Overview / Usage

I heard about this competition from Youtuber Austin Evans through his Instagram account, and I knew I had to enter. I've built a lot of pc's for friends and family and I've been wanting to do a new build for myself for a while, but being a broke college student, I haven't had room in my budget. I'm a big fan of JayzTwoCents on Youtube, and ever since I started watching his videos I've wanted to do a build with a full custom water loop. If I win the competition. I think it would be really cool to create a video from the point of view of someone who has never done a custom loop before, and talk about struggles that I ran into or misconceptions I may have had.

I've created a pcpartpicker list as a guide for the parts that I want to get

Methodology / Approach

I built my first pc my junior year of high school and I've been hooked ever since. The countless videos I've watched from LinusTechTips, JayzTwoCents, BitWit, and various other Youtubers have provided me with the confidence to put together a solid system at any price point, and I've used that knowledge to build 9 or 10 pc's for friends and family members. My process typically starts with a PcPartPicker list that goes through many iterations over the course of weeks, and sometimes even months. I usually start designing builds I want to do before I or the person who I'm building for is ready to buy it so I have something prepared that I'm confident in as soon as they want to make the purchase. After that it's just waiting for the parts to come, managing cables, and trying to remember to put the io shield in.

Technologies Used

The parts that I'm planning to use in this build (as well as their current prices) are as follows:

• Intel 12900k - $617.98
• Asus Prime Z690-p WiFi D4 - $230.10
• G.Skill Trident Z Neo 32 GB (4 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 CL16 (already owned) - $0
• Samsung 970 Evo Plus 500gb - $69.98
• 2x Sabrent Rocket 2tb - $399.98
• Evga RTX 3080ti FTW3 Ultra Gaming - $2242.00
• Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic - $159.99
• Evga G2 1300W 80+ Gold - $0
• EK Quantum Magnitude D-RGB CPU Block - $230.99
• EK Quantum Vector FTW3 GPU Block - $249.99
• EK Quantum Vector FTW3 Black Backplate - $48.99
• EK Duraclear 9.5/12.7mm 3M - $17.99
• 10x EK Quantum Torque STC 10/13 - $74.90
• EK Loop Vertical GPU Holder - $68.99
• EK Cryofuel Clear - $17.99

Total Cost Before Tax - $4428.88

I already own a fan hub as well as nine Corsair rgb fans that I'm planning to put in this build if I win the competition. I also have a pump/reservoir combo and two 360mm radiators that I have been saving for a full custom loop. The 970 Evo Plus would be used primarily as a boot drive with other important applications on it. One of the 2tb m.2 drives would be used for storage of games, and the other would be used to store photos/media/etc.

The peripherals I currently own and would use with this build are as follows:

• Razer Blackwidow Chroma Keyboard
• Logitech G502 Hero Mouse
• LG GL850 2560x1440 IPS G-Sync Monitor (primary)
• Presonus Audiobox USB 96 Audio Interface
• Schiit Magni 3 Heresy Headphone Amplifier
• Sennheiser HD 58x Open Back Headphones
• Thomann T.Bone SC400 Microphone
• Nektar Impact LX49 + Midi Keyboard

Other links

• Parts List