[SOLVED] 11 Year Old PC - Help Needed with new system

sdph536

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I have an 11 year old Dell Studio D540 -

I believe it's time to replace it but I am not finding any pre-build machines that I think will work but then I am just a basic user and not a PC GuRu.

Wondering if anyone can offer suggestions for system or a system build whose more experienced?

These are my basic requirements:

  1. Windows 10
  2. Dual Monitor Support (DVI orHDMI)
  3. SSD for OS
  4. GPU that can handle fusion 360/Steam Games - heavy GPU use
  5. Adequate RAM for above average use
  6. As silent as possible PC case/Fans, etc. (Small office so lots of fan noise is not ideal)
  7. Budget $1,000 or below all in
Day to day use is normal use, Email, Web Browsing, MS Office, etc.
* would like the ability to run Fusion 360/CAD/Steam Insurgency SS type apps with no GPU issues
* would like to avoid massive GPU coolers, etc if possible
* would like to buy as much if possible via Amazon Prime
 
Solution
PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/TR8Gx6

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI B450 TOMAHAWK ATX AM4 Motherboard ($111.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial P1 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($99.99 @ B&H)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6 GB SC ULTRA GAMING Video Card ($239.99 @ Best Buy)
Case: Fractal Design Focus G ATX Mid Tower Case ($55.88 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair TXM Gold 550 W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply ($73.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $831.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-01-24...
PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/TR8Gx6

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI B450 TOMAHAWK ATX AM4 Motherboard ($111.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial P1 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($99.99 @ B&H)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6 GB SC ULTRA GAMING Video Card ($239.99 @ Best Buy)
Case: Fractal Design Focus G ATX Mid Tower Case ($55.88 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair TXM Gold 550 W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply ($73.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $831.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-01-24 15:32 EST-0500

Leaves you 170 USD left to do with as you want. You could get a better GPU such as a GTX 2060 Super or RX 5700/5700XT or a better CPU such as a Ryzen 3700X. You can also pick whatever case you prefer as long as it supports a full ATX board. The only other thing about this build is that there is a possibility that the motherboard wont have an updated BIOS for Ryzen 3000, however this motherboard allows you to update the BIOS without a CPU installed.

Limiting yourself to Amazon really does limit your options as well as rebates.
 
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Solution

sdph536

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Dec 5, 2015
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PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/TR8Gx6

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI B450 TOMAHAWK ATX AM4 Motherboard ($111.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial P1 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($99.99 @ B&H)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6 GB SC ULTRA GAMING Video Card ($239.99 @ Best Buy)
Case: Fractal Design Focus G ATX Mid Tower Case ($55.88 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair TXM Gold 550 W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply ($73.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $831.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-01-24 15:32 EST-0500

Leaves you 170 USD left to do with as you want. You could get a better GPU such as a GTX 2060 Super or RX 5700/5700XT or a better CPU such as a Ryzen 3700X. You can also pick whatever case you prefer as long as it supports a full ATX board.

Limiting yourself to Amazon really does limit your options as well as rebates.
Thanks for the breakdown.

What about the OS. Can I bring over the Windows 10 OS that I bought and loaded to this OLD PC or do I have to buy a whole new license?
 

King_V

Illustrious
Ambassador
Thanks for the breakdown.

What about the OS. Can I bring over the Windows 10 OS that I bought and loaded to this OLD PC or do I have to buy a whole new license?

If you bought a full retail license, then yes. If you bought an OEM license then no... or possibly maybe. I've read if it's tied to your Microsoft account, it might work, but honestly, I couldn't be certain - I've only briefly skimmed over what others have said about it.
 
The only other thing about this build is that there is a possibility that the motherboard wont have an updated BIOS for Ryzen 3000, however this motherboard allows you to update the BIOS without a CPU installed.
To avoid that issue entirely, you should probably just plunk down the extra $3 for the MAX version of that motherboard, which is the same board, only with a larger BIOS chip that includes support for Ryzen 3000 processors right out of the box.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/jcYQzy/msi-b450-tomahawk-max-atx-am4-motherboard-b450-tomahawk-max

And yeah, I would put the remaining budget toward a higher-end graphics card if "heavy GPU use" is a primary concern.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Thanks for the breakdown.

What about the OS. Can I bring over the Windows 10 OS that I bought and loaded to this OLD PC or do I have to buy a whole new license?
Where did the current WIn 10 license come from?
Is it linked to an MS account?

In the context of a new $1,000 PC, a new Windows OS license for this system is 10%.
To fund that, sell the old system for $100.

Either way, the new hardware will require a new OS install. Don't just slap in the old drive with its OS and hope it works.
 

sdph536

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I did the CMD to show it. This PC had an OLD OS and sluggish so I bought a SSD and the bought Windows 10 via Microsoft store I believe.

I would like to order today and hopefully get the stuff by Monday or Tuesday.