MAINGEAR Custom PC Help

Are you overclocking?

Also, that is NOT enough power.

No to overclocking, I believe 750W is about average right? They only offer 450W as an option so I'll check.

I'm no expert on maingear pcs, but I'll just build one on their website for your budget (with the same display) and post the specs here. Also, why are you going with the Potenza? Do you want it to be small? I'll go with that, too, since I'm assuming you know what you're doing with the chassis:

Default for everything up to the CPU.

CPU: i5-3550
You don't need i7 because it doesn't benefit gaming, and it's more expensive just for HT, which you're not going to use. You don't need a "k" processor since it's for overclocking.

I'm assuming Redline OCing is better than the Intel Turbo Boost? I don't really know, though. It's free, and I'm assuming they won't do all that much. They can't overclock anything too far past Turbo since it's not a "k" processor.

Everything at stock until RAM.
8GB DDR3-1600 RAM... you don't need 16GB unless you're editing a lot of video or using a lot of Photoshop.

GPU: 680

SSD caching: ARE THEY CRAZY? That's almost as overpriced as Apple! I'm sure you could add in an SSD by yourself while saving $60. $2/gb my foot... you can cache with a regular SSD. Also, I'd just get an SSD for boot/games.

HDD/SSD: 1TB Seagate 7200rpm (the one that's $30 more)
SSD: Don't. These are SO overpriced. Just add in an SSD by yourself when you get the case (assuming they don't take out unused drive bays. That would be cheap).
When you get it, just buy a Crucial M4 64GB or 128GB SSD for like $80 and $125, respectively.

Don't get the Microsoft Security Essentials... it's so worthless, it's almost bloatware.

With the monitor, total comes out to $2100. If they can run that off of 450W, I'm surprised. I honestly do not like maingear now. They overpriced it a lot, and obviously cheaped out on the PSU. Don't get just an SSD, get a 7200rpm HDD and add in an SSD yourself (it's really easy, unless they take out the drive bays that they didn't use. I'd be surprised if they did, but sometimes companies are really unpleasant).

Thanks yea I'm trying to go for a smaller pc, I wasn't sure which processor or on the rest for gaming purposes I needed so thanks. If you have any other suggestions for good gaming pc websites I would appreciate. I don't really need a large hard drive because I have an external already for my larger files/videos.

$2500 for that seems way too expensive. Sourcing the parts yourself and putting them together would be much cheaper.

I know. I was going to say that, but he said he really wanted it...

Try Cyberpower and Alienware. I mean, both are overpriced, but they have more selection.

But honestly, if I were to buy those parts separately and put them together, it would cost about $1500... at the most. At the very most.

I got this when I tried to choose the parts myself/with a little help. I definitely don't need an i7 for gaming right? I'm going to buy the SSD and use my old hard drive. The silverstone case is because I want a SFF Pc unless you guys think there is a problem with that case in particular. If you have any suggestions it would help I am considering building it myself.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/7vmI
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/7vmI/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/7vmI/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3550 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Scythe SCKZT-1000 24.8 CFM CPU Cooler ($28.98 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus Maximus IV Gene-Z/GEN3 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($189.98 @ Mac Connection)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($56.99 @ Amazon)
Hard Drive: Intel 520 Series Cherryville 180GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($229.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 680 2GB Video Card ($507.55 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone GD06B HTPC Case ($122.00 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Enermax 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($209.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B3LT DVD/CD Writer ($28.11 @ Compuvest)
Monitor: Asus VE276Q 27.0" Monitor ($259.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1953.56

Okay I think I modified it the way you said. Do you have a recommendation for the optical drive or any other parts that would be better than what I have I'm willing to go a couple or three hundred more for quality. I just want a smaller computer case so it takes up less room my current XPS case is huge.

In regards to the CPU cooler what should I change that to if anything? And for the motherboard does that one have on board blue tooth (can you recommend a good blue tooth card and wireless card)? Do I need a sound card? I am a little lost when it comes to computer parts.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/7vWb
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/7vWb/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/7vWb/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3550 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Scythe SCKZT-1000 24.8 CFM CPU Cooler ($28.98 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4-M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($137.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($133.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 680 2GB Video Card ($547.86 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone GD06B HTPC Case ($122.00 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B3LT DVD/CD Writer ($28.11 @ Compuvest)
Monitor: Asus VE276Q 27.0" Monitor ($259.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1713.44

ASUS is great.

What size is your XPS case? Meaning, is it full-ATX? If so, then the Corsair 400R is a good idea... it's smaller. I think you have a full ATX case, though.

Don't use a CPU cooler... Intel CPUs ship with a stock cooler that'll do fine on stock speeds. You're not overclocking.

Do you use bluetooth? I'd hook up the desktop to an ethernet cable, by the way (for which there is a port on the motherboard). But no, the motherboard doesn't have a bluetooth/wifi chip embedded. I'd get a wifi chip from the same company as your router, and I don't know about bluetooth. No, you don't need a sound card. The mobo has on-board.

If you DO decide to go with a mid-ATX tower (measure the Corsair 400R and compare it to your case. Measurements are on newegg), then switch the mobo to an actual Z77 Extreme4... not the micro ATX version.

Everything looks good, though! Have fun!

Thanks so much, yea its a full case its 9x22x22ish. I prefer the smaller case for easier movement and storage. There is no disadvantage to a smaller motherboard and case right? It looks like I have a good idea what I need then I'll either build it myself or perhaps go with cyperpower (I might be able to get a similar build for cheapish but I heard that people have problems with service/technical support).

You can never do SLI/Crossfire. I'd really, really go with a mid-tower and an ATX motherboard, though. It'll be smaller, yet still have good cooling. That's the biggest problem with small computers... airflow/temperatures. The case you selected is meant for being an HTPC... meaning barely running! You're overclocking!

Then I will definitely change the case, I think I'll try going with the tall case style in the F131 and Potenza from main gear since they are larger cases and are still reasonably small and movable or something a bit smaller than the Corsair Carbine 400.

300R is smaller, I think

To answer the concern about power:

http://maingearforums.com/showthread.php?5574-The-Poten...)

Also, non-K SKUs go four speed bins above turbo, FYI.

Thanks for your reply I've actually settled on getting the Super stock Z77 F131 from your company since you offer a three year warranty plus you are based in NJ where I live. I now just need to customize it and figure out which parts I need which can be pretty confusing for someone who has traditionally just bought stock dell computers.

Best answer selected by mmac.