Date: 28 March 24, 04:16 AM
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 thinking about new build



Bill


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Starting with:
ASUS Z170 Pro Gaming/AURA LGA 1151 Intel Z170 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.1 USB 3.0 ATX Motherboards - Intel

Supports W7
and maybe one of these:
Intel Core i5-6400 6 MB Skylake Quad-Core 2.7 GHz LGA 1151 65W BX80662I56400 Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 530
or
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117561&cm_re=i5_6600k-_-19-117-561-_-Product

But in the very early stages.
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

scuzzy


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Hooray! New builds are always fun, despite being a lot of work. :)

My first thought was whether your build would support W7, but looks like you covered that base. Make sure you do the same with every part going forward, including the case. Lol

Bill


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I went back to check on the age of my current rig, turns out it's 8 yrs. old.
Thinking about water cooler, friend swears by them:

www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=maelstrom+water+cooler+120t&N=-1&isNodeId=1
Haven't looked at cases yet, maybe one of the mid size Fractals.
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

scuzzy


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I dunno about water cooled systems. I have nothing against them, but air cooled has worked well for me. This Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler has been excellent in both of my latest builds and are nearly perfectly silent.

scuzzy


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Yesterday and today I spent a lot of time cleaning our office, to include disassembling the computers from their current locations to clean them out. While going through that process I thought to myself that I probably wouldn't do a new build today, but instead get 2 high powered laptops to replace the desktops.

I have not fully thought that plan out, as I don't currently have a need. But if I did need to replace any of my two systems, it would be at the top of my mind. During the last few months of my job in the Tech Team, my assigned laptop was connected to a 24" HD monitor, and I used a Bluetooth keyboard and Bluetooth mouse. The combination worked as well as any desktop system for my needs, and I could continue to transport my laptop for use in my patrol car.

Bill


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I really have no love for laptops although the bluetooth keyboard eliminates one of my dislikes.  But, I think the likelihood of finding a current, high power one with Win 7 is very low.   

I think I'll stick to the desktop variety.

Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

scuzzy


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Finding a quality laptop with Win7 these days would certainly be challenging. Either way, you have to do what works best for you.

Besides, putting together a good build is rewarding. As I opened up my builds to execute the dust bunnies, I was reminded of how pleased I am with the work I did. :)

Bill


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I've been looking at cases and the new version of the Fractal case looks pretty sweet.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352056&ignorebbr=1

I recall you had a problem mounting the SSD needing a straight cable.  Could you have flipped the SSD, twisted the cables and mounted that way?  Did the Seasonic PSU not have straight power connectors?
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

scuzzy


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Turning my SSD 180 degrees would have only turned it upside-down, and flipping it completely around (belly side up) is not a mounting option. I remember using small washers as shims to lift the SSD away from the motherboard, which resolved the problem with the power connector. The washers also provided added cooling by lifting the SSD away from the tray. I could have used one of the HDD cages to mount the SSD, but I wanted a cleaner installation by mounting the SSD behind the mobo and by removing the HDD cages. My wife's build has 2 SSDs mounted behind the mobo, whereas mine has only 1 mounted with one external (USB3).

BTW: Due to mounting locations, it was important to mount the SSD prior to mounting the power supply. I don't recall the details, but think it through to avoid needlessly disassembling and reassembling things.

These photos might help: Wife's Intel Z97 i5-4690K Build

I'm thinking M.2 NVMe has matured by now. Is that not an option for the mobo you selected?

The R5 is close to identical in looks to my R4. I have been exceptionally pleased with the R4 and would not think twice about using it again. My R4 is also pretty close to perfectly silent with the fans set to medium speed.

scuzzy


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Bill


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Thanks for that, probably saved me tearing it apart.
M2 sata/ PCIe  are both supported by this Asus board.  I have to do more research, I haven't looked at that since your last build.
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

scuzzy


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In reference to mounting the SSD, this little blurb from a previous poast might help:


"I removed the motherboard and PSU to remount the SSD. I found some longer screws, and then used aluminum rivet washers as spacers. It worked out perfectly and added nearly 1/4" space between the SSD and the mounting tray. I like this better, as it allows a space for cooling behind the SSD. The connectors are nice and secure.

I also moved the SSD higher up, just in case I have to remove it again. This way I won't have to remove the PSU the next time around."

Bill


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A very quick look yields the Samsung 960 Pro M2 voted best in class.  Reviewers of the Asus board verify M2 boot capability and it uses an "M" key slot which the Samsung has.  Thanks for reminding me.  This just became a lot more exciting!!  500g for $235

http://newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=samsung+960+evo+m.2&ignorear=0&N=-1&isNodeId=1

EDIT by Scuzzy (link repaired)
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

scuzzy


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Per your link, the 960 "EVO" 500GB is $234, and the "PRO" 512GB is $330.

This blurb from one of the reviewers might be worth noting:

"M.2 form factor is convoluted to understand. Some ports support NVMe (PCI-E) only, some support SATA only, and some support both. The trouble is, this information is not always made clear to consumers and it often requires extensive searching to determine what standard(s) your M.2 slot(s) support."

FWIW: The mobo you're considering supports both, so it's probably a moot point.

Bill


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I did a comparison of the Pro and the EVO M2, seems the Pro is a little faster.  But PCIe gets rid of one of the classic bottlenecks and a couple of cables.
It also eliminates the need for the HD cage completely.
I'm thinking the 500gig version will suffice, I don't store a lot of stuff. Right now my SSD C: has about 70 gigs and the VRaptor has 60 gigs, leaving lots of space on the M2.
Backups can go on an external SSD I already have.

As of now the price tag is about $1000., without the cooler and video card.   The cooler I picked in an earlier poast.  The video card remains the question. I don't game, nor photoshop but it needs to support at least 1 DVI (preferably 2) and 1 HDMI for my two monitors.
I am looking at an Nvidia GForce GTX 960 but I am open to any other ideas.
EDIT turns out that's what you used, but Newegg is out of stock, maybe its been replaced.?
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

scuzzy


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If I were building today I'd go with the onboard graphics, which is what I did with my wife's build. The onboard graphics on my mobo supports HDMI, DVI-D, RGB, and DisplayPort ports, so multiple monitors would work fine.

I don't game or do any significant video editing, so I have not been able to take full advantage of the GTX 960. The onboard graphics on my wife's system is more than adequate, even when doing photo edits. For most everything I cannot distinguish a difference in video performance between our systems. I think I needlessly wasted money by buying a graphics card.

I'm sorry I don't recall. I know you considered water cooled, but what specific CPU cooler do you have in mind?

Bill


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That thought crossed my mind once or twice.  The onboard video on the Asus board has all the right connectors as well. I could always add a video card later if necessary.  It would also save me $300 +/-.  I think that makes sense.

This is the cooler:
newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA6J35S10074&cm_re=Maelstrom_120-_-13C-002K-00037-_-Product

I could mount this on one of the top of case vents.
The only downside is it ships from Hong Kong.

This cooler would bring the unit price to $1100, give or take.

Going to take a couple of days and think on this. Also going to wait for the next credit card billing cycle. I want to clear the ECO first.
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

scuzzy


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At the time of my builds, I bought the GTX 960 without giving too much thought for its necessity. It really wasn't until I had both systems fully running when I realized I didn't really have the need for the card, even with 2 monitors running. Thankfully I didn't buy 2 cards.

If you find yourself really wanting a card, I can always send you mine. I seriously doubt that I'll notice a difference anyway.

Nice thing about that liquid cooler is that it's not nearly as bulky as the air cooled solution I have.

Bill


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My Aussie friend has 4 rigs all running this cooler and he swears it's the best.  Also the piping, he says, is more flexible than other brands.

Thanks for all your help.  Ordering maybe end of the week or next.
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

scuzzy


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Sounds like you're off to a good start. :)

I absolutely love my Fractal R4 case. The top-mounted USB ports can be a little challenging to use, but that's mostly due to the clearance available on my desk. It would have helped if the ports had been mounted at a forward facing angle, but not a deal breaker by any means. There was the SSD mounting issue, but hopefully my experience will make it a non-issue for you.

Be aware that the case is a little on the beefy side, so you may want to carefully consider the dimensions to ensure it will work for you.

Also, I would definitely get the Seasonic fanless PSU again. I have no complaints.

BTW: I'm supposing you noticed the sale on the i5 CPU ends in 4 days, and that it has a promo code (EMCRJBR24) that expires in 3 days.

Bill


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Thanks for that info.  I have plenty of room for the case under the desk.  I looked at the Fanless models but I couldn't find anything larger than 520W. The Seasonic I picked, also modular, is 700+W.  Better safe than sorry.

EDIT: I ordered the cooler.  Coming from Hong Kong could be a 2-3 week delivery.  I'm hoping it will be by the time I order the rest.
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

Bill


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RE: onboard video

I checked the spec. sheet on your wife's system.  It says 16gigs of ram?  I am assuming you used 8gigs.  Do you think that her system would benefit from more ram.  Her mobo specs. say maximum shared memory: 512 MB.  My mobo specs. quote "shared memory" of 1024MB, which is probably not enough to matter.
But I thought I'd ask........

I found some  G Skill RipJaws 2133 DDR 4 for about $72 and added it to the list.  (I can overclock the RAM on this board but I don't think I would.)

I'm getting closer... maybe even tomorrow, sales end soon.
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

scuzzy


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My wife's system, as well as mine, each have 2 sticks of 8GB RAM for a total of 16GB per system. Her system is currently showing 15.7GB usable; mine shows the entire 16GB. I'm fairly confident adding RAM to her system will not yield any noticeable performance, since it performs so well as it is.

I did notice the promo code expiring on the CPU tomorrow.

Bill


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Thanks for that, I just changed my order to 16gigs of G Skill Ripjaws 2133.   And to be sure I don't miss anything I placed the order with Newegg.


1 x ($239.99) Intel Core i5-6600K 6M Skylake Quad-Core 3.5 GHz LGA 1151 91W BX80662I56600K Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 530
$239.99

1 x ($234.00) SAMSUNG 960 EVO M.2 500GB NVMe PCI-Express 3.0 x4 Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) MZ-V6E500BW
$234.00

1 x ($154.99) ASUS Z170 Pro Gaming/AURA LGA 1151 Intel Z170 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.1 USB 3.0 ATX Motherboards - Intel
$154.99



1 x ($129.99) G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 2133 (PC4 17000) Intel Z170 Platform / Intel X99 Platform Desktop Memory Model F4-2133C15D-16GVR
$129.99

1 x ($109.99) Fractal Design Define R5 Blackout Silent ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$109.99

1 x ($89.99) Seasonic FOCUS Plus Series SSR-650FX 650W 80+ Gold ATX12V & EPS12V Full Modular 120mm FDB Fan Compact 140mm Size Power Supply
$89.99

1 x ($19.99) ASUS DVD-Writer 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24F1ST
$19.99

Subtotal:   $978.94

Well I copied live links, sorry about that.  See anything I missed?

Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

scuzzy


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Wow. Looks really good, and the price is palatable. I'm looking forward to your experience with the M.2 SSD. I don't think you'll regret leaving out a graphics card, but at least it's an easy fix should you change your mind.

Only 2 things popped into my mind...

1. Will you have a need for a card reader?

2. I take it you're ordering the liquid CPU cooler separately?

Scuzzy; have you considered installing seat belts and getting a crash helmet?

Bill


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Thanks, I ordered the cooler yesterday.  I have never used a card reader. I guess I could add it if I need it in the future.
I am anxious to try the M2 as well.
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

scuzzy


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No doubt you're sticking with Windows 7, which I fully endorse.  ;D

I know you've put off system updates, but I'd like to suggest that when you install W7 on your new system that you fully update W7 to the bitter end. Once you have all the updates, you can turn off future updates if you wish. You will still be able to fully manage if/how updates are installed, as that has not changed in W7.

I keep my W7 laptop fully updated, and it has not been an issue. It is nothing like W10, which forces updates up my nose whether I like it or not. The difference with W7 is that updates are now issued in groups, which can potentially be harder to diagnose if a particular update gives you a problem. This is not something that is likely to occur in a fresh build, or in a system that is maintained fairly clean. BTW: .NET Framework updates continue to be separate updates, if that's a concern. Either way, I've installed all the updates on my laptop without any issues.

I share your concern with Microsoft's direction, but there really isn't a comparison between updates in W7 & W10. Even if you don't want future updates, I still recommend fully updating it now. Especially if you plan to continue using W7 safely for years to come.

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Thanks for your thoughts.  The updates on your laptop sounds like good news.  Updates are on my agenda for the new install, for a while.  I understand there are a couple of cumulative update files which should make the process easier/shorter.  Once I get the system up to date, I may well turn them off again.  Sort of depends on how it behaves.
I am really glad I bought a new Win 7 disc a couple of years ago, finding one today might be a bit dicey.

This morning I received Newegg invoices for the system and the cooler, so we are a step closer. No indication when either is going to ship.   

I also haven't heard from Wesson about when they're going to return the ECO, I am expecting an email notice today.
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

scuzzy


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The cumulative updates are smoother than before, but you'll probably still go through the initial pain of "updates on top of updates" during your fresh install. I have not tried since the W7 failure on my main systems, so I don't know for sure. Regardless, once it's all updated it's easy from there on. From my W7 laptop experience so far, I have no reason to turn the updates off. I wish I could say the same for W10.

Sounds like you'll have to be a bit patient. :) I am looking forward to hearing of your M.2 experience. That remains an option for my 2 builds, although reality is they remain stinkin' fast.

I was getting ready to ask about the status of your ECO.

Bill


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The last notice I had from Wesson included a nicely phrased "please be patient, we're working on your gun.  Please allow us this time."
But for how long???
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

scuzzy


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Hopefully you'll know something soon.

I just remembered that when I first got my laptops (I bought 2 if you remember; the first for my daughter), both gave me a bit of an issue with the W7 updates. Somewhere in the update process, I literally had to leave the updates running overnight. Both laptops were stuck in Update Hell in which nothing seemed to be happening. All was fine afterward, but that was frustrating.

Hopefully it's not something you'll experience. If so, just run it overnight. If memory serves me well, the "stuck updates" took 8 to 12 hours to download and install.

Here it is. Apparently it took even longer than I thought: DELL Latitude E7240 UltraBook

Bill


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Now that you mentioned it, I remember that episode of updates.  I hope MS it better now for Win 7.  I noticed in the linked thread that you mentioned MS Security Essentials.  I recall that MSSE used to be laughed at, today it is the security program of choice for many, including me.
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

scuzzy


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MSSE is all the antivirus I need. I also use Malwarebytes Premium, which I will renew later this year. The two together provide excellent security.

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Newegg just sent tracking #s for the main system parts, and the case separately.  So I'd guess it will ship tonight, tracking effective tomorrow!  Pretty decent service.
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

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FedEx tracking says system parts and case will be here tomorrow -Thursday!  :D
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

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Hooray! If the CPU cooler is the only thing you're waiting on, will you be able to complete the build until the part arrives? Or does the motherboard need to be out?

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Yes, the mobo needs to be out to attach the cooler backplate.  And it shipped and is "in transit".
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

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Everything except the cooler arrives today.  Cooler left Hong Kong yesterday.  Yes, trying to be patient.
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

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You can always install the PSU, the CD/DVD burner, and the motherboard stand-offs if you want to get a head start. :)

Which reminds me... have you considered converting your external SSD to an internal and mounting it behind the mobo?

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Those are good ideas, for the foreseeable future I think the ECO is going to take up some time.  But if I have some quiet time I can start that way.

I think my external is not an SSD.  It has no connectors except a USB cable.  I also, at least at the moment, think the 500gb M2 will be move than enough.  I can use the external for backup storage.  I've been recommended a new to me backup program called Casper that I'm going to try. It's supposed to be easier and quicker than EaseUS and Macrium Reflect.  We'll see.  And thanks.
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

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But to your original point, Newegg Sale this morning, I ordered a Samsung EVO 250gig.  I hope Fractal has solved the 90d connection problem.
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

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Last evening I unboxed the Fractal case and read the user manual.  I 'm impressed, kudos to you for finding these.  The plan now, as you suggested, is to get started slowly. First order of business is to remove the HD cages.  And hopefully a couple of pounds in the process....
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

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If the SSD still mounts flat against the tray, then both the power and the SATA connectors will need to be straight. Either way, I would still suggest using aluminum rivet washers and longer screws to create space. In my builds I was able to create about 1/4" of space between the tray and the SSD.

I remain very pleased with my Fractal cases. I prefer my R4 over my wife's Arc Midi R2, but both are awesome. Internally they are nearly exactly the same, and removing the HDD cages was easy enough.

Since you are going to have both M.2 SSD & standard SATA SSD, I suggest that you leave the SATA SSD unplugged until after your OS is up and running. That will avoid any confusion on where the OS gets installed, and it will make troubleshooting easier for potential problems. Once Windows is running it will be easy enough to plug the SSD back in.

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This  latest SSD is "what if" the M2 faults or has some other problem.  Being solid state the SSD can go anywhere with velcro, I don't see any reason why it has to be in the back. But your point about leaving it unplugged is a good suggestion.
Fractal Design R5 | Asus  Z170 Pro | Intel i5 6600k | 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws  DDR4 2133 | Seasonic 650w PSU | eVGA GTX 550 TI | Samsung 960 M2 500 GB | Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB | ASUS Burner | Windows 7 64-bit

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I have a feeling the M.2 will work out just fine. I never thought about using Velcro. Good thinking.  ;)

Make sure you have the chipset drivers installed and updated before "testing" the onboard graphics, as the onboard graphics are dependent on the chipset. Other related drivers/updates may be needed as well, such as the Intel Graphics Accelerator driver. On the initial boot into Windows the graphics will leave a little to be desired, so don't let it catch you off guard.

FWIW: I downloaded the latest drivers/software directly from ASUS, as the provided disc is normally already outdated.

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Thanks, did you use the chipset drivers on the disk or did Asus have those as well?
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I did not use anything from the disc. I downloaded everything directly from ASUS.

I recommend against installing the ASUS Ai utility software; assuming it's still an option. It's nothing more than bloated crap.

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Good idea. It's obviously been a while since I've done this.   Your help is appreciated.
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Here's the ASUS support link to downloads for your motherboard:

ASUS Z170 PRO GAMING/AURA BIOS/Software/Drivers


I'm not entirely sure what Aura V1.05.16 is, or that you need it, but it looks similar to the Ai utility crapware I complained of earlier. I'd put it to the side for now and then forget you have it.

I'm at a loss as to why ASUS feels the need to create software that does nothing more than bog down the works.