Hi, everyone!
After 30+ years of Intel (which I'm still a fan of, don't get me wrong) I've decided to switch to a full AMD build, just to spice things up a little and see what the craze with AMD is as I'm seeing a lot of folks being desperate with AMD. So, I said, hell yeah, let's do it! 5-10 years of trying AMD out won't hurt, so why not?
So anyway, after 3 days of researching and educating myself about AMD CPUs and GPUs, I still have some questions that I can't find the answers to, which is where I need your assistance with if you don't mind offering it.
I just don't know where to start asking the questions though because there's a total mess in my head right now, so bare with me please if I ask questions that don't make sense yet. I promise to clear up any confusion you might have as a result of my own confusion LOL. So anyway...
1. I've read somewhere (I don't remember where, though as I've frequented a lot of sites over the last 3 days, picking up information from all sorts of sources, and I really don't know where I've heard this, but I remember clearly that I've read somewhere) that AMD-based builds are more finnicky than Intel ones. In what way they are finnicky I can't tell (I don't even think that I've read the full explanation of this, all I remember is this bit of info).
The person(s) mentioning this could have meant that AMD builds are more unstable than Intel, or they could have meant that they're more sensitive to bottlenecks, or whatever. I really don't remember but I know for sure that I've read somewhere that when putting AMD builds together you need to pay more attention to the components and their compatibilities than with Intel. Yeah, I think that this was what those guys meant...
Is this true, and if yes, in which way??
2. Since I'd like to try new things out, after 30+ years of using Intel and ATX systems I'd like for once to go with mATX system this time, but after doing a bit of research I understood that not all GPUs fit into a mATX case (which makes sense, obviously, but this doesn't mean that I'm not left disgruntled because I have to give up the delicious RX 6700 XT GPUs that I found but which, sadly, require 3 slots to be installed, slots that I simply do not have inside of a 288 x 288 mATX case)...
So, my question is: can someone please recommend the best AMD GPU that fits inside of a mATX case and which is $600 TOPS (yeah, my budget is limited, and GPUs prices are insane nowadays, so I can't afford paying more than $600 for a GPU, but I'd prefer paying even less than $600, around $400-450 if it's possible. But up to $600 is OK really, it just needs to fit into my mATX).
Also, something else that I've desperately searched for are GPUs that have a bandwidth of at least 192 bits. Why 192 bits? I can't say as I really have no particular use for the GPU in mind besides the usual video gaming, internet browsing, maybe some video editing every now and then. But I just feel comfortable knowing that my GPU is at least 192 bits, but alas, the prices for 192 bits and higher are out of this world.
I guess I'll settle for less than 192 bits if there's no other options, but if there is, then can you please recommend the best GPU that meets all of these criteria:
Actually, what is Memory Speed, too? Is it the same as the Memory Frequency spec in Nvidia GPUs, or is it something else? And if it's something else, which one is the Memory Frequency then?? I'm so confused...
For example, I'm currently using a GTX 660 GPU (yes, I know that it's old, don't mock me please!) and for this GPU things are clear: its speed is 980 MHz, its capacity is 2GB and its RAM type is GDDR5. So clear!
But for the RX 6770 XT GPU there are things like Core Clocks, Memory Speed (is this the the same as Nvidia's Speed of 980 MHz??), Stream Processors, Compute Units... I really don't understand how to read these things...
And this brings me to point 3...
3. How do I get the best out of my computer in terms of compatibility and no bottlenecks if (we assume) that AMD is more finnicky, like the other guys said? For example, I know that if you buy a MoBo that doesn't support speeds higher than 3200 MHz, for example, there's no point in buying both CPU and RAM sticks that function over the 3200 MHz speed because your MoBo will simply not make use of the extra speeds offered by the CPU and RAM because it's not built like that. But how does the CPU's speed and RAM frequency affect each other?? By the way, I forgot to mention (and I apologize for this) that the current components I'm having in mind are these:
Gigabyte B550M-DS3H (Motherboard)
Ryzen 5 5600, or Ryzen 5 5500 (I haven't decided on the CPU yet, but feel free to recommend me the better of the 2)
2x16 GB Kingston Fury Renegade DDR4 CL16 3200MHz (RAM memory sticks)
1TB Crucial P3 Plus (SSD)
4TB Seagate Ironwolf Pro 7200RPM 256 MB Cache (HDD)
???? (GPU)
As you can see I've not decided on the GPU, PSU, and mATX case, but the PSU and case I can decide easily for myself after I have all components. But the GPU is giving me headaches because I don't know what works best with the other components and which also fits into mATX case and which is cheap.
Also, I'm not interested in any components that have anything AT ALL to do with overclocking, XMP and the alikes. I always prefer stability and flawlessness over crazy stuff in my computers, so I don't care even in the slightest about any component that even remotely mentions overclocking / XMP. Just so you guys know where I stand with regards to these latest and craziest technologies
Whew! That was a long one.... and I still don't feel like I've cleared all confusion that's in my head right now. But if I find the answers to these questions I have a feeling that I will have accomplished a lot, so please help me understand these things if it's not too much trouble for you.
Thanks in advance!
PS: ugh, I also forgot to mention that there's a big possibility that I might need to use this new build for AutoCAD (which version of AutoCAD I don't know yet, but let's assume the latest version), so this will probably require even more resources from my rig, right? So what CPU / GPU / RAM do you recommend in this case? Or maybe even a new MoBo? But I would love to keep this MoBo as I'm a big fan of Gigabyte and their anti-shock (anti power surge) capabilities. Given how often power surges happen here in my area (sometimes even multiple times within 1 hour) I would have destroyed my computer within a few short months had I not had a shock-resistant MoBo, which is why I prefer Gigabyte. But if you know that other manufacturers also have anti-shock MoBo, by all means, feel free to recommend them! Like I said, I'm in "trying new things out" mode, so I'll definitely have a look at new components if they meet my needs / requirements
After 30+ years of Intel (which I'm still a fan of, don't get me wrong) I've decided to switch to a full AMD build, just to spice things up a little and see what the craze with AMD is as I'm seeing a lot of folks being desperate with AMD. So, I said, hell yeah, let's do it! 5-10 years of trying AMD out won't hurt, so why not?
So anyway, after 3 days of researching and educating myself about AMD CPUs and GPUs, I still have some questions that I can't find the answers to, which is where I need your assistance with if you don't mind offering it.
I just don't know where to start asking the questions though because there's a total mess in my head right now, so bare with me please if I ask questions that don't make sense yet. I promise to clear up any confusion you might have as a result of my own confusion LOL. So anyway...
1. I've read somewhere (I don't remember where, though as I've frequented a lot of sites over the last 3 days, picking up information from all sorts of sources, and I really don't know where I've heard this, but I remember clearly that I've read somewhere) that AMD-based builds are more finnicky than Intel ones. In what way they are finnicky I can't tell (I don't even think that I've read the full explanation of this, all I remember is this bit of info).
The person(s) mentioning this could have meant that AMD builds are more unstable than Intel, or they could have meant that they're more sensitive to bottlenecks, or whatever. I really don't remember but I know for sure that I've read somewhere that when putting AMD builds together you need to pay more attention to the components and their compatibilities than with Intel. Yeah, I think that this was what those guys meant...
Is this true, and if yes, in which way??
2. Since I'd like to try new things out, after 30+ years of using Intel and ATX systems I'd like for once to go with mATX system this time, but after doing a bit of research I understood that not all GPUs fit into a mATX case (which makes sense, obviously, but this doesn't mean that I'm not left disgruntled because I have to give up the delicious RX 6700 XT GPUs that I found but which, sadly, require 3 slots to be installed, slots that I simply do not have inside of a 288 x 288 mATX case)...
So, my question is: can someone please recommend the best AMD GPU that fits inside of a mATX case and which is $600 TOPS (yeah, my budget is limited, and GPUs prices are insane nowadays, so I can't afford paying more than $600 for a GPU, but I'd prefer paying even less than $600, around $400-450 if it's possible. But up to $600 is OK really, it just needs to fit into my mATX).
Also, something else that I've desperately searched for are GPUs that have a bandwidth of at least 192 bits. Why 192 bits? I can't say as I really have no particular use for the GPU in mind besides the usual video gaming, internet browsing, maybe some video editing every now and then. But I just feel comfortable knowing that my GPU is at least 192 bits, but alas, the prices for 192 bits and higher are out of this world.
I guess I'll settle for less than 192 bits if there's no other options, but if there is, then can you please recommend the best GPU that meets all of these criteria:
- not Nvidia (AMD or something else, I don't care as long as it's not Nvidia)
- fits inside of mATX case
- at least 192 bits bandwidth
- under $600
Actually, what is Memory Speed, too? Is it the same as the Memory Frequency spec in Nvidia GPUs, or is it something else? And if it's something else, which one is the Memory Frequency then?? I'm so confused...
For example, I'm currently using a GTX 660 GPU (yes, I know that it's old, don't mock me please!) and for this GPU things are clear: its speed is 980 MHz, its capacity is 2GB and its RAM type is GDDR5. So clear!
But for the RX 6770 XT GPU there are things like Core Clocks, Memory Speed (is this the the same as Nvidia's Speed of 980 MHz??), Stream Processors, Compute Units... I really don't understand how to read these things...
And this brings me to point 3...
3. How do I get the best out of my computer in terms of compatibility and no bottlenecks if (we assume) that AMD is more finnicky, like the other guys said? For example, I know that if you buy a MoBo that doesn't support speeds higher than 3200 MHz, for example, there's no point in buying both CPU and RAM sticks that function over the 3200 MHz speed because your MoBo will simply not make use of the extra speeds offered by the CPU and RAM because it's not built like that. But how does the CPU's speed and RAM frequency affect each other?? By the way, I forgot to mention (and I apologize for this) that the current components I'm having in mind are these:
Gigabyte B550M-DS3H (Motherboard)
Ryzen 5 5600, or Ryzen 5 5500 (I haven't decided on the CPU yet, but feel free to recommend me the better of the 2)
2x16 GB Kingston Fury Renegade DDR4 CL16 3200MHz (RAM memory sticks)
1TB Crucial P3 Plus (SSD)
4TB Seagate Ironwolf Pro 7200RPM 256 MB Cache (HDD)
???? (GPU)
As you can see I've not decided on the GPU, PSU, and mATX case, but the PSU and case I can decide easily for myself after I have all components. But the GPU is giving me headaches because I don't know what works best with the other components and which also fits into mATX case and which is cheap.
Also, I'm not interested in any components that have anything AT ALL to do with overclocking, XMP and the alikes. I always prefer stability and flawlessness over crazy stuff in my computers, so I don't care even in the slightest about any component that even remotely mentions overclocking / XMP. Just so you guys know where I stand with regards to these latest and craziest technologies
Whew! That was a long one.... and I still don't feel like I've cleared all confusion that's in my head right now. But if I find the answers to these questions I have a feeling that I will have accomplished a lot, so please help me understand these things if it's not too much trouble for you.
Thanks in advance!
PS: ugh, I also forgot to mention that there's a big possibility that I might need to use this new build for AutoCAD (which version of AutoCAD I don't know yet, but let's assume the latest version), so this will probably require even more resources from my rig, right? So what CPU / GPU / RAM do you recommend in this case? Or maybe even a new MoBo? But I would love to keep this MoBo as I'm a big fan of Gigabyte and their anti-shock (anti power surge) capabilities. Given how often power surges happen here in my area (sometimes even multiple times within 1 hour) I would have destroyed my computer within a few short months had I not had a shock-resistant MoBo, which is why I prefer Gigabyte. But if you know that other manufacturers also have anti-shock MoBo, by all means, feel free to recommend them! Like I said, I'm in "trying new things out" mode, so I'll definitely have a look at new components if they meet my needs / requirements
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