New PC Build Description

As I mentioned over in our Family blog, I recently built a new PC to be able to handle the rigors of HD video editing as well as photo editing. This post is for those of you interested in the specifics of the system.

Before I go into the parts list, I want to mention an excellent website that can be a big help when building your own computer. I used PCPartPicker.com to (1) Help find the lowest prices on parts (2) Keep track of which parts I had decided to use and (3) Provide helpful insight into possible compatibility issues as well as power requirements. The website is pretty awesome, I highly recommend you go check it out. I actually met the guy who created it, and that's how I found out about it. The feature I found the most helpful was the price history, this helped me know if the current price on the item was a good deal or not.

Alright, here is the parts list. I actually purchased all of these parts over about a month's time span. I waited until I found a good deal on the part before purchasing it. By doing this, I saved over $250 through mail in rebates, general sales, and combo packages. I owe a big chunk of that savings to my sister; who was willing to print off a parts list I sent her and go buy things for me. Micro Center, which does not have a store in Austin, had a super deal on CPU/Motherboard combinations, but with the catch that you had to purchase in store. Lucky for me, there was one near my previously mentioned, very gracious sister.

Parts List:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor
• Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H ATX  LGA1155 Motherboard  
• Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory 
• Main Hard Drive: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB Solid State Disk
• Storage Hard Drive:  Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB Hard Drive
• Graphics Card: *EVGA 02G-P4-2643-KR GeForce GT 640 2GB
• Card Reader: NZXT APERTURE M Multi-Media Mesh Style Card Reader
• CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS9500 AT Ball Bearing CPU Cooler
• Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case
• Power Supply**: Corsair Professional HX650 Power Supply
• Case Fans: 
• Cooler Master R4-MFJR-07FK-R1 200mm MegaFlow 200 Silent Fan (2x)
• * Cooler Master R4-S4S-10AK-GP 140mm Case cooler

* Not Pictured, still in the mail.
** Possibly going to be returned. It makes funny noises.

Here are some pictures of the PC. Not boring looking, but not screaming basement LAN Party either.