Hardware [Build log] "Alice," the not-so-desktop computer

[TotalInsanity4]

You know, for a "Computer Hardware" subforum you'd think that you'd see more of these. Let's remedy that, shall we?

Hello, everybody! Since I'm doing a... well... interesting computer build over the next few weeks, I've decided to document the process here so that you can kind of watch along while I do this. If it works, feel free to use some ideas I had. If it doesn't, feel free to make fun of me, I guess XD

I'd like to apologize in advance for the poor camera quality, my cell phone camera is pure shite and I'll be using what filters I can to make this look acceptable

Background: My (13 y/o) sister has been wanting a decent computer for a while now. Me being the hardware nerd that I am has kept trying to convince her to just buy parts and let me assemble them, since it will be cheaper in the long run. Interestingly enough, we took a trip into St. Louis this past weekend and happened to bump into the Micro Center located there. After a bit of banter, I managed to convince my parents to stop by and managed to get some GREAT deals on some computer hardware for her. So... here we are now?

Parts + idea

Closeup of all the parts. From left to right:

• Intel Core i5 6500: $179.99
• Kingston HyperX Fury DDR4-2400 (1 x 8GB): $39.99
• Gigabyte GA-H170-GAMING 3: $59.99 (this was originally going to be a GA-H170-D3HP for Type C connectivity, but once I saw how much of a steal this board was I snatched the last one off the shelf >:3)
• EVGA Supernova 550 GS: $74.99 (originally was going to be $129.99 but I price matched it against Newegg. I LOVE Micro Center for all the deals they gave me)
• In the back you can see a motherboard tray that I ripped from a scrap Cooler Master Stacker 830. I got it for $15 because someone took a dremel to it or something and thought they knew what they were doing. I'm not complaining because the alternative was going to be buying something like this for nearly $80

This is the shot all the parts together with the desk they're going to be going to. In addition to all the computer parts on the desk, I also have a cactus that's pretty to look at and a Kleenex box to sop up my tears when everything in this build goes to shit (I'm only kind of kidding).
The reason I anticipate this build being tricky is because I plan to make a custom drawer that fits into the two slots on the left, which means I have to remove the middle partition of a VERY solidly built desk and build a drawer that at least partially resembles the source material


Aaaaand I have to somehow get this in there... oh boy...

 

[TotalInsanity4]

I'll keep the OP updated as new things develop

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

So is the computer named alice?

 

[TotalInsanity4]

So is the computer named alice?

Yes she is. This was a choice of my sister's, not mine

She may or may not be going through her "edgelord" phase

 

[endoverend]

Yo I live in St. Louis, actually got a new build from micro center last week

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Edgelord? Am i supposed to know what that is? This isn't a leauge of legends thing is it? I don't play that game or undertsand it.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Yo I live in St. Louis, actually got a new build from micro center last week

Actually this was my first time going to the St. Louis MC, I usually shop at one of the two Chicago ones. I was pleasantly surprised by this one, though. Even though it felt more like a warehouse the selection seemed bigger and it was still easy to find what I was looking for

 

[KapuDaKoopa]

Edgelord? Am i supposed to know what that is? This isn't a leauge of legends thing is it? I don't play that game or undertsand it.

edge

like shadow the hedgehog

guns and black hair dye and emo shit

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Edgelord? Am i supposed to know what that is? This isn't a leauge of legends thing is it? I don't play that game or undertsand it.

It's a descriptor for "one who is edgy."

Think "punk" or "emo" without all the eyeliner

 

[KapuDaKoopa]

but on-topic I hope all goes well with this

what is your sister wanting to do with the computer mainly also?

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Okay so is your nickname for stereotypes. Gotcha.

Control freak would have been enough to get me to understand. Teenagers and your slang today in 2016

 

[endoverend]

Actually this was my first time going to the St. Louis MC, I usually shop at one of the two Chicago ones. I was pleasantly surprised by this one, though. Even though it felt more like a warehouse the selection seemed bigger and it was still easy to find what I was looking for

I actually managed to get a 1070 there which was pretty sweet, so yeah, they have decent selection.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

but on-topic I hope all goes well with this

what is your sister wanting to do with the computer mainly also?

She wants something that she can use for school and do light gaming on. That's why I got her a mid-range non-overclockable CPU and no GPU. I also tried to futureproof it as much as possible, which is why I went for the 8GB RAM stick as opposed to 4GB. I'm hoping that this rig will last her until she figures out that PC gaming is a thing and/or goes off to college, that way I can just thunk in a GPU and she'll be good to go again

 

[raystriker]

Love this. Post more pictures through the passage of the build

 

[Joe88]

The problems I see are ventilation right now, maybe cover the opening with metal screening or mesh

 

[TotalInsanity4]

The problems I see are ventilation right now, maybe cover the opening with metal screening or mesh

I've also thought of this. I will be installing either one or two fans in the bottom and one in the back (to maintain either neutral or positive air pressure). The system itself SHOULDN'T put out more heat than that can handle (crossing my fingers), but if need be I can set a system alarm in the bios in case it gets too hot and add another fan either in the bottom or the front if I need to\

Edit: I DO like the idea of mesh on the front, though, even if it's from a purely aesthetic standpoint. I have a bunch of metal screening left over from a previous project that I could staple to the back of the front panel... Hmmmmmm...

 

[Inukami]

might want to get a cheap rx 400 series to go along with that if she plans on playing games. Integrated might be okay for like league of legends but anything more demanding might not run so well.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

might want to get a cheap rx 400 series to go along with that if she plans on playing games. Integrated might be okay for like league of legends but anything more demanding might not run so well.

I can run Need For Speed: Most Wanted decently well on a Haswell iGPU, so I think she'll be fine with whatever she'd want to play for now. She's certainly not going to be maxing out any settings, for sure, but this should do ok for 720p-1080p with low to mid settings

 

[Inukami]

I can run Need For Speed: Most Wanted decently well on a Haswell iGPU, so I think she'll be fine with whatever she'd want to play for now. She's certainly not going to be maxing out any settings, for sure, but this should do ok for 720p-1080p with low to mid settings

7-720p?! my god! this isn't 2004, this is 2016!

 

[TotalInsanity4]

I've been working on the motherboard tray today. I disassembled everything that wasn't necessary to get it down to as small as I could, and it currently fits with no room to spare. Not really anything worth taking pictures of, but I thought I'd drop by and give an update.

Tomorrow I plan to start working on the actual drawer itself.