The Build Saga: Part One

When I decide to build a PC I've already done loads of research.  I've weight pros and cons.  I've decided that I want to invest a bunch of cash into something that will last me a few years.  I want to try to stretch 2 to 3 years, maybe a little more out of a PC.  If I can toss in a new video card to liven it up and give it a little longer, then I'm down.  I chronicled my last "build", which was more of an upgrade with a few new things, a couple of years ago.  I decided to go through the entire process this time.

I love building PCs.  I've been probably 8 or so PCs for other people since I built mine.  I've actually buy TWO for one person and I'm pretty jealous.  I am often looked at by others as the "tech guy".  I fix stuff, I build stuff, I suggest stuff.  When I feel like I'm lagging so far behind it becomes kind of sad and annoying.  I want to have the coolest shit, but I know that I am just not financially able to do so.  I wanna make sure that my kid has a rockin' birthday and my wife stays happy and that I get to eat food and put gas in my car.  Otherwise.... I'd have 2 of the most beastmode video cards overclocked like a motherfucker and liquid cooled like a boss.  Thankfully I'm just slightly more responsible than that.

I'm going to go over some thoughts and feelings here about picking out parts.

CPU
For a lot of people this is where they would focus.  I'm not a lot of people.  Let's break it down and be honest, shall we?  And i3 will browse the web and allow me to listen to my MP3s and steam Netflix with ease.  A low-end AMD APU can do the same.  Each of those also provide their own graphics solution, which means I could save cash while browsing, rocking out, and laughing at Bo Burnham jokes.  A higher end i3 or one of the quad-core Bulldozer AMD chips can play games like a beast.  This means that with the support from some other components I don't have to blow my load on a crazy awesome CPU.

The game has changed.

We have transitioned to a place where processing power is so efficient and so powerful that you almost literally see no gain on the gaming end once you get to a certain place.  A FX-4350 (about 120 bucks) will get the same framerate in something like BF4 as a 4770K (about 320 bucks) with the same video card and components attached.  I know what you're thinking.  I'm crazy.  Well, I'm not.  This is the nature of the beast, now.  A 200-dollar price difference won't REALLY provide me a lot in the way of improvement for gaming.  When I start to do other things or stress the CPU a little more, you immediately see the difference in both architecture and power.  They do, however, view Reddit the same way.

Just because I can save a couple hundred bucks doesn't mean that I want to.  I'm a hardware guy.  I want the best.  I want the latest.  I want all of updates and neat little bonuses.  I want to have the best shit.  When you buy good shit, it will be better than the next generation of cheap new shit.  Also, e-peen.

I plan to get a 4670K or 4770K CPU for my build.  As much as I have loved AMD over the years.  It's just too little, too late.  If you are going to take forever to come to market with your solution to the competition and then announce that after this series of chips you're done with desktop CPUs, they better be the shit!  In this case they are just shit.  Period.  Doody.

GPU
nVidia vs. AMD.  Ahhh, such a fun battle.  Since AMD is leaving the desktop market they had better shine here.  The R9 series for chips are so fucking baller, I just... I can't describe them any other way.  Their pricing based on the benchmarks if shocking.  How can you offer a card that is this powerful for the amount?  Because AMD figured out that leaving you with the same card for 5 years gets boring, I'm looking at you nVidia 8800.  AMD also took a page from nVidia and decided to start rebadging, I'm looking at you nVidia 9600.

nVidia has some very nice cards, but for the price they just can't compete.  The GTX 760 and the HD7950 were a good comparison, but with the addition of the R9 280X it's just over.  The price of a 7950, the performance of a 7970.  That's the sweet spot.

I plan to pick up a R9 280X for my build.  Unless nVidia makes some HUGE price cuts, I'm just not interested.

RAM
This one used to be tricky.  I used to tell you that you better get Crucial made by Micron or you could get the fuck out.  Corsair was a solid premium brand and while I wasn't as confident, I was pleased by performance.  RAM has changed significantly over the last decade, though.  A lot more people have access to the game and that makes stuff a lot more exciting.  Some very popular and solid brands have risen and fallen.  I've had some A-Data RAM for years and it has been rock solid.  Sure, it's DDR2, but it's awesome!

I feel like Crucial has fallen in quality.  Kingston has had a lot of problems with the failure rate of their modules.  GeiL and G.Skill have made a name for themselves.  OCZ came and went (fuck OCZ, btw).  Corsair has maintained it's place a quality premium brand.  Mushkin has emerged as a quality memory provider.  All of these brands are not only successful, but all carry fantastic (or shitty) reviews.  It's a great time for RAM because there are many providers and competition is good.

The clockspeeds are something very strange to me, though.  I see RAM rated for 2400, but I'm not sure I'd ever overclock that high.  I generally get the most compatible speed for CPU.  I've been know to rock low latency RAM, but some of the speeds are extreme.  I'm actually kind of shocked DDR3 is still the standard and we haven't already moved to DDR4, maybe next generation will make that push.

I plan to grab some G.Skill RAM.  If I happen to need Low Profile RAM, I'll pick up some Corsair.  I'm still undecided on the amount.  I know 8 is more than enough, but I'd like to go ahead and get 16 now and another 16 in the near future.  Why?  Because fuck Page Files.

HDD
I don't have an SSD.  STFU.  I'm getting one.  Samsung.  840.  EVO.

I know the SSDs aren't required for gaming.  They can help load times, but mostly are just a quality of life improvement for a person who uses a PC a lot.

Motherboard
One of the most crucial components.  This is actually #1 for me.  This is placed about GPU.  This is the heart of the PC.  A lot of people tell you to not cheap out on a PSU, but you can't cheap out on a motherboard either.

I've always been a fan of MSI and Gigabyte.  I try to avoid ASUS like the plague.  MSI and Gigabyte have also offered me solid products at a reasonable prices and over the years have provided quality boards over all.  I have had trouble ASUS on several occasions.  My current boards is an ASUS and is stellar, but the board has almost no features.  The board is DDR 2, has only one PCI-E slot and doesn't offer a lot in the way of connectivity from a USB or sound standpoint.  I generally don't consider any other boards for my personal builds.  I've never used a BioStar board.  I've used ECS and I actually really liked it.  They aren't super elite or amazing quality, but they get the job done.  I miss EPOX and SOYO boards from the old days. =(

I plan to pick up an MSI Gaming series motherboard.  It has a lot of features I want and it looks fantastic.  The M Power series is very nice, but I don't need some of the features.

PSU
Mult.  Rail.  Bitches.

I've already discussed this.

I plan to pick up an Antec PSU that offers multiple 12V rails.  Probably something in the 900w range, in case I want to Crossfire down the road.