Build Log: "Low Cost" SETI Machine

[JrClocker]

In honor of the upcoming Star Wars movie, I'm planning a new system build to run 24/7 to do calculations for SETI (i.e. look for ET). I am trying to keep it low cost...here is what I got so far:

Case.....Raidmax Hybodus...........$ 49.99
MB.......ASRock B85M...............$ 57.99
CPU......i3-4370...................$139.99
Cooling..Stock
Memory...G.Skill DDR3-1600: 2x8 GB.$ 71.99
GPU......MSI 750 Ti, 2GB GDDR5.....$121.99
PSU......EVGA 500 W, Bronze........$ 49.99
HDD......G.Skill 240 GB SSD........$ 79.99
OS.......Windows 10 Pro............$139.99
------------------------------------------
Total..............................$718.92 (A long time ago...in a galaxy far, far away!)

Links:

Case.....http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156325
MB.......http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157389
CPU......http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117446
Memory...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231609
GPU......http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127784
PSU......http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438012
HDD......http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231922


I was trying to stay around $500...but oh well.

I like the microATX for this build as it is compact. Couldn't find much of a difference in motherboards at this price range...thoughts on this motherboard?

I LOVE the looks of this case!

I went back and forth on an i3 versus an i5...decided on the i3 for price...thoughts on this processor?

I added a graphics card into the mix as I wanted to be able to run calculations in the i3 GPU as well as the graphics card. The 750ti seems to be the best price point for performance. I am an NVIDIA guy, but am open to ATI suggestions if they will calculate SETI faster.

I have an old ATI 4850 that I'll try and plop into this rig too...it's all for SETI you see...has anybody tried to run NVIDIA and ATI cards at the same time? (I'll drive the output with the NVIDIA card).

Will be ordering parts soon!

 

[JrClocker]

Slight change of plans on the timing...had some unexpected expenses creep up...I'll still make my 12/18/2015 deadline!

This delay has caused me to re-think some of my component choices...and I believe that I was cost cutting in the wrong place. I added into my specification that I would like a "future-proof" SETI machine. So, changing the motherboard to:

AsRock Z97M OC Formula

This is a nice looking motherboard...love the color scheme...only $68 more...still in the micro ATX form factor.

Now, you can't just put plain old ugly memory into a nice looking MB like this...so, let's do LED RAM!!!!

Avexir AVD3U21330908G-2BZ1SE DDR3-2133, Yellow LED...Blitz 1.1 series...looks freaking sweet on this motherboard:




Not going to pair this nice looking set with a wimpy i3 processor...changed to i7-4790K Devil's Canyon (because that sounds like a place where Aliens would land!)

Going to hold off on the graphics card for now...I plan to replace my 2 GTX 970s in the future...something with a water cooler (like the looks of the EVGA 980Ti Hydro). This motherboard supports SLI, so I'll move them to the setup when I upgrade my main rig.

Current parts list:

Case.....Raidmax Hybodus...........$ 49.99
MB.......ASRock Z97M OC Formula....$125.99
CPU......Intel i7-4790K............$333.99
Cooling..TBD by Case Selection.....$
Memory...Avexir DDR3-2133, Yellow..$ 69.99
GPU......Intel HD-4600.............$ 0.00
PSU......EVGA 500W, Bronze.........$ 49.99
HDD......G.Skill 240 GB SSD........$ 79.99
OS.......Windows 10 Pro............$139.99
------------------------------------------
Total..............................$849.93

An extra $131, but money well spent.

Anybody have any thoughts on a nice looking case? I am torn now between the Raidmax Hybodus, Corsair Carbide Air 240, Thermaltake Core V21...

 

[JrClocker]

Case marketing photos:

Raidmax Hybodus:




Corsair Carbide Air 240:




Thermaltake Core V21:

 

[Joe88]

The Hybodus is definitely the most alien looking out of the bunch, reminds me of those alienware cases.

 

[JrClocker]

Yeah - that's why I like it. Those are LEDs on the front of it too.

However, I don't think that I can fit a 240 mm AIO cooler in it. Not sure if it's going to interfere with the graphics card.