A team built a budget gaming PC using an engineering sample chip, the QQLTES, with six cores and 12 threads, for $500. They used a mining-optimized motherboard, the H110-D3A, and budget-friendly components like a used Intel stock cooler and second-hand storage drives. Despite some risks like no warranty and potential hardware issues, the PC performed well in tests, offering good value for money. The project was sponsored by Private Internet Access VPN.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The QQLTES engineering sample chip has six cores and 12 threads.
2. The chip is clocked from 2.4 gigahertz base to 4.1 gigahertz boost.
3. The QQLTES chip was originally intended for a laptop but was modified to work in a desktop.
4. The H110-D3A motherboard is a mining-optimized motherboard with multiple PCI express slots.
5. The motherboard can be found on eBay for around $30.
6. The Intel stock cooler can be found on eBay for around $9.
7. The Samsung 840 series SSD was purchased on eBay for around $20.
8. The one terabyte Barracuda hard drive was purchased for around $19.
9. The TimeTec RAM is 16 GB and was purchased for around $60.
10. The GTX 1070 graphics card was purchased for around $200.
11. The Antec P180 computer case was found on the side of the road and is being used for free.
12. The Antec EarthWatt 650 watt power supply was purchased on eBay for around $20.
13. The build's total cost is around $500.
14. The CPU has no warranty and is an engineering sample.
15. The CPU is extremely sensitive to temperature and requires a proper thermal compound application.
16. The build's performance is around 25-30% higher than a comparable build with all new parts.
17. The build's system memory is 16 GB, double that of the comparable build.