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Assembling my first super cheap desktop! E5CPU+GTX960

300 yuan to assemble a desktop that can play 3A games

Table of contents

TL;DR / Geek Summary:

  • Ultra-low-budget build (approx. 710 RMB) leveraging decommissioned server hardware: E5-2666V3 on an X99 “magic” modified motherboard.
  • Memory exploitation: Utilizes 64GB of quad-channel ECC REG (RECC) DDR3 modules, providing massive throughput for pennies on the dollar.
  • Troubleshooting logs: Documenting the journey from M.2 NGFF identification errors to resolving BIOS-level POST failures and GPU driver instability.

# Computer assembly

Since the performance of my laptop is already the performance of ten years ago, that is, the first generation of I3 390M, upgrading the memory can alleviate the lag, but after all, it has been there for years.

# Computer configuration

The following is a table based on the information you provided:

Component nameSpecification/descriptionPrice (RMB)Remarks
Power supplyUnknown 500W (actually 400W is enough)30Actual power 400W is enough
CPUE5 2666V320
Memory stickDDR3 64GB (16GB x 4)4010 yuan per stick
SSDWestern Digital M.2 120GB20NGFF hard drive
MotherboardX99 magic modified board80
Graphics cardGTX960300A bit expensive
Monitor-100
Chassis-0Free
Keyboard and mouse-10
Total710Modeling, PUBG, Minecraft, Horizon 4 and other games

# Parts display

Actually some stock photos

# Memory stick

ECC REG is referred to as RECC memory stick, a memory stick used on servers, but E5 can be used directly, and there are many obsolete server memory sticks that are very cheap.

Four 64GB memory sticks

One 16GB memory stick

# CPU radiator

6 heat pipe tower radiator

Pretend to cool Nokia

Radiator specifications

Radiator base

# Power supply

500W Jinhetian power supply, at least better than Juebai.

Power supply nameplate

Nameplate

Close-up of the top of the power supply

# Optical drive

Ordinary optical drive, used to organize the contents of the optical discs at home

Optical drive

# Motherboard

Produced by a small workshop of a miscellaneous X99 brand

CPU protection board

CPU slot

Motherboard

# Chassis fan

I bought three

Chassis fan

# Family portrait

Full set

Full set

Full set

# Installation process

# Installing parts to the motherboard

I wanted to install a network card but found out it was M.2. . .

M.2 network card installation failed

Install hard disk

Strange M.2

Assemble parts to motherboard

Close-up of the lower left corner of the motherboard

Close-up of IO port

# Install the motherboard to the chassis

Install this inside the chassis

Install here

Close-up of memory stick

# Install the power supply

Stand up the chassis

Put the power cord inside

Find the 24Pin interface

Fix the power supply to the chassis

Put the chassis up to expose the power input port

# Weird operation but observe the chassis

Put it down again

Turn to the front

# Install the system

Enter Bios

Monitor whether the temperature is normal

Cannot recognize the system disk

Observe the inside of the chassis

Find the hard disk pin

Disassemble the graphics card and power supply and adjust the pins

# Convert an old computer power supply to a charger

Convert an old computer power supply to a charger

# Monitor

An old TV

It is a Toshiba TV with LED backlight

# Install the motherboard pins

A bunch of pins

# Install the PCIE wireless network card

Pick up the optical drive for research

Find a way to install the optical drive

Close-up of the rear IO

Front panel fan

# GTX960 Minecraft TrollHack frame rate test

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# Second-hand deteriorated gaming mouse

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# Minecraft has 200FPS when looking at the sky

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# I want to download 1.21.1 but I found that there is no network connection

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# Resurrected and entered the game again

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# The screen is distorted again after playing MC

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# Enter the BIOS to adjust the parameters

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# Repair system

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# test

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