[SOLVED] Help me spec a PC build (haven't built one in 10 years!)

[jeremy.woolf1]

Hi everyone

Long time since I've done any of this.. So much so that I don't think I'll be building this myself, but instead I'll spec the parts (with your help) and order it from PC specialist (UK website).

Items I already have:

-Monitor
-Keyboard and mouse
-2 x storage HDDs
-PCI sound card for my amp and speakers - this needs to go back into my new PC - https://www.rme-audio.de/hdsp-9632.html

I work from home, so my computer is for:

-Work - emails/spreadsheets/internet
-Watching movies/streaming
-Occasional gaming on basic games like Portal

What I'd like:

-As fast as possible for work, internet, etc.
-Smooth playback on movies/streaming
-Very low noise case and fans - I've currently got some extra resistors on my case fans, I could potentially move them across.

So I need to decide:

-Motherboard
-CPU
-RAM
-GPU
-SSD for windows
-PSU
-Network adapter
-Quiet case/quiet case fans/CPU cooler

So the first question I think is...AMD or Intel? When I last built my PC, I went for Intel. Happy to move over to AMD if there's justification for doing so?

Sorry to post such a vague first post. I'm reading up where I can, but it's difficult to know where to start if you haven't done any of this in so long.

Budget...I'd say around £800, or around $1000.

Thanks

Jeremy

 

[Flayed]

Everything I've read points me towards the 1660 super. The 1660 super gaming x also has a different fan and heatsink design to the others, which help keep it quiet and cooler. Factory settings are fans off when less than 60c. The Asus version spins the fans at 55 degrees and the EVGA doesn't say.

This shows the EVGA as pretty loud.. https://www.anandtech.com/show/15010/the-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1660-super-review-feat-evga/15

And this shows the MSI card as very quiet! https://www.techpowerup.com/review/msi-geforce-gtx-1660-super-gaming-x/34.html

I also looked at the 3 fan version from Gigabyte...the alternate spinning fan idea sounds interesting, but it's slightly noisier than the MSI card at load.

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/gigabyte-geforce-gtx-1660-super-gaming-pro-oc/34.html

The 1660 Gaming X (not super) has the same fan etc, but 6Gbps less memory speed and GDDR5 instead of GDDR6. Difference in price is about £27 so the Super looks worth the difference.

I think that's a decision then....I didn't want to spend this much but I'm sure I won't regret it. It should be nice and quiet at low load, and then take on any games when I need it

Build now looks like this...

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor (£172.00 @ Amazon UK)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock 4 CPU Cooler (£54.28 @ Amazon UK)
Motherboard: MSI B450 GAMING PRO CARBON AC ATX AM4 Motherboard (£119.99 @ Box Limited)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory (£71.98 @ SmartTeck.co.uk)
Storage: Samsung 970 Evo 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive (£124.98 @ Ebuyer)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6 GB GAMING X Video Card (£245.71 @ More Computers)
Case: Fractal Design Define C ATX Mid Tower Case (£74.98 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: Corsair RMx (2018) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply (£102.97 @ Laptops Direct)
Total: £966.89
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-12-30 20:29 GMT+0000

Things I still need to look into:

-Case fans
-Hard drive space - I know game files are large. Will it make much/any difference to gameplay/loading times to save games on a spare WD 1tb 7200rpm drive?

My hard drive layout would then be:

970 evo 1tb - boot drive + personal files, photos, movies, etc
WD 1TB - backup of personal files, photos, movies, etc
Additional WD 1TB - Games drive

Would that configuration work well?

heh just realized you are jeza_06 on Andandtech forum you posting the same thread on both lol

 

[Vic 40]

Some options,
Something smaller,
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/TnJtt6/cryorig-m9-plus-484-cfm-cpu-cooler-m9-plus
and as i suggested this one,
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product...ck-edition-420-cfm-cpu-cooler-rr-212s-20pk-r1

Those two with two others,
CRYORIG H7 49 CFM CPU Cooler vs. ARCTIC Freezer 33 TR (Black/White) CPU Cooler vs. CRYORIG M9 Plus 48.4 CFM CPU Cooler vs. Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition 42 CFM CPU Cooler - PCPartPicker
the TR wil only work with AMD AM4 and Threadripper and high end Intel platforms so keep that in mind.
Best thing is read some reviews. Did that and in most is the Hyper Black not that much louder at max speed,can't say it will be less loud though,the same for the small Cryorig.

 

[jeremy.woolf1]

heh just realized you are jeza_06 on Andandtech forum you posting the same thread on both lol

I know mate, sorry I'm impatient and like getting opinions from different people haha. Can't have too many cooks with this stuff! Especially if you've been out the game for so long!

I started when I thought this thread went dead but then it started up again so I just continued with both

 

[Flayed]

I would just stick with the Dark Rock 4 for 50 odd quid seems like a good option, or go with the newer dark rock slim for about the same money. If you go overboard on a big arse air cooler it means you don't have to clean it so often(ever) lol In a few years you might be like this 6c/12t cpu is doing it for me anymore and get a 12c/24t from fleabay or similar you never know

 

[jeremy.woolf1]

Had to google to see that you're talking about processors...makes sense! I had just read a few reviews on the large ones that they can be a pain to fit. I guess once it's fitted it's all good though.

 

[jeremy.woolf1]

Final list...ordering everything today.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor (£172.00 @ Amazon UK)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock 4 CPU Cooler (£54.28 @ Amazon UK)
Motherboard: MSI B450 GAMING PRO CARBON AC ATX AM4 Motherboard (£115.85 @ More Computers)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory (£64.24 @ CCL Computers)
Storage: Samsung 970 Evo 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive (£124.98 @ Ebuyer)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6 GB GAMING X Video Card (£245.71 @ More Computers)
Case: Fractal Design Define C ATX Mid Tower Case (£74.98 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: Corsair RMx (2018) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply (£102.97 @ Laptops Direct)
Case Fan: be quiet! SilentWings 3 pwm 59.5 CFM 140 mm Fan (£18.47 @ Amazon UK)
Case Fan: be quiet! SilentWings 3 pwm 59.5 CFM 140 mm Fan (£18.47 @ Amazon UK)
Case Fan: be quiet! SilentWings 3 PWM 50.5 CFM 120 mm Fan (£17.98 @ Amazon UK)
Custom: StarTech.com PCI Express to PCI Adapter Card - PCIe to PCI Converter Adapter with Low Profile / Half-Height Bracket (£34.79 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £1044.72
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-01-02 14:53 GMT+0000

Thanks for your help everyone

 

[jeremy.woolf1]

A few photos! @Vic 40 My soundcard works perfectly with the adapter. I used a long screw and washer to secure it in place. One of the ports is not usable now but I never used it anyway.

Very glad I went for a newer motherboard and an adapter instead of older motherboard with a PCI socket.

 

[Vic 40]

Good to hear the adapter works.👍

That is a very nice and clean looking system.🏆😁

 

[jeremy.woolf1]

Good to hear the adapter works.👍

That is a very nice and clean looking system.🏆😁

Thanks! Took a while to wire the cables properly! Very good case for it though.