Original Link: https://www.anandtech.com/show/9761/buildarig-round-2-silverstone-vs-crucial-the-800-pc-build-logs
Build-A-Rig Round 2, SilverStone vs Crucial: The $800 PC Build Logs
by Daniel Williams on November 4, 2015 2:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Crucial
- SilverStone
- Build-A-Rig
After starting our second Build-A-Rig project a couple of weeks ago the build logs are in and we can see what it is like to work hands on with the hardware selected by SilverStone's Tony Ou and Crucial's Jeremy Mortensen. Build-A-Rig allows us at AnandTech, with the help of Newegg, to create builds with the parts picked by industry members. Aside from a budget and target use case there are no other restrictions on what each company can do with their build.
With parts list in hand we interviewed both Tony and Jeremy, discussed their background and motives for choosing the components they did, and ran a detailed critique of all the components chosen. For our second Build-A-Rig match they were given the objective to build an $800 back to school build. SilverStone shot for a machine that slanted more toward gaming and high quality components while Crucial maintained a more balanced machine with a more potent processor and larger SSD.
Before we go any further let's dig into the build logs and see what it was like to work with the parts chosen.
Building SilverStone's Mighty Milo
SilverStone's Mighty Milo | |||
Component | Selection | Price as Chosen |
90-Day Average |
Processor (CPU) | Intel Pentium G3258 (2C/2T, 3.2 GHz) |
$69.99 | $69.99 |
Motherboard | ASRock H97M-ITX/ac | $95.99 | $93.20 |
Graphics Cards (GPU) | Zotac GeForce GTX 960 OC | $179.99 | $179.99 |
Memory (DRAM) | Crucial Ballistix Sport XT (2x4GB) DDR3-1600 C9 |
$39.99 | $43.95 |
Storage (SSD) | Crucial BX100 120GB | $69.99 | $67.75 |
Storage (HDD) | 1TB Western Digital Blue 2.5-in 5400 RPM 8MB Cache |
$60.99 | $60.99 |
Power Supply (PSU) | SilverStone ST45SF 450W Bronze SFF |
$69.99 | $71.33 |
Chassis | SilverStone Milo ML08B-H (with handle) |
$84.99 | $84.99 |
CPU Cooling | SilverStone Argon AR06 | $39.99 | $39.99 |
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64-bit OEM |
$99.99 | $99.99 |
Extras | None | ||
Total | $811.90 | $812.17 |
SilverStone manufactures a wide variety of different PC parts, and they definitely leveraged that here in their Mighty Milo build.
The SilverStone ML08 is a slim mini-ITX case designed to be convenient and portable. It sports two separate compartments that isolate the GPU from the rest of the computer to limit any thermal interference by the hottest components in the system. The case also has wide openings as it lacks any fans actively pulling air in. This opens up the possibility for this machine to be quieter at idle or low load with fewer fans running inside.
Unfortunately this case has very little tool-less functionality. I have to admit that maybe I've become spoiled in recent years but if feels different now using a screwdriver for everything. Though I can say that the look is improved by not having thumbscrews protruding from the back of the case.
Going into this build I planned on following the included instructions since this was my first time with a Silverstone case and everyone I’ve talked to has told me that SilverStone cases are easy to build in if the instructions are followed. In the end the instructions were helpful to tell me what order to do things but didn't go much more detailed than blow up diagrams of the assembly process. On the other hand without instructions I would have missed installing brackets on the PSU and GPU, which may not be necessary but will help hold the parts in place as it is shipped to the lucky winner.
The SilverStone SFX 450w PSU was a bit heavier than I expected as I removed it from the packaging. Another minor surprise was that the case is meant to install a PSU with just three screws instead of one at each corner; two screws on each of the left corners, a single screw on the middle of the right side, which the SilverStone PSU helpfully has a hole for. I of course noticed this in the instructions after seeing the screw holes at the corners not quite lining up together. At this point I could see that cable management will be a bit tight as this PSU has cables long enough for a larger standard case, with the CPU power being the only cable needing to reach more than a few inches when wrapping around the motherboard.
I assembled the motherboard outside of the case to verify everything was in working order before installing it. The Pentium G3258 and Crucial Ballistix Sport XT ram were installed with no issue. The SilverStone Argon AR06 cooler was a little different but not too troublesome. After getting the mounting brackets installed on the heatsink I put thermal grease on the CPU, not realizing it wasn't thermal paste which I am accustomed to, which caused me to put on more of a pea sized portion than the grain of rice sized amount I was aiming for. To mount the cooler I decided to place the cooler on the table fan down and set the motherboard on the cooler to install it. From there fastening the motherboard in a crisscross pattern went as expected, though as there were no back plate, tension screws, or other spacers on this cooler I had to proceed slowly since I didn't want to cause unnecessary flex in the motherboard. Later on temperatures were fine so I likely got a good mount on the first try, but those who have never installed an aftermarket cooler might need to try a few times to get a good mount.
With the motherboard assembled I installed it right next to the PSU. After the motherboard is in there is a PCI-e riser and extension that are used to route the PCI-e slot to the other compartment of the case for the GPU. After screwing the riser into place the Zotac GeForce NVIDIA GTX 960 was installed and the GPU bracket put in place to help keep the card stable in shipping. I felt the instructions for the bracket were a bit unclear and had to test fit a few screws to find one that would hold the bracket to the case properly. It all worked out and the GTX 960 should hopefully not be going anywhere.
The last steps were to install the Wi-Fi adapter and the storage drives. Here I realized that the Wi-Fi adapter would have been easier to install with the motherboard outside of the case due to the metal bracket that helps to hold the card straight. Luckily I have a good eye for squaring things out and had no trouble screwing the bracket to the card outside of the case and having the other hole line up perfectly after sliding the adapter in. Bonus points go to ASRock here as well, for including a drop of threadlocker on each screw for the Wi-Fi adapter. I'm not sure if it would be needed but extra security is always a good thing. I found running the antennas a little fiddly, those antenna connectors are tiny. After the antennas were connected to the card the other ends were put through the IO shield. I did need to grab a wrench and socket driver here to tighten the antenna connectors into place. For those unaware as I was it is a 5/16" (8mm) socket that I needed to tighten it down.
When installing storage I noticed a minor disappointment. While looking at all of these parts it became obvious to me that Tony made an effort to match a color theme in this build with a blue CPU fan, blue ram, and two blue storage drives. Unfortunately unless I'm missing something the drive sleds want the drives to be installed label down, as Installing the drives label up with the connectors closer to the motherboard will leave part of the ports covered. That being said I eventually got the 120GB Crucial BX100 and 1TB Western digital blue 2.5" drives installed, and when everything is oriented properly installing the drives is a very easy process.
Now that all of the hardware was in place I just had to run cables. I had a few things working against me here, most of them being cables that were much longer than needed. The CPU power cable was pretty much perfect, but the 24 pin hardly even needed to go six inches, and the SATA cables that came with the motherboard were 18 inches long. For context this case is about 14 inches deep.
For the SATA cables I doubled them up and cable tied them to keep them contained. For the PSU cables and front panel connectors my options were to either stuff them next to the PSU and motherboard or snake them through a couple of holes into the other compartment next to the GPU in an effort to use more of their length and hide them out of the way. That latter option would have been much neater but also would have limited future options of either upgrading to a bigger GPU or placing another HDD behind there. So I decided to take function over form and leave those options open for the future. I did have to use a cable tie in the bundle of wires to hold them down. At first I threw one of my own cable ties in, before realizing there were some six inch ties included in this build that would have worked fine.
Now the Mighty Milo is all together and ready to rock. The build process felt a bit tedious but at the end we have a reasonably compact and portable system that could fit into many different environments. It also should be noted if the less tinker friendly nature of this case wasn't obvious that taking the case panels off requires the removal of the handle. With that finished lets go see how Crucial's Ballistix Bantam is getting along.
Building Crucial's Ballistix Bantam
Crucial's Ballistix Bantam | |||
Component | Selection | Price as Chosen |
90-Day Average |
Processor (CPU) | Intel Core i3-4170 (2C/4T, 3.7 GHz) | $124.99 | $124.82 |
Motherboard | GIGABYTE GA-B85N Phoenix-WiFi | $84.99 | $84.99 |
Graphics Cards (GPU) | EVGA GeForce GTX 950 | $159.99 | $159.99 |
Memory (DRAM) | Crucial Ballistix Tactical Tracer 2x4GB DDR3-1600 C8 |
$47.99 | $48.92 |
Storage (SSD) | Crucial MX200 mSATA 250GB | $94.99 | $94.99 |
Storage (HDD) | Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM | $50.99 | $49.81 |
Power Supply (PSU) | Thermaltake TR2 600W | $54.99 | $55.05 |
Chassis | Thermaltake Core V1 Extreme Cube | $49.99 | $49.99 |
CPU Cooling | None | - | - |
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 8.1 64-bit OEM | $99.99 | $99.99 |
Extras | LG USB 2.0 Portable DVDRW | $24.99 | $24.99 |
Total | $793.90 | $793.54 |
Starting things off with the case, the ThermalTake Core V1 feels solid enough both assembled and with all the panels removed, I never felt like I was going to have a panel bend on me or that I had to be concerned about where I lifted the frame.
For the Thermaltake TR2 600W PSU install I laid the case on its face, pulled the cables through the bottom and then the side, and held the PSU in its final resting place while I screwed it in. I actually found this to be one of the easiest PSU installs I had ever done, lots of room and all the screw holes in the case left ample room to line up the mounting screws without struggle.
Installing the i3-4170 CPU and stock cooler were standard fare, though it is worth noting that the CPU fan header was well placed so that the HSF fan cable had a perfectly reasonable amount of slack. Looks to me like they did it on purpose, small props to Gigabyte there. On to the ram slots they only have a latch at one end but still lock on the other end. Meaning that while I would install RAM pressing the stick straight in as usual, when uninstalling the ram I have to pull from the latch end to get the stick out. Less work I guess but different than what I’m used to.
The motherboard just drops right in from the top and is screwed into standoffs that are formed into the sheet-metal. One small issue placing the motherboard into place was the rear I/O panel, there was a metal flap covering the gold plated USB 2.0 port hole that needed to be pushed out of the way as I moved the motherboard into place.
Front panel audio is routed away from the motherboard in an attempt to avoid EMI from motherboard getting into the front panel audio. The EVGA GeForce GTX 950 was easy to install in an open case like this. Just drop it in and screw it down, snapping the plastic screw cover back on after tightening down the card. Since the included Wi-Fi adapter was already installed I didn't need to do anything there and the Crucial MX200 mSATA SSD 250GB install was simple, just slip the drive into the mSATA slot and fasten one screw down.
Special care was taken behind HDD tray that made for much neater though not perfect cable runs. I first separated the 8-pin CPU power into just a 4-pin to limit clutter. I then ran all of the cables behind the tray, attempting to leave just enough to arc down to the slot, especially since the sleeving for the front panel fan both doesn't terminate in the connector and also kinks easily, so some arch was necessary to maintain a neat look. After the cabling was situated I fastened them all together with a four inch cable tie just out of sight behind the motherboard tray.
On the topic of cable management the wires coming out of the Thermaltake TR2 600W were a bit of a mess. What I saw when sorting out the various connectors was that a few of the connectors would have wires randomly threaded through a wire bunch from another connector. Causing the cabling to appear as a tangled mess at the base of the wires regardless of what I did. In the end I had to relegate the mess caused by this to the nest of wires left under the motherboard tray. Out of sight out of mind, I suppose?
After the cable management was settled in that corner of the case by the drive cages I was ready to install the Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM drive. I didn't find the HDD sleds here to be a great experience. It looks like they are supposed to wedge in between the motherboard tray and the bottom corner of the case, but being sheet metal I am left afraid of bending the trays as I remove or install them. Once out it took a little extra time for me to realize that I needed to slip the rubber mounts in first, then line the drive up and screw it in place. The instruction didn't clarify to this level of detail either. When I had the HDD tray situated and the cable management settled in I slipped the tray back in and fastened it with the single thumb screw. Space was quite tight here between the HDD and the CPU cooler, so anyone who with particularly large hands may need to use a screwdriver here to tighten the screw down.
All un-used cables and any extra slack were tucked and cable tied underneath the motherboard tray. one of the two bunches I tied was too big for the included four inch cable ties so I just chucked on one of my own twelve inch ties and called it good. What we are left with is actually something that I wouldn't be embarrassed to show through the top window of the case. And the lighting given off by both the ram and motherboard will both make the hardware in here easier to view.
Now that the builds are done they are both ready to duke it out and see who reigns supreme as a back to school machine.
Sizing Up The Competition: The Weigh-In
SilverStone's Mighty Milo
At the end of the day I feel I prefer the looks of SilverStone’s Mighty Milo build. I appreciate a more conservative down to business look with my hardware. Ultimately though beauty is more than skin deep. Inside this machine has a few tricks that will help it hit against the opponent.
Mighty Milo & SilverStone's Tony Ou
Much of the hardware will be covered in the final fight when we benchmark each machine, but even just superficially we can see that this machine has the potential to keep quieter with an absence of case fans being installed on the machine coupled with large openings to aid passive airflow. The aftermarket CPU cooler should also perform better than the stock Intel cooler, allowing either higher overclocks or lower noise at the same temperatures. All of this in a low profile case that with the included handle installed can be easily moved from home to school and easily placed in many locations, though care may need to be taken to allow room for the case to breath with the absence of case fans.
While building in the ML08 I got to experience my first SilverStone case. The common thread I always see in SilverStone case reviews was that SilverStone cases take a little bit of extra work but leave you with good results. After the involved process was completed we are left with what I think is a good example of a compact and elegant machine, with room for much more potent hardware in the future should anyone want to upgrade it further.
Crucial's Ballistix Bantam
Ballistix Bantam & Crucial's Jeremy Mortenson
For Crucial's Ballistix Bantam build I honestly didn't look forward to building in a Thermaltake case in the same way I did the ML08 from SilverStone’s build. Though when I got down into building inside this case it felt more relaxed than I expected. The build process was a lot more straightforward and having little things like places that are out of sight made cable management much easier. When all the panels are off I was essentially building a computer in a cube frame and had very few instances where space was an issue despite this being a mini-ITX build.
I did have to work a bit but while I feel this case isn't as good looking on the outside I also think that I managed to put together a machine that looks much better on the inside. Along with the better cable management the addition of thumbscrews on the case panels means I expect this case to be much friendlier to tinkering in the future with the extra space and means to keep cabling out of the way helping ease any work that happens inside this computer. Alongside the build experience we have a beefier CPU and larger SSD that may lead to a more balanced experience, and an external DVD drive will allow optical media to both be used with this machine and any other computers the end user spends time with.
Performance results for both of these builds are coming in as we speak, so be sure to keep an eye out in the coming days for the final battle between SilverStone’s Mighty Milo and Crucial's Ballistix Bantam.
How To Enter
For Build-A-Rig, we are posting the survey link on each piece so users can enter at any time. The final entry date is November 13th, as round 2 of the Build-A-Rig challenge is quickly coming to a close.
For the purposes of the giveaways, we should state that standard AnandTech rules apply. The full set of rules will be given in the survey link, but the overriding implementation is that the giveaways are limited to United States of America (US50), excluding Rhode Island, and winners must be 18 years or older.
With apologies to our many loyal readers outside the US, restricting the giveaways to the US is due to the fact that AnandTech (and more specifically our publisher, Purch) is a US registered company and competition law outside the US is very specific for each nation, with some requiring fees or legal implementations to be valid with various consequences if rules aren’t followed. It’s kind of difficult for the rules of 190+ countries/nations worldwide to all be followed, especially if certain ones demand fees for even offering a contest or tax on prizes. We recognize that other online magazines and companies do offer unrestricted worldwide competitions, but there are specific rules everyone should be following in order to stay on the side of the law. That’s the reality of it, and unfortunately we cannot change on this front, even with the help of Purch.
The survey link is: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/2382250/AnandTech-Newegg-Build-A-Rig-Challenge-Round-2-Sweepstakes