PC Build Advice/Review Thread

[Stromgarde]

Laptop Recommendation!

In the market for a new laptop/notebook, mainly for work/studying type of business. I don't mobile game at all, nor does it interest me. Looking for a laptop/notebook sub-14" screen, preferably non-touch, pre-installed HD not a factor (would probably switch to SSD). I was really holding out and waiting for a Type-C slotted notebook, but I'm really starting to need this now.

Been looking at:
ASUS ZenBook UX303UA - of which the only "downside" is a glossy screen, which really I don't mind tbh. And I really dig the Uni-body design.

Dell XPS 13 - really digging the skinny bezel, but I'm extremely weary of Dell. I like that it has a Thunderbolt 3 though. (XPS 15 very similar but bigger screen which I'm not looking for.)

What say you BG?

They're both pretty great laptops, I own a variant of the one you're looking at, the ASUS UX305FA. The designs, with a few variations in color, look exactly the same and I can definitely say it's a well-build machine. The one you're looking at would also take care of the one complaint I have about mine, which is the anemic processor. Both scale pretty similarly, although the Dell offers more granularity. At your target price range, I'd pick the ASUS hands down though. Twice the SSD size, twice the RAM, and an i5 instead of an i3.

[Gryffes]

Have you looked into the Intel NUC? Even their lowest end unit (NUC5CPYH) supposedly supports 4k video. It's currently $129.99 on amazon. All you need to add is a hdd/ssd and memory. My company has been using the i5 versions for about 3 years now and have had zero failures out of about 150 units.

Here's the spec. sheet on that unit. NUC5CPYH

I'll +1 the nucs, the current models support M2 as well, all you need is an M2 drive and ram and you're good to go.

[Arkanna]

Can someone build me an HTPC? I need it to be as cheap as possible. These are the needs.

Small form factor
Wireless (I have a Nighthawk AC2350 router, so want to take full advantage of that)
Quiet
able to seamless play 1080p and possibly 4k video at a bitrate of 35+ mbps. (doesn't have to stream wirelessly, will probably move the files from main PC over to the HTPC wirelessly, then run directly from Kodi to the TV via HDMI). May get NAS later.

I don't need a lot of bells and whistles. I won't game on it. I won't use DVR. It'll essentially be a kodi box with wireless and high bitrate playback capabilities. Again, cheap as possible but able to fit this criteria.

*edit* Changed to a motherboard with both wireless AC and an M.2 slot.

Is $338.93 plus some shipping cheap enough? http://pcpartpicker.com/p/sPxZt6

I built two remarkably similar to this in December, though I went with older Pentium G3250's and an H87 motherboard instead.

Pros:
-Tiny as shit
-Quiet (don't skimp on the 50mm fan though)
-Modern platform

Cons:
-No disk-based storage (though there's room in the case for a 2.5" drive ... the SSD is big enough to copy to it, watch, then delete)
-Not silent
-Can get warm (though the Skylake CPU should stay cooler than mine does)

NUC is an easier/cheaper choice but this build is more powerful.

[Ghost_Wheel22]

So my 4-year old build is finally showing enough age. Came up with this as a draft ["http://pcpartpicker.com/p/h8cr3C"]http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zQ9LhM

Reusing my cpu cooler, optical drive, and win7 key to shave off some cost but still feels a bit off. PCPP lists it as <500 watts so maybe a cheaper PSU?

SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W is my old PSU and I'm tempted to reuse that but bronze lifespan seems iffy after four years of use.

Now I'm in full worry mode about my mobo and it's issues with dead ram slots and alternatives for the 110-140 pricerange seem...nebulous

[Arkanna]

Looks like a fine build to me.

I'd definitely go with a new PSU. Either the current 620W or the 650W you've chosen would be fine from a wattage perspective. Since your current motherboard has issues though, I would just drop the $90 for the new PSU.

[Mrbeansman]

So whats BGs consensus on the method for applying thermal paste? General google fu suggest the pea method.

[Krandor]

Assuming a square shape (laptop dies are usually rectangular) always pea.

[Adajer]

So whats BGs consensus on the method for applying thermal paste? General google fu suggest the pea method.

Always pea sized dot in middle. Any other method applies too much or creates air bubbles.

CPU dies are generally directly in the middle of the heatsink anyway, so dont really need to cover the whole thing. I tried some other methods for GPU recently since they are a bit different. Ending up finding pea size, just a larger pea, is still best.

[Omnipotent]

Thoughts on this for a PC build? 1400$ budget - hits it on the head. I have a 4 TB spare HDD to store everything else I should point out... already have monitor...keyboard...mouse...etc

[Ghost_Wheel22]

16GB RAM
Windows 10 Pro - 32-bit

Other than that a Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - CPU Cooler might a be viable (and cheaper) option.

[Senji]

Whats with the old tech 1998 cooler?

If you want Arctic Silver, go MX4

You've got a lot of CPU, MB, PSU for not a lot of GPU.

[Krandor]

Unless you need the specific advantages provided by an i7 over an i5 (and if you don't know already you probably don't need them) I would personally try to downgrade the CPU and knock up the GPU.

[Arkanna]

And I'd still recommend going Skylake at this point. More modern platform, slightly more performance for very similar (if not the same) money.

[Kalmado]

Was that taken from Newegg? I"m assuming you're in the states?

[Omnipotent]

Yes I am -- and looking to really focus on gaming...aside from going MX4 and taking it down to the i5 and bumping up the GPU.... anyone have a nice upgraded GPU for the 150 I saving? Also.... the Skylake is for 1151 socket... and my mobo is 1150.

[Senji]

Yes I am -- and looking to really focus on gaming...aside from going MX4 and taking it down to the i5 and bumping up the GPU.... anyone have a nice upgraded GPU for the 150 I saving? Also.... the Skylake is for 1151 socket... and my mobo is 1150.

Yeah, you'd be changing MB and ram to DDR4 too. GPU ceiling depends on resolution/future resolution.

[Kalmado]

Yes I am -- and looking to really focus on gaming...aside from going MX4 and taking it down to the i5 and bumping up the GPU.... anyone have a nice upgraded GPU for the 150 I saving? Also.... the Skylake is for 1151 socket... and my mobo is 1150.

I won't have time until later, but we can certainly squeeze more value for the price. Live near Micro Center or Frys?

[Arkanna]

Yes I am -- and looking to really focus on gaming...aside from going MX4 and taking it down to the i5 and bumping up the GPU.... anyone have a nice upgraded GPU for the 150 I saving? Also.... the Skylake is for 1151 socket... and my mobo is 1150.

Oh, I assumed it was a from-scratch build.. (if it is, I was implying to switch to a 1151 board and DDR4 also)

[Kalmado]

I replied originally while still working so I missed that part about the motherboard. So what parts are we already working with that will be included in the new build?

[Omnipotent]

The only thing that is included is storage HDD's, monitor, keyboard and mouse, still need a boot up/OS drive. I live in CT so there is no computer parts warehouse or location near me... so tiger direct...newegg are my only options.

I realistically have a 1500$ build budget... and I need everything aside from the listed above... it's been at least 6 years since my last build.