This page is mostly for my own reference, so that I can check and compare specs easier. Cost is indicated at the time of purchase, and includes shipping. Dates indicate time of purchase; parts have been, and will continue to be, reused in other builds.
Main PC
My home computer is built for lower power consumption, low noise levels, and low price. I use it for moderate gaming (usually purchased from a Steam sale, which means that what I play is usually a few years old and doesn’t require expensive hardware), media and internet content consumption, and programming. I update it piecemeal as needed and able.
Class | Part | Cost | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total: | $1,372.20 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
| CPU | Intel Core i5-11400 | $206.00 | 2021-07-03 | |
| Cooler | Scythe Mugen 5 Rev.B | $48.99 | 2020-08-01 | |
| Thermal Paste | ARCTIC MX-4 (8 Grams) | $8.80 | 2020-06-21 | |
| GPU | PNY GeForce GTX 1060 6GB OC | $0.00 | 2019-07-11 | Secondhand mining card, damaged DVI port. |
| Power Adapter | GPU to 2x PWM Fan Adapter | $1.52 | ||
| GPU fan | Snowman 92mm PWM fan | $6.27 | 2021-11-26 | Zip-tied to GPU |
| GPU fan | Snowman 92mm PWM fan | $6.27 | 2021-11-26 | Zip-tied to GPU |
| Memory | 32GB (2x16) G.Skill Ripjaws DDR4 3600MHz CL16 | $156.95 | 2020-05-01 | F4-3600C16D-32GVKC |
| Storage | 512GB Intel 760P NVMe SSD | $139.99 | 2018-09-07 | SSDPEKKW512G8 |
| Motherboard | ASUS Prime B560M-A | $109.93 | 2021-06-25 | |
| Case | Cooler Master MCB-Q300L | $47.66 | 2020-03-30 | Modded, front fan holes cut out |
| Case Fan | ARCTIC F14 PWM PST | $6.00 | 2020-09-21 | |
| Case Fan | ARCTIC F14 PWM PST | $6.00 | 2020-09-21 | |
| Power Supply | Seasonic CORE GM-550 | $40.87 | 2021-08-25 | |
| Network | Intel AX200 WiFi/BT5 | $14.00 | 2020-03-06 | Used exclusively for Bluetooth headphones |
| Audio | Creative Sound Blaster Z | $49.99 | 2017-06-21 | |
| RGB | Coolmoon 40cm Magnetic RGB Strip | $4.94 | 2021-10-09 | |
| Operating System | Debian 12 | $0.00 | ||
| (Total for system, without peripherals) | ($854.17) | |||
| Monitor | LG 29WK500-P 29" Ultrawide | $173.79 | 2019-07-17 | |
| Mouse | Logitech G203 | $21.64 | 2023-11-10 | |
| Keyboard | Velocifire TKL01 | $29.99 | 2017-09-02 | |
| KVM | AIMOS HDMI USB-C KVM Switch | $22.61 | 2020-10-25 | |
| Mousepad | Rocketfish Universal Gaming Mouse Pad | $20.00 | 2012? | |
| Speakers | Altec Lansing ATP3 | $50.00 | 2001? | Price is just a guess. |
| Headphones | Philips Fidelio X2HR + Dekoni pads | $200.00 | 2017-10-10 | Dekoni pads were $50 of the total cost. |
| Headphones | EarStudio ES100 MK 2 | $64.90 | 2023-10-21 | Bluetooth receiver for Fidelio X2s |
| Headphones | Sennheiser HD1 headphones | $120.00 | 2020-02-16 | Bought secondhand from eBay. Price includes Brainwavz earpads. |
| Webcam | Taotuo "1080p" | $6.50 | 2021-02-15 | |
| Backup battery | CyberPower EC650LCD | $44.95 | 2015-11-27 |
Home Server
These are the specs for my home server. It serves as a NAS, router, cloud storage, VPN, it drives a widescreen and speakers for a makeshift home theater setup, and runs the occasional VM or background process. This is the first computer that gets hand-me-down parts from my main PC, whenever I upgrade it.
Class | Part | Cost | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total: | $990.60 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
| CPU | Intel Core i5-6500 | $187.69 | 2016-11-16 | |
| Cooler | Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus | $14.99 | 2017-06-13 | |
| CPU Fan | ARCTIC F12 PWM PST | $6.00 | 2020-04-21 | Replaced stock fan due to noise |
| Thermal Paste | Noctua NT-H1 | $0.00 | 2018-06-19 | Bundled with another cooler |
| Memory | 64GB (4x16GB) Kingston Value Ram DDR4-2133 | $38.16 | 2023-02-06 | Used, from eBay, multiple auctions. KVR21N15D8/16 |
| Storage | 512GB Samsung/Lenovo OEM NVMe | $14.84 | 2023-02-24 | MZVLB512HAJQ-000L7 S3TNNX0M459499 eBay |
| RaidZ2 | 4TB HGST Deskstar NAS 7200RPM | $40.00 | 2015-03-04 | HDN724040ALE640 PK1334PBGZ1YRS Bought secondhand from friend |
| RaidZ2 | 4TB HGST Deskstar NAS 7200RPM | $40.00 | 2015-03-04 | HDN724040ALE640 PK1334PBGZEW8S Bought secondhand from friend |
| RaidZ2 | 4TB HGST MegaScale 4000 5700RPM | $54.11 | 2020-12-29 | HMS5C4040BLE640 PL1331LAH1NS2H Refurb |
| RaidZ2 | 4TB HGST MegaScale 4000 5700RPM | $54.11 | 2020-12-29 | HMS5C4040BLE640 PL1331LAH1N7XH Refurb |
| RaidZ2 | 4TB HGST MegaScale 4000 5700RPM | $56.16 | 2021-01-22 | HMS5C4040BLE641 PL2331LAGPYP2J Refurb |
| RaidZ2 | 4TB HGST MegaScale 4000 5700RPM | $41.12 | 2023-01-25 | HMS5C4040BLE640 PL2331LAH0KSTJ Refurb |
| Motherboard | ASRock B150M Pro4V | $49.99 | 2016-11-16 | |
| Case | Fractal Design Define Mini | $100.00 | 2020-03-30 | No longer in production, found new on eBay, overpriced. Modded to increase airflow of front fans. |
| Case Fan | ARCTIC F14 PWM PST | $6.00 | 2020-09-21 | Top exhaust |
| Case Fan | ARCTIC F12 PWM PST | $6.00 | 2020-04-21 | Front intake |
| Case Fan | ARCTIC F12 PWM PST | $6.00 | 2020-04-21 | Front intake |
| Power Supply | Antec NeoECO 620C | $24.99 | 2012-04-30 | |
| PSU Fan | ARCTIC F12 120mm Fan | $4.57 | 2021-12-09 | Replaced stock fan due to noise |
| Addon | PCIe3.0 to 4xSATA6Gb Controller | $30.30 | 2021-03-13 | |
| Network | HP NC360T Dual Gigabit NIC | $20.00 | 2017-12-17 | |
| Operating System | Debian 12 | $0.00 | ||
| (Total for system, without peripherals) | ($795.04) | |||
| Monitor | Westinghouse WE55UDT108 55" TV | $150.00 | 2017-11-27 | Bought an open-box-discount TV with a Black Friday special |
| Keyboard/Mouse | Logitech K400R | $21.57 | 2017-01-15 | |
| Modem | Cisco DPC3010 | $13.99 | 2015-03-22 | eBay |
| Front Speakers | Realistic/Radio Shack Nova-8 (x2) | $10.00 | 2017-12-20 | Gift. Cost is for materials I used for refurbishing. Elbow grease not factored in. |
| Center Speaker | JBL Arc Center Speaker | $26.05 | 2021-04-26 | Goodwill Auction |
| Rear Speakers | Philips MCD703 (L/R speakers only) | $10.00 | Goodwill | |
| Amplifier | Denon AVR-790 | $39.00 | 2017-11-29 | Goodwill Auction |
| Backup battery | CyberPower 1000AVR | $20 | 2007? | Gift. Cost is the price of a replaced SLA battery. |
Mobile Computer
I prefer small screen laptops with high battery life for my on-the-go computing. Unfortunately, I can’t build laptops from components, so I have to make more price-to-requirement compromises than with my desktop and server.
Class | Part | Cost | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total: | $356.88 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
| Laptop | HP Elitebook Revolve 810 G2 | $269.50 | 2017-07-13 | Refurbished |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-4300U | Integrated | ||
| Memory | 4GB Micron DDR3-1600 | Integrated | Soldered onboard | |
| Memory | 8GB Micron DDR3-1600 | $20.00 | 2019-08-26 | Used, eBay |
| Storage | 512GB Lexar M.2 SATA III SSD | $48.35 | 2019-09-14 | eBay. Came with an external USB enclosure. |
| Network | Intel AX200 WiFi/BT5 | $13.25 | 2020-03-02 | |
| Operating System | Debian 12 | $0.00 | ||
| Screen | 11.6" 1366x768 | Integrated | ||
| (Total for system, without peripherals) | ($351.10) | |||
| Mouse | Dell N18W9 Bluetooth, USB rechargeable | $5.78 | 2015-11-27 | |
| Earbuds | Rosewill R-Studio E-860 | $0.00 | 2016-08-23 | Was free after mail-in-rebate |
| Earbuds | Sound Mates v2 | $0.00 | 2021-11-13 | Inherited |
Guest Room PC
This computer consists of the best parts that are left over from upgrades to my other systems.
Class | Part | Cost | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total: | $541.62 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
| CPU | Intel Xeon E3-1265L (Sandy Bridge) | $58.99 | 2018-01-09 | eBay |
| Cooler | Cooler Master Hyper T2 | $9.99 | 2017-06-13 | |
| GPU | MSI Radeon HD 7770 1GB | $94.99 | 2012-06-09 | |
| Memory | 16GB (2x8) Hynix Original DDR3 1600 | $45.00 | 2021-01-12 | |
| Storage | 256GB Silicon Power Ace A55 | $30.30 | 2021-01-01 | |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte GA-B75N | $49.70 | 2018-01-12 | eBay |
| Case | XION XON-310 | $19.98 | 2016-11-09 | |
| Power Supply | Corsair CX430 | $19.99 | 2012-08-15 | |
| PSU Fan | Rosewill RCA-1204BL | $2.50 | 2012-05-18 | Replaced stock fan due to noise |
| Addon | AzureWave AW-NE139H Wifi b/g/n | $0.00 | Don't remember where this came from | |
| Operating System | Debian 12 | $0.00 | ||
| (Total for system, without peripherals) | ($331.44) | |||
| Monitor | LG Flattron EW224T | $109.99 | 2012-08-21 | |
| Mouse | Acer OEM mouse | $0.00 | Bundled with another computer | |
| Keyboard | Acer OEM keyboard | $0.00 | Bundled with another computer | |
| Audio | ASUS Xonar U3 | $37.99 | 2014-10-27 | |
| Speakers | Logitech Z323 | $12.21 | 2020-09-01 | Goodwill |
| Headphones | Philips SHP9500 | $49.99 | 2015-06-28 |