Advice for new gaming/workstation build

Jun 6, 2018
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Hello

I've been planning this for quite a few months now, been stuck without a PC when my alienware x51 died (actually this whole thing is based on my assumption that the video card is salvageable, and the issue is with the CPU, RAM or motherboard), with freezing and then refusing to turn on at all. I am planning to test the video card, which was a gtx 970 (didn't come with the x51, I got that afterwards when I realised the x51's 745 was useless) to make sure it didn't cause the issues, but assuming it's ok, these are the parts I've picked out for a new PC.

I would be using the PC for gaming primarily, also Photoshop and 3D modelling, possibly for other things like video editing etc. too.
I would get windows from a local store using a gift card, so I'm not counting that as part of the budget.
Resolution: 1080p, with hope in far future for XX80Ti and Ultrawide
Country: Australia

I'd like to keep the cost of this under 1300 AUD including shipping, which is lower than what I'm looking at currently, but I could afford more if I absolutely had to.

I know these parts are too powerful for a 970, however that's what I would replace next, and I would like to get this build done ASAP. The Motherboard comes from Newegg, here's the link.
https://www.newegg.com/global/au/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157833

Here's the list, subject to change

[PCPartPicker part list](https://au.pcpartpicker.com/list/c6KpKB) / [Price breakdown by merchant](https://au.pcpartpicker.com/list/c6KpKB/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [AMD - Ryzen 5 2600X 3.6GHz 6-Core Processor](https://au.pcpartpicker.com/product/6mm323/amd-ryzen-5-2600x-36ghz-6-core-processor-yd260xbcafbox) | $302.00 @ Shopping Express
**Thermal Compound** | [Arctic Silver - 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste](https://au.pcpartpicker.com/product/6RrG3C/arctic-silver-thermal-paste-as535g) | $9.57 @ Amazon Australia
**Motherboard** | [ASRock - X470 Master SLI/AC ATX AM4 Motherboard](https://au.pcpartpicker.com/product/nQc48d/asrock-x470-master-sliac-atx-am4-motherboard-x470-master-sliac) | $199.99
**Memory** | [Corsair - Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory](https://au.pcpartpicker.com/product/6ntWGX/corsair-vengeance-lpx-16gb-2-x-8gb-ddr4-3000-memory-cmk16gx4m2b3000c15w) | $279.00 @ Mwave Australia
**Storage** | [Samsung - 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](https://au.pcpartpicker.com/product/3kL7YJ/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz75e250bam) | $109.00 @ Shopping Express
**Storage** | [Seagate - Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](https://au.pcpartpicker.com/product/CbL7YJ/seagate-barracuda-2tb-35-7200rpm-internal-hard-drive-st2000dm006) | $72.00 @ Shopping Express
**Video Card** | [EVGA - GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card](https://au.pcpartpicker.com/product/62FXsY/evga-video-card-04gp41972kr) | Purchased For $0.00
**Case** | [Fractal Design - Meshify C White TG ATX Mid Tower Case](https://au.pcpartpicker.com/product/BBrmP6/fractal-design-meshify-c-white-tg-atx-mid-tower-case-fd-ca-mesh-c-wt-tgc) | $147.00 @ Skycomp Technology
**Power Supply** | [EVGA - SuperNOVA G3 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply](https://au.pcpartpicker.com/product/y88H99/evga-supernova-g3-650w-80-gold-certified-fully-modular-atx-power-supply-220-g3-0650) | $169.00 @ Shopping Express
**Case Fan** | [NZXT - Aer F140 (Twin Pack) 103.4 CFM 140mm Fan](https://au.pcpartpicker.com/product/yFzZxr/nzxt-aer-f140-twin-pack-1034-cfm-140mm-fan-rf-af140-d1) | $39.00 @ PCCaseGear
| *Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts* |
| **Total** | **$1326.56**
| Generated by [PCPartPicker](http://pcpartpicker.com) 2018-06-06 21:39 AEST+1000 |

If anyone could recommend where to save some money, or potential issues, that'd be greatly appreciated.
 
So, here is the thing, Photoshop and 3d Rendering love Intel chips mainly for the clock speeds. Also, for 3d rendering the consumer GeForce cards are garbage. AMD offers much better performance for price in 3d rendering, but the best performance for price comes from NVidia Quadro cards, by a lot. A lower end P1000 Quadro (roughly 1060 gaming performance) stomps the 1080, 1080Ti, and even Titan XP for performance per dollar in 3d rendering.

The only thing I can say that is specifically wrong with your build is the GTX 970. However, you are saying that it will be replaced soon.

Your CPU will not be the fastest for any of these, BUT it will provide good performance and a good balance across your use cases. You also might want to swap the PSU out for a Seasonic FOCUS of similar wattage. It is a better PSU in terms of efficiency and quality. Otherwise, everything else looks good.
 
Jun 6, 2018
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Well the main use is gaming, and the 3d rendering won't be in any way professional level, actually just want to experiment with it for now. The only reason I'm using a 970 is because I already have one and graphics card prices are super high.
Do you think there's any way I could save some money and not sacrifice much?
 
Easy to get the price down .

Not really sacrificing anything with the below.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 2600X 3.6GHz 6-Core Processor ($302.00 @ Shopping Express)
Motherboard: ASRock - X470 Master SLI/AC ATX AM4 Motherboard ($199.99)
Memory: Crucial - Ballistix Sport LT 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($219.15 @ Amazon Australia)
Storage: Crucial - MX300 275GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($99.00 @ PLE Computers)
Storage: Seagate - Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($72.00 @ Shopping Express)
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card (Purchased For $0.00)
Case: Fractal Design - Meshify C White TG ATX Mid Tower Case ($147.00 @ Skycomp Technology)
Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 550W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($89.00 @ Shopping Express)
Case Fan: NZXT - Aer F140 (Twin Pack) 103.4 CFM 140mm Fan ($39.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Total: $1167.14
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-06-07 16:03 AEST+1000
 
Jun 6, 2018
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Thanks!
Are you sure that there wouldn't be a noticeable difference between 2666 and 3000 ram? Especially because I've heard that ryzen cpus scale with the ram (this might be completely false, just what I've heard)
I would like to keep my power supply up at 650, for upgrades in the future, but if gold efficiency isn't necessary I might be able to bring that down a bit.
The SSD you picked seems WAY better so thanks for that suggestion.
 
I'm running ballistic 2400 at 2933kHz with a ryzen 1700.

Should be no issue running that ram at 2933.

The cx550 is good enough to run a 1080ti, upto you but at the minute it will,give you over 200w of headroom.

If you must a cx650 or maybe even a tx650 is still doable on budget.