The Incredibly Tight Budget Build

sideshowruki · Oct 15, 2013

So after moving from console to PC, I needed something to play all my PS3 games on but on a PC platform, this included BF3, Tomb Raider etc..

Great, so I started doing sums and saw that this was going to cost a lot of randelas, which I have very few of.

So started the most budgety budget build of all time

Ingredients:
CPU: I5 2320
Mobo: MSi Z68MA-ED55
Ram: 8GB Kingston Value
GPU: Winfast GTX 570
Cooling: Deepcool ICE Edge 300, 4 CM Silent 140mm fans, 1 Deepcool Blue LED 120mm
PSU: Gigabyte Superb 720w 80+
Chassis: CM Centurion 5 II

All in all it has cost less than R5k to build, all parts secondhand off Carbonite with the exception of the case, which was/is brandnew

So far I'm happy with the results, 3dMark11 leaves me with P6123

Anyway, onto the case mods, which I did last night

So here I start with a brandnew unmolested CM Centurion 5 II:

First up was cutting out the HHD cage:

For a second I thought I would be happy, but I just couldn't stop removing rivets:

Then I thought I'd try some different textures on the motherboard resting plate:

Next the parts were in the paintbooth(read back balcony):

Continued in next post...

sideshowruki · Oct 15, 2013

After what felt like aeons, the paint was dry and assembly started:

Getting there:

Next up I started refitting everything, but this was around 11:30 so I wasn't gonna get far:

Excuse the wiring everywhere, I'll sort out the cable tonight
Also waiting on delivery for the remaining 140mm LED fans and the RMA of the blue cathode I bought which was DOA

I will report back tomorrow with more progress and pics

Thanks for checking out my thread

sideshowruki · Oct 15, 2013

Next up ideally would be a modular PSU, but sadly, my wifes UNISA fees destroyed the CUD budget for the next few months

sideshowruki · Oct 15, 2013

Wow, super awesome service, while I was typing this my 4 CM 140mm Blue LED fans where delivered(I ordered them last night), also picking up the RMA'd cathode this afternoon - super excited

sideshowruki · Oct 16, 2013

Okay so I finally assembled everything last night and I'm super happy.

System temps are much lower, running the the little 2320 at 3.5ghz, idle its at 30 degrees and maxes out on 3dmark11 at 56 degrees.
The GPU also runs cooler, but not by such a big margin as the CPU, on idle its at 35 degrees and under full load it goes up to 72 degrees .

Super stoked by the noise levels, the only fan making a bit of noise is the cpu cooler, but I'll look into that once the budget recovers

I tried my best to hide some of the cables, but because this is not a cable management case, it was harder than I first thought, lol

And with the case closed

Off-The-Chart · Oct 16, 2013

looking good

the simplest of 'mods' can always give you some good results

I would personally add a switch for that light if it is in such a place where it can effect the room a lot

currently my box is right next to bed and the damn power LED is an annoyance

gonna get some much lovin' this weekend

curious: wth is that optical reversed?

OhiAs_ZA · Oct 16, 2013

It looks fantastic I like it great job bud

Sent from my GT-N7100

sideshowruki · Oct 16, 2013

Off-The-Chart said:
looking good

the simplest of 'mods' can always give you some good results

I would personally add a switch for that light if it is in such a place where it can effect the room a lot

currently my box is right next to bed and the damn power LED is an annoyance

gonna get some much lovin' this weekend

curious: wth is that optical reversed?

Thanks man

The optical drive is reversed to keep the front of the case a little cleaner lol, less mucky stuff.

The light looks more intense than it is, I have a UV Cathode in there and doesn't really photograph well

Ettienne said:
It looks fantastic I like it great job bud

Sent from my GT-N7100

Thanks man

Off-The-Chart · Oct 16, 2013

you know what STEALTHING is?

now you see me:

now you don't:

just need to get some double sided tape

ThatGuy_ZA · Oct 16, 2013

How on earth are you going to get disks into that optical drive?

Also, try to get your PC off the ground. I have the same chassis and the PSU will suck up dust like there is no tomorrow.

sideshowruki · Oct 16, 2013

Thanks [MENTION=8442]Off-The-Chart[/MENTION]

Will do that ASAP!

LeX said:
How on earth are you going to get disks into that optical drive?

Also, try to get your PC off the ground. I have the same chassis and the PSU will suck up dust like there is no tomorrow.

The PC will move onto the desk next to the screen once I can find a hole saw lol

DeWiT777 · Oct 16, 2013

Lol nice Job dude. Lyk awesome!

ThatGuy_ZA · Oct 16, 2013

Good good. Well done though, it's an awesome build! I really like the effect that you put on the MB tray.
This is my old rig. Those chassis' are very nice...

sideshowruki · Oct 16, 2013

LeX said:
Good good. Well done though, it's an awesome build! I really like the effect that you put on the MB tray.
This is my old rig. Those chassis' are very nice...

It looks like you had a monster of a machine running there! Drool water cooling!

Neko · Oct 17, 2013

Did you wrap that motherboard tray in vynil?
What paint did you use? and how did you prep it?

sideshowruki · Oct 17, 2013

Neko said:
Did you wrap that motherboard tray in vynil?
What paint did you use? and how did you prep it?

Hey man

Yeah, the mobo tray was wrapped in 3M Carbon vynil.
The rest of the parts where done in 2k Gray primer followed by either Rustoleum textured Black or Spray-on Jazz Blue

sideshowruki · Oct 17, 2013

So after [MENTION=8442]Off-The-Chart[/MENTION] taught me the way of the ninja, I proceeded to rip my optical drive apart and ended up with this

Ninja mode:

Also fitted a switch to control the UV and the LED of the two side fans

After that I followed [MENTION=657]LeX[/MENTION] 's advice and moved the PC to higher ground in preparation of the impeding rapture(death by dust)

And lastly gave my Sidewinder X4 a good clean, I love this keyboard

ThatGuy_ZA · Oct 17, 2013

That looks wicked! Well done.

sideshowruki · Oct 17, 2013

LeX said:
That looks wicked! Well done.

Thanks man

Next up, I want to rip apart one of my old PSUs and use the cover to extent over the current PSU, will aid in hiding some of the non-modular uglyness

Damin · Oct 17, 2013

Big up to you Ruan.
Nice to see a decent budget build with a bit of originality.

Off-The-Chart · Oct 17, 2013

now for a little more help, how high is the bottom of the case from the desk/floor?

some1 mentioned they could make some nice plexi round case feet, which if they are higher than current feet, would also help a bit with airflow from the PSU side and bottom of case.

obviously not majorly needed, as long as it is not on like a fluffy carpet blocking all ventilation, but every help is always good.

also, curious... why in this pic:

why does the stealthed bay stick out so much? is that actually meshed front panels?

sideshowruki · Oct 17, 2013

Off-The-Chart said:
why does the stealthed bay stick out so much? is that actually meshed front panels?

Yup they are mesh panels, I'd have to paint the drive tray black if I wanted it invisible

lebowski · Oct 17, 2013

Good work OP, always good to see someone stretching a budget to make it look awesome.

Where did u get the Centurion 5 II chassis btw ?

sideshowruki · Oct 17, 2013

lebowski said:
Good work OP, always good to see someone stretching a budget to make it look awesome.

Where did u get the Centurion 5 II chassis btw ?

Thanks man

Bought/Traded it from [MENTION=22193]Clint183[/MENTION]

Animal · Oct 17, 2013

Nice build, like the mods you did to the case.

Happy you made the move to PC gaming? Oh, and welcome to the nasty world of CUD...

SoloMid · Oct 17, 2013

Looks awesome. Dig the vinyl.
Some positive criticism (well my opinion) rather go with White LED lighting. It will make the blue fans and bits on the motherboard "pop" more, instead of making everything look blue.

Well done

P3wP3w · Oct 17, 2013

Very nice indeed. This made me go and order some black and white vinyl

sideshowruki · Oct 17, 2013

Animal said:
Nice build, like the mods you did to the case.

Happy you made the move to PC gaming? Oh, and welcome to the nasty world of CUD...

Definitely worth the move, thanks man

Blown the theoretical budget, but wifey doesn't have to know...

SoloMid said:
Looks awesome. Dig the vinyl.
Some positive criticism (well my opinion) rather go with White LED lighting. It will make the blue fans and bits on the motherboard "pop" more, instead of making everything look blue.

Well done

Ah thank you
I'm not to happy with the UV Light, I'll definitely look at white LED option

P3wP3w said:
Very nice indeed. This made me go and order some black and white vinyl

Thank you kind sir

I was very surprised at how easy the vinyl applies to the surface

sideshowruki · Oct 20, 2013

Okay so I finally got my hands on my dream mouse, super stoked

My new(second hand) R.A.T 5

And lastly, hey, whats going on here...

My old faithful GTX570 has left to be with its new owner, I'm going to miss that card, but its making space for twins, everyone likes twins

Also busy building a box to hide the ugly PSU wires

Next up will be some Bitfenix sleeved cables

z3ttro · Oct 22, 2013

Hi Ruan

Love what you have done with the case, especially the vinyl

Are you thinking of SLI/Crossfire now? Just a heads up if you are, that motherboard will run the second card only at PCI-e 2.0 4x.

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