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CustoMac mATX / GA-Z87M-D3H / i5-4690K / 8GB / GeForce GTX 760

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Hello guys, been lurking around for a couple of years and now the time has come to try my first build, decided to stick with components that are on the Buyer's Guide, but if someone could have a look and advice, it would be much appreciated.

Aim is to have a cheap gaming machine, that is also able to run OS X.

Parts will be purchased on alternate.nl but I linked to Newegg so all is in english.

GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 760
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125466

GIGABYTE GA-Z87M-D3H Micro ATX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128599

Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 8GB (2 x 4GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148719

Intel Core i5-4690K Devil's Canyon Quad-Core 3.5GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117372

CORSAIR CSM Series CS550M 550W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=%20N82E16817139059

SAMSUNG 840 EVO 120 GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147247

Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697

TP-LINK TL-WDN4800 Dual Band Wireless N900 PCI Express Adapter
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704133

On the hunt for a nice looking case, the one i posted before is out of stock.


I think it should all fit together nicely, my only doubts are about getting e bigger SSD and leaving out the wi-fi card, unless i decide to place the build in another room in future, that can be added on a 2nd date.

1)Any nice looking case that would work, looking for some aluminium metal case, white/silver.

2)Any advice on GPU and Motherboard? I stayed with what was on the buyer's list, but if you want to advice a better price/quality alternative that will work fine as well, please do so. What would be the benefits/cons of going for a Series 9 Motherboard?

Thanks
 
On the hunt for a nice looking case, the one i posted before is out of stock.


I think it should all fit together nicely, my only doubts are about getting e bigger SSD and leaving out the wi-fi card, unless i decide to place the build in another room in future, that can be added on a 2nd date.

1)Any nice looking case that would work, looking for some aluminium metal case, white/silver.

2)Any advice on GPU and Motherboard? I stayed with what was on the buyer's list, but if you want to advice a better price/quality alternative that will work fine as well, please do so. What would be the benefits/cons of going for a Series 9 Motherboard?

Thanks
Bigger SSD could be a +
For a case, http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007583%2050001375&IsNodeId=1&page=1&bop=And&SrchInDesc=v358a&PageSize=20 would do well if you can get it there in the Netherlands, although it is a bit expensive. OTOH, it is solid aliminum and is very good case if you like a cube. Lian Li is about the only case company I know of that does not use plastic in their cases, even for fronts or tops. Only downside to this case is the placement of the front fans - the upper tray with the board does not get good air flow, IMHO. Need to add fans on the side to intake air.

Alternative for case, http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007583%2050014581&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&SrchInDesc=arctic&Page=1&PageSize=20 with or without window, though the window does let sound leak through.

For 8 series mainboard, make sure seller has updated BIOS to version that supports the Haswell refresh CPU you have listed.
You could go with a 9 series board, but the 97 PCH is not supported in OSX yet, so it will not work as well as the 8 series PCH.
 
Thanks for the advice and for the case

I think bigger SSD will be then. Regarding the 8 Series Mainboard, noob question here. this is what states on alternate.nl

Supported Models
Intel ® Core ™ i7 4xx (Conroe-L) x (Haswell), Intel ® Core ™ i5 4xx (Conroe-L) x (Haswell), Intel ® Core ™ i3 4xx (Conroe-L) x (Haswell), Intel Pentium Gxxxx (Haswell), Intel Celeron Gxxxx (Haswell)

I suppose that means that is compatible, or do i need further details?

I am having 2nd thoughts about the motherboard now, as i noticed that on Newegg many reviews are not positive, and complaining about random freezes on the other hands european reviews, seem much more positive...

The other compatible MB listed GA-Z87MX-D3H, is out of stock in most, and where is available it costs double the price then the Z87M.
 
Supported Models
Intel ® Core ™ i7 4xx (Conroe-L) x (Haswell), Intel ® Core ™ i5 4xx (Conroe-L) x (Haswell), Intel ® Core ™ i3 4xx (Conroe-L) x (Haswell), Intel Pentium Gxxxx (Haswell), Intel Celeron Gxxxx (Haswell)

Haswell refresh is supported for use with the board, it is just that the board BIOS has to be updated to the latest to get the refresh CPUs into its support list.

New BIOS + Haswell refresh CPU = board POSTs
Old BIOS + Haswell refresh CPU = board does not POST
 
I have been searching about this, found some different information, on what i would exactly need to do.

Please bear with me, it is really my first build ever, so maybe some things are way too obvious for more experienced users. If my build does not POST how can i update the BIOS then?

I see here how to do it, http://www.tonymacx86.com/bios-uefi/131047-how-update-your-gigabyte-motherboards-bios.html

Or do i need a compatible CPU in order to boot and then update the BIOS?

EDIT: After some further research, i see it should not be a problem at all to do this using Q-Flash, i should be able to launch the BIOS anyway during the POST and the update the BIOS itself using a flash drive, is that right?
 
I have been searching about this, found some different information, on what i would exactly need to do.

Please bear with me, it is really my first build ever, so maybe some things are way too obvious for more experienced users. If my build does not POST how can i update the BIOS then?

I see here how to do it, http://www.tonymacx86.com/bios-uefi/131047-how-update-your-gigabyte-motherboards-bios.html

Or do i need a compatible CPU in order to boot and then update the BIOS?

EDIT: After some further research, i see it should not be a problem at all to do this using Q-Flash, i should be able to launch the BIOS anyway during the POST and the update the BIOS itself using a flash drive, is that right?

In order to use Q-Flash the BIOS must POST. It needs a CPU to do this. If the CPU is not supported in BIOS, it will not POST.

You have 3 options with an 8 series board and a Haswell Refresh CPU:

Option 1 (best) make sure the shop you purchase the board from delivers you a board with the updated BIOS

Option 2 (might cost a little) find a local computer shop that will flash it for you

Option 3 (most expensive) purchase the cheapest celeron in the CPU support list for the board just to boot to BIOS and flash it. (and then you have this Celeron CPU to sell, if you can.)
 
I recently build a PC with the Z87M-D3H and the 4790k. The motherboard worked with the CPU out of the box because the BIOS was already updated. If your BIOS is not updated your gonna have to purchase or borrow an older CPU to update the BIOS.
 
Thanks guys for clarifying, I will see if i can get my hands on an older CPU or see if one of the shops where i can order it from, can tell me if it is already updated out of the box.

Alternatively, i may try my way with a Series 9, do first a clean Windows installation on one of the Hard Drives and then work my way to install OS X on the other HD, knowing that all the parts are working fine.
 
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