Recently, things have been extremely hectic. The company’s projects have been piling up, and deadlines have been tight. It was hard to complete a bid on time due to the leakage of sensitive information, leading to a flow of bids. Half a month of hard work ended in sadness. Luckily, there are a few days before the next tender. Just as X399 had no time to relax, VEGA also arrived, bringing along an exciting project. When I returned, I had some free time to share my experience with you.
This time, a friend of a friend got a graphics card from his brother. Then, they went to the computer city and somehow managed to negotiate with a store owner, ending up with a detailed configuration list. They also checked prices on JD, Taobao, and Suning, put together a set of accessories, and asked me to help assemble everything, including installing the operating system.
Many people complained that the photos I took with my desk lamp weren’t clear. I took this chance to practice taking white background photos. To achieve this, you need a non-reflective white plastic background cloth and two spotlights. It costs around 200 units. If you're interested, you can try it too. The resulting photos are much clearer than those taken with a desk lamp.
When I saw this guy's configuration, I wanted to say a few words, but I wanted to buy them back. What I said wasn't because I couldn't use them; rather, I didn't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable. Okay, enough with the small talk. Let's take a look at this setup and some buying tips.
Note: The 5,000 configuration mentioned refers to the price of all accessories under normal market prices. Given the current surge in exotic goods, it’s nearly impossible to find an RX580 for less than 2000 units. I’m aware of this situation, and since the graphics card was given to him, I’ll calculate based on the standard price.
Major Components (CPU, Motherboard, Memory, Graphics Card, Hard Disk):
First, CPU: Intel Core i3 7100
The Core i3 7100 is essentially an upgraded version of the Pentium G4560. Its base clock speed is 3.9 GHz, which isn’t too low. The CPUZ single-core benchmark reaches up to 400+, meaning its single-core performance doesn’t lag behind the default frequency of the Ryzen equivalent. However, it has only two cores, each split into two threads, totaling four threads. Programs supporting Hyper-Threading might perform better, but its multicore performance lags behind any Ryzen counterpart. Integrated graphics remain a strength of the i3 7100 (though optional with a dedicated GPU). Currently, on platforms like JD and Suning, discounts bring this CPU down to around 750 units, sometimes even cheaper. I’d recommend Ryzen unless you’re not using a discrete graphics card.
Second, Motherboard: Gigabyte B250M-D3H
Could an i3 7100 work with an H110 motherboard? Absolutely! Without special requirements, I’d highly recommend H110 chipset motherboards. However, note that although most H110 motherboards sold on JD have production dates after 2017, if the factory hasn’t updated to the latest BIOS, it’s unlikely the i3 7100 will light up. This requires flashing the BIOS with a Skylake CPU, which can be tricky for average users. Selecting a B250 chipset motherboard eliminates this issue entirely.
This Gigabyte motherboard in the B250 range is reasonably priced. JD offers it for 589 units, also sending a Red Sea cooler. While less cost-effective than H110 options, it supports M.2 SSDs, making it superior in overall specifications. If you need extended functionalities, this is a good choice.
Third, Memory: GALAXY GAMER DDR4 2400MHz 8GB
As a DDR4 2400 8GB light bar, the price is around 400 units in the early stages. Regarding build quality, I can’t say much, but the surface craftsmanship is quite nice. In this era of rising memory prices, this price and figure seem fair. GAMER comes in eight colors, with only breathing lights that can’t be adjusted. This time, my friend picked something unusual, choosing orange instead of the common red.
Fourth, Graphics Card: Sapphire RX580 Platinum Limited Edition
The cause of everything boils down to this card. For miners, the value of this card is around 2800 units. For gamers, its value is less than 2000, but due to shortages, prices have surged to over 2500 units. This limited edition RX580 is excellent. On JD, prices for RX580 start above 2500, with the cheapest being Radium Wind at 2399.
I asked where the graphics card came from. My friend’s friend said it was from his brother paying off debt. It wasn’t exactly new or used… He compared prices online and thought it was a decent deal. Considering his personal situation, he decided to use it to play games on his computer. After all, notebooks don’t handle gaming well…
I had a bold idea—would transferring this graphics card for a Ryzen 5 1600 + 16G dual-channel + 1050Ti combo still save money? It would definitely be more balanced.
The question arises: Can the i3 7100 handle the RX580?
Graphics cards don’t have compatibility issues with CPUs, only suitability concerns. For example, some games require enough CPU power, like the G4560. Higher graphics card levels result in higher frame rates, but some games, like those requiring 7700K under specific effects, need a high-frequency CPU. Even giving i7 7700 with a 1080TI won’t suffice. Thus, we must consider the actual usage scenario. Overall, i3 7100 paired with GTX1050, GTX1050ti, RX560, or RX560D is more balanced and avoids bottleneck effects.
People’s things, I won’t meddle… He seemed quite happy.
Fifth, Hard Disk:
1. SSD: Lenovo SL700 Solid State Drive
Since last year, Lenovo has released several solid-state drives, offering affordable prices and a three-year warranty. SL700 is available in SATA and M.2 interfaces but lacks NVMe support. It uses Phison particles with TLC flash, offering read/write speeds of 540MB/s.
2. Mechanical Hard Disk: Western Digital Blue 1TB
There are four domestic brands of mechanical hard drives: Western Digital, Seagate, Toshiba, and HGST. Quality-wise, all brands are comparable.
Out of the box →
Sixth, Radiator: Red Sea mini silent version
Members, don’t get too excited… This radiator was given with the motherboard. It’s sufficient for cooling the i3 7100’s TDP of less than 65W. Anyway, I’ll show you the setup, by the way, it comes with an Intel-compatible low-end heatsink. As for the original Intel heatsink, he chose to keep it.
Seventh, Chassis and Power Supply: Cooler Master MWE BRONZE 500
My friend’s friend told me that the computer city only listed a 500W PSU for 350 units… The gaming cabinet cost 300 units, so he was a bit unsure. His friend entrusted me to recommend one, so I suggested this…
To be honest, I initially wanted to try another PSU, but people thought it was too expensive, unfamiliar with the brand, and inappropriate. I didn’t bother explaining, so I finally decided on the Cooler Master MWE BRONZE 500. This brand is reputable, and JD offers 2000 Jingdong beans as a discount… (I didn’t mention the favorable feedback about the 50E card starter to avoid unnecessaryçº ç¼ ).
This PSU has been discussed in my previous controversial article “Three Thousand Budget 3A Platform - Ryzen 3 1200 + RX550 Installation Record,†so I won’t go into too much detail here.
In short, two words: This is a reliable Cooler Master PSU, known for its full-day + Taiwan series capacitors, DCTODC architecture, 80plus bronze certification… More importantly, whether in terms of appearance, performance, or price, it stands out without competing with long-time market competitors like the MASTERWATT LITE 500W, which can rival the GX450 (GX450 being a higher-end model).
Out of the box →
Finally, the Chassis: Antec P8
This is a new Tektronix chassis. I also tried a prototype, so I recommended it to a friend’s friend. I think ANTEC particularly likes using white fans. Before, I used an ANTEC CUBE with white fans inside, and later an EDGE 650 PSU with white lights inside. This P8 comes with three fans. The fan blades and LEDs are white. Other manufacturers either have no lights or use common LED fans like red, blue, and green. The higher end ones have RGB, but white lights are rare.
After unpacking, I’ll first talk about the shortcomings of this chassis:
Firstly, the chassis is somewhat square and fully black, not ideal for unconventional players. The front panel design affects airflow. After installing a top exhaust fan, the top space becomes smaller, making maintenance less convenient. Only the first PCIe slot baffle is active; the rest is integral with the chassis and cannot be restored after opening.
Then, let’s talk about the advantages:
The overall build quality, material selection, and corner treatment are well-done. The side panel is not acrylic but directly selected smoked tempered glass. P8 has sufficient slots for 2.5†and 3.5†hard drives, supports up to seven fans simultaneously, and accommodates 360mm radiators. Design elements like 3.5†hard drive storage, cable management slots, etc., ensure system expansion while reserving adequate thermal performance. Additionally, the price of 299 units is reasonable.
About the chassis, I have a few more points to add:
This chassis still has a certain slot relative to this configuration, mainly because the MATX version doesn’t completely fill the motherboard area, creating a visually inconsistent appearance. However, its thermal performance should be better than a MATX chassis. These are just guesses, though—I haven’t confirmed them.
Another thing PS should note: Everyone thinks ANTEC is a Taiwanese company… In fact, it’s an American business.
Why choose 500W? From the configuration, RX580 is a major power user, with a full load exceeding 200W easily. The CPU TDP is 51W, so the total power consumption should reach 200W, easily loading over 300W. In this case, I recommend power supplies above 450W to easily handle the load and leave room for future upgrades. Using a good PSU under long-term low-load conditions won’t wear it out easily.
Choosing a chassis is saving money, getting a cheap chassis isn’t impossible, but why should you choose a good one? This depends on personal preferences. If you prefer minimalism, more shoeboxes are better, focusing on natural stress. A chassis protects hardware and decorates the desktop, and its design and material selection determine heat dissipation and resonance. Naturally, you get what you pay for.
Installation Process:
Before installation, there were many instructions, mostly for Ryzen platforms. Installing an Intel platform again shows everyone, as the main purpose of this installation isn’t here, I’ll keep it simple. For obvious steps, I’ll include pictures, assuming you can understand without barriers. I strongly encourage you to install it yourself.
Opening the lever ↓
Putting the CPU in the correct position
Pressing down the lever to fix the CPU
Thermal paste application
Installing the radiator
Connecting the CPU fan connector
Installing the power supply
Installing the hard drive
Installing the motherboard
Connecting the power cables
Reserving power for the graphics card
Finally, installing the graphics card and memory, and connecting the fans, control lines, and data cables.
Final touches
For better lighting effects, I added a light strip.
Everything is ready, turn it on.
Machine effect
Overall, this build looks great.
Due to the late loading time, the batteries went to bed. The friend had to leave early the next day. So I took the company to let him take the door and left. I didn’t have time to test it, but based on experience, the estimated scores are: CPU: 44000, graphics card: 175000, memory: 8500, hard disk: 10000, total score: 228,500.
If you focus on cost, it’s simple—buy the cheapest directly. CPU can be bought as scattered parts, all memory Guangwei, motherboard graphics Onda hard disk direct 1T Western Digital, power supply, and the main player, the chassis is dispensable, which can save a lot of money. But installation isn’t just about superficial value-for-money. Things like the motherboard BIOS, without personal experience, you won’t know what’s good. Just looking at the chipset price is insufficient.
So the fun of installation lies in buying the best at the best price. For this configuration, we generally feel the need to modify mainly the CPU and motherboard. The CPU can be replaced by Ryzen 3 1200 or Ryzen 5 1400, and the motherboard can be cheaply bought, such as the Colorful C.AB350M-HD V14A or MSI B350M MOTAR. Then, the choice of chassis and power supply, the chassis mainly depends on personal preference, from the king of fans, but the power must not be bad, brand and certification are the foundation, purely price-focused is undesirable.
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