Workstation A01
Built on September 07, 2019 Build Cost: $1,159.00 USD Total net cost of all system components, excluding sales tax, labor, and any applicable operating system and software licensing costs.
Overview
My first solo computer build, designed to be a capable daily-driver, and be capable of playing a variety of older classic/"retro" PC games (from the 1990's and early 2000's) without using emulators or the like.
System Specifications
Detailed system specifications can be found below. Where applicable, component prices are displayed adjacent to each item. Prices do not include sales tax, and reflect the total net component price for identical components (such as multiple memory modules of the same capacity and speed). Original components that may have been upgraded, replaced, or removed are denoted on the next available line and appear greyed-out. If applicable in multi-boot operating system configurations, a bolded entry denotes the primary operating system.
Operating System: | | [Quad-Boot Configuration]- Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional, Version 2002, Service Pack 3, 32-bit $250.00 USD
- Microsoft® Windows® Server 2008 R2 Datacenter, Service Pack 1, 64-bit $2,999.99 USD
- Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter, 64-bit $6,155.52 USD
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Processor: | | Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 @ 3.0GHz, 4 cores (LGA775 socket) $143.62 USD |
Storage: | | [Multi-Disk Configuration]- 1TB Western Digital Enterprise 7.2K RPM SATA2 3.5" HDD (Boot & Data Drive) $38.88 USD
- 2TB Western Digital Enterprise 7.2K RPM SATA3 3.5" HDD (Backup Drive) $89.98 USD
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Optical Drive: | | ASUS Blu-Ray/DVD Drive BW-16D1HT $83.99 USD |
Floppy Drive: | | N/A |
Memory: | | 4x 4GB PC2-5300 DDR2 DIMM @ 667MHz (16GB total) $183.56 USD |
Video Card: | | NVidia GeForce GT 740 SC, 4GB GDDR5 $118.82 USD |
Sound Card: | | Creative Sound Blaster Audigy PCIe RX 7.1 $69.99 USD |
Network: | | [Onboard] Gigabit LAN controller |
Wireless: | | Ubit Gigabit WiFi Card AC1200 + 8260 Bluetooth 4.2 $38.95 USD |
Motherboard: | | ASUS P5Q Pro $142.50 USD |
Power Supply Unit: | | Thermaltake® SMART700W $89.99 USD |
Case: | | Chenbro® Rackmount 4U Server Chassis RM42300-F $123.74 USD |
Additional Hardware: | | - 2x GDSTIME 80mm x 38mm 8038 PWM High Speed Dual Ball Bearing DC 12V 80mm Cooling Fan $31.98 USD
- 2x Dayree Fan Adapter Cable with 4Pin PWM to 3Pin fit for All PWM Fans $3.00 USD
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Details
This was originally intended to be my first computer build, but ended up being my first solo computer build. Purpose-built as a computer capable of playing older games from the late 90's and early 2000's (in addition to being capable of playing newer games, from as late as 2015), machine was designed to be on a high-end 2008-era machine that holds its value even over a decade later.
The heart of the system is an ASUS P5Q Pro motherboard. Installed is a capable quad-core processor of the (2008-)era clocked at 3.0GHz: the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650. Atop the processor is an active Thermaltake ContactSilent 12 heatsink. On another note, my original wish was to have gone with the Intel Core 2 Quad QX9775 but the inability to find a new one along with high-end price tags prevented me from doing so. At the time of building this system (2019), the average price for even a used QX9775 processor was about $1,800 USD. That CPU socket also was an LGA771 which would have required some modifications to work with the LGA775, potentially along with a custom BIOS that supported Xeon processors.
The video card was one that I bought circa 2015— a superclocked NVidia GeForce GT 740 with 4GB of GDDR5 memory. I knew enough people who still use that card on their modern systems.
The system in its entirety is powered by a capable Thermaltake 700-Watt power supply and enclosed in a 4U server chassis. I do not personally prefer "flashy" cases, such as those that look like spaceships, or those with RGB-lighting setups and such, though I can appreciate their appeal. I prefer a more subtle and powerful look, and eventually decided to with a 4U server-chassis. These cases proved to be more inline with the style that I wanted, and had two key features that I was looking for: (1) carrying handles and (2) space for an optical drive and other 5.25"-fittings. The case I finally settled on was the Chenbro Rackmount 4U server chassis, model RM42300-F.
Media
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