Introduction
This page will act as a progress report for my new PC build For 2021.
At the moment I have one case serving as my main PC and gaming PC
This is done by disconnecting one set of drives and connecting another set of drives
This is currently in a CoolerMaster HAF XB Evo LAN Box.
Normally I would list all the components I would be getting for the build in advance.
However due to the Covid-19 Pandemic at the time of writing this and scalpers (people buying all available stock of new tech and selling them on ebay for outrageous money) all of which is leading to shortages for a lot of components for building PC's
I will only update the blog with the parts I will actually be using and when they actually arrive
So I have decided to get a bigger case that will not be moved from location to location and keep the CoolerMaster HAF XB Evo LAN Box as my Gaming PC
Since I built the gaming PC, 3 of the suppliers I used.
Component Suppliers
2 has stopped trading to non business customers and the third one has stopped trading completely.
2 were in Germany and 1 in the UK.
The suppliers I will be using will be
1. Caseking - https://www.caseking.de
2. Mindfactory - https://www.mindfactory.de/
2. Dabs - https://www.businessdirect.btireland.com
3. Overclockers UK - http://www.overclockers.co.uk
The suppliers I will be using will be
1. Caseking - https://www.caseking.de
2. Mindfactory - https://www.mindfactory.de/
2. Dabs - https://www.businessdirect.btireland.com
3. Overclockers UK - http://www.overclockers.co.uk
5. SCAN - https://www.scan.co.uk/
6. Watercooling UK - https://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/
7. ikonik - https://ikonic.com/
8. Techdata - https://uk.techdata.com/
9. Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/user/LinusTechTips
5. Gamers Nexus Youtube Channel
Research
Reviews I will be using for tips and advice will be from:
1. ASUS PCDIY Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/PCDIYasususa
2. ASUS PCDIY Website
http://pcdiy.asus.com/
3. OC3D YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/TimeToLiveCustoms
4. Linus Tech Tips Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/PCDIYasususa
2. ASUS PCDIY Website
http://pcdiy.asus.com/
3. OC3D YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/TimeToLiveCustoms
4. Linus Tech Tips Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/LinusTechTips
5. Gamers Nexus Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/GamersNexus
6. Hardware Unboxed Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/c/Hardwareunboxednow
7. Hardware Canucks Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/HardwareCanucks
The videos from JJ on PCDIY are the most detailed I have found or seen regarding motherboard info, he goes in to minute detail regarding the specs and features of the motherboards, and the videos can be quite long
The videos on OC3D are also the most detailed I have found or seen as well, he covers everything about what will and wont fit in cases, builds computer systems from scratch, including systems with watercooling, and some videos are over 30 minutes long
CPU:
Including VAT & Delivery + €65 Customs
Supplier: NCIX.ca Website: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=80230&vpn=KHX24C11T3K4%2F32X&manufacture=Kingston Status: Purchased on 27/07/2013
Info and Specs from Manufacturer - http://www.kingston.com/en/memory/hyperx/predator/beast/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CPU Cooler: Corsair Hydro H100 Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler
Info and Specs from Manufacturer - http://www.istarusa.com/istarusa/products.php?series=HDDCage&sub=SATA/%20SAS&model=BPU-124V2-SS -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Info and Specs from Manufacturer - http://www.corsair.com/en/pc-computer-audio/pc-computer-speakers/gaming-audio-series-sp2500-high-power-2-1-pc-speaker-system.html Youtube Review - This Review is by Tom Logan from OC3D.tv - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM5a3nFJ160&feature=plcp
Info and Specs from Manufacturer - http://www.mionix.net/page.php?al=naos5000 That is the end of the component list, some of the components may look extreme and the prices also, but I am building this to cover me for the next couple of years, and because I am buying only 1 or 2 components at a time, I won't have to fork out the whole amount at once. Some of these components may need to be changed due to supply or model changes by manufacturers at the time of purchase, if that is the case they will be noted here. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Component Order Progress Every time a component is ordered or has arrived, I will post the following excel sheet. I will try and wait, if I don't get too excited, till all the major components are here before I start to do the build.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Build I will be posting photos and maybe videos at each stage of the build below
7. Hardware Canucks Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/HardwareCanucks
The videos from JJ on PCDIY are the most detailed I have found or seen regarding motherboard info, he goes in to minute detail regarding the specs and features of the motherboards, and the videos can be quite long
The videos on OC3D are also the most detailed I have found or seen as well, he covers everything about what will and wont fit in cases, builds computer systems from scratch, including systems with watercooling, and some videos are over 30 minutes long
Components
The components I will be using for this build, are listed below, with links to manufacturer sites, Reviews and YouTube Videos where available
Case
Model: Phanteks Enthoo Evolv X
Price: €285.91 Including VAT & Delivery
Supplier: Watercooling.UK
Supplier: Watercooling.UK
Status: Purchased on 18/11/2020
Arrived on 23/11/2020
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Power Supply:
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Motherboard Notes
Over the last few PC builds I have always used Asus motherboards and never had any issues or failures with them.
However in the last few new motherboard launches they have slipped behind in features, functionality and design while getting more expensive. The main feature that has pissed me off in the latest range of boards is that they are using a vertical mount for the M.2 on the high end boards instead of the lower end boards. they also have only 2 x M.2 slots while everybody else has 3 and the RGB lighting is very sparse
So this time round I am going with a Gigabyte board
Motherboard:
Reviews
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CPU:
Including VAT & Delivery + €65 Customs
Supplier: NCIX.ca Website: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=80230&vpn=KHX24C11T3K4%2F32X&manufacture=Kingston Status: Purchased on 27/07/2013
Info and Specs from Manufacturer - http://www.kingston.com/en/memory/hyperx/predator/beast/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CPU Cooler: Corsair Hydro H100 Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler
Price: €88.62 Including VAT & Delivery
Supplier: Komplett
Info and Specs from Manufacturer - http://www.corsair.com/en/cpu-cooling-kits/hydro-series-water-cooling-cpu-cooler/hydro-series-h100-extreme-performance-liquid-cpu-cooler.html YouTube Review - This review is by Tom Logan from OC3D.tv - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPAhvIPXU54&feature=plcp
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Cooling Fans: 5 x Noctua NF-F12 Focused Flow PWMCooling Fans
Price: €133 Including VAT & Delivery
Supplier: Specialtech UK
Info and Specs from Manufacturer - http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=42&lng=en
Youtube Review - This Review is by Tom Logan from OC3D.tv - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qAvH3yJ_A8&feature=plcp
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CPU Thermal Compound: 2 x Noctua NT-H1 Pro Grade Thermal Paste Price: €27.74 Including VAT & Delivery Supplier: Specialtech UK Website: http://specialtech.co.uk/spshop/customer/Noctua-Pro-Grade-Thermal-Paste-14ml--NT-H1-pid-10628.html Status: Purchased on 04/07/2012
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Graphics Card: Asus GTX 680-DC2T-2GD5 Price: €549 Including VAT & Delivery Supplier: Komplett.ie
Info and Specs from Manufacturer - http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=13&lng=en -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Website: http://www.komplett.ie/komplett/product/nvidia/20162437/asus_geforce_gtx680_dc2t_2gd5_2gb_pci_e/details.aspx Status: Purchased on 07/09/2012
Info and Specs from Manufacturer - http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/NVIDIA_Series/GTX680DC2T2GD5/ Youtube Review - These reviews are from J.J. in Asus - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY5BRAuRRrI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LmqQTzMRBg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAg43Baj6Qs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFdECF7hZIM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFMQ0poFifk My Blog On Graphics Card - http://repairitclinic.blogspot.ie/2012/09/my-asus-geforce-gtx-680-direct-cu-ii.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sound Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster ZxR Price: €195 Including VAT and Delivery Supplier: Komplett.ie Website: http://www.komplett.ie/komplett/product/zkb_01com/80009466/creative_labs_sound_blaster_zxr__5_1__pci_e/details.aspx
Info and Specs from Manufacturer -
Info and Specs from Manufacturer -
http://www.soundblaster.com/products/sound-blaster-zxr.aspx YouTube Videos - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnFue-1Qtms
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Optical Drive: Asus BW-12B1ST Blu-Ray Burner Price: €105.63 Including VAT & Delivery Supplier: Elara.ie Website: http://www.elara.ie/productdetail.aspx?productcode=ECE2423405
Info and Specs from Manufacturer - http://uk.asus.com/Optical_Storage/Internal_Bluray_Drive/BW12B1ST/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1st Primary Hard Drive: Windows 8 Enterprise For Day To Day Use: Samsung 840 Pro - 256GB SSD SATA 6G Price: €229 Including VAT Supplier: Misco.ie Website: http://www.misco.ie/Product/199502/Samsung-840-Pro-256GB-Solid-State-Drive Status: Purchased on 22/05/2013
Info and Specs from Manufacturer - http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/memory-cards-hdd-odd/ssd/840-pro/MZ-7PD256BW 2nd Primary Hard Drive: Windows 7 Enterprise w/SP1 For Games System: Samsung 830 - 256GB SSD SATA 6G Price: €223 Including VAT & Delivery Supplier: Dabs.ie Website: http://www.dabs.ie/products/samsung-256gb-830-series-sata-6gb-s-2-5--solid-state-drive-desktop-kit---free-norton-ghost-15-7S2K.html?q=Samsung%20256GB%20830%20Series&src=16 Status: Purchased on 03/08/2012
Info and Specs from Manufacturer - http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/memory-cards-hdd-odd/ssd/830/MZ-7PC256D/EU For an unboxing and benchmark results click here: http://repairitclinic.blogspot.ie/2012/08/my-samsung-830-series-256gb-ssd.html My Blog Article on SSD - http://repairitclinic.blogspot.ie/2012/08/my-samsung-830-series-256gb-ssd.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Data Hard Drives: 2 x Western Digital Black Caviar 1TB Sata 6G 64MB Cache Will be used again from existing PC
Info and Specs from Manufacturer - http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=760 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.5" Hard Drive Hotswap Bays: iStar USA BPN-DE340SS 4 Drive (In 3 x 5.25 Bays)Trayless Hotswap. Black
Info and Specs from Manufacturer - http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=760 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.5" Hard Drive Hotswap Bays: iStar USA BPN-DE340SS 4 Drive (In 3 x 5.25 Bays)Trayless Hotswap. Black
Price: €90
Supplier: Newegg
Website: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816215244
Info and Specs from Manufacturer - http://www.xcase.co.uk/istar-BPN-DE340SS-4-Drive-In-3-x-5-25-Bays-Hotsw-p/hotswapbpn-de340ss-black.htm ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.5" Hard Drive Hotswap Bays: iStar USA BPU-124V2-SS 1 x 5.25" to 4 x 2.5" SAS and SATA 6Gb/s Hot-Swap Cage
Price: €
Supplier:
Website:
Speakers: Corsair Gaming Audio Series SP2500 High-power 2.1 PC Speaker System
Price: €269.31 including VAT & delivery
Supplier: Dabs.ie
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Headset: Steelseries 7H
Price: €87.26 including VAT & delivery
Supplier: Dabs.ie
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Keyboard: Mionix Zibal 60 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Price: €124
Supplier: Newegg
Info and Specs from Manufacturer - http://www.mionix.net/page.php?al=zibal60 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mouse: Mionix Naos 5000
Price: €76
Supplier: Newegg