New build - 4k-5k budget - Gaming and media centre

somecreep

Hi guys was about to pull the plug on an Dell alienware dual GPU setup until someone mentioned to me to post here. I'd really like the best parts that are available. I don't need Windows but would like a catleap monitor and will also be using it on a 42 inch 1080P tv.

I also want a cheap PC for a media centre and would need say 6TB of storage and a 32gb SSD. I need this PC to be small and quiet which is the main thing. Again don't need windows.

Any help would be appreciated as not too sure on motherboards, cases etc. I see from other threads hardware versand is the best way to go?

marco_polo

You'll get better answers if you copy and past the first post from this thread and answer the questions in here.

Maybe as additional information you could give a rough indication of exactly how small you need this to be.

Either way it sounds like 1.5-2K will easily get the job done

somecreep

1. What is your budget? [€4k to 5k]

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? Gaming, general use.

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? No

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? No, have a laptop for gaming but can barely run anything anymore

5. Do you need a monitor? Yes

5a. If yes, what size do you need. Catleap

6. Do you need any of these peripherals? No will purchase seperatly.

7. Are you willing to try overclocking? Yes

8. How can you pay? Anyway atall

9. When are you purchasing? Someday this week

10. If you need help building it, where are you based? Will give it a lash!





1. What is your budget? [€4k to 5k]

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? XBMC on Linux, Needs to be small and quiet. Need a lot of storage. Say the size of Sky Box or a bit bigger, don't want a massive desktop. Don't mind using external hard drives if needed

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? No

5. Do you need a monitor? No have a 1080P Tv

6. Do you need any of these peripherals? A decent sound card? Wireless keyboard with mouse on it.

7. Are you willing to try overclocking? No, not on the media centre

8. How can you pay? Anyway atall

9. When are you purchasing? Someday this week

10. If you need help building it, where are you based? Will give it a lash!

Serephucus

Media centre:

Item|Price
Nanoxia Deep Silence One Silver, ATX, ohne Netzteil|€92.55
4 x WD Red RD1000S 3TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB|€529.16
ASRock H77 Pro4-M, Sockel 1155, mATX|€71.39
Samsung SSD 840 120GB SATA 6Gb/s|€86.09
Intel Core i3-2120T Box, LGA1155|€107.90
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - Intel/AMD|€29.90
4GB G.Skill PC3-10667U CL9|€24.90
Super Flower 400W Golden Green Pro 80plus|€59.32
ASUS Xonar D2X, PCIe x1 (90-YAA055-1UAN00Z)|€127.25
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€1147.45

I went with a Deep Silence One case. It's not small, but there aren't many good options for a HTPC case that are mATX, and if you go ITX, you'd have to choose between a sound card, or having a small amount of storage. You've got a 120GB boot SSD there, and four 3TB drives, that I'd recommend putting in a RAID 5 array, as well as a power efficient CPU, and power supply, so it should be pretty damn silent.

I'll post the gaming rig in a minute.

somecreep

Thanks for that, is there a reason why you went for that i3 over a different one? Also would the graphics card be okay to play 1080P?

Serephucus

Gaming rig parts:

Item|Price
Nanoxia Deep Silence One Silver, ATX, ohne Netzteil|€92.55
ASRock Z77 Extreme4, Sockel 1155, ATX|€123.89
Intel Core i5-3570K Box, LGA1155|€205.99
8GB G.Skill PC3-10667U CL9|€50.90
Special item: be quiet! Straight Power E9 CM 80+Gold|€89.10
Samsung SSD 840 500GB SATA 6Gb/s|€289.65
Dell UltraSharp U2713HM|€549.00
2 x EVGA GeForce GTX 670, 2048MB DDR5, PCI-Express|€684.58
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€2104.65

There are two 670s in there, but they're a stop-gap until the GTX 780 shows up anywhere from two to four weeks from now, so I'll leave add an extra €600 (to be safe) to account for the price difference of those. I've also added a U2713M in, as it's a better monitor than the Catleap.

Then, you'll use these parts for cooling (The 670 waterblocks are place-holders for 780 blocks):

Item|Price
2 x Alphacool NexXxos XT45 240mm Dual Radiator : Full Copper|£81.58
2 x XSPC Razor GTX670 Full Cover Waterblock for Reference Design NVIDIA GTX 670 Graphics Card : Razor GTX670|£159.98
EK Supreme LTX CSQ Intel CPU Waterblock : Nickel Plexi|£39.98
Alphacool VPP655 / Laing D5 with D5 High Flow Acetal Top : VPP655D5|£79.99
XSPC 5.25" Dual Drive Bay Reservoir Multi Fascia : BR525DUAL|£33.95
3 x Specialtech 1/2" ID - 3/4" OD (13-19mm) CLEAR Tubing|£8.68
14 x 1/4" Thread Compression Fitting for 1/2" ID - 3/4" OD Tubing : Black Nickel|£47.71
Shipping|£9.47
Total|£ 461.36 (~€545)

So that's about €2,700 for your gaming rig, and ~€1,200 for your media server. I garauntee you that both of these (the gaming rig in particular) will completely destroy anything Alienware has to offer.


The i3 processor is plenty for a media server, and I'm using the integrated graphics, because that's all that's required for 1080p playback. Also, I'm happy to help if you need a hand putting all this together.

marco_polo

Oops just noticed budget was for two seperate PCs .

Nice builds above, might it be worth throwing a NAS box it the mix, which would open up more possiblities for the HTPC?

Serephucus

That's what the Nanoxia is, basically. It's pretty much and R4, but one that you can buy extra HDD cages for (maximum of around 15 HDDs). It's what I'll be using when I overhaul mine.

Monotype

U2713HM is over €50 cheaper on amazon.co.uk
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-Ultrasharp-U2713HM-Widescreen-Monitor/dp/B0093IW14I/

somecreep

Thanks for the builds guys. I will probably need some help especially with the cooling stuff! Would I be better off just having this instead instead of the dual graphics cardset up. Also would a i7 be worth getting?

Serephucus

Nope, and nope. The GTX 780 is essentially a slower Titan (around 80%, very roughly) and you'll have two. The i7 isn't really worth it for gaming, and probably won't be for at least a year, though we might start seeing more CPU optimised games when devs get comfortable with the PS4.

somecreep

Cheers for the help guys! Now thinking something slightly different. Am now thinking to let the gaming PC have all the storage and just share the files over the network for the media PC. Would you be able to recommend a smaller case for the media PC if this was the case? The media centre pc doesn't have to be anything fancy or anything just would like it quiet and small. PC build so far looks brilliant and thanks for that.

Serephucus

Is there any reason you want the media PC to be small? It makes a lot more sense practically and logistically to have the drives on the media PC, rather than the desktop (this is talking from experience as well, by the way. I recently moved all my drives from my gaming rig to a separate server, and it's so much nicer it's not even funny)

somecreep

Serephucus wrote: »

Is there any reason you want the media PC to be small? It makes a lot more sense practically and logistically to have the drives on the media PC, rather than the desktop (this is talking from experience as well, by the way. I recently moved all my drives from my gaming rig to a separate server, and it's so much nicer it's not even funny)

Just be an eyesore is all the way the tv is set up. No room to leave it behind it with the shelf thats there

Serephucus

Well you could always have three machines. Gaming rig, server, HTPC

http://www.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?adp=0&aid=31401&agid=1199&apop=3

Something like the case above would be nice. All you'd need it in is a cheap CPU, motherboard, small SSD, RAM and sound card. Could easily be fit into your €5K budget. Do you have a spare room you could chuck the server in?

somecreep

Serephucus wrote: »

Well you could always have three machines. Gaming rig, server, HTPC

http://www.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?adp=0&aid=31401&agid=1199&apop=3

Something like the case above would be nice. All you'd need it in is a cheap CPU, motherboard, small SSD, RAM and sound card. Could easily be fit into your €5K budget. Do you have a spare room you could chuck the server in?

Yea I do, that would be the best way to go I'd say.

Serephucus

Right, well give me a little bit and I'll redo the server and HTPC builds then (need to cook myself something after a hard day of exams :P) Where are you based, since you might need help with all this?

somecreep

I'm based in rathmines but would pay ya to set it all for me. Not sure where your located. Can take it to PM if you like when the parts arrive if your interested?

Serephucus

Sure we can sort something out. I'll either be in Maynooth or Rathfarnham, depending on when you order parts, but I can come out to yours or something.

Right, so the only change to the server really is to move the sound card out of it, into the HTPC. Then the HTPC would look like this:

Item|Price
Thermaltake Element Q, mini-ITX, 200W-Netzteil|€55.01
ASRock B75M-ITX, Sockel 1155, ITX|€73.49
Intel Celeron Dual-Core G550 Box, LGA1155|€37.22
Samsung SSD 840 120GB SATA 6Gb/s|€86.09
4GB G.Skill PC3-10667U CL9|€24.90
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€295.70

Plus the sound card.

BloodBath

Missed this but I'd do the same, 3 rigs, storage server, htpc and gaming rig.

How do you get a sound card into an itx build sereph?

You're going to want some good home plugs for a good home network as well.

It should even be possible for your htpc to stream your games from the gaming pc allowing you to use it's power to run your games through the htpc on your tv.

Do you have a decent sound system/speakers for your tv/media center and do you have or need ones for the gaming pc. Or headphones?

Serephucus

^ Good questions, should have asked those.

You just stick it in the PCIE slot. x1 cards will work in x4, 8, 16, whatever, and the reverse is also true.

BloodBath

Didn't know that, cheers.

Serephucus

Bandwidth limitations apply, etc. It's the same as a slot being physically wired for x8.

U_Fig

if you are getting the element q you'll be better off replacing the PSU as the one in there is like a helicopter.. i replaced it with the be quiet sfx 300w one