My Next Build

When Bulldozer was in the works I thought my next build would be an AMD machine.  Then the early reviews came out and Bulldozer was a bust.  I ended up with a machine centered around the i7 2600K CPU from Intel.  It was the right choice and I do not regret it.  It's a solid machine with good performance all around.

Time has come for my next upgrade.  AMD has been working toward a better Bulldozer.  Late last year AMD came out with Piledriver, which improved overall performance by 12% - 15% from Bulldozer.  Much of the improvement centered around bumping up the clock speed.  Late THIS year Steamroller arrives.  With Steamroller AMD focused on making more substantial changes focused on improving single core execution.  Most people and tech websites recommend that people go with Intel, that AMD is not even competitive but...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu8Sekdb-IE

...that is not so.  Certainly Intel is superior in single core execution but not overwhelmingly so.  AMD focused on multi-threading and less on single core execution, as they felt that was the future (and it is).

Anyway, so my plan is to build a machine around AMDs AM3+ socket, which would include the FX-8350 as my CPU of choice, which will be replaced by a Steamroller CPU when they arrive for desktops in early 2014.

Here is what I have spec'd out for my build:

CPU:  AMD FX-8350
RAM:  Quad channel kit of 16GB, PC14900 (1866gHz) (CL8, 8.9.9.24 @ 1.525v)
STORAGE:  C drive will be 2 240 GB SSDs in RAID 0
                     U drive (data) will be 2 1 TB drives in RAID 0
MOBO:  ASUS Sabertooth 990FX
PS:  Corsair AX850 (Gold)
GRAPHICS:  Vapor-X Radeon 7970 GHz edition
COOLING:  Corsair H60, Extra Cougar Vortex fan
CASE:  Corsair Graphite 600T

I was going to go for 32 GB of RAM but I figured I couldn't use that much (unless I create a RAM drive but I don't think I will need that) and if I really feel like I have to have it, I can always upgrade the RAM easily.

I might not RAID the 2 hard drives and purchase an additional SSD for storage but...  they are still very costly.  So I probably WON'T do that.

So that's it.  That is what my next build is shaping up to be.

Nooooo ... My HHKB Pro has died.

I love mechanical keyboards.  My favorite keyboard for awhile was the Tactile Pro.  Love the noise and the feel of mechanical keyboards, it just feels right to me.  Unfortunately I have special needs in regards to space:  My workstation is in a closet.

As you can see my Tactile Pro does not fit well in my workspace.  This was not a problem until today, when my Happy Hacker keyboard died.  The HHKB Pro 2 is a wonderful keyboard.  It is uses Topre key switches which are tactile AND quiet.  They are also absurdly expensive and I expected this keyboard to last me a looong time.  Somehow, while plugging/unplugging a dongle I broke it.  I think some component associated with the USB port broke loose; I hear something rattling around inside (the keyboard, not my head).

I cannot justify paying the crazy high amount for another HHKB so I shopped around a little and decided on a Vortex KBT Pure.  The Pure is another mechanical keyboard that uses Cherry MX Blue switches.  They are noisier than Topre switches so I also purchased Cherry red rubber o-rings to silence them.  From what I have read the Cherry MX Blue switches are the most popular Cherry switches, a good, general switch (not specifically for gaming, not specifically for typing... in the middle).

The Pure is also a backlit keyboard which is nice in my dark little closet where sometimes I need to realign my hands with the keys.  The Pure is also a 60% keyboard, which is what the HHKB was as well.  60% means more or less what you think it means, it's about 60% of the size of a regular keyboard with a minimal amount of keys which, with the help of a function key, play multiple roles.

I requested second day shipping so hopefully it will arrive by mid-week.  It's difficult typing on my Tactile pro with this orientation and you can see by the photo that my Anywhere MX mouse has very little room for maneuvering.

If anyone has experience with Vortex products, particularly the Pure, please feel free to share your thoughts. I've heard about the paint jobs on the key caps, the occasional bad LEDs, but I am more interested in how they last and perform mechanically.

Thank you!