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CPU
CPU Cooler
Motherboard
Memory
Storage
Storage
Video Card
Case
Power Supply
Case Fan
Case Fan
Monitor
Monitor
Keyboard
Mouse
Mouse
Headphones
Speakers
Other
Other
Other
Other
Other
Custom
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+ Total (United States):
So, parts. Why did I choose the 9600k? I primarily game, ESPECIALLY cs:go, which is a game that's hugely dependent on clock speeds. I personally had a debate between Ryzen for futureproofing, but I realized I'm seemingly unlikely to not have desire to build another system in a few years. In the summer I was considering buying a pre-built, and in a few short months I became a hopeless tech nerd. The mobo came in a combo with the CPU during the last week of October and has been very good so far (outside of the af small mishap with the ram).
Personally, looks were a very big deal for me when it came to this build. If I was going to build a high end system, I wanted it to look the part. This almost entirely explains my choice of the PC-O11 Dynamic, which is a GORGEOUS case. In addition to the large glass panels, I get the privilege of putting my power supply in the rear and not having a shroud in the front of the case. This was a huge plus for me. Add in some HD120 fans and light strips, and I found myself a gorgeous system. Every time I'm not playing a game actively I just want to stare at my own work. Due to the case choice, a 360mm rad was a must (any other size rad looks silly in this case). I'm glad I did, as this system is doing 5.1 without even breaking a sweat. 55 max during gaming at 5.1 is pretty amazing, especially without any intake besides the radiator itself.
The graphics card is the upper echelon of mid-range graphics cards right now, which is exactly what I wanted. I got it used, but it was almost new in packaging and runs like it's brand new as well. 3200Mhz Ram is probably more than this system needs, but it's pretty and I got it on sale so don't judge me. Once I see another sale on this RAM, I'm likely to buy 2 more and have a 32GB system. I do wish I had gotten an EX920 NVMe instead of the 900, especially considering the 920 went on sale for the same as I got the 900 for a week later, but I won't cry over it. I promise.
Peripherals are a bit more interesting. A 32" 1440p 144hz monitor is a godsent, but it's a little weird because I often run it in 4:3 stretched. See, I play cs in 4:3 but I don't like minimizing to alt-tab and play in windowed borderless, but I can't do that on 16:9 native...yeah you see the point. I have display settings pinned on my bottom bar so I can change them back and forth. The 4k monitor was used, but super cheap. One of the main complaints was poor quality control, so buying used is a plus since I can check the quality control before I confirm the purchase. I do need to get a new stand, as the lower tiered stand is going to drive me nuts.
2 Different keyboards are connected. Weird, I know. Personally, I love blue switches for typing, but love red switches for gaming. The Patriot Viper v770 is a VERY underrated high-ish end keyboard. Most people don't like Kalih switches, but I actually prefer the newer ones to Cherry MX. The Rosewill keyboard had been a desire for me ever since I saw it, and it is absolutely GORGEOUS and doesn't disappoint. The font on the keycaps is a little off-putting (still not as bad as corsair), but the feel is incredible. I have used the Corsair M65 Pro for months and really enjoyed it, the sniper button actually makes a perfect push-to-talk button in game.
Finally, the Z623's ******* PUMP and I'm honestly scared to push them with my EQ for fear of people the next 3 houses over being able to hear the bass. Wish this was sarcastic. One thing to note with them; You need to turn the bass knob down for, say, watching youtube because otherwise small bass artifacts will overpower voices and sound you want to hear. This isn't a bad problem to have, however.
Overclocks like an absolute beast. Using a 360mm rad, this does 5.1 Ghz without even breaking a sweat (see the image on my build post). Never seen it go above 55 During gaming sessions.
If you're like me and you don't care for all the fancy bells and whistles on a cooler, this is a great buy. Using a 9600k, and driving it to 5.1 has been easy and nearly painless on the temps of the CPU. Assembly is a little weird, and make sure you put the bracket underneath the motherboard before screwing it in!
Been a very good board for me so far, but with one hiccup; the manual was wrong on which dimm slots to use for dual-channel memory. The correct slots for me were B1 and B2.
AMAZING case. The panels are beautiful, just make sure you remove the plastic on the inside (which can be a little hard to get to; it's underneath the bezels). The PSU being in the rear is great, but it makes cable management a pain, so do the management as you go or else you're going to have a lot of trouble later on.