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$1500~ Mini-Tower

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August 16, 2011 6:37:40 PM

Approximate Purchase Date: Around early September to late October?


Budget Range: Around $1500~, most likely will go for less given better options


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Multi-tasking (15+ tab browsers, iTunes [resource junky], etc), Music (Quality preferred, not necessarily audiophile but something that will do M-Audio AV40's and Sennheiser HD555's justice), Coding, Minor gaming (LoL and Minecraft)


Parts Not Required: (e.g.: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS) Common peripherals are all taken cared of, Windows 7 disc also taken cared of. Primary focus just on the Computer itself.


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon.com preferred (Free 2 day shipping usually, no taxes for california residents)


Country of Origin: California, USA


Parts Preferences: Going for a Micro-Atx build (Main focus on low profile, noise dampening)

Also. Nvidia.


Overclocking: Yes, though nothing severe as to step past a CM Hyper 212


SLI or Crossfire: No, Single card solution please. (Will need that extra PCI-E port though for a sound card)


Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 x2 (Dual 24" monitors, vertically mounted)

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Additional Comments: I've already culminated a list but haven't necessarily looked into compatibility just yet. I wanted a second opinion if not better alternatives for this specific build.

http://amzn.com/w/PV6PHVF3AGE8

Optical Drive: http://www.amazon.com/Asus-DVD%C2%B1RW-DVD-RAM-Internal...
CPU Heatsink: http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-Sleeve-RR-B10...
CPU: http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i5-2500K-Processor-3-3GHz-L...
GPU: http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-PCI-Express-Graphics-Lifetim...
PSU: http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-CMPSU-650HX-Bronze-Certif...
Wireless Adapter (Needed for general location of computer and lack of wire management for extensive cat6's): http://www.amazon.com/Asus-Wireless-Network-Adapter-PCE...
MOBO: http://www.amazon.com/MSI-Z68MA-ED55-B3-LGA1155-Motherb...
Sound Card: http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Blaster-Titanium-Interna...
SSD (Boot Drive): http://www.amazon.com/OCZ-Technology-Vertex-2-5-Inch-OC...
HDD: http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Caviar-Desktop-WD... (x2 in RAID0, Storage with a bit of speed preferred at least to fulfill the 3 TB goodness)
Case: http://www.mwave.com/mwave/SKUSearch.asp?px=FO&scriteri...

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Note: In terms of part preference I do admit I was a bit swayed by this person's builds, but I generally am not large in terms of dealing with customer service or warranties, so if possible just sticking with reliable products would be of course the best bet.

Questions:
1) Any problems in terms of spacing or anything similar within the case with said parts? Compatibility issues?
2) Alternatives? Comparable parts? (I just spent a few hours randomly web browsing to figure out parts and whatnot but haven't found a solid build yet.)
3) Sound card? I currently have AV 40's and HD 555's, so any options that might enable their full potential?

More about : 1500 mini tower

August 16, 2011 8:27:46 PM

As far as I know Amazon is now having to charge sales tax in California. Gov. Brown signed that bill last month.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $114.99
ASRock Z68 PRO3-M LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

Same board but on Amazon...

http://www.amazon.com/ASRock-LGA1155-Z68-Motherboard-PR... $141.14 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
ASRock LGA1155/ Intel Z68/ DDR3/ SATA3&USB3.0/ A&V&GbE/ MATX Motherboard, Z68 PRO3-M

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Z68%20Pro3-... <----- more on that board here

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4100/asrock_z68_pro3_m... <----- review of that board
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August 16, 2011 8:57:31 PM

Why_Me said:
As far as I know Amazon is now having to charge sales tax in California. Gov. Brown signed that bill last month.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $114.99
ASRock Z68 PRO3-M LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

Same board but on Amazon...

http://www.amazon.com/ASRock-LGA1155-Z68-Motherboard-PR... $141.14 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
ASRock LGA1155/ Intel Z68/ DDR3/ SATA3&USB3.0/ A&V&GbE/ MATX Motherboard, Z68 PRO3-M

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Z68%20Pro3-... <----- more on that board here

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4100/asrock_z68_pro3_m... <----- review of that board


I think the only thing preventing me from going for that specific board would be the single PCI-E port, I wanted to see if I could have at least two ports to also include the Titanium HD being that it's restricted to PCI-E. Though, I wouldn't mind any possible alternatives including that of similar quality to the Titanium HD that were possibly available for PCI ports?
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August 16, 2011 9:21:58 PM

id be wary of that twin frozr 570 in that tiny little case. in most cases i prefer the open-style designs, because they keep the gpu cooler as long as you have sufficient case airflow. in this case i think a shrouded 570 would be a better choice:
http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-PCI-Express-Graphics-Lifetim...
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August 16, 2011 9:25:01 PM

genghiskron said:
id be wary of that twin frozr 570 in that tiny little case. in most cases i prefer the open-style designs, because they keep the gpu cooler as long as you have sufficient case airflow. in this case i think a shrouded 570 would be a better choice:
http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-PCI-Express-Graphics-Lifetim...

+1

It vents the heat in the case.
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August 17, 2011 1:39:35 AM

Why_Me said:
Save yourself $20 and o/c it yourself using EVGA's free proggy or MSI's free Afterburner proggy.

Will do, though now that it was mentioned, are there any recommendations for the case itself? I kind of want to stay in the hybrid SFF/Mid Tower section as much as possible.
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August 18, 2011 6:30:31 PM

...any suggestions?
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August 19, 2011 7:59:27 AM

Get some soundproofing foam for the inside, and place it on the side panel of the case to reduce noise. Put it on the HDD and CD drive, and anything that will vibrate, to reduce noise.
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