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The Fighting Computer - My First PC Build


Dabeavis

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After having to deal with an Acer laptop and an HP desktop with their dated dual cores and integrated GPUs for close about 5 years, I decided almost 2 years ago to build my own computer with some assistance from my uncle. I've slowly but surely got most of the parts, settling for some temporary cheapo parts to get it up and running along the way. After the cheapo parts, I got a smaller case and upgraded most of the parts to better ones like an i5-6500, RX 480 and an H170 ATX motherboard.

 

The name Fighting Computer is a reference to Warsman (shown above) from an 80's wrestling anime called Kinnikuman (Which is the predecessor to what's known in the west as Ultimate Muscle). I originally called this build Red Comet as a reference to Mobile Suit Gundam, but there's far more gray/black than red here and I'm more of a Kinnikuman fan anyway.

 

Current Build/Upgrades (10/4/16)

 

"Prototype" (3/25/16)

 

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Looks like its gonna be a pretty nice build

 

you might want to go with a dual channel such as 2x4GB memory kit so you take advantage of the extra performance available from dual channel memory controller.

I was originally going for a dual-channel G.Skill Ripjaws X until I saw that the single 8GB stick went for cheaper at Micro Center, looks like I'll go back to it.

 

Also would like to use the Water 3.0 Ultimate in my build, but that would require getting a full tower for over $100 and seeing as I probably won't overclock to begin with that wouldn't be worth the price jump to me.

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

I got my Water 3.0 Ultimate today (pictured below sitting atop the laptop that's taking the backseat for my build) but I might as well get this off my chest, as I said in my last post the radiator is too big for my case and didn't realize this until after I won it, in fact for it to fit I'd have to go about getting one of the several compatible Full Towers which is a significant price jump (~$50 to well over $100).

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Even if size was not a factor an enthusiast-level water cooler for what it goes for would be overkill and not of much use on a non-overclockabe intel CPU like the one I'm getting when Stock is a perfectly viable option. So to put it nicely, I will surely put this towards the purchase of Thermaltake accessories that will be of greater use to me in the future.

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Hey Dabevais, 

 

If you're looking to go with CLC, we also have Water 3.0 Pro or Water 3.0 Performer which has a 120 mm radiator which could mount to the rear. You would need a special LCS adapter that we'd be happy to send to you. Just PM me your contact info (full name and shipping address). 

Nah, my Uncle is looking to get me some sort of liquid cooling system (possibly a DIY loop or something similar) for my build anyway from what he told me last week. Even if he doesn't I might get just an air cooler instead.

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  • 1 month later...
  • 4 weeks later...

There's still going to be a fair deal of inactivity in this topic. When I do get those parts, expect pictures if not a video or two covering the build.

 

I cancelled the order on the Talon for the moment since I might order it on Newegg instead, I might want to get some other stuff on Amazon anyway such as a USB 3.0 header adapter to work around the USB 3.0 plug instead of male header issue that the Commander MSI Epic has. I also got a couple Rosewill fans since they were one of the cheaper brands on the site.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Minor update - I now have both of the Rosewill 120mm (larger than I thought since I'm so used to 80/90mm) case fans that I ordered on Amazon since they were about $13 together. I don't have any other parts so I only did a brief test via plugging them into an HP desktop in the house just to see if they simply move air and/or light up. I also just got the USB 3.0 header adapter as well although it isn't much use to me anymore.

 

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I got my Water 3.0 Ultimate today (pictured below sitting atop the laptop that's taking the backseat for my build) but I might as well get this off my chest, as I said in my last post the radiator is too big for my case and didn't realize this until after I won it, in fact for it to fit I'd have to go about getting one of the several compatible Full Towers which is a significant price jump (~$50 to well over $100).

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-case-rise

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/nzxt-case-caso530m1

Both comes in at $80 and both can fit a 360mm rad.

 

So it is possible to get a case under $100 that can fit it.

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http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-case-rise

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/nzxt-case-caso530m1

Both comes in at $80 and both can fit a 360mm rad.

 

So it is possible to get a case under $100 that can fit it.

I already sold off that cooler back around November or so since it wouldn't fit my ~$50 case choices at the time and I wanted the money for other things, so this isn't really any of use to me now. I frankly regret doing so since the Core x9 that I have now has more than enough room for it.

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  • 2 months later...

The build list has been updated with all the parts of the setup as of now with separate totals for the computer itself and the peripherals. The only other changes I'll make are if prices fluctuate or when the new R9 300 series comes out. I also decided to order a cheapo red LED strip to make the interior really pop and a 2-way fan splitter in case I need them.

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  • 1 month later...

Once the Core X9 I won in the CaseMOD Invitational giveaways arrives in the next couple weeks, I'll likely do a brief unboxing video of it and put my 2 fans in there. Still nothing on the rest of the parts for the time being.

 

As for the new/refreshed Radeon cards that just came out, I'll probably go for a R9 380 4GB since it's the closest to a 280 (Rather it's an updated version of the 285).

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  • 4 weeks later...

Just got the Core x9 today, which would make this build look like a sheep in wolves' clothing but it's a great chassis nonetheless. I was originally going to do a video but It would be a pain to do one-handed so I took a couple pics instead. The most drastic customization that'll be done to this is mainly just an LED strip, moving everything around, and maybe other little things.

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I probably could get away with having it sit on the left side, but I'll have to see how the keyboard and monitor are placed to make sure since my desk is unfortunately centered.

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  • 1 month later...

I got a bit impatient so I wound up doing a lot of the preliminary work with the case, mostly stuff like removing and swapping around parts of the case, adding an LED strip to the top of the window, moving around fans and putting in new ones, doing some initial cable management with a big pack of cable ties as well as the included ones, etc.

 

I received the Megaflow fan, but I'm a bit upset that I got a black one as opposed to a red LED one which I ordered. I'm not too concerned since I don't feel like going through the whole return process over a 200mm fan that I got for 10 bucks when they usually cost 14-20.

 

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  • 3 months later...

Just got my HDD today, I'll slowly but surely get the rest of the <$100 parts (I'll hold off on the Motherboard & RAM just in case Skylake & DDR4 really take off in the following year) but I'm leaving at least the CPU, Video Card, and Monitor to my uncle.

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This along with the SSD will go underneath the motherboard for sure, but I'm not sure which side yet.

 

Update - I just ordered a EVGA 750 B2 Power Supply, sure it's a bit overkill for this build but it was only $56.99 and for one of the better PSU lines out there I can't pass that up. It even comes with a motherboard jumper so I can freely test the lighting and fans.

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Bit of a minor update, my mouse, speakers and another fan splitter came in.

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I'm sorta getting somewhere now. The Core X9 however is still rather empty inside and will be empty for a while.

 

Update - Just got my wireless card today.

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I should also eventually get another 200mm fan (Perhaps a Tt Luna 20) to replace the stock one I accidentally wrecked when testing how much the front panel affects the fans' airflow. I might also be tempted to get some 140mm fans to replace the 120mm ones (Which I might use in other PCs).

 

The SSD I ordered seems to be lost in transit so I requested a refund and decided to buy it later since I got a GT 730 for $57 to tide me over a bit until then.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Just got my SSD in the mail today which I ordered after getting a refund on the other one. I tried it out in my laptop with Linux Mint on it, but since flash support's been essentially ditched by Adobe I'll have to stick to windows.

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Since my uncle told me he's thinking about getting a cheap modern motherboard and processor just so I have a working computer, I told him that I'd go for a H110 motherboard and Pentium G4400 that'd cost about $100 combined. Since then I bought some cheap Crucial DDR4 memory for it, and ordered the motherboard. Once I do get the parts for the big build I can always hand the placeholders off to my older sister since she's looking to get a build of her own too.

 

Recently I decided to turn my desk 90 degrees and re-arranged things accordingly. I was just going to have the drives mounted under the tray, but the 3.5" HDD rack was a bit wobbly when clipped onto the underside so I just went with the cage instead.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Just got the temporary motherboard yesterday and hooked up everything I have except for the GT 730.

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I just ordered the Pentium as well as a lightly-used 750ti to replace the 730 (Which will go in my sister's computer like the motherboard and memory certainly will in a month or so's time). Once I get the Pentium (Amazon sure takes their sweet time getting things shipped out) I'll update the main post with the PCPP build which I'll take new pictures for.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Got the processor in the mail earlier today and got everything up and running, marking the completion of the "Prototype" which in itself is a huge improvement over what I was using until now (It's amazing how much the processor either makes or breaks how well Heroes of the Storm runs). Also shown here is a 750ti that I got for $89 loose earlier this week.

 

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I got a new monitor as well as some fans coming in later this week.

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  • 3 weeks later...

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