- Joined
- May 10, 2014
- Messages
- 159
- Motherboard
- ASUS Z97-K
- CPU
- Intel Core i7-4790k
- Graphics
- ASUS STRIX GeForce GTX 750TI
- Mac
- Classic Mac
- Mobile Phone
Proposed Semi-silent i7 build in G5 case. Any advice?
Hoping to get the community’s excellent advice on my proposed build. This is the first time I’ve built a hackintosh from scratch. I have a decent amount of experience using a hackintosh on laptops, so the software side of things is not novel to me, and I have built PCs before, but it has been probably close to 15 years since I’ve done so, and so a lot has obviously changed.
The goals/needs for this build are as follows:
-Decently future proof - right now we have a mid 2011 iMac, which is starting to show its age sooner than I would have hoped, and the inability to upgrade anything is largely driving me to build my own.
-Stable (performance and ease of software upgrades) - this is going to be the main family computer, and will be used daily by my wife. So the usual hesitations to install updates etc apply, but I don’t want to stray too far afield from what has been tested and known to work well.
-Good appearance. This will live in a nook off the living room, and be on a desktop in plain sight.
-Quiet. I’m no sound engineer or anything like that, but I just personally loathe loud machines. Plus it will be up on the desktop next to the monitor and such, so only about 3 feet away from the user.
-4k display. Might as well.
Primary uses are just general day to day computer, we do a fair amount of photos and minimal editing, surfing, etc. But my wife also will use this for data analysis, some coding, etc. So needs to be reasonably beefy in the horsepower department.
Parts in mind:
G5 case to mod - with Mountain mods tray or Laser Hive 120 low kit.
mATX mobo, either ASUS Gryphon Z97 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K2R6BT0/
or maybe if I see a compelling reason to spend more, the MSI Z97M Gaming http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K23BY6Y/
I would actually prefer to stick with a Gigabyte board, but don't see any mATX boards by them with a DisplayPort. I may bite the bullet and go to ATX (which means more modding to the case I believe) so I can get the Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SOC http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JKCHERQ/
Not sure if I even need a dedicated video card with these motherboard choices. Will be driving a 4K monitor, likely this ASUS PB287Q. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KJGY3TO/
I’m very out of the game on graphics cards. Will not likely be doing any gaming on this thing, and looks like both mobo can drive this monitor at 60Hz. If I did need one I’m open to suggestions, and an explanation as to why I need it.
Tempted by the Seasonic 520W Fanless power supply http://www.amazon.com/Seasonic-SS-520FL-Fanless-Platinum-ATX12V/dp/B009VV56TO/ but have some placement concerns. I think if I place this at the bottom of the G5 case the heat will vent up, where case fans can push it out the back of the case. If this seems like a bad idea, I could default to a Corsair AX 760 PSU. http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Professional-Modular-Platinum-Supply/dp/B00A0HZMEM/
32GB Corsair Vengeance LP DDR3 1600MHZ http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-Desktop-Memory-CML32GX3M4A1600C10/dp/B0088JQ2Z2/
i7-4790K http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KPRWAX8/
or
i7-4790S http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J6F5LR2/
Had been tempted by a Nofan CPU cooler http://www.amazon.com/NoFan-CR-95C-Copper-IcePipe-Fanless/dp/B009OXB1ZM/ but I have some concerns about using this in a G5 case that isn’t designed necessarily for this. See people primarily use them in cases designed for passive cooling. Any thoughts?
The alternative would be this Noctua 6 Heatpipe fan. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003JME1CO/
1TB SSD - Samsung 850 EVO http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OBRFFAS/
Case fans: With the Mountain Mod tray I need two 80mm fans at the back. Was planning on using two Noctua NF-A8 at the back. http://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NF-A8-ULN-Premium-80mm/dp/B00NEMGCRQ/
or if I go with the Laser Hive kit a 120mm Noctua PWM fan at the back. At the front I was thinking of a couple of 120mm fans or maybe just one larger 140mm fan, also likely from Noctua.
I think that about covers the parts. Open to any suggestions, and please point out any incompatibilities or errors I have made. It’s been a very long time since I’ve built a PC. Also if there are any areas where you see my parts selection being overkill, I'm game to look at less costly but equally effective options.
Hoping to get the community’s excellent advice on my proposed build. This is the first time I’ve built a hackintosh from scratch. I have a decent amount of experience using a hackintosh on laptops, so the software side of things is not novel to me, and I have built PCs before, but it has been probably close to 15 years since I’ve done so, and so a lot has obviously changed.
The goals/needs for this build are as follows:
-Decently future proof - right now we have a mid 2011 iMac, which is starting to show its age sooner than I would have hoped, and the inability to upgrade anything is largely driving me to build my own.
-Stable (performance and ease of software upgrades) - this is going to be the main family computer, and will be used daily by my wife. So the usual hesitations to install updates etc apply, but I don’t want to stray too far afield from what has been tested and known to work well.
-Good appearance. This will live in a nook off the living room, and be on a desktop in plain sight.
-Quiet. I’m no sound engineer or anything like that, but I just personally loathe loud machines. Plus it will be up on the desktop next to the monitor and such, so only about 3 feet away from the user.
-4k display. Might as well.
Primary uses are just general day to day computer, we do a fair amount of photos and minimal editing, surfing, etc. But my wife also will use this for data analysis, some coding, etc. So needs to be reasonably beefy in the horsepower department.
Parts in mind:
G5 case to mod - with Mountain mods tray or Laser Hive 120 low kit.
mATX mobo, either ASUS Gryphon Z97 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K2R6BT0/
or maybe if I see a compelling reason to spend more, the MSI Z97M Gaming http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K23BY6Y/
I would actually prefer to stick with a Gigabyte board, but don't see any mATX boards by them with a DisplayPort. I may bite the bullet and go to ATX (which means more modding to the case I believe) so I can get the Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SOC http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JKCHERQ/
Not sure if I even need a dedicated video card with these motherboard choices. Will be driving a 4K monitor, likely this ASUS PB287Q. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KJGY3TO/
I’m very out of the game on graphics cards. Will not likely be doing any gaming on this thing, and looks like both mobo can drive this monitor at 60Hz. If I did need one I’m open to suggestions, and an explanation as to why I need it.
Tempted by the Seasonic 520W Fanless power supply http://www.amazon.com/Seasonic-SS-520FL-Fanless-Platinum-ATX12V/dp/B009VV56TO/ but have some placement concerns. I think if I place this at the bottom of the G5 case the heat will vent up, where case fans can push it out the back of the case. If this seems like a bad idea, I could default to a Corsair AX 760 PSU. http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Professional-Modular-Platinum-Supply/dp/B00A0HZMEM/
32GB Corsair Vengeance LP DDR3 1600MHZ http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-Desktop-Memory-CML32GX3M4A1600C10/dp/B0088JQ2Z2/
i7-4790K http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KPRWAX8/
or
i7-4790S http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J6F5LR2/
Had been tempted by a Nofan CPU cooler http://www.amazon.com/NoFan-CR-95C-Copper-IcePipe-Fanless/dp/B009OXB1ZM/ but I have some concerns about using this in a G5 case that isn’t designed necessarily for this. See people primarily use them in cases designed for passive cooling. Any thoughts?
The alternative would be this Noctua 6 Heatpipe fan. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003JME1CO/
1TB SSD - Samsung 850 EVO http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OBRFFAS/
Case fans: With the Mountain Mod tray I need two 80mm fans at the back. Was planning on using two Noctua NF-A8 at the back. http://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NF-A8-ULN-Premium-80mm/dp/B00NEMGCRQ/
or if I go with the Laser Hive kit a 120mm Noctua PWM fan at the back. At the front I was thinking of a couple of 120mm fans or maybe just one larger 140mm fan, also likely from Noctua.
I think that about covers the parts. Open to any suggestions, and please point out any incompatibilities or errors I have made. It’s been a very long time since I’ve built a PC. Also if there are any areas where you see my parts selection being overkill, I'm game to look at less costly but equally effective options.