We collect a budget gaming computer at the price of a PlayStation. We assemble a budget gaming computer at the price of a PlayStation Assemble a gaming computer

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. Working or having fun - it doesn't matter - I want to see next to me not just a metal "coffin" stuffed with accessories, but a small work of art. Preferably hand assembled. Preferably top 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. Yes, and in the heading "Computer of the Month", in which every 30 days the author offers the five best configurations to choose from, there are mainly cases of a standard size. The process of assembling 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 amount of space for installing iron is 10-20 liters, the task becomes more complicated. But that only adds to the interest.

Several things prompted me to sit down for 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. As well as a range of special accessories. Specialists from Valve generally turned a stationary computer into a game console called the Steam Machine. And if the PC is in the living room, then without miniaturization, nowhere. Rumor has it that Microsoft will soon turn the Xbox into a hybrid PC. In general, wherever you look - powerful and small computing systems look everywhere.

The powerful little computer of 2016 is modern!

A few examples. In the spring at CeBIT 2016, among a variety of computer innovations, gaming minisystems stood apart. More details about them in the March "Iron shop". For example, ZOTAC released a powerful gaming "computer" MAGNUS. The company's engineers placed a quad-core Core i5-6400 (review) and a 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 Apple Mac Pro cylindrical computer, MSI designed the Vortex gaming station. In a volume of 6.5 liters (height - 270 mm), the assemblers inserted two GeForce GTX 980 video cards at once, as well as a powerful central processor Core i7-6700K.

There are many similar examples. The stores have ASUS ROG G20 (12.5 liters). Miniature gaming systems are produced by Alienware, GIGABYTE and Intel. But it is much more interesting to assemble such a computer yourself, completely controlling the selection of components. On the market, miniature cases and other necessary gaming hardware are in bulk. By the way, a homemade computer is always cheaper at cost.

Several types of miniature cases can be distinguished. The first is a barebone nettop in the shape of a cube. 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. An example is the popular Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced case. Since the barebone does not have a hidden bottom behind the chassis, you have to tinker with them thoroughly in order to correctly pack all the wires.

Assembly based on the Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced case. All this bunch of wires must be carefully hidden.

The second type of miniature cases are small towers. Small towers that accept mini-ITX and mATX motherboards. For example, SilverStone FT03/FT03-MINI with dimensions of 189x397x235 mm (17.6 liters) can accommodate 250 mm graphics cards. 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.

These 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 a place for installing a power supply, a basket for drives, and cable routing. Another example is the MSI Nightblade series of computer systems (overview).

Silverstone FT03. Source: overclock.net

And finally, the cases of the Slim Desktop/HTPC category belong to the third type. Outwardly similar to the game consoles PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. They are about the same size. The profile of the video card used, as well as the model of the processor cooler, depend on the height of the case. The motherboard, power supply and drives in such a case are located on the same wall.

Assembly example 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 form factor power supply can be installed in such a case.

Our task is to assemble a gaming computer based on this case 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, they first choose not a processor with a video card, but a case. Later, 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. . 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 plugs for the video card. There are two of them, therefore, we boldly take a two-slot 3D accelerator. It does not hurt to find 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 on blowing. The characteristics indicate that a single-section unattended water supply system can be installed in the same place. For the Elite 110, mounting holes are provided for both a 120mm radiator and a larger 140mm counterpart. That is, the vast majority of unattended systems will do. Let's learn this moment.

Optionally, on one of the walls, on the side of the video card, there are places for installing two 80mm fans. Seen in the photo above. But when using one "propeller" space is lost for mounting a 3.5-inch hard drive. They can be installed in the Elite 110 two at once. There are no baskets for drives and an optical drive in the case. Hard drives and SSDs are attached to the side (from the side of the video card) and top (from the side of the power supply) walls.

First, let's look at the following compact case compatibility parameters: CPU cooler height, video card length, and power supply length

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 drive cages installed at once: upper and lower. To mount a sufficiently long graphics adapter (as in the photo below), we dismantle the top tray.

Assembly example based on the BitFenix ​​Prodigy case

If baskets are not provided, as in the case of the Elite 110, it remains only to calculate the potential options. In our case, it was not possible to use seats for a 3.5 "HDD on the side panel of the case, since the top hard drive covers the video card fan. Both the 3D accelerator and the drive are heating up. This nuance must be foreseen at the stage of acquiring all components. In the case of the Elite 110, along with a powerful video card, access to 3.5-inch drives is closed. Euzhny 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 longer than 160mm will result in you not being able to install a graphics card longer than 170mm.

When assembling a conventional computer, we have plenty to choose from. Today, popular motherboard sizes are ATX, mATX, mini-ITX and E-ATX, the most popular being ATX. When building the Elite 110 and other smaller models, the only option is mini-ITX. The form factor provides for the use of a square-shaped board 170 X 170 mm.

In our small computer, we use the ASUS Z170I PRO GAMINGВ board, which is productive and functional for this form factor. We install a 4-core Core i5-6600K chip on the motherboard. In the photo below, interfaces that are sure to be used are highlighted in different colors. In mini-ITX boards, various connectors can be located in different ways, with the only exception being the socket, RAM slots, and the only PEG slot for a video card. It is best to think 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 mini-ITX boards have only two slots for DDR3 / DDR4, it is better to immediately purchase "bigger" 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 the ASUS Z170I PRO GAMING, there is an M.2 port "hidden". This is the best solution that developers could come up with for compact computers! If you need to use a solid state drive, then it is better to use an SSD of this particular 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 also good.

The M.2 interface allows you to get rid of unnecessary wires. Take a board with this connector

If you plan to build a computer based on an Intel processor, then choose the LGA1151 platform for Skylake chips. Most H110/B150/H170/Z170 Express motherboards have an M.2 connector. It's not bad to have a wireless communication module in a miniature PC. Here is 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 the length. For most, the size of the graphics adapter is proportional to its speed. For example, the GeForce GTX 980 model has 268 mm. This size is not suitable for us. Luckily, stores are full of really miniature 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-sized version of the GeForce GTX 980. Following the Radeon R9 NANO are compact versions of the GeForce GTX 970, GeForce GTX 960, Radeon R9 380 and GeForce GTX 950. These video cards can handle modern games at Full resolution. HD. Such 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 whose power connectors are directed upwards. This makes cable routing easier.

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 removes it from 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, you can install the Radeon R9 Fury X in the Elite 110, as it allows you to install a single-section maintenance-free water cooling system.

Elite 110 can install a CPU cooler up to 76mm high. For overclocking the Core i5-6600K, the following models are quite suitable for me: 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! SHADOWROCK LP. Lots of options. The main thing is to make sure that the cooler does not cover the RAM and video card slots. In most cases, it is better to use a RAM kit with low or no heatsinks. The blown 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 CPU, but everything around

But we will use an unattended dropsy. We found the Deepcool Maelstrom 120 model. Inexpensive, entry-level CBO assembled according to the ASETEK reference sample. 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 devices of the computer - the power supply. The Elite 110 has a footprint for the ATX form factor. The maximum length is 180 mm. Naturally, the shorter the block, the better. Some cases (for example, SilverStone FT03-MINI) are equipped with the SFX form factor. They are much smaller, you can save a decent amount of internal volume. But, unfortunately, they are few.

To build a miniature PC, you only need a modular power supply.

Modern ATX blocks with a power of 500W to 750W with a 120mm fan have a size of 150mm in length. For example, Cooler Master v series V750. At first it was intended to use it, but a number of problems arose during the assembly process. At the block, among the non-detachable cables, there are two wires for the video card at once. One wire was left out. This does not add to the aesthetics of our assembly.

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 building a miniature PC. Therefore, it is recommended to check the number and length of cables before purchase. Both detachable and non-removable.

Dealt with accessories. The design of the Elite 110 limited us in one way: we had to abandon the use of a 3.5-inch hard drive. If this is important to you, then purchase a different model (with storage baskets). The final configuration looks like this:

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K, 3.5 GHz

Cooling system: Deepcool Maelstrom 120

Motherboard: ASUS Z170I PRO GAMING

RAM: DDR4-2133, 2x 8 GB

Storage: 1x M.2 SSD, 1x SATA SSD

Video card: AMD Radeon R9 NANO, 4 GB

Power supply: SeaSonic Platinum Fanless, 520W

We start assembly. The algorithm for assembling the system unit is standard. First, we mount the central processor on the motherboard and install the RAM, then the cooling system. Before installation in the case, it is recommended to check the performance of the components on the stand. Despite the additional labor costs, it is possible to test the compatibility and stability of the system. This will allow you not to disassemble the entire system again in the future.

The processor was overclocked, the tests worked, the hardware is operational, we begin to assemble the computer. The overclocking chip is up to 4.2 GHz, the VCore voltage is increased to 1.25 V. Not God knows what the result is, but we take into account the fact that the cooling efficiency of the Deepcool Maelstrom 120 will noticeably worsen in a tiny case.

The first step during assembly is mounting the motherboard to the chassis of the case. The CBO 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 case works for blowing. In our case, with the installed CBO, this is not suitable. When the processor is under increased load, all the warm air enters the case, causing the temperature of the processor and all installed components to increase. Therefore, the "dropsy" fan must work for blowing.

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 didn't fit, it couldn't be fixed with standard screws to the case wall. 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, therefore it is not suitable.

An example of installing a two-section maintenance-free water cooling system in a BitFenix ​​Prodigy case

One more moment. Water cooling is installed sideways. Where should the hoses be routed? It seems to be an unprincipled moment, but when the radiator is fixed as shown in the photographs below, the CBO hoses are sandwiched 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 do not need extra heating of the processor.

Therefore, in the case of the Elite 110, it is correct to install the Deepcool Maelstrom 120 radiator as shown in the photo below. Fortunately, the motherboard's power subsystem cooling radiator did not interfere.

CBO installation, radiator location

Installed cooling and motherboard. Now it's time to lay the wires. Our goal: to prevent the appearance of a pile of wires near the side walls, as well as in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe cooling radiator. There is very little free space. It is necessary to improve air exchange as much as possible. Therefore, we fix all the cables at the bottom of the case. The design of the Elite 110 allows this. After connecting to the connectors, we remove a huge pile of cables from the Elite 110 I / O panel behind the front panel. All wires are finally 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 essence, after installing the motherboard, cooling system and video card, mounting and connecting all cables, including SATA, all that remains is to place the power supply in the appropriate slot and connect four wires to it (in our case).

Since 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 "feeder". 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 upper bar with the drive installed in it. We bring the second SATA connector to the top. You may eventually need a second 2.5-inch drive.

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 CPU. 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 any, even the most demanding user.

Let's get back to the topic of website building. The article talks about a very interesting and modern style in website design.

How to build a powerful gaming computer in 2016. Which computer to buy, which components are better to choose for a computer, which system unit to assemble, taking into account price and performance. Reinforce the desire to buy a powerful computer with knowledge, real examples with optimal components.

I don’t want to, but I’ll have to again - to upset the fans of AMD products. And this year we will not assemble a powerful computer with AMD processors, I myself am waiting for the release of new processors and I hope for a surge in competition. The current representatives of the FX family are not able to compete with the top Intel solutions, and the performance per core is lower and the game optimization lags behind. AMD's pricing policy, for several years, is a vivid confirmation of this.

I still remember the days of Athlon XP and Athlon 64, when processors of the family were marked not by frequency, but by a rating indicator with a plus sign, which indicated the frequency needed by Intel Pentium 4 processors to catch up in performance. For a long time I have been wanting to assemble a system unit with a new and truly powerful AMD processor, because when the same ones win, it becomes not interesting to play.

At this stage, in the top segment, you don’t really have to decide which computer to buy, which AMD or Intel processor to choose, and there’s nothing to be done about it - this is the reality.

Which processor to buy for a computer.

Last year, we actively used overclocked Haswell processors to assemble a gaming system unit, then smoothly switched to their updated version of Haswell Refresh, represented by the Core i5-4690K and Core i7-4790K. In 2016, new and slightly more powerful Intel Skylake processors will help us assemble a powerful computer - non-overclockable Intel Core i5-6600 3.3-3.9GHz - Core i7-6700 3.4-4GHz and overclockable Core i5-6600K 3.5 -3.9GHz - 4-4.2GHz. Speculative prices are slowly but steadily moving towards the reasonable, the last trump card of Haswell Refresh - the ability to save money - will go into oblivion.

Two small demonstration tests in GTA V and Hitman: Absolution are about CPU performance and efficiency per core. The small resolution was not chosen by chance, it was used in order to minimize the influence of a discrete video card on the results and show the potential.

The higher performance of the Core i7-6700K is explained not only by the higher frequency, unlike the Core i5 representatives, the Core i7 processors are endowed with Hyper-Threading technology, each core is defined by the operating system as 2 logical ones, which allows processing 2 threads for each core.

In optimized multi-threaded applications - 3D modeling, video coding, the advantage of Core i7 with Hyper-Threading can reach and exceed the 30% mark. And this is by the way about which one is better to buy a processor for a computer. If you are assembling a purely gaming system unit with one powerful video card, you do not lose anything with the Core i5-6600K. If a powerful computer is being assembled, including for working in resource-intensive applications, if there is a possibility of installing a second video card, the Core i7-6700K is preferable.

Which cpu cooler to buy.

When choosing a processor in a computer store - check the package: 1) Tray - you are offered to buy only the central processor, you will definitely have to buy a cooler for the processor (usually more efficient, from a third-party manufacturer); 2) Box - the processor is equipped with a standard cooler recommended by Intel (the cost of the package is higher, noisy, inefficient in overclocking).

If you have an eye on an overclockable processor, if you want to reduce noise effects and keep temperatures within safe limits, choose a more efficient cooling system. You need a cooler with a compatible mount - Socket 1151 (115x), with PWM fan speed control. We pay attention to the dissipated power - from 130W.

DeepCool Captain 240, Corsair H110, Corsair Hydro Series H105 liquid, Noctua NH-D15, Thermalright Archon SB-E X2, Ice Hammer IH-THOR, Thermalright SilverArrow SB-E, Noctua NH-U14S, Scythe Mugen 4, DeepCool Gamer Storm, Noctua NH-U12S, be quiet! Dark Rock 3, Ice Hammer IH-4800, Thermalright True Spirit 140, Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO, Spire CoolGate 2.0, be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim, Zalman CNPS10X Performa, Titan TTC-NC95TZ, DeepCool Ice Wind Pro.

Link the purchase of a processor cooler with your choice of computer case, specify the height of the cooling system and the case tolerances for this indicator. It will be a shame to assemble the system unit by installing all the components, and not be able to close it, resting on the processor cooler.

What motherboard to buy for a computer.

New 14 nm processors, with the new Skylake microarchitecture, with support for the new DDR4 RAM standard, the introduction of the high-speed DMI 3.0 bus, the removal of the built-in power converter from the processor, the replacement of the obsolete bus with the PCI Express 3.0 standard, as a result - a new set of system logic with a new processor socket socket 1151.

At the moment, the LGA1151 platform provides for 6 versions, four of which will be massively offered in computer stores. And these are motherboards based on Intel H110, Intel B150, Intel H170 and Intel Z170 chipsets. We dismiss the younger H110 right away, only one of the positive features can be noted - the lowest price.

Of course, it is possible to assemble a powerful gaming computer based on such a motherboard, and you will definitely be lured by computer stores with a “tasty” price, silent about the fact that the characteristics of the computer will be “slightly” castrated. After all, the H110 has the lowest functionality, everything that could be useful in a powerful computer is “cut off”.

A simplified power system that levels out overclocking potential, there are no M.2 ports, no SATA Express, no PCI-Express 3.0 chipset lines, USB 3.0 and SATA 3.0 interfaces (up to 4) are reduced to a minimum, USB 3.1 - no, two slots for memory, one for the video card.

Motherboards based on the Intel B150 chipset are positioned as boards for the business segment. Here you can already meet and buy a motherboard with a beautiful Gaming prefix. It should be considered as an economy option for a non-overclockable processor with one video card. No support for RAID 0/1/5/10 arrays, disabled Intel Smart Response Technology - a caching feature for frequently used applications.

Motherboards with the Intel H170 chipset - both ours and yours - Small Business Advantages for the business segment from the B150, plus functionality as close as possible to the top-end Z170 chipset. Minus - there is no possibility of full-fledged separation of PCI-Express 3.0 lines (for two video cards - Nvidia SLI, AMD CrossFire), there are no overclocking functions.

If you rely on an overclockable processor (there is no extra performance), you will have to buy a motherboard for a computer with an Intel Z170 chipset, and preferably not the first one that comes across, but choosing wisely.

Despite the fact that boards with the Z170 chipset belong to the top segment, this does not guarantee that the manufacturer will implement all the possible functionality. There can be 4 out of 10 declared USB 3.0 ports, 3 out of 6 audio outputs. There is only one video card slot, out of the promised two, with the division of PCI-Express x16 lines into x8 + x8 for the implementation of CrossFire and SLI technologies.

The number of PCI and PCI-E slots can take on different values ​​(up to 0). If you want to transfer an expansion card with a PCI interface from an old PC, but it is not there, embarrassment and new optional expenses. Skylake processors support two DDR3 memory standards and the new DDR4, both options are on sale. Boards with DDR3 support may be of interest to owners of a set of good modules, I recommend that others focus on DDR4.

It is very important - the power supply system of the processor and memory, what scheme the manufacturer used - a cheap standard 4 + 1 (phases) or reinforced 8 + 2 (and higher) for overclocked processors. What capacitors did you use - solid state or no-name. The functionality of your computer, the operation of all components, longevity - depends on the quality and quantity of the necessary components of the mat. fees.

Not for records, but a confident start, for systems with one video card - ASRock Z170 Pro4 ($135), MSI Z170A-G43 PLUS ($135), Gigabyte GA-Z170-D3H ($135), Gigabyte GA-Z170-Gaming K3 ($140), MSI Z170A Tomahawk ($140), ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 ($145). Prices at the time of writing and at the relevant exchange rate.

To build a very powerful gaming computer with two video cards, you need motherboards with two PCI-E 3.0 x16 (x8 + x8) slots and support for AMD CrossFireX and Nvidia SLI technologies - ASRock Z170 Extreme3 ​​($145), Gigabyte GA-Z170XP-SLI (150 $), MSI Z170A SLI PLUS ($150), ASRock Z170 Extreme4 ($155), MSI Z170A KRAIT Gaming ($155), Gigabyte GA-Z170X-UD3 ($170), MSI Z170A Gaming M3 ($170), ASUS Z170 PRO Gaming ($175).

Take your time, think about what kind of computer you want to buy today, how powerful, with what potential, the ability to upgrade in the future - no one will solve this problem better than you.

How to choose DDR4, what kind of memory to buy for a computer.

Choosing DDR4 memory is still as easy as DDR3, there is nothing supernatural in it, you just need to remember that it is not the brand that makes RAM good, but the characteristics of the chips. The DDR4 memory standard provides for the following indicators - JEDEC: DDR4-2133 CL15-15-15 @ 1.2V. Where 2133 is the minimum frequency in MHz, CL15 are timings (delays), 1.2V is the maximum operating voltage for a frequency of 2133MHz.

It should be noted that these characteristics practically draw a line between the worst possible modules and marriage. The memory standard is something to start from, not strive for. To buy good memory for a computer, you should know that timings and operating voltage grow with increasing frequency, the smaller this increase relative to frequency, the better the product is in front of you. The maximum value for today, from those found in stores, modules with a frequency of 4266MHz - G.Skill F4-4266C19D-8GTZ - 19-26-26-46-2N @ 1.40v.

For systems with non-overclockable processors, it is recommended to buy memory with the frequency specified in the processor specifications, and this is DDR4 2133MHz, preferably with the lowest possible timings, there are not many of them in stores, but there are CL13 delays - Kingston HX421C13SBK2 / 16 (2 × 8GB), Kingston HX421C13SBK2/8 (2×4GB).

For overclocked computers, the main limiting factor is likely to be - only the price and capabilities of the motherboard. From the category to strive for - G.Skill F4-3200C14D-16GTZ 3200MHz CL14-14-14-34 1.35Volt ($ 135). More realistic and affordable will be models with a frequency of 2666-2800MHz, CL15 timings.

Regarding the required volume - at least 8GB, typed in two identical modules (2x4GB). Thinking about the future - striving for 16GB (2x8GB), with a clear head, not to the detriment of the computing potential, in the face of the processor and video card, the power of which today you also lay down for years. You can increase the volume at any time, in a month - a year.

Which hard drive to buy for a computer.

The construction of the file subsystem in a modern gaming computer is based on a bunch - SSD plus HDD hard drive. Where a solid state drive (SSD) is used to install the operating system, games and programs. Its main function is to speed up access to information, which in turn significantly speeds up the system's response to your actions. A large 1-6Tb hard disk drive (HDD) is designed to store the products of your life - movies, photos, pictures, documents, music and garbage from the series - I don’t know why, but let it be.

About the important! SSD - a storage device - is not a computing unit and a mandatory attribute, a modern PC can work without it. If you can’t buy an SSD right away, it doesn’t fit in the budget, don’t sacrifice computing potential: a processor or a video card is stupid. You can buy a solid-state drive at any time, in a month or three.

This is a good thing, but you should not pray for it, much more important for a computer is a balanced, powerful bunch of processor and video card. No matter how beautiful and sophisticated you make a cart, it won’t go anywhere without a horse. Without a powerful processor and video card, you will not be able to assemble a powerful gaming computer, store information and pull (process, calculate) - these are different things.

You may not have noticed, but almost all mat. boards with Z170 chip have M.2 high speed interface. SSD drives have crossed the threshold of SATA 3.0 interface capabilities - 6 Gb / s, not all of them, and they are still expensive, but there are. When choosing an SSD, look at the speed characteristics, if they are below 600 MB / s (which does not make them bad) - you don’t need to chase M.2. It's just that there are also such as Samsung 950 PRO - reading 2200 writing 900 MB / s.

Which video card to buy for a computer.

From year to year I repeat this and already twice in this article, what to do is important, but not everyone gets it right the first time. The main performance of the computer is laid by the choice of a tandem - the central processor + video card (graphic processor). How you succeed here is how efficient your gaming computer will be through the years.

Yes, the quality of the surrounding strapping is also important, but it is these “guys” who calculate the information. Do you want to build a powerful computer for games? - provide it with high-performance "brains". Neither the beautiful coloring of the motherboard, nor the blinking LEDs of the fans, nor the mind-blowing appearance of the case will make your computer gaming and even more powerful. Focus on the power of the video card and processor - this is the key to longevity, the potency of your PC in the gaming world.

Below I will include in the lists of configurations several representatives from different manufacturers that deserve attention, here I will only indicate the overall performance indicators (average value of 25 tests), which will help you understand which video card you can buy for your computer and which one you should strive for.

The video card market began to be saturated with new Nvidia products - GeForce GTX 1070 ($449) - 1506/1683/8000MHz and GeForce GTX 1080 ($699) - 1607/1733/10000MHz (Base/Boost-GPU/Memory). Yes, the prices are still far from those recommended by the developer, but already much closer to the original ones. Prices for the GeForce GTX 1070 start at $480, with the price tags of the GeForce GTX 1080 video cards things are a little worse - from $785. In distant "abroad" you can buy cheaper than $ 700, but we have a complete "kakunas".

There is no alternative from AMD, both in terms of top performance and in terms of the adequacy of the pricing policy. Yes, the Radeon RX 480 appeared - 1120/1266/8000MHz, against the background of the Radeon R9 390 - the GeForce GTX 970 looks great, but this is no longer a modern top. New video adapters and AMD Zen processors are promised by the end of the year - you have to be patient.

Here is the performance of video cards in the game Fallout 4, Far Cry Primal, Grand Theft Auto V at a screen resolution of 2560 × 1440. To the question: - why assemble configurations of AMD CrossFire and Nvidia SLI, even if the performance of the GeForce GTX 970 exceeds the comfortable minimum of 30 frames per second required for the game? I will answer this way: - there is a resolution of Ultra HD 4K 3840 × 2160, at which the “frame delivery” will be halved.

After all, we buy a powerful gaming computer for the sake of a smooth, beautiful picture, we should not forget about the effect of resolution on fps ...

What to buy a power supply for a computer.

Nothing revolutionary happened with the release of new processors; a simple arithmetic operation will help us buy a power supply for a computer. We adjust the TDP of the processor with the declared power consumption of the video card, add 50W to the rest of the utensils. As a result, we get a benchmark for the required PSU power along 12V lines at the peak (the main load lies precisely on them), add-throw 25-50% (PC without overclocking and with it), proceed to the study of power supplies.

Do not forget, the result obtained is not the total power of the PSU, it is the required power of 12V lines with a margin. For high-quality power supplies, the power of the 12V lines is close in terms of the total power, outdated junk and outright slag, for example, out of the declared 500W, they can give out about 340W, we don’t listen to the seller, but study the sticker on the PSU.

For a good PSU, this indicator is somewhat different, for example, 38Ax12V = 456W. As you can see, the difference between good and bad is obvious 456W-336W=120W. For systems with not extremely overclocked GeForce GTX 970 - GTX 980 video cards, a good power supply with a total power of 500-550W is needed, for the GeForce GTX 980 Ti - 600W, for the Radeon R9 family of video cards, a 650W power supply is required. If you plan to significantly overclock the processor and video card, do not forget to add 100W to the PSU power.

Which computer case to buy.

To choose and buy a good computer case, you need to be guided not by a personal idea of ​​\u200b\u200bbeauty, but by a set of fundamental characteristics and requirements, taking into account the selected components. 1) Spacious case with two fans from 120mm, front - blowing, rear - blowing. It is not necessary to indulge other people's nonsense, hang the case with "garlands" of fans. If the temperature indicators are far from critical, the generation of additional noise by the turntables is definitely not needed.

2) The thickness of the metal is from 0.6 mm, aluminum and titanium are not required, you will not fly on it, but structural rigidity is needed. 3) The required size is initially set by the form factor (standard size) of the ATX motherboard (more useful connectors - longer) or microATX (shortened, can be installed in ATX and microATX cases). Case width - consistent with the height of the processor cooler, should not protrude beyond the boundaries of the side wall. 5) Depth and its derivative - the distance from the rear wall to the HDD baskets must be greater than the length of the video card. Example.

Let's consolidate what we have seen with one more life example, the Zalman Z9 Plus case has limitations - the height of the cooler is up to 160mm, the length of the video card is up to 290mm. Video card Gigabyte GeForce GTX980 GV-N980OC-4GD - length 312mm, processor cooler Thermalright Archon IB-E X2 - height 165.2mm = do not insert the video card, do not close the cover. The characteristics of the Zalman Z11 NEO case allow you to install both, a cooler up to 175mm, a video card up to 430mm (a collapsible HDD basket block).

Focus on practicality and reliability of the design. Beauty for a computer box that should be hidden under the table is often not even secondary. Well, for some reason I'm sure that most of the users, when playing, watching movies, working, stare at the monitor, and not at the lights of the case.

Which computer to buy saving.
1.1. Processor - Intel Core i5-6600 = $240;
2.1. CPU cooler - Ice Hammer IH-4800 = $45;
2.2. CPU cooler - Titan TTC-NC95TZ (RB) = $32;
2.3. CPU cooler - Thermalright True Spirit 140 = $50;
3.1. Motherboard - MSI B150M Night ELF = $103;
3.2. Motherboard - ASRock H170 Pro4 ATX = $117;
4.1. RAM - 2133MHz 2x4GB Kingston HX421C13SBK2/8 = $67;
4.2. RAM - 2x8GB 2133MHz Kingston HX421C13SBK2/16 = $112;
4.3. RAM - Corsair CMK8GX4M2A2133C13 2133MHz 2x4GB = $60;
5.1. Video card - Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1060 G1 Gaming 6G = $365;
5.2. Video card - Zotac GeForce GTX 1060 ZT-P10600B-10M = $345;
5.3. Video card - MSI GeForce GTX 1060 GAMING X 6G = $365;
5.4. Video card - Inno3D GeForce GTX 1060 Gaming OC = $335;
5.5. Video card - Gigabyte Radeon RX480 GV-RX480G1 = $330;
5.6. Video card - HIS Radeon RX 480 HS480R8DTBR = $320;
5.7. Video card - MSI Radeon RX 480 GAMING 4G = $330;
6.1. SSD - Kingston HyperX Savage SHSS37A/120G = $72;
6.2. SSD drive - Samsung 850 EVO MZ-75E120BW = $61;
7.1. Winchester - 1Tb Western Digital WD10EZEX = $55;
8.1. PSU - Cooler Master GM G550M 550W = $71;
8.2. PSU - AeroCool Retail Strike-X 600W = $65;
8.3. PSU - FSP Epsilon F4 88+ 550W = $73;
8.4. PSU - Chieftec A-90 GDP-550C = $ 78;
9.1. PC Case – Zalman Z9 Plus = $65;
9.2. Hull – Raidmax VIPER GX = $67;
Computer cost min. ±986$.

The purchase of a computer within $ 1000 has also undergone a number of changes, new, more economical, in terms of power consumption (120-150W), video cards have appeared - GeForce GTX 1060 ($ 299) - 1506/1709/8000MHz and Radeon RX 480 ($ 239) - 1120/1266/8000MHz. Given the recommended prices and decent performance, this is a good alternative to the outgoing Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 and AMD Radeon R9 390. Prices are certainly inflated, but this is temporary. When choosing a video card, look carefully not at the brand, but at the frequency characteristics, they also form a price premium.

Buy a powerful computer 2016.
1.1. CPU - Intel Core i5-6600K = $267;
2.1. Cooler - Ice Hammer IH-4800 = $45;
2.2. Cooler - Cooler Master Hyper 212 = $40;
2.3. Cooler - Thermalright True Spirit 140 = $50;
2.4. Cooler - Thermalright SilverArrow IB-E = $88;
3.1. Motherboard - ASRock Z170 Pro4 (Z170) = $140;
3.2. Motherboard - MSI Z170A-G43 PLUS (Z170) = $135;
3.3. Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-Z170-GAMING K3 = $140;
3.4. Motherboard - MSI Z170A TOMAHAWK (Z170) = $140;
3.5. Motherboard - ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 = $147;
4.1. Memory - 8GB Kingston HX426C13SBK2/8 2666MHz = $72;
4.2. Memory - Geil GLB48GB2666C15DC 2666MHz 2x4GB = $70;
4.3. Memory - 2x4GB G.Skill F4-2800C15D-8GTZ 2800MHz = $80;
4.4. Memory - 2x4GB Kingston HX428C14SBK2/8 2800 MHz = $79;
4.5. Memory - 8GB Corsair CMK8GX4M2B3000C15 3000MHz = $77;
5.1. Video -Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 G1 Gaming = $550;
5.2. Video - Zotac GeForce GTX 1070 AMP Edition = $525;
5.3. Video - Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 WF2 OC from $480;
5.4. Video - MSI GTX 1070 Gaming X 8192 MB = $560;
5.5. Video - Palit GeForce GTX 1070 GameRock = $530;
6.1. SSD Disk - Samsung 850 EVO Series 250GB = $98;
6.2. SSD Disk - Samsung 850 PRO Series 128GB = $80;
6.3. SSD - Crucial MX200 CT250MX200SSD1 = $105;
6.4. SSD - Kingston HX Savage SHSS37A/120G = $73;
7.1. Hard Disk - Western Digital WD10EZEX 1Tb = $54;
7.2. Hard Disk - Seagate ST3000DM001 3000Gb = $107;
7.3. Hard Disk - 3000GB Toshiba DT01ACA300 = $102;
7.4. Hard Disk - Seagate ST3000VX006 3000GB = $118;
7.5. Hard Disk - WD Red WD30EFRX 3000GB = $127;
8.1. Power Supply - Zalman ZM700-LX 700W = $67;
8.2. PS - Chieftec Nitro II BPS-650C2 650 W = $85;
8.3. PS - Seasonic SSP-650RT 80 Plus Gold = $110;
8.4. PS - Thermaltake TR2 700W TR-700P = $95;
8.5. PS - FSP Epsilon F4 88 PLUS 650W = $83;
8.6. PS - FSP Aurum Gold 90+ AU-700 = $102;
8.7. PS - 700W AeroCool KCAS-700W = $65;
8.8. PS - Cooler Master G650M 650W = $85;
9.1. Comp Case – Raidmax VIPER GX = $68;
9.2. Case PC - Cooler Master HAF912 = $85;
9.3. Computer Case - Zalman Z11 Plus = $67;
9.4. Computer Case - Zalman Z9 Plus = $65;
9.5. Case - Corsair Carbide SPEC-02 = $80;
Computer cost min. price ±1177$.

Do not be afraid, you do not need to buy all the components from the list, the sub-items are designed to show the variety of choices, provide alternative options. Prices in computer stores for essentially equivalent components can differ significantly, do not get hung up on the brand - compare the price and characteristics.

Also keep in mind that computer components from the configuration below can be used in the configuration described above. Do not forget to only compensate for a more powerful video card with a more powerful power supply, do not lose sight of the length of the video card, the height of the processor cooler and the capabilities of the case.

Build a powerful computer for games.
1.1. Processor - Intel Core i7-6700K = $410;
2.1. CPU cooler - Ice Hammer IH-THOR = $65;
2.2. CPU cooler - Noctua NH-U14S = $75;
2.3. CPU cooler - Thermalright True Spirit 140 = $55;
2.4. CPU Cooler - Thermalright Archon IB-E X2 = $88;
3.1. Motherboard - MSI Z170A SLI PLUS = $155;
3.2. Motherboard - ASRock Z170 Extreme4 = $161;
3.3. Motherboard - MSI Z170A Gaming PRO = $169;
3.4. Motherboard - ASUS Z170 PRO Gaming = $176;
3.5. Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-Z170X-UD3 = $168;
3.6. Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-Z170XP-SLI = $152;
3.7. Motherboard - MSI Z170A KRAIT Gaming = $164;
3.8. Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-Z170X-Gaming 3 = $171;
4.1. RAM - 3000MHz Corsair CMK8GX4M2B3000C15 2x4GB = $77;
4.2. RAM - Kingston HX430C15SB2K2/16 2x8GB 3000MHz = $160;
4.3. RAM - 3000MHz Geil GLWR416GB3000C15DC 2x8GB = $155;
4.4. RAM - 2x8GB 2666MHz Geil GLB416GB2666C15DC = $129;
4.5. RAM - 2x4GB Kingston HX430C15SB2K2/8 3000 MHz = $80;
4.6. RAM - 2x4GB 3200MHz Geil GWW48GB3200C16DC = $75;
4.7. RAM - Geil GWW48GB3000C15DC 3000MHz 2x4GB = $78;
4.8. RAM - 2x4GB 3000 MHz G.Skill F4-3000C15D-8GVR = $82;
5.1. Video card - MSI GTX 1080 Gaming X 8G 8192MB = $790;
5.2. Video card - Zotac GeForce GTX 1080 AMP Edition = $790;
5.3. Video card - Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1080 GV-N1080G1 = $785;
5.4. Video card - Palit GeForce GTX 1080 NEB1080S15P2-1040J = $770;
5.5. Video card - Asus GeForce GTX 1080 ROG STRIX Gaming = $790;
5.6. Video card - ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1080 ZT-P10800C-10P = $765;
6.1. SSD drive - Crucial MX200 CT250MX200SSD1 250 GB = $105;
6.2. SSD drive - Crucial MX200 CT500MX200SSD1 500GB = $180;
6.3. SSD drive - Samsung 850 PRO Series 256GB SATA3.0 = $126;
6.4. SSD drive - Kingston HyperX Savage SHSS37A/240G = $104;
6.5. SSD drive - Transcend TS256GMTS600 256GB (M.2) = $122;
7.1. Winchester - WD Red WD10EFRX SATA3 1TB = $74;
7.2. Winchester - 1TB Western Digital WD10EZEX = $54;
7.3. Winchester - Seagate ST3000DM001 3000Gb = $107;
7.4. Winchester - Seagate ST3000VX006 3000Gb = $118;
7.5. Winchester - WD Blue WD30EZRZ 3000Gb = $108;
7.6. Winchester - WD Red WD30EFRX 3000Gb = $127;
8.1. PSU - Chieftec Nitro II 85+ BPS-850C2 = $118;
8.2. PSU - Thermaltake Evo Blue 2.0 750W = $112;
8.3. PSU - DeepCool Quanta DQ750 750W = $100;
8.4. PSU - Chieftec Nitro II 85+ BPS-750C2 = $85;
8.5. PSU - Chieftec A-90 GDP-750C 750W = $88;
8.6. PSU - EVGA SuperNOVA G2 850W = $150;
8.7. PSU - FSP Aurum Gold 90+ AU-700 = $112;
8.8. PSU - FSP Epsilon F4 88PLUS 750W = $88;
8.9. PSU - Corsair CX750 750W ATX12V = $95;
9.1. Case - Aerocool GT-S Black Edition = $150;
9.2. Case – Aerocool DS200 Lite Black = $97;
9.3. PC Case – Raidmax VIPER GXII = $68;
9.4. Case - Cooler Master CM 690 II = $75;
9.5. Case - Thermaltake Urban S31 = $100;
9.6. PC Case - Golden Field 8003B = $85;
9.7. Case - Cooler Master HAF912 = $85;
9.8. PC Case - Zalman Z11 NEO = $73;
9.9. PC Case - Zalman Z11 Plus = $67;
The cost of the gaming computer is ±1518$.

Note 08.08.2016! For systems with video cards GeForce GTX 1070 (TDP-150W) you need a PSU with a power of 500W or more, for GeForce GTX 1080 (TDP-180W) from 550W, with one additional connector. power supply for the video card 8pin (6 + 2pin) - for reference and slightly overclocked. And up to two 8pins in models with serious factory overclocking. Since the systems involve overclocking, it is better to increase the power of the power supply by 50-100W a little. These models in the assemblies are designed for more voracious monsters Radeon R9 FuryX (275W) and GeForce GTX 980 Ti (250W), so you can use the same PSU series, but with less power.

When thinking about which computer to buy - compare prices in several computer stores, look at ebay for control. Almost all stores play tricks, for example, they reduce prices for processors, overestimate for video cards, etc. Buying components in different online stores often leads to significant savings, especially when the exchange rate fluctuates like a saiga.

Citizens looking for an opportunity to buy a cheap powerful computer - do not console yourself with illusions, do not believe advertising whistles. Powerful gaming computers are not cheap, just as powerful sports cars, boats, motorcycles are not really cheap. It can be assembled with maximum performance within a certain budget, it will be powerful enough to cope with modern games, but not with the highest picture quality settings.

Best wishes $
Denker.

Bioengineering is a long word for a soldier. © Doom

We collect a powerful gaming computer in 2016 for playing new games on ultra-settings

For some reason, I have never posted photos of assemblies of top gaming computers before, as if I only assemble or. It's not, I build top gaming PCs. It so happened that until this moment there was no time to take pictures and post the assembly of a gaming computer on elite hardware, and it's time to fix it (= Assembling a gaming computer this format is not a budgetary matter, therefore, on my recommendation, the customer agreed to wait for the components to be delivered from Germany. It took four weeks, but we saved a significant amount compared to the cost of iron in Russia. So we have collected cheap gaming computer I also have a computer assembly with delivery from Germany. With expensive assemblies from 50.000 rubles. results in significant savings.

• The budget is conditionally limited. There were no funds for two video cards in SLI, but there was enough for a configuration with Core i7 + nVidia GTX 980 Ti
• A task - build a powerful gaming computer 2016 for games new in 4k UltraHD resolution
• The term is unlimited, so I ordered some components from Germany
• Future possible SLI envisioned with a second GTX 980 Ti
• Components (e.g. video card and processor) partially ordered in Germany
• Computer without backlight
• Without unnecessary "show-offs"

Gaming Computer Configuration

After a month of waiting, I received the components in my hands

The processor is packed soundly. Sellers in Russia do not pack like that, unfortunately

His Majesty Intel Core i7-6700k

As a motherboard, I chose Gigabyte Z170XP-SLI. As the name suggests, it supports SLI mode. I personally have the same motherboard, I form an article from it

It remains only 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 rush. First you need to get an idea of ​​the current state of affairs. Which computer is suitable for a professional? Gamer? Regular user? Let's find out.

Entry level configuration

A computer from this series does not claim to be the first in all kinds of performance and speed tests, respectively, working on it is not particularly comfortable. On the other hand, “do you need checkers or go?”. This computer will open the door to the world of the Internet (and this is news, reference information, e-books and much more), interactive communication (social networks, Skype), entertainment (movies, series, music). You will be able to use, e-mail and store numerous digital photos.

In addition, your little child will appreciate the inexhaustible pantries 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 be in touch with their children and grandchildren, watch their favorite TV shows without intrusive advertising and at any time. Is this not enough?

An entry-level computer at the beginning of 2016 is a cheap quad-core processor in conjunction with a GTX 750ti or similar Radeon graphics card. You can also save money on the motherboard and power supply - office solutions in the mATX format are suitable. If money is really tight, you can look for an old used stone of the Phenom II level and slightly disperse it. This configuration is not gaming, but it will pull many new hits at medium-low settings in FullHD (1920 × 1080) resolution.

PC for gamers

All your friends fight with sword and magic, drive tanks and fly combat aircraft, but you haven't 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 already tired of having fun, you can read the news or watch a movie.

So, what should be a gamer's computer? Let's start with the most important element - the video card. This is what most games focus on. Assembling a gaming PC with a graphics card that has less than four gigabytes of memory does not make sense. This is proved by the situation with the recent hits Assassins Creed: Syndicate and Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, which require four gigabytes of video memory on 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 - although they are not inferior to Nvidia in terms of manufacturability, they almost always lose in terms of drivers. In addition, most game developers prefer to cooperate with the "green", which is reflected in performance.

The next component is the processor. Most games will be enough for some AMD FX-6300, but if you want to play absolutely all the new games without fear of any freezes, then it is better to build a system based on i5 or i7 processors of the latest generations. Accordingly, according to what kind of processor you are going to buy, you need to choose a motherboard. Unlike the case with the entry-level configuration, you can not save on the motherboard here. A standard ATX format with more slots will do just fine (keep an eye out for upgrades).

RAM must be at least 8 gigabytes. Lords of the Fallen and Black Ops 3 already clog this amount of memory, and it is generally impossible to play on four gigabytes. In the next couple of years, the situation may worsen even more, so the optimal amount of RAM will be 16 gigabytes. You can also buy an additional SSD hard drive (especially true for MMORPG fans, where the download speed of locations and characters usually depends on the capacity of the hard drive).

Computer for professionals

Professional work with graphics or video, design, modeling. Today, many professions require powerful computer technology. It is impossible for a technician to save on a working PC in any case - the workflow will be slowed down, which will lead to “lost” earnings. It is better to invest as much as possible, so that later it all pays 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 GB of video memory. RAM 16-32 gigabytes. Based on your needs, choose a hard drive of the right size. 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 250 gigabyte system. expenses, but also the possible loss of important data).

And do not forget about a high-quality power supply, which will have to feed the entire system. Take with a margin, for example, Hiper M900N 900 watts. We will not talk about additional equipment - it all depends on your type of activity.

Conclusion

This was only general information, which is intended to help the user navigate when choosing his 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 a particular component. But remember - this will negatively affect performance or even limit the prospects for further upgrades.

Recently, I had a desire to upgrade my PC, but this is not just a desire, but one can already say a necessity, because lately I have really begun to miss the performance of my current computer.

My "old man" is unlikely to pull new games, and photo processing and video rendering on my computer is perhaps the most painful topic. Yes, let the games do not matter to me, but when it comes to work, I really would like to have normal hardware for it, and in fact, that's why I thought about buying a new system unit.

Excellent! We can say half the work is done.

What's next? And then I had to spend a lot of time studying the computer industry market in search of the most optimal configuration in terms of price / quality ratio, and this is what I ended up with.

System unit for work and play

Anyone who is at least a little versed in computers and components, looking at their characteristics, probably realized that this is perhaps one of the top (well, or pre-top) configurations today, and if so, then it will not be cheap, but I I will explain why I settled on this assembly.

CPU

As a processor for a powerful PC, I chose the Intel Core i7-6700K with a clock speed of 4.0Ghz, although in addition to this model, I also considered other, no less attractive "stones".

While searching the Internet, I quite often came across information about the quad-core Intel Core i5-6400 processor, which, when used rationally, produces a maximum of up to 4.7 Ghz in overclocking the bus. At the same time, this processor is much cheaper than the one that I am going to buy, but why did I decide so?

It's simple - the i5-6400 is a great option for a gaming PC, but Intel Core i7-6700K four cores that work in 8-threaded mode, which significantly affects the speed of rendering video materials. In addition, the “K” index in this processor means that it can also be overclocked, only by the multiplier, and not by the bus. By the way, quite recently, Intel banned overclocking of non-K processors, which in turn significantly affects their wear rate.

Of course, I considered other options. I thought it would be nice to save $35 and take an Intel Core i7-6700 without the "K" and overclock it. On Aliexpress, you can find engineering versions of processors that cost $150 less and, according to numerous reports, also reveal themselves well in overclocking, even though they were not intended for sale at all.

I considered both cheaper options and more expensive options, but in the end I definitely decided against AMD-based processors.

Why? Because they get very hot!

Motherboard

My choice is MSI Z170A GAMING M3. When choosing a motherboard for a powerful computer, one could stop at cheaper options, but what attracted me to this particular one?

Well, firstly, motherboards based on the Z170 chipset are best suited for overclocking processors both by the multiplier and by the bus, if overclocking by the multiplier is blocked.

This motherboard has a good built-in sound - Realtek ALC1150. The maximum frequency for RAM is 3600 MHz. And also, this motherboard supports SLi mode - in other words, several video cards can be plugged into it at the same time.

Besides, motherboard MSI Z170A GAMING M3 has the necessary set of connectors for me.

CPU cooler

Everything is simple here.
Zalman CNPS10X Performa+ is one of the most cost-effective yet efficient options for CPU cooling.

5 heat pipes, 120mm large fan and so on.
Although still as an option, at the moment I'm considering a Thermalright Macho cooler.

video card

Video card Palit GeForce GTX 1070 GameRock this is one of the most top-end video cards to date. Then there's the GTX 1080 and GTX 980 Ti, which I've also got my eye on, but they're both a lot more expensive.

The video card I chose has 8 gigabytes of memory and, no less important, the number of stream processors that have a significant impact on the quality of video processing and rendering speed is 1920. When using CUDA during video rendering, it is the number of stream processors, or as they are called, processors play a huge role. By the way, the GTX 980 Ti has 2816 of them, but less memory - 6Gb.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

As RAM, I chose the Kingston HyperX FURY 2x8GB DDR4 kit kit. This is perhaps one of the cheapest options, with relatively good performance and cost.

This RAM has low timings - CL 14T, a good frequency - 2133 MHz and good potential for overclocking.

Although if you refuse the brand, the appearance and the kit set, you can separately take the two simplest bars that will work no worse than this one. So the RAM is still in question, although the benchmark is not bad.

SSD drive

Kingston SSDNow UV400 240GB is SSD drive which is faster than a regular hard drive. I decided to take it primarily for the operating system and installed programs.

Now I have 2 HDD disks with a capacity of 1Tb, so this will be enough for me. 2 HDD + 1 SSD.

Power Supply

Power supply unit AeroCool Strike-X 600 with a power of 600W.

Perhaps this is the weakest point in my powerful assembly. Why? Because now it is fashionable to buy a PSU with a huge supply of power, even if there is no need for it as such. In general, 500W will be enough for my computer configuration, and this power supply was just on sale, so it is he who appears in the calculations.

On the other hand, if you install another video card, and I remind you that our platform can work in sli / crossfire mode, then the power reserve may not be enough.

Although no one bothers to change the power supply when it becomes necessary to install an additional video card.

By the way, for those who don't know how to choose a power supply for a computer, I’ll tell you - there are several specialized services for calculating power on the network. You simply list all the components there and get a specific figure.

Here is one of these services: https://ru.msi.com/power-supply-calculator/

Computer case

In fact, I have several options for the case, but AeroCool VS-1 is, let's say, intermediate between them all.

I have practically no requirements for the body. The main thing is that it should be cheaper, fit in a computer desk, and fit the height of the processor cooler, since it turned out to be rather big in my configuration. I also would like the power button to be in front, and not on top, as is often the case now.

In my notes there are cases with a glass door, and backlit and gaming, but frankly, the case will simply stand under the table, so I do not see the need to buy something unusual. The main thing for me is the filling!

As a matter of fact, you just saw my configuration, but I just have to warn you that this is just a hypothetical configuration of a powerful computer that I would like to order. At the moment, this configuration in different online stores costs from 1250 to 1400 dollars and that is why I still have not ordered it - the price for me turned out to be quite weighty.

This configuration and prices are valid for the end of 2016 - the beginning of 2017. After the new year, in connection with the release of new processors codenamed microarchitecture - Kaby Lake, prices are expected to drop and then, I think, it will already be possible to safely buy such an assembly.

In one of the following articles, I will talk about the best prices for computers, about the best online stores and about where, or rather, from whom you should not buy hardware. I hope you enjoyed my review of a powerful system unit. Good luck to all!

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