- Apr 16, 2015
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Hi all,
Looking to build a steam machine for my GFs kid.....thinking I'm going to harvest parts from my existing build (if possible) and try to pick up some parts secondhand - although buying new is ok too (the case will be new, for sure).
He currently plays all his games on a laptop, with integrated graphics. I've never really looked at the laptop in detail, so don't know specs, but it's not a top of the line machine.
I know he'll want it to look like a console. With that in mind, I'm leaning towards one of Silverstone's offerings (right now, I'm thinking the RVZ01 http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX50645), but any of their RAVEN line (in a mini-ITX FF) would work. http://www.silverstonetek.com/raven/products/index.php?model=RVZ01&area=en&top=C
I'll admit, I don't know all the games he plays, but I know of Elder Scrolls which hopefully gives you an idea.
So, as far as parts I can harvest from my existing build, I'm thinking the CPU & motherboard, an HDD and possibly the GPU (undecided if I'm willing to donate that part!)
CPU: Athlon x4 860k - or should I go with the G3258? I know some games won't even run on a dual-core. OC likely going to be out of the question too, with limited space to deal with heat.
Should I then maybe go with an i3/cheap i5 if I can find one second hand?
Mobo: Really going to depend on the CPU, either donate my Gigabyte GA-F2A88XN-WIFI with the 860k, or get something else + adding WIFI.
HDD: Either 1TB SG Barracuda 7200 or a 1TB WD Green 5400 - haven't decided which yet.
GPU: Perhaps my R9 280 HIS iCooler OC 3GB ..... although I'm thinking I should maybe try and pick up something like a 750ti secondhand.
SSD: Will pick up an SSD (min 120GB) - Found a Crucial MX100 listed on Kijiji locally for $50 (so could probably pick up for $40)
PSU: I won't make the mistake I did with my build and go with a crappy PSU. This will be established once everything else is set. Not concerned about pricing, I'll get a Tier 1 or 2 PSU once I've established requirements. Thinking around 500W will likely be ok, but I'll see.
Here;s where I'm at so far:
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/XxwRWZ
Of course, anything I donate (except an HDD - I have enough of those), I'd need/get to replace in my build - which I'm not setting a budget for. If something goes from my rig, I'll happily upgrade.
No set budget, but fairly cheap (thinking around $500 second hand + some donated parts).
*No OS required. SteamOS will be installed.
I'm not necessarily looking for PartPicker builds here (although, if you want to, then fire away. Canada btw). But more of an idea of parts required for a Steam Machine?
Are any of the my build parts worth donating (ie CPU/Mobo/HDD) to a Steam Build?
Once I've established an idea of parts, I'll scout out Kijiji, eBay etc for second hand parts & see what I can come up with.
Thanks in advance everyone!
Looking to build a steam machine for my GFs kid.....thinking I'm going to harvest parts from my existing build (if possible) and try to pick up some parts secondhand - although buying new is ok too (the case will be new, for sure).
He currently plays all his games on a laptop, with integrated graphics. I've never really looked at the laptop in detail, so don't know specs, but it's not a top of the line machine.
I know he'll want it to look like a console. With that in mind, I'm leaning towards one of Silverstone's offerings (right now, I'm thinking the RVZ01 http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX50645), but any of their RAVEN line (in a mini-ITX FF) would work. http://www.silverstonetek.com/raven/products/index.php?model=RVZ01&area=en&top=C
I'll admit, I don't know all the games he plays, but I know of Elder Scrolls which hopefully gives you an idea.
So, as far as parts I can harvest from my existing build, I'm thinking the CPU & motherboard, an HDD and possibly the GPU (undecided if I'm willing to donate that part!)
CPU: Athlon x4 860k - or should I go with the G3258? I know some games won't even run on a dual-core. OC likely going to be out of the question too, with limited space to deal with heat.
Should I then maybe go with an i3/cheap i5 if I can find one second hand?
Mobo: Really going to depend on the CPU, either donate my Gigabyte GA-F2A88XN-WIFI with the 860k, or get something else + adding WIFI.
HDD: Either 1TB SG Barracuda 7200 or a 1TB WD Green 5400 - haven't decided which yet.
GPU: Perhaps my R9 280 HIS iCooler OC 3GB ..... although I'm thinking I should maybe try and pick up something like a 750ti secondhand.
SSD: Will pick up an SSD (min 120GB) - Found a Crucial MX100 listed on Kijiji locally for $50 (so could probably pick up for $40)
PSU: I won't make the mistake I did with my build and go with a crappy PSU. This will be established once everything else is set. Not concerned about pricing, I'll get a Tier 1 or 2 PSU once I've established requirements. Thinking around 500W will likely be ok, but I'll see.
Here;s where I'm at so far:
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/XxwRWZ
Of course, anything I donate (except an HDD - I have enough of those), I'd need/get to replace in my build - which I'm not setting a budget for. If something goes from my rig, I'll happily upgrade.
No set budget, but fairly cheap (thinking around $500 second hand + some donated parts).
*No OS required. SteamOS will be installed.
I'm not necessarily looking for PartPicker builds here (although, if you want to, then fire away. Canada btw). But more of an idea of parts required for a Steam Machine?
Are any of the my build parts worth donating (ie CPU/Mobo/HDD) to a Steam Build?
Once I've established an idea of parts, I'll scout out Kijiji, eBay etc for second hand parts & see what I can come up with.
Thanks in advance everyone!
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