Description
Some graphics cards had just arrived in and among them was a really nice looking white GTX 950 with blue accents. I wanted to build a PC using it but the only white motherboard I had was an Asus Z170 which was a bit overkill for the little graphics card so I set out to build a machine with great performance/price ratio that looks really nice :)
I've started a gameplay FPS test playlist for the build here = https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtxHocGsjK_PNAXipsj8E86F-8_7SceXe
UPDATE: I've just made a new version with the Asus H110m (nice mobo, almost identical to the previous -S2H version but blacker) and now using Asus Strix GTX 950 (slighty faster, quieter)
Part Reviews
CPU
The i5-6400 is great little performer, and future upgrade savvy as it hits the recommended specs for a VR ready system! (you'll need to upgrade the gpu to GTX970)
Motherboard
The motherboard I actually used is the GA-H110M-S2H = http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=5606#ov but I couldn't find that on the PCPartPicker so I used this one (looks the same TBH) - Anyways! Another great motherboard from Gigabyte, small and capable with features that match the slots available.
When installing this in the Z3 chassis I had to move up the two bottom stand-offs for fitting the board inside.
Once fitted I removed the rear fan and turned it clockwise before re-fitting to give me just enough cable length to reach the fan header and keep things super tidy.
Memory
Great ram, also available in white :)
HyperX HX421C14FBK2/8 is a kit of two 512M x 64-bit (4GB) DDR4-2133 CL14 SDRAM Synchronous DRAM) 1Rx8, memory module, based on eight 512M x 8-bit FBGA components per module. Each module kit supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profiles (Intel® XMP) 2.0. Total kit capacity is 8GB. Each module has been tested to run at DDR4-2133 at a low latency timing of 14-14-14 at 1.2V
OK, that last part is the interesting bit for me :)
Normally I would have gone with http://www.gskill.com/en/product/f4-2133c15d-8gvr in black for this (and everything, I'm a G.Skill fanboy) but the tested latency is 15-15-15-35-2N
My question is, does this mean the Kingston Fury Ram is slightly better?
Storage
My go-to storage drive in all builds, I can't recall a bad experience with one of these - exception value and performance from WD
Video Card
OK, so I couldn't find the white version of PCPartPicker so here's a link to the Asus site = https://www.asus.com/Graphics-Cards/GTX950-OC-2GD5/ - pretty right!
As I said above this graphics card was the whole reason for the build, as soon as I saw it I knew I had to build a PC using it - I'm a big fan of the GTX 950 performance / price ratio on any day but the Asus white version is such a beautiful looking card I'll happily keep using it for more white themed builds in the future :)
Asus say on there site it's a great match with the Z170 boards which I agree with (Z170-a and Z170-WS would look uber), but it also goes really well with cheaper black boards like the H110M-A - with the black PCB on top anyway if we used white Hyper X Fury and added some white braided PSU extension cables this build would look pretty stylish indeed!
Anyways, great card, great alterative to the STRIX design. I can't wait to try the new Echelon versions :P
Case
Exceptional value with 4 fans, a good layout and even a gpu support bracket if your building something with a large graphics card. Also available in black/blue - needs versions in black/red and white/green.
Power Supply
Again, not the exact part I used but close in brand/power.
The model I used was the ZALMAN ZM400-GVN 400W ATX PSU which is 20/50/100 Load 86/88/85% MEPS compliant. http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=PSUZAL1400
I've not seem a more efficient and resonantly priced PSU since the Cooler Master V-Series 450w was available = http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=PSUCLM5450 (if you can get that one it's a great choice as well)
Optical Drive
Unlike the picture the branding of this drive is actually black, which is far better looking! I know we are using these less and less but I think it's still good to have in systems for now.
Operating System
Not terrible, but seriously - why can't I turn off updates. Search is still a mess compared to windows 7 and I don't want to do a quick survey on why I am installing google chrome... and no, I also don't want to answer your questions later on about how likely I am to recommend google chrome to a friend... Microsoft, let us choose when to update, customise our login screens and use the programs we want please - you can still take automatic usage data from me - I'm totally cool with that!
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