This is my current most powerful gaming PC:
Code:
CASE: NZXT NT-H2-B Silent Mid-tower Computer Case
MOTHERBOARD: ASUS M4A88T-M/USB3 Socket AM3 MicroATX Motherboard with AMD 880G chipset
CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 645 Propus 3.1Ghz Socket AM3 Quad Core Processor
RAM: 16GB DDR3 1333MHz (PC3-10666), Patriot G2 Series Division 2 Edition
COOLER: Noctua NH-U9B SE2
PSU: Antec EDGE 550 (550W ATX12V / EPS12V 80 PLUS GOLD, Modular PSU)
OS: Windows 7 64bit Ultimate
SSD: (OS) 120GB SSD, Intel DC S3500 MLC Memory (w/ power loss protection capacitors)
SSD: (Games) 750GB SSD, Crucial MX300 (w/ power loss protection capacitors)
SSD: (Music) 1TB SSD, Samsung 840 EVO
The case has room for 7 slots, but the motherboard only has 4 card slots being a MicroATX. I wanted to max out its potential, while bringing faster SATA speeds for game installs/playing. With PCIe x1 5Gb/s speeds, we can best the mobo's native SATA II 3Gb/s ports. Here is what I did:
Code:
CASE SLOT 1 (PCIe 1x) : Vantec USB3 4port Card + Silverstone SST-CP09 19pin Adapter (2 ext, 2 int)
CASE SLOT 2 (PCIe 16x) : XFX Radeon HD 7750 1GB GDDR5 (single slot)
CASE SLOT 3 (PCIe 1x) : Addonics 6G 2port SATA Controller
CASE SLOT 4 (PCI ) : HT Omega Claro Halo (soundcard)
CASE SLOT 5 : HT Omega Claro Halo "Midi/Joystick Expansion" Cable
CASE SLOT 6 : 2x eSATA Port Bracket (1 to -> Addonics SATA Controller, 2 to -> mobo)
CASE SLOT 7 : Addonics 5port 6G SATA Port Multiplier (to -> Addonics SATA Controller)
I originally obtained the case, mobo, cpu, and ram in a custom PC order back in late 2011. It sat unused for a long time, as I was transitioning to laptops for workstation tasks. About a year ago I surveyed my computers, and decided I should improve my existing desktop machines before building anything new.
So I really commited myself to the Socket AM3 platform here, and I have been happy with the results. It can play games 2014 and prior at 60fps on Ultra at 1080p, such as Dark Souls II and Unreal Tournament III.
I am still not done evolving the build. Future upgrades include:
CPU: Phenom II X6 1100T Hexcore 3.3ghz (6MB L3 Cache, up to 3.7ghz Turbo Core)
GPU: XFX RX 460 4GB GDDR5 (single slot model)