My Final Build for an emulation box

[pleiades7]

Well...this is my FINAL build. My emulation box.

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/pleiades7/saved/bVbypg
Missing from the build is the display since it wasn't listed: I'm using an EIZO ev2746w.

I tried to future proof this. So my high end emulation needs could be satisfied AND the occasional high-end PC game (e.g. like GTA 5).

The case for the device is function, kinda on the ugly side. But the entire unit is tucked under a Premium Xtention Arcade Cabinet by Recroom.
http://www.recroommasters.com/Premium_XL_Xtension_Arcade_Cabinet_p/rm-xt-arc-prem.htm

I tried to pick a graphic card that had good shader support, since dolphin seems to rely upon it for those of us who like to include high end textures.
The hard to find MSI 970 does this well according to my research and is just an overall good card.

Went with 16 gb ram. I know for dolphin it doesn't matter but, again, for everything else it seems like a nice investment.

My original dilemma in all of this was HOW to take care of my mac graphic design needs AND have a decent gaming rig. Explored the hackintosh route. Fiddled with a mac pro only to realize that they are just TOO antiquated. Then it hit me! I was making this TOO difficult on myself... Instead of trying to shoe horn ONE computer to do the job of two....just GET two reasonably priced computers: just get a mac AND a separate gaming pc. So now I have a decent maxed out mac mini I got for cheap at Bestbuy for my graphic design/indie filmmaker needs And this fun PC rig for all my serious gaming needs.

Any feedback is appreciated! :-) Thank again to everyone for your wonderful help!

[Anti-Ultimate]

Honestly I would drop the wifi card for a standalone router that you can use as a bridge. Might be cheaper and in the end you can connect more devices via cables to the router and get better speed overall.

[KHg8m3r]

Do you need an extra sound card? The MSI Z97S has a decent 7.1 channel HD sound card already on it.

[pleiades7]

(10-27-2014, 04:33 AM)KHg8m3r Wrote: Do you need an extra sound card? The MSI Z97S has a decent 7.1 channel HD sound card already on it.

Good catch there. Yeah, that was overkill. Will be returning it.

The wireless card I want, though, since I like my home as wireless as possible. Again, a future proof thing...even, if, a bit pricey.

[AnyOldName3]

I wouldn't go for wireless as a method of future proofing. Firstly, wired is faster in every way, and improvements to wireless aren't going to overtake improvements to wired for a very long time, if ever. Also, I'm pretty sure (meaning look this up before quoting me on it) it's in the specification for WiFi that things on the same band (2.4 or 5 GHz) that are in range of each other all operate at the speed of the slowest thing, so it's not a great idea to have lots of wireless things, as when something better comes along you're going to have to replace everything in order to go faster. As long as they're not really long, wires are just wires, and can carry whatever signal is required.

[pleiades7]

(10-28-2014, 02:34 AM)AnyOldName3 Wrote: I wouldn't go for wireless as a method of future proofing. Firstly, wired is faster in every way, and improvements to wireless aren't going to overtake improvements to wired for a very long time, if ever. Also, I'm pretty sure (meaning look this up before quoting me on it) it's in the specification for WiFi that things on the same band (2.4 or 5 GHz) that are in range of each other all operate at the speed of the slowest thing, so it's not a great idea to have lots of wireless things, as when something better comes along you're going to have to replace everything in order to go faster. As long as they're not really long, wires are just wires, and can carry whatever signal is required.

Oh, I still have the option to go wired if I want. When the rig is complete, I plan to have it hardwired into the modem. But it's nice to have it wireless if down the road if wanted it for that. Figured it didn't hurt to have that. Now....that sound card? Yeah, overkill. So I'm returning it and getting a decent bluray burner for my mac. :-)

[omega_rugal]

http://www.recroommasters.com/Premium_XL_Xtension_Arcade_Cabinet_p/rm-xt-arc-prem.htm

i make those...

[pleiades7]

(10-29-2014, 02:27 AM)omega_rugal Wrote: http://www.recroommasters.com/Premium_XL_Xtension_Arcade_Cabinet_p/rm-xt-arc-prem.htm

i make those...

Well you do? That's sexy. ;-) The cabinets, that is :-p