Johnathan Hardy

Building My Computer

GS1110

When I was handed the task of building my own computer I decided to base my computer
around recreational activities. The main focus for my computer is music and social activity. I
love music and I have always used most of my space up on my devices whether it be, desktop,
laptop, or tablet on music. The goal for building my computer is to have a device that fits my
recreational needs. I can literally have a real music library. Ive always wanted my computer to
be like an index for music. With this project at hand I had free reign to actually build a computer
for this particular purpose. I have tons and tons of music and the computer that I am building is
essential to my needs. I would actually want to have a computer for other purposes and one just
for music and social needs if I could afford two computers at once. Music really means
something to me. I feel like music is one of the best things on the earth that you can have and not
have to pay to hear it. Music is everywhere and anyone can make music. If I am feeling happy,
upset, sad, or just contempt there are songs that will be able to complement my feelings through
the use of music. I am a dedicated music blogger and I actually need a computer that will be
based on my social, audio, and media needs. As far as my social needs, I am big on Facebook,
Twitter, Flipbook, Instagram and the list goes on. I feel that I need a computer to use for these
recreational things as well as another computer for work purposes because on all of my devices
the recreational takes up more space than it should. Building a computer just based around those
recreational activities would be ideal for me. I can have more space on all of my devices and
have one computer where all of my multimedia social activity can be in one place.
Specs:
Type of performance: I decided to go with a middle of the road performance machine. My
computer will be based around media and social activity so I will not need a high performance
machine. I will need the machine to perform certain activities like Facebook, email Skype, and
stream videos and movies. The main activity on my computer will be music related. I want my
computer to be able to hold tons of music so I figured with performance I am somewhere in
between.
Motherboard: LGA775 Intel Core 2 Quad/Core 2 Duo ATX with VGA, 4 COM, and Dual
LAN for $296.00
Features Include:
Form Factor
ATX
Processor
CPU Intel Core 2 Quad / Intel Core 2 Duo / Intel
Pentium Dual-Core / Intel Celeron
Frequency
Q9400 2.66 GHz / E8400 3.0 GHz / E6500 2.6 GHz
/ 440 2.0 GHz
L2 Cache
6 MB / 6 MB / 2 MB / 512 KB
BIOS
AMI 32 Mbit, SPI
Chipset
Intel Q35 + ICH9R
Memory Technology Dual channel DDR2 667/800 MHz
Max. Capacity 8 GB
Socket 4 x 240-pin DIMM
Display
Controller Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100
Graphic Memory
Intel DVMT 4.0 supports up to 284 MB Video
Memory

Johnathan Hardy

Building My Computer

GS1110

VGA
1
Expansion
PCI Express x 16
1
PCI Express x
1
1
PCI
5
Ethernet
Controller
GbE LAN1: Realtek
RTL8111C, GbE LAN2: Realtek RTL8111C
Speed
10/ 100/ 1000 Mbps
Connector
RJ45 x 2
Audio
HD Audio
CODEC
Realtek ALC888, High Definition Audio (HD)
Connector
3 (HD, Mic-in, Line-in, Line-out)
Watchdog Timer
WatchDog Timer
Yes
Storage
SATA 6 x SATA II (Max. Data Transfer Rate 300
MB/s)
RAID
0, 1, 5, 10
IDE
1
I/O
USB2.0
12
GPIO 16
LPT 1
COM Port
(2 x RS232,1 x RS232/ 422/ 485)
Keypad
1
TPM
Yes
Reset Button
1
Power Power Type ATX
Connector
24-pin+4-pin
Environment Operational Temperature
0 ~ 50 C (32 ~ 122
F)
Non-Operational Temperature
-20~ 70 C(-4 ~ 158
F)
Physical
Dimension (mm)
305 x 244 mm
Operating System
Microsoft Windows
Yes
Linux
Yes
Certification
EMC CE, FCC
CPU: Intel Core i7-2700K for $342.00 at intel.com
Features Include:
Status
End of Life
Launch Date
Q4'11
Expected Discontinuance
Q1'2013
Processor Number
i7-2700K
# of Cores
4
# of Threads
8
Clock Speed
3.5 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency
3.9 GHz

Johnathan Hardy

Building My Computer

Intel Smart Cache

8 MB
DMI
5 GT/s
Instruction Set
64-bit
Instruction Set Extensions
SSE4.1/4.2, AVX
Embedded Options
No
Lithography
32 nm
Max TDP
95 W
Customer Price
$342.00
Memory Specifications
Max Memory Size
32 GB
Memory Types
DDR3-1066/1333
# of Memory Channels
2
Max Memory Bandwidth
21 GB/s
ECC Memory Supported
No
Graphics Specifications
Processor Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 3000
Graphics Base Frequency
850 MHz
Max Dynamic Frequency
1.35 GHz
Intel Quick Sync Video
Yes
Intel InTru 3D Tech
Yes
Intel Insider
Yes
Intel Wireless Display
No
Intel Flexible Display Interface (Intel FDI)
Yes
Intel Clear Video HD Technology Yes
# of Displays Supported
2
PCI Express Revision
2.0
Max # of PCI Express Lanes 16
Max CPU Configuration
1
TCASE
72.6C
Package Size
37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets Supported
LGA1155
Low Halogen Options
See MDDS
Intel Turbo Boost Tech
2.0
Intel vPro Tech
No
Intel Hyper-Threading
Yes
Intel Virtualization Tech
Yes
Intel Virtualization Tech for Directed I/O No
Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables
Yes
Intel 64
Yes
Idle States
Yes
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology
Yes
Thermal Monitoring Technologies
Yes
Intel Fast Memory Access
Yes

GS1110

Johnathan Hardy

Building My Computer

GS1110

Intel Flex Memory Access

Yes
Intel Identity Protection Technology
Yes
Intel Data Protection Technology
AES New Instructions
Yes
Intel Platform Protection Technology
Trusted Execution Tech
No
Execute Disable Bit
Yes
RAM: Kingston Technology - 8GB DDR3 SDRAM Memory Module for $79.99 at
Amazon.com
Features Include:
Warranty Terms - Parts
Lifetime
Warranty Terms - Labor
Lifetime
Memory Size
8GB
Type of Memory
DDR3
Mac Compatible
Yes
Speed
1066MHz
.
Pin Configuration
204-pin SoDIMM
Casing: Cooler Master Force 500 for $42.77 at amazon.com
Features Include:
Model FOR-500-KKN1
Available Color
Black
Materials
Steel body, plastic
Dimension
190 x 426 x 491.5mm / 7.5 x 16.8 x 19.4
inch (W x H x D)
Net Weight
5.23 kg / 11.51 lbs
M/B Type
Micro-ATX, ATX
5.25" Drive Bays
2 (exposed)
3.5" Drive Bays
8 (1 exposed, 7 hidden)
2.5" Drive Bays
1 (hidden)
I/O Panel
USB 3.0 x 1 (int.), USB 2.0 x 2,
Mic x1, Audio x 1 (supports AC97 / HD Audio)
Expansion Slots
7
Cooling System
Front:
140mm fan x 1 (optional)or 120mm fan x 2
(optional)
Rear:
120mm black fan x 1 (pre-installed)
Side (left):
120mm or 140mm fan x 1 (optional)
Side (right):
120mm fan x 2 (optional)
Power Supply Type
Standard ATX PS2 / EPS 12V (optional)
Maximum Compatibility
VGA card length: 320mm / 12.6 inch (with
HDD cage)
CPU cooler height:
163.9mm / 6.5 inch
Power Supply: Dynex 520W for $59.99 at bestbuy.com
Features Include:

Johnathan Hardy

Building My Computer

GS1110

Warranty Terms - Parts

1 year limited
Warranty Terms - Labor
1 year limited
Height
3.4 inches
Width
5.9 inches
Depth
6.3 inches
Weight
4 pounds
Power Supply
520W
520-watt (maximum) power supply
To power your computer.
Supports Intel and AMD dual-core and multicore CPUs
For wide-ranging use.
ATX 12V v2.31 compliance
Meets industry standards.
140mm low-noise cooling fan
To stay working at a safe temperature level.
Dual +12V outputs
Work seamlessly with your computer.
4+4-pin +12V CPU connector
For use with a high-end CPU.
6+2-pin PCI Express connector
Allows use with a high-end GPU.
Built-in protection circuit (OVP, OLP, SCP)
Along with line input fuse protection to help keep your computer
protected.
Intel, Pentium, Celeron, Centrino, Core, Viiv, Intel Inside and the Intel
Inside logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or
its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.
AMD, AMD Arrow logo, AMD Athlon, QuantiSpeed, AMD PowerNow!
and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Hard Drive: Seagate-Barracuda 3TB Internal Serial ATA Hard Drive for $144.99 at
amazon.com
Features Include:
Warranty Terms - Parts
5 years
Warranty Terms - Labor
5 years
Assembly Required
false
Internal or External
Internal
Drive Capacity
3TB
Drive Connectivity
Serial ATA
Rotation Speed
7200 rpm
Data Transfer Rate to/from Interface Up to 6 Gbps
Cache Buffer Size
64MB
Software Included
Yes

Johnathan Hardy

Building My Computer

GS1110

System Requirements PC: Windows XP (SP3), Vista or 7; 1GB for 32-bit

systems, 2GB for 64-bit systems; Mac: OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard or
higher; Linux; 6 Gbps SATA interface connector, motherboard, or add in
card
Bare Drives
Yes
Laptop or Desktop
Desktop
Optical Drive: Pioneer Electronics USA 15x SATA Internal BD/DVD/CD Burner with 4
MB Buffer BDR-208DBK for $79.99 at pioneerelectronics.com
Features Include:
Up to 15x writing speed on BD-R media
Write up to 50Gbytes on one BD-R DL disc
QuickPlay - Movies are ready faster
Backwards compatible with DVD and CD media
Faster burner
Quieter drive
Watch 3D movies
Top quality writing
Increased life expectancy
Wide blank media support
Video (Graphics Card): NVIDIA - GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0
graphics car for $299.99 at bestbuy.com
Features Include:
Warranty Terms - Parts
3 years
Warranty Terms - Labor
3 years
Type of Video Card Graphics
Video Memory
2GB Manages display functions, including
screen refresh rates, resolution and color. The more video memory a
computer has, the better graphics and video will look.
Interface Slot Type
PCI Express Refers to the type of slot on a
motherboard that an upgrade card is compatible with. Common types of
slots include PCI, PCI Express and AGP.
Number of Processors
1
Supports MPEG-1, 2
Yes
TV-Out
No
Stereo Sound
Yes
DVD Decoding
Yes
S-Video Output
No
Video Format
MPEG-1, MPEG-2, DVD, HDTV
Software Included
NVIDIA drivers
System Requirements
Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8; 300MB
available hard drive space; 2GB RAM; PCI Express-compliant
motherboard with 1 dual-width x16 graphics slot; two 6-pin PCI Express
supplementary power connectors; 500W or greater, 12V, 30-amp system
power supply

Johnathan Hardy

Building My Computer
Additional Requirements

GS1110

DVD-ROM drive or Internet connection

Graphics Chip
NVIDIA
Monitor: Apple - Thunderbolt 27" Widescreen LED Monitor for $199.99 at
bestbuy.com
Features Include:
Warranty Terms - Parts
1 year limited
Warranty Terms - Labor
1 year limited
Height
14.6" with stand
Width
20.6"
Weight
11.7 lbs. with stand
Monitor Type
LED
Screen Size
21.5"
Maximum Resolution
1920 x 1080
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Response Time
12 ms
Brightness
250 cd/m
Contrast Ratio
8,000,000:1 (dynamic); 3000:1 (typical)
TV Tuner
No
Enables reception of TV programs.
Compatibility
PC
Antiglare Coating
No
Reduces screen glare from windows
and lights.
Speakers Included
No
VGA Input
Yes
DVI-D Input
Yes
DVI-D with HDCP Input
No
HDMI Input
Yes
Tilt
Yes
Touchscreen
Yes
ENERGY STAR Certified Yes
Screen Refresh Rate
60Hz .
Product Depth (with stand) 8.1" with stand
Keyboard: Logitech - Solar Wireless Keyboard for $59.99 at bestbuy.com
Features Include:
Warranty Terms - Parts
3 years
Warranty Terms - Labor
3 years
Height 1 inches
Width 17.50 inches
Depth 7.50 inches
Weight 6.40oz
Keyboard Design
Wireless USB
Keys (Number of)
107
Multimedia Keys
Yes

Johnathan Hardy

Building My Computer

GS1110

Internet Keys
No
Cordless/Wireless
Yes
Palm Rest
No
Batteries Needed
No
USB Ports on Keyboard
0
Port Connection
USB
Compatibility PC
Mac Compatible
No
Mouse Included
No
System Requirements
Windows XP, Vista or 7; light source from
sunlight and/or indoor lighting
Mouse: Microsoft - Sculpt Mobile Wireless Mouse Black for 29.99 at bestbuy.com
Features Include:
Warranty Terms - Parts
3 year limited
Warranty Terms - Labor
3 year limited
Height 3.8 inches
Width 2.2 inches
Depth 1.6 inches
Scrolling Wheel
Yes
Zooming Capabilities
Yes
Mac Compatible
Yes
Left/Right-Handed Design Ambidextrous
Cordless/Wireless
Yes
Batteries Needed
Yes
Battery Type AA
Battery Quantity
2
Battery Included
Yes
Battery Indicator
Yes
Programmable Buttons
No
Number of Buttons
3 + scroll wheel button
Type of Pointing Device
BlueTrack mouse
Connection Type
Wireless USB
Port Connection
USB 2.0
Included Software
IntelliPoint v7.1
System Requirements
PC: Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows
RT; Mac; available USB 2.0 port
Color Category
Black
Speakers: Cerwin Vega - 2.0 Powered Desktop Speaker (2-Piece) for $119.99 at
bestbuy.com
Features Include:
Warranty Terms - Parts
3 years limited
Warranty Terms - Labor
3 years limited
Height
7.9" (each)

Johnathan Hardy

Building My Computer

GS1110

Width
5.5" (each)
Depth
6.5" (each)
Weight
6.5 lbs. (each)
Speaker Configuration
2 satellite speakers
Flat-Panel Design
No
Number of Channels
2.0
Speaker Power
15W each
Total System Power
30W
Speaker Controls
Power, volume, bass
Location of Controls
On speaker
Frequency Response
102Hz - 24.3kHz
Standard Auxiliary Input
Yes
Headphone Output
Yes
System Requirements
110V - 120V
Video Cam: Logitech - C920 Pro Webcam for $79.99 at bestbuy.com
Features Include:
Warranty Terms Parts
2 years limited
Warranty Terms - Labor

2 years limited

Height
Width
Depth
Weight
Assembly Required
Port Connection

8.9 inches
2.8 inches
7.5 inches
2.2 pounds
false
USB 1.1 or 2.0

Maximum Still-Image Resolution

Built-In Microphone
Camera Design
Maximum Video Image Resolution

Up to 5.0MP
Yes
Universal
Up to 1280 x 720

System Requirements
1.0GHz processor;
512MB RAM; 200MB hard drive space; Internet connection; USB port
High Definition
Yes
Networking: Belkin - 25' Cat-6 Snagless Patch Networking Cable for $13.99 at
bestbuy.com
Features Include:
Warranty Terms - Labor
Lifetime
Compatibility
Most PCs
Gold-Plated
Yes
Length of Cord
25'
Type of Cable
Networking

Johnathan Hardy

Building My Computer

GS1110

Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate for $187.98 at bestbuy.com

Features Include:
PC Processor Speed
1GHz
PC System Memory
2GB RAM
PC Hard Drive Space
20GB
PC Video
DirectX 9compatible video card with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
PC Additional Requirements
Internet access
required for online features, Windows XP mode requires an additional
1GB of RAM and an additional 15GB of hard disk space, some games and
programs may require a DirectX 10-compatible or higher video card
PC Optional Requirements
Homegroup requires
a network of PCs running Windows 7, BitLocker requires Trusted
Platform Module (TPM) 1.2, BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive,
a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required for some Windows
Media Center functionality
Antivirus Software: McAfee Anti-Virus Plus 2014 for 44.88 at bestbuy.com
Features Include:
PC Processor Speed
1GHz
PC Operating System
Windows XP Service
Pack 3 (32-bit), Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows
7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit)
PC Hard Drive Space
500MB
PC Additional Requirements
Internet connection
required to access online features, 2GB RAM for Windows Vista, 7 and 8
Application Software:
Skype
Itunes
Google Play
Picasa Photo Editor
Ares Galaxy
Netflix
Google Chrome
Total Price: $1806.09 with just all the parts and $2039.76 with the price of the operating
system and anti-virus software including