Max Builds a PC: The Final How-To Video and WINNER!

Posted By: Max Zuckerman | Feb 18th, 2008 @ 8:00 AM | 8,986 Views | 29 Comments

Formats:

It’s finally done! The “Max Builds a PC series” wraps up with the build process from start to finish. I had a lot of fun throughout this entire series starting with debating and choosing the parts with all of you all the way to the time I spent in the studio putting it all together. My only regret is that I have to give this 5.9 rated PC away rather than keeping it for myself……… Oh yes, you read that right: this got a 5.9 rating from Windows Vista’s experience rating system!

So to recap what we've accomplished, here are the old posts and decisions we have made:

· The Case: Antec 182B
· The CPU: Intel QX9650
· The Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X38T-DQ6 (rev 1.1 if I can) ***this was out of stock so I went with the Asus P5E
· The RAM: Corsair 2 Gigs ***Since the Motherboard was a DDR2 based system, I decided to go with Kingston 4GB instead of just 2
· The Hard Disks: Western Digital Raptor and Backup Drive
· The Graphics Card: ATi 3870 series
· The Optical Drives: A draw… I decided to go with a DVD burner, no HD or BluRay
· The Input Devices: Logitech MX Revolution and Microsoft Reclusa
· Monitor: HP w2207

This thing is no joke... it's wicked fast. I mean, it's the fastest personal desktop I have EVER used. Windows Vista is SNAPPY, programs load INSTANTLY, and this monitor makes it all look so VIBRANT. I even loaded Premiere to see how fast video encoding was, and wow am I sorry to give this thing up. So now that you're all sufficiently excited after over a month of planning, it's time to announce the winner of this Channel 8 powerhouse!

And the winner is.......... drumrollllllllll................................ .

In addition to the PC, I have loaded it with a few games like Age of Empires III and Gears of War (PC). But of course, I also included the Expression Suite, Visual Studio 2008 Pro, and some other goodies.

As an added bonus, I threw in a second prize since you guys were so awesome... it's a black Zune 8 and it goes to .

Again thanks to everyone who participated in the discussion, it was very impressive to see the facts and research you guys put together and I look forward to our next series. In fact, I already have decided to do a new series VERY soon, so stay tuned!

Tags: max builds a pc, max builds a pc series

Rating:

littleguru
(microsoft student partnering)++

Crying didn't win... *starring around* *sniff* *cry* oh noes. Big Smile

Congrats to Trix! I hope you think from time to time about me while playing all the coolest games on it!!!
Congrats Lloyd, although I don't know why you won the ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON! Tongue Out *joking* I hope you can fit your 1 ZigaByte of tunes on it Wink

platinumacetric

damnit Max. I thought you would have sticked with the gigabyte. Here i am watching the video and i see my motherboard oh your machine. Damnit i wanted to benchmark my machine against yours.. i have a cool windows experience 6.0 on my machine. but that is because i cheated. i bought my parts 3 weeks ago with the 3870x2. eitherway i should stop gloating and give props to the winner of a free system...

Max arent you suppose to spread the thermal grease a lil before you put your heatsink on, oh does this only apply to watercooleed systems

Congrats Trix you deserved it. Hope to see you on the Flip Side.. yeeeeaa

~plat

Lloyd_Humph
Somewhat eviler than Skeletor

AWESOME!!!

Grats Trix!!

Not to be rude... have you already bought the Zune 8? Because I've got a helluva lot more tunes than 8G, so I was wondering if I sent you the extra $20 I could get a Zune 30 instead... pretty please? Smiley

edit: Will it blend?

Max
Spaceman Spiff!

Give an inch... take a mile eh? NO prize for you, Lloyd. Done.

platinumacetric

system. you don't need 4 grand to build a pc like this you know. It took me 3 years to build mine. i bought my parts in piece. the first was my case. when i first started out the P4 wass out and it was the hottest thing on the market so i bought a water cooled case. and i am so happy i bought it at that time cause equivalent cases now cost north $400. Mine is a Koolance server type case. I might post pics later. Seriously the most important thing you need is time. DOn't worry about the money. the best processor now will be about $500 in about 6 months. You if you are impatient like me you will take one pay check and buy the greatest stuff out there. Hopefully i did not discourage you from building your own super cool PC

platinumacetric

hey max. is the Asus motherboard the P5E3 deluxe motherboard. cause i am about to fight with asus. mine did not come with a dedicated sound card ( even tough i have creative sound card. i still don't like the fact that i might have gotten an incomplete motherboard) . just multiple bios

Lloyd_Humph
Somewhat eviler than Skeletor

@ Max "No Prize for you, Lloyd"

Expressionless

Forget I said anything...

Smiley

//I'm actually confused now... whats happening? Tongue Out

jbj

Nooooooooooooooooooooo!

You mean I'll actually have to buy my next computer?

Grats Trix anyway. Smiley

Trix

Oh my, I wake up to this (and to a chemistry exam that might kick my butt). I am ecstatic and excited beyond belief. Damn, thanks Max/Microsoft/ community for participating. I feel neverous happy, quite a weird feeling.

This is so freaking awesome!!

Age of Empires III ( I love that game) Gears of War PC (I love that for the 360, can't wait to see it on this PC) that Expression suit is wonderfully fun to play with (got the trials once) VIsual studio, never played with that looking forward to that. Ah the magic of software....

That monitor is supposed to be like the "second best" on the market today...glad you approve Wink

Nice video editing as well!

Can't wait to see the next big series of contests!!