PC Build History

A panicky first boot, every time.

Here is a history of the computers that I have built over the years.

  • Pentium (2023)
  • Tetrarch (2017)
  • Executor (2013)
  • The Cannon (2010)
  • Trogdor (2007)

Pentium

January 2023
Build blog post: Building Pentium

Current PC.

First computer with no HDD, first Mini-ITX build, first CPU with P/E core mix, first with DDR5 RAM, first with 2.5Gb ethernet, first case with an open front since The Cannon.

The parts
The finished build in place

Specs:

  • Fractal Design Torrent Nano Black RGB case
  • Corsair RM750X 750W power supply
  • Asus ROG Strix B660-I motherboard
  • Intel Core i5 13600KF CPU (6 performance cores (hyperthreaded), 8 efficiency cores) ('Raptor Lake' microarchitecture)
  • Be Quiet! Dark Rock 4 CPU Cooler
  • 32GB (2x16GB) 5600MHz Corsair Vengeance DDR5 RAM
  • Asus GeForce RTX 3060 Ti KO 8GB graphics card
  • Samsung 1TB 980 PRO M.2 NVMe SSD
  • Crucial 2TB BX500 SATA 2.5in SSD

Tetrarch

March 2017
Build blog Post: Building Tetrarch

Current PC.

First computer built with an M.2 NVME SSD, first computer without an optical disc drive, first i5 CPU, first with a USB Type-C port, first with DDR4 RAM, first with RGB LEDs.

Ready to start…

Specs:

  • Fractal Design Define C case with window
  • Be Quiet! Straight Power 10 600W modular power supply
  • Gigabyte GA-Z270X Gaming K5 motherboard
  • Intel Core i5 7600K CPU ('Kaby Lake' microarchitecture)
  • Be Quiet! Dark Rock 3 CPU Cooler
  • 16GB (2x8GB) 3000MHz Corsair Vengeance Blue LED DDR4 RAM
  •  XFX AMD Radeon RX480 GTR 8GB graphics card (carried over from last computer)
  • Intel 600P 1TB M.2 PCIe NVME SSD
  • Western Digital Black WD4004FZWX 4TB Seagate 3TB Barracuda HDD
  • 3x Be Quiet! Silent Wings 3 120mm PWM Fans

Executor

October 2013
Build blog Post: Building the Executor

First computer built with an SSD, first computer with USB3, first with 'native' Intel SATA3, first non-Antec case. The last computer that I built with an in-built optical drive.

Ready to start…
Turns out it was a faulty BIOS version

Specs:

  • Fractal Design Define R4 case (with window and another fan added to the front intake)
  • Antec 620W High Current Gamer modular power supply
  • Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H motherboard
  • Intel Core i7 4770K CPU ('Haswell' microarchitecture)
  • Zalman CNPS11X Extreme CPU cooler
  • 16GB (2x8GB) 1866MHz Corsair Vengeance Pro DDR3 RAM
  • Sapphire Vapor-X AMD HD7950 3GB graphics card (carried over from the last computer)
  • Intel 240GB 530 Series solid state drive, WD 3TB Black hard drive
  • Pioneer Blu-Ray writer

Upgrades:

The Cannon

January 2010
Build blog post: Building The Cannon

My first proper 'gaming' build. First computer with an Intel 'i' processor, first computer with DDR3 RAM, first graphics card with dedicated power rails.

Specs:

  • Antec Nine Hundred Two case
  • Antec True Power New 650W power supply
  • Gigabyte EX58A-UD7 motherboard
  • Intel i7 950 processor ('Nehalem' microarchitecture)
  • Zalman CNPS9900LED CPU cooler
  • 12GB G.Skill DDR3-12800 RAM
  • Gigabyte ATI HD5870 1GB graphics card
  • WD 1TB Black, and 1TB Green hard drives
  • Pioneer Blu-ray combo drive

Upgrades:

Trogdor

May 2007
Build blog post: My (Affordable) Dream Computer & Frustrations

My first ever build. First with a proper 'gaming'-grade graphics card, first multi-core CPU.

Specs:

  • Antec Solo Case
  • Antec 500w NeoHe Power Supply
  • Gigabyte 965P-DS3P motherboard
  • Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 processor ('Core' microarchitecture)
  • Asus Silent Square CPU cooler
  • 2GB Kingston DDR2-667 RAM
  • 640MB Leadtek 8800GTS Graphics Card
  • Western Digital 320GB SATA2 Hard Drive
  • Pioneer SATA DVD Drive