Core 1000 APU Build Log

What I built this PC to do: play EVE Online, some modern games like CSGO, Space Engineers, Civ V, etc, some classics like Baldurs Gate, System Shock 2, Neverwinter Nights, ROMs (primarily through RetroArch) some java stuff like Minecraft, some web stuff, and that's mostly it.

This build has been through several different permutations over the past 5-6 months. It originally lived in some old emachines case that I had lying around (lel) then it lived on top of the motherboard box, and finally I picked up the Fractal Core 1000 from Microcenter the other day for $35 and transplanted this system to it's forever home. The build contains:

AMD A10 7850K
ASRock FM2A88M-HD+
Corsair Vengeance 8GB 2133hz
Samsung 840 Pro 256GB - OS drive
WD Blue 1TB 7200rpm drive - steam games, ROMs, etc
Acer H236HLbid IPS Monitor
Logitech K120/M100 Keyboard & Mouse
Gamestop 360 Controller (for RetroArch, Meat Boy, Skyrim, etc)
AKG K240 Studio headphones

I will post pics of the "battlestation" when I have time, but in addition to what is listed I have a KVM switch that my keyboard and mouse is plugged into. It controls this desktop as well as a notebook that is off to the side on a stand. I have this notebook also hooked up to the Acer monitor (desktop via DVI, notebook via VGA as the acer monitor has no DP sadly) and I switch between the inputs when I am working on music and videos with Ableton Live, Propellerheads Reason, Adobe Premiere, Sony Vegas, etc on my Lenovo T520 and want the extra screen real estate.

Cable management is something I want to try to tidy up, but of course the Core 1000 has it's limitations. I have that zip tie supporting the 24pin but will probably stick a self adhesive cable tie to the inside so you can't see it. Going to try to sleeve/cover those ugly front panel LED/switch wires in black of some sort also.

Future additions: I want to cut out room for another 120mm fan in the front and have two 120mm fans with fan speed reducers instead of the one single 120mm that is currently there. Hyper 212 evo for sure. AC wifi card perhaps, but that will have to wait until I can upgrade my router as well. A nicer keyboard & mouse should probably get added as well.

1 Like

cool build.
are you playing those games on the APU? or do you use a dedicated gpu?

Great to see people playing eve online.. I played for 9 years, but stopped this summer after a final ass kick at the Alliance Tournament. Currently I'm developing a new Eve Online web app. :)

1 Like

Yep, strictly the APU. Two clients of EVE online at a time both with the visuals cranked up but no AA, they tend to stay above 60+ FPS constant during most mundane activities, only dipping low in large fleet fights and such. This is great considering EVE has been receiving a lot of visual overhauls lately and still looks fantastic when you are up close with the ships and from a distance.

Have you considered trying something insane and throwing in a dedicated GPU to passthrough to a virtual box to run the second instance of eve? No idea how that would all work out though.

That Fractal Core 1000 is a sweet little case, very functional but still has a sleek look. People make a lot of noise about uber powerful rigs but your build shows, spend the cash where you need it skip the rest. A{U, fast RAM and some nice storage. 90% of people don't need any more...

That's not something that I have considered, but it could be worth looking into! I wonder if AMDs catalyst drivers allow for this functionality. Here's a poorly stitched together panorama of my "desk" that I took with my Nexus 5. It's really a long bar table that is higher than a normal desk. I want to get some sort of fancy adjustable drafting chair and raise up the Acer monitor a bit as well to adapt to using this table.

[Edit] D&D books... 5th edition is kinda cool. Trackball mouse, I use that sometimes. Xbox controller, wanna ditch it for something with a better D-Pad, any suggestions? Cool little $9 tool kit I got at Micro Center the other day with a flexible extension. Lenovo T520 that I will probably use until the end of time. Sandy i7, 8GB RAM, Quadro NVS 4200m gfx, 500gb HDD, pretty standard workstation notebook. [Edit 2] Moleskin and a pen to make myself feel intellectual. Qi wireless charger for my Nexus 5. Mouse rug... it really pulls the room together.

I also ordered today a Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo cooler and an additional 120mm silent Fractal Design Silent Series R2 fan for the case. Currently having issues finding a graphics driver for the long term that is going to work. I might ditch Windows 8.1 and go back to Windows 7 if I have to, or try out Windows 10. Windows 8 has given me nothing but troubles and stability issues.

Why not just make the desk shorter?

Nice thats realy interessting.
I think i should take a closer look to apu´s my self some day.

I was actually thinking about trying to raise up the desk to have the ability to stand or sit. I guess Im a bit of a weirdo though :P

If you wanted to go that route you should probably just go with an adjustable desk rather than a high chair, as most of those probably aren't all that comfortable.

212 Evo would not fit inside my case with the side panel on so I got a Hyper T4 instead. Ripped the heatspreaders off my Corsair Vengeance memory in order to make it fit... warranty voided, maximum yolo. Might order some low pro heat spreaders at some point in the future? Wireless N PCI-E card added also.

1 Like

why didnt you rotate the cooler?
Or would it interfer with the psu then ?

the A10 7850k is pretty beast specially if you pair it with faster ram 2400mhz+. it will play bf4 med-low at 720p low 40s-mid 50s for fps on 1080p on low settings it runs at or just below 30 which is pretty bad but thats all on the apu no dedicated gpu.

It would not have interfered with the PSU, if anything it wouldve given me more memory clearance. This cooler uses a stock AMD style mounting bracket so it only allows me to mount it as shown in the picture or flipped 180 degrees the other way blowing hot air down (counter-intuitive to my cooling strategy) Ideally I would've liked for it to blow straight horizontally back but alas the Hyper T4 doesnt come with an AMD specific backplate or really any significant mounting hardware for AMD to speak of... aside from the one piece stock AMD style bracket/lever clamp mechanism that holds the entire heatsink down and straight. It works though!