[Build log] ASRock M8 Middle School build

DonkeyOatie · Oct 9, 2015

New year, new build.

This one is a bit different. It is for a charity event and will be given away to raise money in a Silent Auction. The winners will select their own GPU, if any.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($181.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($172.49 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 OEM (64-bit) ($86.75 @ OutletPC)
Other: ASRock M8 Barebones (Purchased)
Total: $486.22
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-09 18:52 EDT-0400

The barebones includes:

M8 case - cool design with BMW input.
Z87 mITX Motherboard
ac WiFi
Slim ODD
450W SFX PSU (FSP)

All cables plugged in.

We have enough power for a good 970, if needed.

Review and info
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/asrock-m8-mini-itx-gaming-pc,3627.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/asrock-m8-z97-update,28879.html

New picture with revised parts.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($326.95 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Xigmatek Janus LD1266 38.4 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler ($48.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($162.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Hitachi Travelstar 1TB 2.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Hitachi Travelstar 1TB 2.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card ($334.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home Full (32/64-bit) ($119.99 @ B&H)
Monitor: AOC U3477PQU 60Hz 34.0" Monitor ($699.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1903.56
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-23 13:59 EDT-0400

DonkeyOatie · Oct 9, 2015

This case has a know heat problem and the fans need to be configured better for best cooling. There are two in the top and two in the bottom.

Here we have turned one at the top so that they are both exhaust.

I have not messed with the two at the bottom this time, so one is intake and one is exhaust.

Open the case and look at the motherboard.

and the other side.

SODIMM memory installed. It takes a little more to seat it properly compared to standard DIMM.

CPU installed

Not bad for an hour's work.

DonkeyOatie · Oct 23, 2015

Delays due to schedule change and out of school time. Parent wants upgrades, LOTS, of upgrades, so this is what will end up in the case now:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($326.95 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Xigmatek Janus LD1266 38.4 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler ($48.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($162.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Hitachi Travelstar 1TB 2.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Hitachi Travelstar 1TB 2.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card ($334.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home Full (32/64-bit) ($119.99 @ B&H)
Monitor: AOC U3477PQU 60Hz 34.0" Monitor ($699.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1903.56
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-23 13:59 EDT-0400

New parts are on the way.

DonkeyOatie · Oct 23, 2015

We have installed the Samsung SSD, and will be trying to boot on Monday on the i3 4130, in case the BIOS will not support a more modern chip.

DonkeyOatie · Nov 2, 2015

Booted well, but running some tests we noticed a 37C idle and high 90s under load to the point of thermal throttling. Case temperatures seemed decent, so removed CPU cooler. It was not seated properly with only half the cooler touching the CPU. It looks like there may be a warp in the motherboard of about 3mm in the back corner, or some screws back there may be too tight when the board was installed, causing a buckle..

New parts have arrived and construction will start soon.

DonkeyOatie · Nov 14, 2015

Replaced CPU with i7. Same overheating with stock cooler, so I will need to take the motherboard out and look at it.

The i7 4790K ran on the board (Z87) without any BIOS upgrade, so that's good to know.

When we take the motherboard out, we will flip the bottom fan too so both are intake, to match the two top exhausts. I'm thinking of switching to a blower GPU to help with case cooling.

DonkeyOatie · Dec 9, 2015

Photos awaiting approval. We don't have the GPU in yet, but the System POSTed on first power on. OS being installed today. Idle, with the new cooler, is down around 30C with about 82C for Prime96 26.6 Small, so that's vastly better.

DonkeyOatie · Dec 13, 2015

Putting the Xigmatek Janus in was a $%^&^&^$#!!!!

Unplugging the motherboard

Motherboard out

Bolting cooler to back of motherboard. any change will require a complete motherboard removal.

Views of cooler - where's the motherboards

Back in place

Running a benchmark

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[Build log] ASRock M8 Middle School build

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