entranceAssemble a gaming computer with your own hands. Putting together a budget gaming computer for the price of a PlayStation
Oh, these arguments about which is better - a game console or a computer! We do not want to confront the ardent supporters of the two camps, each of which has its own truth. Instead, we will try to build a budget gaming computer for the price of a console, spending about 800 new, denominated rubles, that is, about $ 400 in equivalent.
For this money, it is impossible to assemble a computer that will "pull" the most modern projects at maximum settings. Nevertheless, it is quite possible to choose a configuration that will provide a more or less comfortable level for any game. In subsequent articles, we will gradually raise the budget bar, looking for the most interesting options. In the meantime, let's see what you can choose for the most modest amount for a gaming computer (alas, it is unlikely that it will be possible to assemble a decent car for less than 800 rubles). Let's clarify that the monitor is not included in our guide - just like the TV is not included with the PlayStation or Xbox.
Case, power supply, keyboard and mouse
Contrary to the common misconception, it is the case and the power supply unit, and not the processor and video card, that should be selected in the first place. An overly cheap case with walls as thin as foil will bother you with a rattling noise (not to mention the ill-conceived interior "decoration"), and the life of the entire system depends on the quality of the power supply!
Fortunately, an inexpensive gaming computer will not differ in too gluttonous power consumption. Therefore, in this case, it is necessary to find a middle ground so as not to overpay for the unnecessary power supply of the power supply unit, but also not to save on quality.
It just so happened that finding a good case and power supply assembly, especially considering our current budget, is quite difficult. Manufacturers like to install dubious PSU models in good cases. Therefore, it is better to choose everything individually. The FSP Qdion QD450 with a power of 450 W for about 50 rubles will fit the role of a universal horse. There is a good indicator of the maximum current on the + 12V line, which is important for extreme loads, as well as active power factor correction. Such a block should be enough even taking into account the system upgrade planned for sometime.
We will take the case of the standard Tower form-factor, suitable for full-size motherboards (it will come in handy if not now, then later). It provides normal air circulation due to a fairly spacious internal space and, again, in the future will not become an obstacle to upgrading your computer. At the same time, such a case is not much more expensive than compact "colleagues".
When choosing a case, pay attention to the thickness of its walls. It is believed that the thicker they are, the stiffer and more stable the body. 0.5 mm should be taken as the minimum value - this is enough to fit into the budget and not bend from the rattling box. The number of bays for hard drives is enough in any case, it is great if the model is equipped with a connector that supports USB 3.0. Otherwise, you can rely on your own aesthetic preferences.
Among the brands, we would advise you to pay attention to AeroCool, Gigabyte and the good old In Win, which was once considered an ideal model of "case building" in terms of price / quality ratio. As an example of solid cases at a price of about 50 rubles, we will cite AeroCool V3X / V2X, In Win EC027 and Gigabyte GZ-F3.
Although we have a gaming computer, it is primarily a budget one. Therefore, instead of buying fancy keyboards and mice that shimmer with LEDs, we will focus on budget manipulators for now. Any keyboard for 10-12 rubles and a mouse for 8-10 will do for the first time.
Hard disk and optical drive
Further - it is easier. You can immediately discard an outdated optical drive; instead, it is better to add the saved 20-30 rubles to the budget of the processor or motherboard. If there is an urgent need, you can always buy some DVD-RW or, even better, use flash drives instead.
The hard drive is an important piece, because it stores information that is valuable even for a gamer. Alas, our budget does not have free funds for a solid-state drive, so we are looking at classic hard drives.
It is worth paying attention to several important parameters that in one way or another affect the speed of information exchange with the HDD, and therefore the performance of the entire computer. So, the spindle speed should be at 7200 rpm, the buffer memory should be 64 MB, the interface for connecting to the computer should be only SATA 3.0.
Since we need a hard drive for a desktop computer, and not for a laptop, we choose the standard 3.5 "form factor. The volume of the hard drive in our case will be limited to 1 TB. For the price it is almost the same as the models with a capacity of 0.5 TB, but for the version with You will have to pay a lot of 2 TB, so we will focus on a terabyte hard drive as the most convenient and obvious option.
It's more difficult with the brand this time. Until recently, HDDs were manufactured by Western Digital, Seagate, Hitachi, Samsung and Toshiba. For a long time, the most reliable and quiet hard drives were made by Samsung and Hitachi. However, a few years ago, the Koreans sold their HDD division to Seagate, and the Japanese to Western Digital.
Thus, there are two major players left - WD and Seagate. As for Toshiba hard drives, they are not widely used. Given the bad reputation of Seagate, there is no choice but to opt for a Western Digital drive. Just suitable in all respects - Caviar Blue 1TB (WD10EZEX), which can be found even cheaper than 100 rubles.
Processor, motherboard, RAM and video card
It's time to make the most serious and difficult choice. Hereinafter, we will have to divide our guide into two ways. Which configuration is best for gaming - a better processor plus a weaker graphics card, or a budget CPU plus a relatively powerful video? There is no unequivocal answer to this question, so we will look closely at two options, explaining one or another choice.
To begin with, reluctantly, we are forced to completely abandon AMD processors. Alas, the company, once respected among enthusiasts, is now inferior to its rival Intel on all fronts, even in the budget segment. Many modern games are adapted to use Intel quad-core systems. You can be content with two cores, but again from Intel and preferably with support for Hyper-Threading technology. And even World of Tanks, which does not depend much on the number of cores, runs noticeably faster on Intel products than on AMD processors. Thus, for a gaming machine, it is better to take Intel chips. But which ones?
Option 1
If you do not want the processor to become a bottleneck for the performance of the entire system in the next few years, we take a rather powerful, albeit budgetary, new Intel Core i3-6100. For now, you can buy with a complete cooler, which will someday give way to a quieter and more efficient cooling system. True, for such happiness you will have to pay almost a third of our budget - 240 rubles! But we will have a chip that is relevant for at least three more years (or even more), which will not hold back the power of new video cards in the middle price segment.
A decent processor needs an equally decent motherboard. For gaming needs, in this case, you can limit yourself to a compact mATX form-factor board - there won't be enough money for anything more serious. Don't worry, though. Such a "mother" will be more than enough for the needs of a gamer, and due to the absence of "extra" connectors, you can save a lot.
Among the brands we will give preference to ASUS, MSI and Gigabyte. The main thing is with support for DDR4 memory. As good models, we can recommend ASUS H110M-D, MSI B150M PRO-VH, Gigabyte GA-B150M-DS3H. The latter, by the way, supports the installation of four, not two strips of RAM. In the future, you will appreciate this feature when you want to easily increase system performance by simply adding a couple of RAM dies. True, now you will have to overpay 10-20 rubles.
Since we chose a new processor, it would be a sin to send DDR3 RAM to help it. No, we will take DDR4, especially since there is almost no difference in price. It's a shame to put less than 8 GB of RAM in a gaming computer these days, so we don't hesitate to take one 8 GB Crucial bracket for 60 rubles. Fortunately, memory is nowhere cheaper, so in a month or two you can buy the same one and forget about the lack of RAM for a long time.
This configuration will not provide maximum graphics settings, but you can easily run any games on a monitor with Full HD resolution and even play them, being content with medium or slightly below average settings.
Option 2
In our opinion, this option is more controversial, but it also has the right to life. The bottom line is that we take a weaker processor, but equip the system with a more powerful video card. Compared to the first option, this will lead to an increase in performance in most cases. However, there will certainly be situations when you are faced with a game that is demanding on processor resources, which will be more annoying with slowdowns than the lower graphics settings in the case of the Radeon R7 360. Ready for this? Then here is a suitable option.
The Pentium was once the name given to flagship processors targeting a broad consumer segment. Today these are budget chips with limited functionality. For example, the dual-core Pentium G4400, which can be purchased in a bundle with a cooler for 120 rubles. Half the price of a Core i3-6100!
We leave the motherboard and RAM from the first option unchanged. We add the freed up 120 rubles to the money remaining for the purchase of a video card and get free 330 rubles. At this price point, the most reasonable choice is the GeForce GTX 950 with 2 GB of video memory. This solution will be 30-50% faster (depending on the game) than the Radeon R7 360.
As you can see, even with a small amount, you can buy a modern gaming computer, which can also be improved over time.
Upgrading a computer is a troublesome and very costly business. Only true fans of computer games are regularly engaged in updating their hardware, for whom a new piece of hardware in the case is a symbol of their own coolness.
At the same time, it should be noted that modern games, for the most part, are no longer as demanding on components as they were several years ago. Probably everyone remembers how each new part of the GTA series caused a real headache for fans - in order to experience the innovative graphic features, you had to hurry to the computer store.
GTA 5 was a real breakthrough in optimizing the gameplay for weak cars. Even owners of very archaic hardware manage to run the game at minimum settings and play calmly at 30-40 FPS. Naturally, there can be no question of any beauty of the gaming locations in this case, but, for lack of a better, the game goes on like that.
For those who still want to fully experience all the graphic charms of the new part of Grand Theft Auto, the logical problem of upgrading their "war horse" to modern realities arises in full growth. Let's consider several PC configurations for different budgets, which will make it equally comfortable to play GTA 5.
Budget version of computer upgrade for GTA 5
The first reason why not everyone can buy a real gaming "monster" is a limited budget. Given the instability of the dollar (and all components are purchased by suppliers in this currency), prices for computer hardware regularly skyrocket, forcing gamers to cry bitter tears over another new video card costing like a used foreign car.
There are, however, a lot of quite budget upgrade options. Naturally, even for the components of the previous generation, the price has now jumped a lot, but there is no way out - you will have to strain your brains and choose the optimal configuration for your PC for a comfortable game in GTA 5.
Motherboard
The motherboard is the most important part of your PC, linking all the components together, making them work as a whole. Your options for further upgrading your computer, as well as connecting additional modern modules, depend on the choice of the motherboard. Consider the best budget options that will surely serve you for a few more years.
AMD 990 FX Chipset (for AMD Processors)
AMD has developed an excellent chip that performs well in the field with the latest games. At the moment, several manufacturers produce motherboards based on this chipset, ASRock, Asus, MSI - the choice is yours, because they differ only in secondary characteristics.
Almost all manufacturers equip boards with four slots for PCIe video cards and support SLI mode. We recommend paying attention to Asus motherboards based on AMD 990FX - at a reasonable price, they are equipped with additional nice perks, such as USB BIOS Flash and functional software.
MaternalASUS motherboards based on AMD 990FX chipset
For overclocking lovers, the model from Gygabite, which is called the 990FXA-UD3, is perfect. This board allows tuning enthusiasts to put an additional video card in the PCIe slot, and is also equipped with an additional FireWire controller. Considering the lower price than the similar Asus model, as well as excellent overclocking capabilities, the piece of hardware from Gygabite can be a great solution for fans of computer games, if you are not confused by the outdated AM3 socket.
Intel Z97 Chipset (for Intel processors)
The boards discussed above are ideal for owners of AMD processors. But what should Intel fans do, of which, it is worth admitting, the majority in the gaming community. There are some great budget solutions for them as well. The best solution for gamers is the Intel Z97 chipset, which has proven itself very well.
Maternalmotherboards based on Intel Z97 chipset
All motherboards presented in our review can be attributed to the mid-range segment. Why did they end up in the so-called "budget" upgrade option? It's simple. The fact is that really low-cost fees will allow you to save an extra thousand rubles, but they will become completely irrelevant in just a few months.
The presented motherboards are capable of working with all top-end components on the market, and also support modern high-speed data transfer technologies. In addition, a very modern machine can be built on the basis of the board database, which will easily pull all the new items in the next few years.
CPU
A small silicon square can literally be called the heart of any personal computer. It is his task to process the entire array of information, it is he who is responsible for the processing speed of almost all processes in the system.
Today, the pace of updating the existing lines of processors has slowed down, which gives us a slight advantage when assembling a budget computer for GTA 5. Buying a two-year-old processor, we get a completely competitive stone that will still pull out more than a dozen new game masterpieces.
If we consider the budget option, then the best solution would be to choose the oldies in their mid-price range, who have long proven their reliability. Let's look at specific examples.
Intel processors
The best choice in the budget option will be the Intel Core i5 4590 - one of the most popular processors, which is installed in literally every mid-cost assembly of computers on socket 1150.
With a powerful video card (which we will talk about below), the i5 4590 will confidently cope with any modern game, pulling it out at high settings and delighting the user with a consistently high FPS. If you can expand your budget a little, you can take the top-end i5 modification under the index - with this processor you won't have to think about upgrading for a long time.
AMD processors
AMD has long lost the "processor" arms race, so it cannot please us with an abundance of decent budget options. However, there is still one contender for our budget PC case - AMD Athlon X4 860K.
Also, mid-cost stones based on the AM3 + socket can be a good option, these are the FX 6300 and FX 8300 models.
The main advantage of MAD processors is their price, which is more than two times lower than their counterparts from Intel.
Video card
The most important part of any PC for a gamer is the graphics card, which is responsible for the level of graphics in games. It is the choice of a video card that determines the level of texture detail, the quality of shadows, shaders, and a whole range of parameters that determine the level of comfort when playing.
It is difficult to apply the concept of "budget" to video cards, since new developments enter the markets with frightening regularity, therefore, he will consider the most productive cards that fit into the budget of 7-10 thousand rubles.
The GTX750Ti chipset performed well in the gaming segment, so many manufacturers rushed to release cards of this modification. The map has very good characteristics that will allow you to comfortably play GTA 5 at high settings.
Many claim that the previous generation GTX 650 Ti is in no way inferior to the older version, but they are wrong. From our experiments, the difference in FPS between these two cards is very significant.
Price: 8 850 rub.
ZOTAC GeForce GTX750Ti
Another modification of the GTX 750Ti chipset, this time from ZOTAC. In terms of characteristics, it is identical to the version from Palit, but differs in a more thought-out cooling system and, as a result, in price.
Price: 9 500 rub.
It is the GTX 750Ti graphics cards that are the best option for a budget computer upgrade, it makes no sense to consider the rest, since they almost do not differ in cost, but are significantly weaker in performance.
Complete upgrade. If you don’t mind the money.
If you are not tied by hand with low budgets, then, alas, you have practically no room for imagination and experimentation. The fact is that in the top segment of computer hardware, absolute leaders regularly appear who have no competitors.
Consider the most productive and expensive components that can be found in computer stores at the beginning of 2016.
CPU
The leader among the processors in the upper price segment is, of course, the monster from Intel, called the Core i7-5960X Extreme Edition Haswell-E. This stone for a modest 80 thousand rubles will allow you not to worry about computer performance in the next 5 years.
The advantages of this processor include good adaptation for overclocking (although, what is there to overclock with such characteristics?). This stone has no competitors, and they are unlikely to appear in the near future.
Video card
There is also an undisputed leader among video cards, which bears the name GeForce Titan Z and is the ultimate dream for any gamer.
It is not for nothing that Titan X bears this name - it is truly a titanium in the graphics accelerator market. At the moment, this video card is the most productive single-chip card, which has all imaginable and inconceivable advantages.
When you buy a GeForce Titan X, you can forget about upgrading your video for at least the next five years.
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04/13/2016 Sergey Plotnikov
For a modern person, a computer is not just a "vehicle", but a faithful companion in life with whom we spend a lot of time. Whether working or having fun - it doesn't matter - you want to see next to you not just a metal "coffin" stuffed with accessories, but a small work of art. Manual assembly is desirable. Desirable top-end configuration. The store will not offer this, and if they do, they will ask for a considerable amount from above. The conclusion lies on the surface: a small computer must be assembled by yourself. About the intricacies of assembly and features of compact gaming computers - in this material.
Market trends 2015
I wrote last year. And in the heading "Computer of the month", in which every 30 days the author offers the five best configurations to choose from, they mainly feature standard-sized cases. The assembly process of such systems is simple, the main thing is to do everything according to the instructions. The most difficult task is the selection of compatible components. When you need a small computer, in which the volume of space for the installation of iron is 10-20 liters, the task becomes more complicated. But this only increases interest.
Several things prompted me to sit down to this article. The main motive is the emerging fashion for miniaturization. Compact systems are becoming popular. At each exhibition there are several ready-made solutions from various manufacturers. And also a whole range of special accessories. Valve has turned a desktop computer into a game console called the Steam Machine. And if the PC is in the living room, then without miniaturization anywhere. Rumor has it that Microsoft will soon turn the Xbox into a hybrid PC. In general, wherever you look, powerful and small computing systems are looking everywhere.
Powerful little computer 2016 is modern!
A few examples. At the CeBIT 2016 exhibition in the spring, gaming mini-systems stood out among the various computer novelties. More details about them in the March "Iron Shop". For example, ZOTAC has released a powerful gaming "computer" MAGNUS. The company's engineers placed a quad-core Core i5-6400 (review) and GeForce GTX 980 (review) in a 6-liter case (230x203x130 mm). At the same time, the video card was equipped with an unattended "dropsy".
ZOTAC MAGNUS. Source: maximumpc.com
Inspired by the cylindrical Apple Mac Pro computer, MSI designed the Vortex gaming station. In a volume of 6.5 liters (270 mm high), the assemblers immediately inserted two GeForce GTX 980 video cards, as well as a powerful Core i7-6700K central processor.
There are many similar examples. The stores have ASUS ROG G20 (12.5 liters). Miniature gaming systems are available from Alienware, GIGABYTE and Intel. But it is much more interesting to assemble such a computer yourself, completely and completely controlling the selection of components. On the market, miniature cases and other necessary gaming hardware - in bulk. By the way, a homemade computer is always cheaper in terms of cost.
There are several types of miniature cases. The first is a barebone cube-shaped nettop. They became popular due to the Taiwanese company Shuttle, which has been producing small form factor computers since 1983. In such cases, the motherboard is horizontally attached to the bottom. Above it is the power supply and the rest of the hardware. Take the popular Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced case as an example. Since barebones do not have a hidden bottom behind the chassis, you have to tinker with them in order to properly pack all the wires.
Build based on Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced case. All this bunch of wires must be carefully hidden.
The second type of miniature cases is small Towers. Small towers that accept mini-ITX and mATX motherboards. For example, the SilverStone FT03 / FT03-MINI with dimensions of 189x397x235 mm (17.6 liters) can accommodate video cards with a length of 250 mm. We can say that this is a cult case, a huge number of assemblies based on it in a special topic on the overclock.net forum.
Such cases include the equally popular BitFenix Prodigy (review), AeroCool Dead Silence Cube (review) and Corsair Graphite Series 380T. In these cases, the motherboard is mounted horizontally, there is room for a power supply, drive cage, and cable routing. Another example is the MSI Nightblade series of computer systems (overview).
SilverStone FT03. Source: overclock.net
Finally, the third type is Slim Desktop / HTPC. Externally, they are similar to the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One game consoles. They are about the same size. The profile of the used video card, as well as the model of the cooler for the processor, depends on the height of the case. The motherboard, power supply and drives in such a case are located on the same wall.
An example of an assembly based on the Lian Li PC-05 case
As an illustrative example, let's take a small and cheap cooler master elite 110 case.
Despite the small dimensions of 260x208x280 mm and a small volume (only 15 liters), a full-fledged ATX power supply unit can be installed in such a case.
Our task on the basis of this case is to assemble a gaming computer in terms of power comparable to the classic Full / Midi-Tower. Therefore, we take only top-end hardware and use overclocking.
How to make the right choice
Yes, when assembling a miniature gaming PC, you first choose not a processor with a video card, but a case. Only then, having considered this or that case, they select all the other components. Mistakes are unacceptable here, but they do happen.
To begin with, on the official website of the manufacturer (we have Cooler Master) in the "Specification" tab, we find out the height of the cooler for the processor, the length of the video card and case. ... The Elite 110 has the following parameters: 76 mm, 210 mm and 180 mm. As you can see, the restrictions are quite strict. ... Pay attention to the video card plugs. There are two of them, therefore, we can safely take a two-slot 3D accelerator. It does not interfere with finding out information about the seats for fans and water cooling systems. A good manufacturer should have it.
Elite 110 comes with one fan by default. It is fixed on the front panel and works with blowing. The characteristics indicate that a single-section unattended water supply system can be installed at the same place. The Elite 110 has mounting holes for both a 120mm radiator and a larger 140mm radiator. That is, the vast majority of unattended systems will do. Let's take this moment into account.
Optionally, on one of the walls, on the side of the video card, there are places for installing two 80 mm fans. It can be seen in the photo above. But when using one "propeller" space for mounting a 3.5-inch hard drive is lost. You can install two of them in the Elite 110 at once. There are no storage baskets and no optical drive in the case. Hard drives and SSDs are attached to the side (from the video card side) and top (from the power supply side) walls.
First, let's look at the following compatibility parameters of a compact case: the height of the processor cooler, the length of the video card and the length of the power supply
If there are trays in the case, then you need to make sure that they do not take up space for the video card. For example, Bitfenix Prodigy Orange has two storage baskets at once: upper and lower. To mount a long enough graphics adapter (as in the photo below), dismantle the top tray.
An example of an assembly based on the BitFenix Prodigy case
If the baskets are not provided, as is the case with the Elite 110, all that remains is to calculate the potential options. In our case, we couldn't use the slots for 3.5 "HDD on the side panel of the case, since the upper hard drive covers the video card fan. Both the 3D Accelerator and the storage drive heat up. This nuance must be foreseen at the stage of purchasing all components. In the case of the Elite 110, along with a powerful graphics card, access to 3.5-inch drives is closed. Eugens 2.5-inch.
Sometimes the power supply prevents the installation of a long video card. For example, in a Fractal Design Node 304 case, installing a PSU over 160mm in length will result in you being unable to install a graphics card longer than 170mm.
When assembling a regular computer, we have a lot to choose from. Today, the popular standard sizes of motherboards are ATX, mATX, mini-ITX and E-ATX, the most popular is ATX. When assembling the Elite 110 and other small models, there is only one option - mini-ITX. The form factor provides for the use of a square board 170 X 170 mm.
In our small computer we use ASUS Z170I PRO GAMINGB, a powerful and functional board for this form factor. We install a 4-core Core i5-6600K chip on the motherboard. In the photo below, interfaces are highlighted in various colors, which will definitely find application. In mini-ITX-boards, various connectors can be located in different ways, with the only exception made for the socket, slots for RAM and a single PEG slot for a video card. It is best to think over in advance how the power supply cables and interface wires will be located in the motherboard case.
There is only one option - this is mini-ITX
Since there are only two DDR3 / DDR4 slots for mini-ITX-boards, it is better to immediately purchase more modules. Best of all, 16 GB.
ASUS Z170I PRO GAMING
It is desirable that the location of the SATA ports on the board be the same as in the photo below. Very often, "barebones" drives are mounted on the side walls or on top.
On the reverse side of ASUS Z170I PRO GAMING, the M.2 port is "hidden". This is the best solution any compact PC developers could come up with! If you need to use it in a solid state drive, then it is better to use an SSD of this format. M.2 "kills two birds with one stone": firstly, there is no need to use additional cables; secondly, in a case without a basket, a 2.5-inch solid-state drive will not block other components. Some boards have a mini-PCI Express connector, which is good too.
The M.2 interface eliminates unnecessary wires. Take a board with such a connector
If you are planning to build a computer based on an Intel processor, then choose the LGA1151 platform for Skylake chips. Most motherboards based on H110 / B150 / H170 / Z170 Express logic have an M.2 connector. It's not bad to have a wireless module in a miniature PC Here's an example of mini-ITX form factor motherboards that are quite suitable for building a miniature gaming computer:
ASUS Z170I PRO GAMING (Intel Skylake);
MSI H110I PRO (Intel Skylake);
GIGABYTE GA-Z97N-WIFI (Intel Haswell / Broadwell);
MSI B85I (Intel Haswell / Broadwell);
MSI A68HI (AMD Kaveri);
ASRock X99E-ITX / ac (Intel Haswell-E).
M.2 slot on the back of ASUS Z170I PRO GAMING
When choosing a video card, the main parameter is length. For most, the size of the graphics adapter is proportional to its performance. For example, the GeForce GTX 980 is 268 mm. This size will not work for us. Fortunately, the stores are full of really tiny graphics cards. Some of them are specially designed for the mini-ITX form factor, their length is no more than 170 mm. For assembly, we will take, perhaps, the most powerful gaming video card among compact models - amd radeon r9 nano (review). Its length is only 152 mm, but the performance is equal to the full-size version of the GeForce GTX 980. Following the Radeon R9 NANO are the compact versions of the GeForce GTX 970, GeForce GTX 960, Radeon R9 380 and GeForce GTX 950. These video cards can cope with modern games in Full resolution HD. These cards are great for building a small computer.
There is one more nuance. Some manufacturers release versions of the GeForce GTX 950 without additional power. There is a GeForce GTX 750 Ti on sale, which can also be called a gaming graphics card. In other cases, in my opinion, it is better to purchase an adapter with the power connectors facing up. This makes it more convenient to lay the cable.
If it is possible to install a long video card in a miniature case (for example, Fractal Design Node 304), then it is better to take an adapter with a cooler equipped with a turbine fan. Such a "propeller" has improved absorption from the side wall, and then completely drops out of the case.
We choose compact and powerful graphics cards. If we take a long one, then it is better - with a turbine.
By the way, in the Elite 110 you can install the Radeon R9 Fury X, as it allows you to install a single-section maintenance-free water cooling system.
The Elite 110 accepts a CPU cooler up to 76mm in height. The following models are quite suitable for overclocking the Core i5-6600K: Cooler Master GeminII M4, Noctua NH-L12, Scythe Big Shuriken 2 Rev. B, Thermalright AXP-100/200 (Muscle), Deepcool Gabriel, CRYORIG C1 and be quiet! SHADOW ROCK LP. There are many options. The main thing is to make sure that the cooler does not cover the slots of the RAM and video card. In most cases, it is better to use a RAM kit with low or no heatsinks. The air-blowing cooler installed on the front wall of the Elite 110 will be very effective, because the free space in the case is limited, the cooler needs help.
Down Flow cooler cools not only the central processor, but everything around
But we will use unattended dropsy. We found a model Deepcool Maelstrom 120. Inexpensive, entry-level CBO assembled according to the ASETEK reference model. The thickness is small - only 16 mm, but in the case of the Elite 110, every millimeter counts.
It remains to choose one of the main computer devices - the power supply. The Elite 110 has an ATX form factor. The maximum length is 180 mm. Naturally, the shorter the block, the better. Some cases (for example, SilverStone FT03-MINI) are installed in SFX form factor. They are much smaller, you can save a decent amount of internal volume. But, unfortunately, there are not many of them.
To build a miniature PC, you only need a modular power supply.
Modern ATX units from 500W to 750W with 120mm fan are 150mm long. For example, Cooler Master v seriesV750. At first it was conceived to use it, but during the assembly process a number of problems arose. The block, among the non-detachable cables, has two leads for the video card at once. One wire was superfluous. It doesn't add to the aesthetics of our build.
As a result, instead of the V750, we will use a fully modular SeaSonic power supply, from which you can completely unfasten all the wires. This is very handy when assembling a miniature PC. Therefore, it is recommended to check the number and length of cables before purchasing, both detachable and non-detachable.
We figured out the components. The design of the Elite 110 limited us to one thing: we had to abandon the use of a 3.5-inch hard drive. If this is important for you, then purchase another model (with baskets for drives). The final configuration looks like this:
Central processing unit: Intel Core i5-6600K, 3.5 GHz
Cooling system: Deepcool Maelstrom 120
Motherboard: ASUS Z170I PRO GAMING
RAM: DDR4-2133, 2x 8 GB
Drives: 1x M.2 SSD, 1x SATA SSD
Video card: AMD Radeon R9 NANO, 4 GB
PSU: SeaSonic Platinum Fanless, 520W
We start assembling. The assembly algorithm of the system unit is standard. First, we fix the central processor on the motherboard and install the RAM, then the cooling system. Before installing into the case, it is recommended to check the functionality of the components at the stand Despite the additional effort, it becomes possible to test the compatibility and stability of the system. This will allow you to avoid disassembling the entire system in the future.
The processor was overclocked, the tests worked, the hardware was working, we were starting to assemble the computer. We overlock the chip to 4.2 GHz, increase the VCore voltage to 1.25 V. Not God knows what the result, but we take into account the fact that in a tiny case, the cooling efficiency of Deepcool Maelstrom 120 will noticeably deteriorate.
The first step during assembly is to mount the motherboard onto the chassis chassis. The SVO water block is already installed on the socket. When using air cooling, the cooler is attached to the processor after connecting the cables to the motherboard and video card.
The fan installed on the casing works for blowing. In our case, with the installed SVO, this is not so suitable. When the processor is under increased load, all warm air is drawn into the case, which causes the temperature of the processor and all installed components to increase. Therefore, the fan of "dropsy" must work for blowing out.
In a compact case, you should try to place the cooling elements of the processor and video card away from each other.
There was a problem with Deepcool Maelstrom 120.
The bundled cooler did not fit, it was not possible to fix it to the case wall with standard screws. I had to take another impeller - from the Scythe Kotetsu cooler. The optional Elite 110 impeller does not have PWM, it operates at a constant frequency, so it is not suitable.
Installation example of a two-piece maintenance-free water cooling system in a BitFenix Prodigy case
One more point. Water cooling is installed sideways. Where should the hoses be routed? It seems to be an unprincipled moment, but when the radiator is fastened as shown in the photos below, the CBO hoses are squeezed between the power supply and the video card. But the reverse side of the Radeon R9 NANO heats up under load up to 90 degrees Celsius. We definitely don't need extra heating of the processor.
Therefore, in the case of the Elite 110, correctly install the Deepcool Maelstrom 120 radiator as shown in the photo below. Fortunately, the motherboard's power supply heatsink didn't get in the way.
Installation of SVO, location of the radiator
Installed cooling and a motherboard. Now it's time to lay the wires. Our goal: to prevent the appearance of a heap of wires near the side walls, as well as in the area of the cooling radiator. There is very little free space. It is necessary to maximize air exchange. Therefore, we fix all the cables on the bottom of the case. The design of the Elite 110 allows this. After connecting to the connectors, we remove the huge heap of cables from the I / O-panel Elite 110 behind the front panel. All wires are eventually removed.
At the next stage of the assembly, we install the video card. With the Radeon R9 NANO, everything turned out to be very simple, the device takes up little space. In fact, after installing the motherboard, cooling system and video card, installing and connecting all cables, including SATA, all that remains is to place the power supply in the appropriate seat and connect four wires to it (in our case).
Since the SeaSonic Platinum Fanless is a fully modular power supply, we do the following. First, connect all the cables - two to the motherboard and one to the video card - and only then connect them to the trough. Naturally, all the wires are neatly laid around the "dropsy" radiator. The result is shown in the photo below.
The final stage is the installation of the top bar with the drive installed in it. We bring the second SATA connector to the top. You may need a second 2.5-inch drive over time.
Hooray, the miniature gaming computer is assembled!
On the basis of a compact case, we managed to implement a powerful gaming system with an overclocked central processor. As you can see, it's not that difficult. The main thing is to choose the right components, since there are many different offers on the market for anyone, even the most demanding user.
Let's return to the topic of site building. The article talks about a very interesting and modern style in website design.
All that remains is to take it to the landfill. The user takes the wallet and goes to the store, driven by the desire to make an important purchase.
But don't be in a hurry. First you need to get an idea of the current state of affairs. Which computer is right for a professional? Gamer? Ordinary user? Let's find out.
Entry-level configuration
A computer from this series does not claim to be in the first place in all kinds of performance and speed tests, respectively, work on it does not differ much in comfort. On the other hand, "do you need checkers or go?" This computer will open the door for you to the world of the Internet (and this is news, background information, e-books and much more), interactive communication (social networks, Skype), entertainment (movies, TV series, music). You will be able to use, email and store numerous digital photos.
In addition, your little child will appreciate the inexhaustible pantry of cartoons and flash games, and an older child will be able to find information for essays and term papers. Grandparents will be able to keep in touch with their children and grandchildren, watch their favorite TV shows without intrusive advertising and at any time. Isn't that enough?
An entry-level computer in early 2016 is a cheap quad-core processor paired with a GTX 750ti-level graphics card or similar Radeon. You can also save money on the motherboard and power supply - office solutions in the mATX format are suitable. If the money is very tight, you can look for an old used stone of the Phenom II level and slightly disperse it. This configuration is not a game one, but it will pull many new hits at medium-low settings in FullHD (1920 × 1080) resolution.
Computer for gamers
All your friends fight with sword and magic, ride tanks and fly combat planes, and you are not yet? We need to fix this urgently! Surprise your friends with the appearance of your computer and its characteristics, kill all virtual enemies and master level 80 magic! In between games, when you are tired of having fun, you can read the news or watch a movie.
So what should a gamer's computer be like? Let's start with the most important element - the video card. It is on him that most games focus. It makes no sense to build a gaming PC with a video card that has less than four gigabytes of memory. This is proved by the situation with the recent hits of Assassins Creed: Syndicate and Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, which require four gigabytes of video memory at ultra settings. The cheapest option will be the Nvidia GTX 960 card, and the more promising solutions are the 970 and 980 models. Gamers are not recommended to take cards from Radeon cards - although they are not inferior to Nvidia in manufacturability, they almost always lose in terms of drivers. In addition, most game developers prefer to work with the greens, which is reflected in performance.
The next component is the processor. For most games, some AMD FX-6300 will be enough, but if you want to play absolutely all new items without fear of any freezes, then it is better to build a system based on the latest generation of i5 or i7 processors. Accordingly, according to which processor you are going to buy, you need to choose a motherboard. Unlike the case with the entry-level configuration, you cannot save on the motherboard here. A standard ATX format with a large number of slots will do just fine (keep in mind the prospects for a possible upgrade).
RAM must be at least 8 gigabytes. Lords of the Fallen and Black Ops 3 already clog this amount of memory, and it is impossible to play at four gigabytes at all. In the next couple of years, the situation may get worse, so the optimal amount of RAM will be 16 gigabytes. You can also buy an additional SSD hard drive (especially important for MMORPG fans, where the loading speed of locations and characters is usually limited by the capabilities of the hard drive).
Computer for professionals
Professional work with graphics or video, design, modeling. Nowadays, many professions require powerful computer technology. It is impossible for a technician to save on a working PC in any case - the work process will be slowed down, which will lead to “lost” earnings. It is better to invest properly so that later all this will pay off in full.
An excellent solution would be a configuration based on an Intel Core i7 4960X processor and a Geforce Titan Black video card with 6 gigabytes of video memory. RAM 16-32 gigabytes. Choose the right size hard drive based on your needs. As practice shows, working with video and graphics simply obliges you to purchase several hard drives of 2 terabytes each and an SSD for a gigabyte system that way by 250. You should not limit yourself to one large hard drive - active work can cause it to fail (and this is not only the need for new expenses, but also the possible loss of important data).
And do not forget about a high-quality power supply that will have to power this entire system. Take with a margin, for example, the Hiper M900N 900 watts. We will not talk about additional equipment - it all depends on your type of activity.
Conclusion
This was just general information to help the user navigate when choosing their own configuration. Of course, everyone's individual preferences are different, so the purchase of components from these manufacturers is optional. If the budget does not allow, you can save on one or another component. But remember - this will negatively affect performance or even limit the prospects for further upgrades.
12.12.2016
If you last changed your computer at the end of 2012 or earlier and the time has come to update the hardware, you will be unpleasantly surprised by the fact that no market will deceive the economy, all the components are imported and neatly doubled in price.
And if with the old course for 20 thousand rubles it was possible to assemble a very decent computer for all household tasks, not excluding games, today the simplest typewriter only for office tasks can hardly fit into this budget.
Our original
Three budgets: up to 31,500 thousand rubles. or $ 500, up to 47 thousand or $ 750 and up to 63 thousand or $ 1,000
Components: we collect everything from scratch, old, but suitable power supplies and cases did not happen at hand
Environment: we have the simplest home 60 Hz FullHD monitor, the necessary peripherals, the ability to read and follow one of the most detailed instructions for assembling a PC on the Internet. If you are not like that, add to each option ~ 1,000 rubles ($ 15/400 hryvnia), which, on average, the workshop will take from you for the assembly, ~ 5,000 - 7,000 ($ 100 / 2,500 hryvnia) - monitor, ~ 1 000 - 1,500 ($ 20/500 hryvnia) - keyboard and mouse.
Tasks: internet, office, YouTube, movies, games
Shop and prices: a random store on Yandex.Market, prices at the rate of 1 USD = 63 rubles / 26 hryvnias, in your case the prices for all components (or their analogues) may differ up or down by 10-15% if you order everything separately by finding the best prices for each piece of hardware - you can additionally save on the time spent.
Time: prices are valid as of December 12, 2016, you should not write angry comments if you stumbled upon this note at the end of 2019 and the numbers did not coincide very much.
Generally: we are a simple user with a screwdriver, little money and a big desire for a gift for the new year
Option number 1 - up$ 500 / 31,500 rubles/ 13 000 hryvnia
There is nothing to be done, it will be an option of continuous compromises. For this money, you cannot build a powerful gaming computer that, in addition to a browser and an office, will allow you not to worry about the graphics settings sliders for the next three years.
This is a computer for the Internet, cinema, dance and new games at medium and lower settings.
CPU: Intel® Core ™ i3-6100 | 3.7GHz - 7,179 rubles;
Cooling for the processor:
Motherboard: ASRock H110M-DGS | mATX - 3,154 rubles;
Video card: nVidia GTX 1050 | 2048Mb | GDDR5 | Zotac - 8,234 rubles;
RAM: 8Gb 2400MHz Crucial | DDRIV - 3,184 rubles;
HDD:
Power Supply: 400W Zalman ZM400-LE II - 2,041 rubles;
Frame:
Total: 29 934 rubles / $ 465/12 090 hryvnia
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Latest generation dual-core four-thread high-frequency processor based on Skylake core, minimum motherboard for 1151 chipset, tower cooler with heat pipes, latest generation of budget nVidia graphics cards, minimum RAM required at the end of 2016, decent hard drive from Seagate, power supply from a reliable manufacturer and a budget case.
This configuration will allow you to play all modern games (albeit at settings far from maximum) in FullHD resolution, watch videos in 4K, not to mention the Internet and office programs.
Why notAMDFx? For the same money, a system built on an eight-coreThe FX 8300 will be much more powerful.
First, not for all tasks. Yes, in the synthetic test, the FX outperforms not only the i3, but also some i5s. But your daily activity is not about driving benchmarks, it is, in addition to the Internet, mainly to kill monsters. By default, game makers think that you have Intel and are honing their brainchildren for it. If your main occupation, for example, is video editing, then yes, you should look towards AMD FX with a minimal budget, but this article is not for you.
Secondly, the FX line processors are hopelessly outdated. In practice, this means that if today there is still a large selection of motherboards on the AM3 + socket and DDRIII memory modules, then in two years this will not be guaranteed. And if at the end of 2018 (time flies by quickly) your motherboard burns out or you want to throw on another memory stick - you have a direct road to flea markets like Avito, in an attempt to find a decent option.
Nothing newer than the Intel Skylake line of processors, the LGA 1151 socket for them and the DDRIV standard - does not exist on the market at the end of 2016. Memory modules, processors, motherboards - all this will be in the assortment in stores for another 3-4 years, guaranteed. Change the processor to a more powerful one (i5 / i7), replace the burned-out board, add RAM - no questions asked, at any time and cheaper than today (in dollars, anyway).
Why not save money by taking a case with a power supply?
Because the savings of $ 10-15 (at best) are not worth burning down the system (at least) or the apartment (at the most).
Why not save money by taking a boxed processor with a cooler?
You will save $ 3, maximum - $ 5, but instead of a normal cooling system with heat pipes, you will get an aluminum blank with a roaring fan, decide for yourself.
What else can you save on here?
For the stated tasks - nothing.
8 GB of memory is not enough?
For today - the minimum is enough, the die can always be purchased and delivered from the next salary.
Isn't it better to takei3 6300/6320 - are they more powerful, but there is more cache memory?
They cost on average ~ 9,000 rubles ($ 140, 2,700 hryvnia), the difference from the minimum i5 6400, in which honest 4 cores are about 20%, this is unreasonable.
And whereSSD for the system and basic programs?
If you are ready for an assembly with a budget of $ 465, add $ 50-70 for a thing that will give a few percent performance gain in real tasks - that's great.
Why not1050Ti?
This is a very strange card, which costs much more than the 1050 card, not much exceeding it in performance, but only slightly cheaper than the 1060 card by 3GB, significantly inferior to it.
Option number 2 - up to $ 750 / 47,000 rubles / 19,500 hryvnia
CPU: Intel® Core ™ i5-6400 | 2.7GHz - 11,500 rubles;
Cooling for the processor: Deepcool Gammaxx 200T - 844 rubles;
Motherboard:
Video card:
RAM: 16Gb 2400MHz Crucial | DDRIV - 5,935 rubles;
HDD: 1.0Tb Seagate BarraCuda | SATA-III | 7,200 rpm - 3,205 rubles;
Power Supply:
Frame: Zalman ZM-T2 Plus - 2,093 rubles;
Total: 46 142 rubles / $ 732/19 032 hryvnia
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An excellent configuration that will pull all modern games in FullHD at close to ultra and ultra settings, not to mention simpler tasks. A big plus is scalability, we leave three free slots for RAM (if you want 64 GB - save up and buy dies), you can plug a good sound card into this motherboard, wait for the price drop on the i7 6700 and insert it, the power supply will freely pull out a much more powerful one graphics card if you decide to fork out for it.
Why 1060 for 3 and not 6 GB?
1060 for 3 GB - now looks like the best offer in terms of price / performance ratio. The 6 GB version does not really surpass it in anything, but it costs more than $ 10, but all $ 70, the next level (1070) is a completely different class of devices and twice the price tag.
Why is the youngesti5?
Because the price of the older i5 is approaching the i7.
1 TB at the end of 2016 - not enough?
If it won't be enough - buy it later, it's inexpensive.
Option number 3 - up to $ 1,000 / 63,000 rubles / 26,000 hryvnia
CPU: Intel® Core ™ i7-6700 | 3.4GHz - 19 390 rubles;
Cooling for the processor: Deepcool Gammaxx 200T - 844 rubles;
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B150M-D3H | mATX - 4 896 rubles;
Video card: nVidia GTX 1060 | 3096 Mb | GDDR5 | Palit - 14,067 rubles;
RAM: 32Gb (2x16Gb) 2133MHz Crucial | DDRIV - 10,758 rubles;
HDD: 2.0Tb Seagate BarraCuda | SATA-III | 7,200 rpm - 4,609 rubles;
SSD: 120Gb SSD Kingston - 3,058 rubles;
Power Supply: 550W Corsair VS550 - 3,602 rubles;
Frame: Zalman ZM-T2 Plus - 2,093 rubles;
Total: 62,237 rubles / $ 988 / 25,500 hryvnia.
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In fact, this is a "pumping" of the previous assembly. We installed a top-end processor for socket 1151, threw in RAM (now it will be enough for years to come), installed an SSD for the system (and basic applications), and twice the hard drive.
With such a system for the next three to four years, you will not have to get acquainted with the assortment of computer stores. She is guaranteed to cope with all daily tasks.
Why noti7 6700k?
Because without overclocking - a surcharge of $ 30-40 does not make sense. For serious overclocking, you need a motherboard on the z170 chipset (+ $ 30), a very good air, or better - a liquid cooling system (+ $ 50-100), to "reveal" all the capabilities of an overclocked processor in games, you will have to buy a video card of the level 1070 (+ $ 200- 220), for such a system a more powerful power supply is needed (+ $ 50 for a good option) - in total, at least $ 300, i.e., 30% of the build budget. And this is without taking into account the fact that you can enjoy a hundred or more FPS only on the corresponding monitor, which costs not $ 100 at all.
Is the power supply weak?
Quite sufficient.
Summary
We presented you three assemblies, which, in our opinion, are successful in terms of price / quality ratio, the last option is already at home with the author of this material and is waiting for a free minute to assemble.
These are simple home configurations that don't pretend to be any professional task like video editing, 3D rendering, and engineering calculations. Ultimately, if your tasks go beyond simple home use, you know better than us what components you need.