Question First New PC in almost 10 years - Please Review

[Chad333]

Building my first new PC in almost 10 years...it's time. These are some of my broad requirements:

• Reliable. Nothing finicky.
• Games - All types
• Basic office productivity programs
• Semi-quiet
• 1440p or 1600p - Probably getting the Alienware 38inch 3840x1600 and will have standard 27 inch on the side/top

Here are my two potential builds. One higher level and one closer to mid:

High: roughly $2,130

CPU	i7-127000k
Motherboard	MSI Pro Z690-A DDR4
Memory	Corsair Vengeneance 32GB DDR4 3600
Video Cards	MSI 3080 12GB
Case	Fractal Design Define 7 White
Power	Thermal 850w 80 plus gold
Storage	Samsung 980 Pro 2TB
CPU Cooler	Noctua NH-D15 Black

Mid: roughly 1,712

CPU	I5-124000
Motherboard	Gigabyte Z690 UD AX
Memory	Corsair Vengeneance 16GB DDR4 3600
Video Cards	MSI 3080 12GB
Case	Fractal Design Define 7 White
Power	Thermal 850w 80 plus gold
Storage	Crucial P5 2TB

Do I need the high end one or is the mid range plenty good enough? Any other thoughts are welcome. Thanks!

 

[Maestro Colby]

Go with 3200 MHz ram for intel XMP profile.
Everything else looks good spec wise.

 

[Chad333]

Go with 3200 MHz ram for intel XMP profile.
Everything else looks good spec wise.

Thanks! Still getting back up to speed on this. Been a while since I've done it.

 

[Maestro Colby]

No problem.
Hope your new computer is brutally fast on through the competition.

-CS

 

[Eximo]

Already had 3600 in his lists, don't see much of a reason to go for less. Alderlake and DDR4 you can push that to 4000 or even 4400, though that is rather expensive. Also DDR5 to consider starting at 4800 and working up to 6400 (though that is REALLY expensive)

You do not need a Z class board with a 12400, a B660 board would be enough.

850W is good. As long as that is a Thermaltake Toughpower PSU, it is adequate. If it isn't stick to things like EVGA G2 or G6 series, Corsair RMx and TX, SuperFlower Leadex and other high quality power supplies.

You did not list CPU cooling. 12700K will not come with a cooler at all. You would want a very high end air cooler, Noctua D15, be quiet! Dark Rock or Dark Rock Pro, or at least a 240mm water cooler, preferably 280mm or 360mm.

 

[Chad333]

Already had 3600 in his lists, don't see much of a reason to go for less. Alderlake and DDR4 you can push that to 4000 or even 4400, though that is rather expensive. Also DDR5 to consider starting at 4800 and working up to 6400 (though that is REALLY expensive)

You do not need a Z class board with a 12400, a B660 board would be enough.

850W is good. As long as that is a Thermaltake Toughpower PSU, it is adequate. If it isn't stick to things like EVGA G2 or G6 series, Corsair RMx and TX, SuperFlower Leadex and other high quality power supplies.

You did not list CPU cooling. 12700K will not come with a cooler at all. You would want a very high end air cooler, Noctua D15, be quiet! Dark Rock or Dark Rock Pro, or at least a 240mm water cooler, preferably 280mm or 360mm.

So, 3200 is the minimum/sweet spot, but higher is ok? This is what I'm getting from both comments.

The B class board is a good idea, if I go the mid-range build.

It is Thermaltake, but was looking at Corsair RMx too.

I didn't list CPU cooling for the i5-12400 build, as I thought I read it came with a stock cooler. That should be sufficient since it can't be OC'd. But, I had selected the Noctua D15 for the i7 build. I agree with you on it. Seems to get a lot of good ratings by everyone.

I appreciate the comments.

 

[Maestro Colby]

It really just comes down to best Intel XMP performance, that’s why I said 3200

 

[Eximo]

So, 3200 is the minimum/sweet spot, but higher is ok? This is what I'm getting from both comments.

I didn't list CPU cooling for the i5-12400 build, as I thought I read it came with a stock cooler.

Correct, 3600 CL16 is about as good as it gets and there should be no problem setting the XMP profile and nothing else. Faster speeds might require tweaking.

The Intel stock cooler, is barely adequate, as usual. Any 120mm tower cooler is more then enough (plus you then have the Intel stock cooler as a spare)

 

[Eximo]

It really just comes down to best Intel XMP performance, that’s why I said 3200

I'm not sure there is a best exactly. 3200 CL14 is pretty good stuff, but also expensive. 3200 CL16 is the most common, but 3600 CL16 gives you a little more bandwidth and the same latency. Often only $10-20 more.

G.Skill Ripjaws (They must be trying hard, they seem to have the lowest price in most categories from the better known brands)

$110 3200 CL16
$125 4000 CL18 - Not bad actually, might be worth a shot. Worst case you can run it at 3600 with tightened timings
$140 4400 CL19
$143 3600 CL16
$239 3200 CL14
$229 3600 CL14
$229 4000 CL17

 

[Maestro Colby]

I'm not sure there is a best exactly. 3200 CL14 is pretty good stuff, but also expensive. 3200 CL16 is the most common, but 3600 CL16 gives you a little more bandwidth and the same latency. Often only $10-20 more.

G.Skill Ripjaws (They must be trying hard, they seem to have the lowest price in most categories from the better known brands)

$110 3200 CL16
$125 4000 CL18 - Not bad actually, might be worth a shot. Worst case you can run it at 3600 with tightened timings
$140 4400 CL19
$143 3600 CL16
$229 3600 CL14
$229 4000 CL17

True wish ram wasn’t so expensive

 

[Eximo]

As an aside, you can also overclock a lot of 3200 MT/s memory up to 3600, often with out messing with the timings. I did that with my Crucial Ballistix 3200 CL16 kit, happily runs at 3600 with no other changes. Just have to do it manually rather than set an XMP profile.

 

[Chad333]

You're probably right on the cooler. Especially, when they aren't super expensive. My budget is very flexible. I just don't like overspending on anything when it's not necessary, which is why I'm here to get feedback.

I will definitely keep the RAM advice in mind.

 

[Why_Me]

You're probably right on the cooler. Especially, when they aren't super expensive. My budget is very flexible. I just don't like overspending on anything when it's not necessary, which is why I'm here to get feedback.

I will definitely keep the RAM advice in mind.

Are you ordering in the US?

 

[Chad333]

Are you ordering in the US?

Yes, the US.

 

[Why_Me]

Yes, the US.

Case comes with a built-in fan speed controller.

https://www.newegg.com/black-lian-li-lancool-ii-performance-atx-mid-tower/p/2AM-000Z-00086
LIAN LI LANCOOL II MESH C PERFORMANCE $119.99

https://www.newegg.com/super-flower-leadex-iii-sf-850f14hg-850w/p/1HU-024C-00005
Super Flower Leadex III 850W 80+ Gold Modular Power Supply $109.99 + $5 off w/ promo code FDYBTA4357

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813144528
MSI MAG B660M BAZOOKA DDR4 $139.99

https://www.newegg.com/intel-core-i7-12700f-core-i7-12th-gen/p/N82E16819118359
Intel Core i7-12700F $314.99 + $5 off w/ promo code FDYBTA447

https://www.amazon.com/DeepCool-AK620-High-Performance-Dual-Tower-Dissipation/dp/B09CSXS3X4
DeepCool AK620 CPU Cooler $64.99

https://www.newegg.com/corsair-32gb-288-pin-ddr4-sdram/p/N82E16820236596
CORSAIR Vengeance LPX DDR4 3600 32GB (2x16GB) CL18 $119.99 + $5 off w/ promo code FDYBTA4259

Amazon.com: PNY CS2130 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen3 x4 Internal Solid State Drive (SSD), Read up to 3,500 - M280CS2130-2TB-RB: Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: PNY CS2130 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen3 x4 Internal Solid State Drive (SSD), Read up to 3,500 - M280CS2130-2TB-RB: Computers & Accessories

www.amazon.com

PNY CS2130 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen3 x4 Internal SSD $179.99

https://www.newegg.com/gigabyte-geforce-rtx-3080-ti-gv-n308tgaming-oc-12gd/p/N82E16814932436
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3080 Ti OC 12GB Graphics Card $1,099.99 + $50 off w/ promo code VGARWA42

Total: $2084.92 w/ promo codes

A better look at those components.

Lancool-II-Mesh-Performance

<h2>Born to push the limits</h2> LANCOOL II MESH Performance features a mesh front panel and mesh bottom left shroud panel, honeycomb vent design and built-in PWM fans, ensuring bountiful airflow delivered to your components while the system runs at peak performance. <span...

lian-li.com

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-B660M-BAZOOKA-DDR4

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/deepcool-ak620-review

https://global.deepcool.com/product...-High-Performance-CPU-Cooler/2021/13067.shtml

https://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/gigabyte-geforce-rtx-3080-ti-gaming-oc-review,1.html

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/u...2700f-processor-25m-cache-up-to-4-90-ghz.html

Intel Core i7-12700 + Intel B660 Review

Today we have a combo review of all-new Intel hardware, our first look at the affordable Intel B660 platform, the non-K Core i7-12700 and Intel's latest box...

www.techspot.com

 

[Chad333]

I will definitely look into some of those cheaper options like the cooler and SSD. Though, I will probably keep the 3080 12GB, as the $250 difference seems like a lot for not a ton of FPS gain. I appreciate all the work.