Build Advice Build after 11 years - need some guidance and confirmation pls

warrior047

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Dec 20, 2011
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Hi all,
It has been 11+ years with my PC and am finally looking to upgrade at the earliest. My current CPU is i5 2500. My system is frequently giving blue screens and multiple new HD are failing when connected in additional SATA ports. Graphics card died long ago.

Use case - Mostly browsing, office work, content creation capable, very occasional gaming (Mostly into shooters and action adventures like Hitman, Red dead redemption, GTA etc.,). Also should be able to play old games from 2002-2018 as well in similar genre. I don't upgrade my PC usually and hence would like it to be powerful enough for the next few years like my current build done more than a decade ago. Would like my system to be capable to play latest and greatest at good quality.

Budget - My budget is 1500USD including graphics card and monitor. Can go 200 USD more if really required

Graphics card - Will need to buy a reliable graphics card that will stay tight for few years at-least as my earlier radeon went dead within few years without even 10% use in games. Am preferring Intel Arc770 due to its price. Pls suggest any alternatives as well. Budget for it is maximum 400-450 USD as it will cross 500-550 USD in indian price. Won't be buying immediately though along with build due to budget to be saved. Might buy GTX 4070 or 4060 Ti when released if i have money

My PC Build proposition - Without graphics card and Monitor
  1. Intel Core i5-13500 2.5 GHz 14-Core Processor (need integrated graphics mandatorily and won't be considering 13600k as its very powerful- I won't be doing any overclocking)
  2. Deepcool AK400 66.47 CFM CPU Cooler - Air cooler (Was also considering Noctua D15 but its damn expensive. Not keen on AIO or liquid coolers)
  3. MSI MAG B760 TOMAHAWK WIFI DDR4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard (Selected this for DDR4 due to features and build)
  4. Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory - RAM (Selected this due to price)
  5. Western Digital Black SN770 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME - SSD
  6. MSI MPG A850GF 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply - PSU (Can also consider Adata core reactor 850, Corsair RM850e, Cooler master MDE 850 or V850, Antec PSU)
  7. Lian Li O11 Air Mini ATX Mid tower - Cabinet (Need some good looking stealth professional cabinet with good air flow with at-least 4 HDD bays and 3 M2, front USB-C ports - Phantek P600s is a favourite but not affordable. Also liked Antec P10C, P101 due to their budget and matching my needs. NZXT doesn't have more HDD bays and cost is high. Cooler master new TD500 V2 also doesn't have the required features for me. Pls suggest any good option here as i had to select this as it was different looking and cube like with required features)
  8. Graphics card - Open for suggestions
  9. Monitor - fast response and 1440p monitor pls - no curved monitor. I also have eye issue and hence need something balanced with accurate colors. Was happy with my current BenQ 222HDL for over 11 years.
Did lot of research for DDR5 and not much price difference but heard lower speed of DDR5 will have almost same performance as DDR4 3200. Hence considering DDR4 to save some bucks. Pls recommend otherwise.

Kindly help experts and forum colleagues!
 
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The RTX 4070 12GB is due for release April 13th. That card should retail for $700 USD if I had to guess. A 750W psu should be sufficient for that card.

Here's a few cost cutters including a case that has two optical drive bays along with good airflow.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/KLQcCJ/fractal-design-pop-air-atx-mid-tower-case-fd-c-poa1a-01
Fractal Design Pop Air ATX Mid Tower Case $88.98

https://www.fractal-design.com/products/cases/pop/pop-air/black-solid/

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Gx...atx-lga1700-motherboard-b760-gaming-x-ax-ddr4
Gigabyte B760 GAMING X AX DDR4 $159.99

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/B760-GAMING-X-AX-DDR4-rev-10#kf

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/mQ...ed-fully-modular-atx-power-supply-sf-750f14hg
Super Flower Leadex III Gold 750 W 80+ Gold Modular ATX Power Supply $99.99

or ...

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/X9...ed-fully-modular-atx-power-supply-sf-850f14tp
Super Flower Leadex V Platinum Pro 850W 80+ Platinum Modular ATX Power Supply $129.99
 
Here is the list:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-13500 2.5 GHz 14-Core Processor ($249.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B760M AORUS ELITE AX Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-5600 CL28 Memory ($118.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Black SN770 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GAMING OC GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12 GB Video Card ($849.99 @ B&H)
Case: NZXT H510 ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.98 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair RM650x (2021) 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($104.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Gigabyte G27Q 27.0" 2560 x 1440 144 Hz Monitor ($249.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1873.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-03-25 05:40 EDT-0400


I did not want to cheap out on quality hence that is $175 over budget. But for the performance and quality it provides it is absolutely worth it.

That GPU comes with 4Yr warranty out of the box. But should be good for even longer period of time 6yrs or so. Will it last 10Yrs is doubtful.

That case has front USB-C port. I was thinking if I should skip on Front USB port to save some money but then thought it can be useful at some point specially if you plan to use this PC for very long time.

That Monitor is really a good one. With really good Colors in both SDR and HDR mode. I did not want to cut down the cost on Monitor either as that gonna be a long term investment as well.

As I did not cut any corners the cost besides going for 650W PSU over 750W while 650W gonna be enough if possible pick the Corsair RM750x, the build is bit over budget. So I say use Ben-Q monitor for now and purchase New monitor when you have money for it.
 

EonW

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That looks like a good build. Western Digital Black SSD is both fast and reliable. I have one. A graphics card that seems to be popular and should be able to keep up in gaming is the Geforce RTX 3060 card. If you don't want to go as high as that, the 2060 cards are reasonably priced. Amount of RAM is as important as GPU speed in content creation.
One thing you will have to be careful of is not power, but compatibility. I jumped from a 2012 Intel 3570K setup to an Intel 8th generation setup in 2019. The new rig worked great, but then I found some issues with older software, so just check this out. Windows Compatibility Mode may solve the problem, but not always. Whatever happens, enjoy your new machine.
 

warrior047

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Dec 20, 2011
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Hello, thank you for the great responses. Below is the final configuration per guidance excluding monitor and graphics card.
Am from India and will have to pay premium for every product listed below locally. I won't be upgrading in near time anyways as Intel socket would not be valid after an year. New MOBO will not be applicable either. My budget is only 1500 USD and if needed maximum 1750 USD or so, not 2000 USD at all.

Intel Core i5-13500 2.5 GHz 14-Core Processor
Deepcool AK400 66.47 CFM CPU Cooler - Air cooler
Gigabyte B760M AORUS ELITE AX (rev. 1.0)
G.Skill F5-6000J3636F16GX2-RS5K Desktop Ram Ripjaws S5 Series 32GB (16GBx2) DDR5 6000MHz
Western Digital Black SN770 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME - SSD
Adata XPG Core Reactor 850 Watt SMPS 80 Plus Gold Certification Fully Modular PSU With Active PFC
Lian Li O11 Air Mini ATX Mid tower - Cabinet (Coming with 10k INR in India)

Am opting for 850W PSU just in case considering later needs. Corsair RM750x is not at all available, and only RM750e is available at a high premium. Only MSI MPG A850GF and Core reactor ones are within 9k INR. Cooler master V850 Gold V2 is also expensive by 2k INR more.

Would like to buy graphics card later with some money. Only want to buy an excellent 2k monitor now.
 

warrior047

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Dec 20, 2011
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18,515
That looks like a good build. Western Digital Black SSD is both fast and reliable. I have one. A graphics card that seems to be popular and should be able to keep up in gaming is the Geforce RTX 3060 card. If you don't want to go as high as that, the 2060 cards are reasonably priced. Amount of RAM is as important as GPU speed in content creation.
One thing you will have to be careful of is not power, but compatibility. I jumped from a 2012 Intel 3570K setup to an Intel 8th generation setup in 2019. The new rig worked great, but then I found some issues with older software, so just check this out. Windows Compatibility Mode may solve the problem, but not always. Whatever happens, enjoy your new machine.

Are you talking about software? Am currently on Windows 7 only as my build of Intel i5 2500 won't allow more than that.
 

warrior047

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Dec 20, 2011
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18,515
Hello all,
Considering the below final configuration, Pls suggest

  1. Intel Core i5-13500 2.5 GHz 14-Core Processor
  2. Deepcool AK620 CPU Cooler - Air cooler
  3. Gigabyte B760M AORUS ELITE AX (rev. 1.0)
  4. G.Skill F5-6000J3636F16GX2-RS5K Desktop Ram Ripjaws S5 Series 32GB (16GBx2) DDR5 6000MHz OR TeamGroup T-Force FLARD532G6000HC38ADC01 Desktop Ram Vulcan Alpha Series 32GB (16GBx2) DDR5 6000MHz Red OR Corsair Vengeance LPX 32 GB (2X16GB) 5600 C36 Memory
  5. Western Digital Black SN770 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME - SSD
  6. Adata XPG Core Reactor 850 Watt SMPS 80 Plus Gold Certification Fully Modular PSU With Active PFC OR MSI MPG A850GF Gaming Power Supply
  7. Lian Li O11 Air Mini ATX Mid tower
Pls suggest some good fans also. Will need 3 more 120mm and 2 more 140 mm fans. This case comes with 3 pre-installed fans.
 
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Pls suggest some good fans also. Will need 3 more 120mm and 2 more 140 mm fans. This case comes with 3 pre-installed fans.

Is it your intent to NOT use the 3 pre-installed fans?

Or do you intend to use them plus 5 more, for a total of 8 fans regardless?

Normally, I'd likely use the fans included with the case and evaluate temps, then possibly buy replacements if unhappy. Have you decided they are unsuitable?

You may have to accept more noise if you want lower temps. If push comes to shove, which way do you lean on that issue? If that case emphasizes mesh and airflow, it may leak noise more than you anticipate.
 
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warrior047

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Dec 20, 2011
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Is it your intent to NOT use the 3 pre-installed fans?

Or do you intend to use them plus 5 more, for a total of 8 fans regardless?

Normally, I'd likely use the fans included with the case and evaluate temps, then possibly buy replacements if unhappy. Have you decided they are unsuitable?

You may have to accept more noise if you want lower temps. If push comes to shove, which way do you lean on that issue? If that case emphasizes mesh and airflow, it may leak noise more than you anticipate.

No i intend to use those 3 fans. But because i was not going for liquid cooling, wanted more air flow. But i get your point.