Corsair Air Series AF140 Quiet Edition 67.8 CFM 140mm Fan | $17.99 x2 @ Newegg |
| Monitor | ViewSonic VA2246M-LED 22.0" 60Hz Monitor | Purchased For $0.00 (already owned) |
Leftovers: GPU and OS
All I know about the GPU is that I want a GTX 1070. Right now, they range from $400 to $450. Since that will be the single most expensive component, and since I can at least get the machine functioning using the CPU integrated graphics, it鈥檚 going to wait until last. I鈥檒l revisit which specific card I鈥檒l get at least a dozen times before I鈥檓 ready to actually buy.
That only leaves the OS. Luckily, Best Buy recently screwed up an appliance delivery to my house and is sending me a $50 gift card. I鈥檓 planning on using it towards an OEM copy of Windows 10 since that will bring it down under $50. Yeah!
All in all, the build is coming along nicely.