Christmas PC 2013

I’ll close out the year and have a Christmas post with specs lists. These are hardware lists with nothing on Windows. I really don’t know if I’d ask for a copy of Windows 7 or go with Windows 8.1. I’m leaning to Windows 8.1, though, given what I’ve written about it.

So now, if I were to buy a PC these days, it would have one of these 3 combinations:

	Intel Core i5 (Haswell)	AMD FX (Piledriver)	AMD APU (Richland)
CPU	Intel core i5-4670K	AMD FX-6300	AMD A10-6800K
MB	Z87 motherboard	AM3+ motherboard	FM2 motherboard
GPU	nVidia geForce GTX 760	AMD Radeon R9-270	(on-chip Radeon 8670D)
RAM	2 x 4gb DDR3-1600	2 x 4gb DDR3-1866	2 x 4gb DDR3-2133
SSD	160 GB SSD	160 GB SSD	160 GB SSD
HDD	Seagate 1TB (2x in RAID 1)	Seagate 1TB (2x in RAID 1)	Seagate 1TB (2x in RAID 1)
ODD	dvd writer	dvd writer	bluray writer
MCR	3.5" card reader	3.5" card reader	3.5" card reader
casing	Coolermaster 690 III	Coolermaster 690 III	Coolermaster Elite 361
PSU	Coolermaster Silent Pro M2 700	Coolermaster Silent Pro M2 700	Coolermaster Silent Pro M2 600
HSF	Coolermaster V8 GT	Coolermaster V6 GT	Coolermaster Vortex+

Intel-Nvidia Gaming PC

The 1^st one, an i5-geforce PC, is actually one I’d recommend to my cousin. I think I’ve had that in mind since the middle of the year. Not the top of the line ones but they do have enough power to run games awesome and productivity software well. Both are in the best gaming CPU and graphics lists of Tom’s for December. The CPU is also still the top i5 now and I wouldn’t choose an i7 over it because of diminishing returns. The GTX 760 is also already very capable at 1920x1080 so anything higher would be overspending.

RAM would be 8GB as it would be enough for gaming and everyday internet. I’m still half-hearted about SSD’s but ok, let’s have them. I’m also choosing an SSD with a pair of HDD’s in RAID 1 over Seagate’s hybrid drive because of RAID 1. I don’t know, I still have that small sense of added security from data loss with RAID 1.

Case, PSU, and HSF are Coolermaster offerings, upgrades of the ones I have on/in my main PC. There are great reviews on them so I’d definitely get them.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-4.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-4.html

(a bit lazy now to search and cite Coolermaster reviews)

AMD Gaming PC

Second up is an AMD PC—AMD FX CPU and AMD Radeon Graphics. Both are actually older tech (a year or so) with the CPU released more than a year ago and the graphics card a rebrand from last year’s offerings. They’re still in Tom’s lists for December 2013 and I’d love to get those if I had the cash allocation and need for a new gaming PC. I think it would run as well as the i5-geforce pc with a little less flare.

RAM differs in speed because of CPU support. Small thing reviewers notice although I bet I won’t in daily use. Nevertheless, DDR3-1866 it is.

Drives, casing, and PSU are the same as the first. HSF is a V6 GT instead, a reference to the 6-core processor. And it’s the V6 GT, not just the V6. I’ll probably have the transparent side panel variant for the casing (hmm… I’m not sure if the 690 III has one) so that I can stare at the light effects of the cooler. Even still, I think it would be visible through the fan openings.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-2.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-4.html

(still a bit lazy now to look for and cite a Coolermaster V6 GT review)

HTPC

The 3^rd PC is more of an HTPC. I actually have that case and that HSF. The case is stocked in my room and the HSF in installed in my spare PC and I’d love to get an HTPC assembled with those parts. Of course, I’ll replace the HSF on my spare pc. I listed a bluray drive instad of a DVD drive since this would be more of a living room PC.

RAM, as in the AMD Gaming PC, since it supports higher speeds and is “optimized” for so, why not? I’d also love to know if I’d notice the difference of having DDR3-2133 over DDR3-1600 and DDR3-1866.

If I decide to make it a gaming PC, I’d install either of the two above mentioned videocards.

Powersupply is the 600-watt variant (if there is one. I haven’t rechecked). I think 600w is more than enough for an HTPC or entry-level gaming PC especially with an A10 APU. That’s actually one reason to get an A10—its low-power requirement for decent processing power and capable gaming graphics. But if I’d add a vidcard, I’d go back to the 700-watt variant.

(reviews/articles to follow)