[SOLVED] LF Pre-built 3080 (Intel ideally) £2000 budget (as close as)

[Readycheck]

Good afternoon all,

I know the market is currently wrecked and bad time to buy etc etc but all that aside, I'm still in the market. I've had a quick flick on Overclockers/Scan and just wondered where the ideal place for custom PCs custom is.

My sole requirements are 3080 GPU (no less please), Ideally Intel CPU over AMD just because I have been AMD my whole life and constantly told intel is better, No windows required so thats £100 off straight away and 2 storage drives, ideally M2, 1TB for primary and 2TB for storage. No peripherals of any sort required.

That's all folks. Any help would be massively appreciated.

 

[Eximo]

Well, Intel being better was true for gaming for most of the last 10 years or so, but right now I would say cost wise Intel wins at the low end, AMD still has the beefiest reasonably priced desktop CPU. And if it weren't for the very recent release of Intel's 12th gen, then AMD would have been the top CPU choice for gaming.

Still, right this second a 12th gen build with a 3080 is about the best you can do.

Here is a build from PCSpecialist.co.uk

You might want to mess around with case options to your liking, or you can increase to the 12GB 3080, etc.

Case
PCS PRISM TG WHITE ARGB MID TOWER CASE
Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™ i5 10-Core Processor i5-12600KF (3.7GHz) 20MB Cache
Motherboard GIGABYTE Z690 GAMING X DDR4 (LGA1700, USB 3.2, PCIe 5.0) - ARGB Ready
Memory (RAM) 32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3600MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card 10GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3080 - HDMI, DP, LHR (Pre-Order Only)
1st M.2 SSD Drive 1TB SAMSUNG 980 PRO M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 7000MB/R, 5000MB/W)
2nd M.2 SSD Drive 2TB INTEL® 670p M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 3500MB/sR | 2700MB/sW) (Special Offer)
Power Supply CORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Processor Cooling Corsair H100x Hydro Series High Performance CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card 10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
USB/Thunderbolt Options MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System NO OPERATING SYSTEM REQUIRED

3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)

Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
£1,916.67
ex VAT
£2,300.00
inc VAT and Delivery

 

[Readycheck]

May I ask your honest opinion of https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ocuk...R3w6/bQoS3w6vbQoT3z4$bQpa418'bRgK3V_~cama3VZ9 please?

it's AMD but still...

 

[Eximo]

May I ask your honest opinion of https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ocuk...R3w6/bQoS3w6vbQoT3z4$bQpa418'bRgK3V_~cama3VZ9 please?

it's AMD but still...

As is, or with similar stats to what you wanted? Seems overpriced a little compared to the other one.

16GB of memory, 500GB SSD, 750W PSU (should be enough, but marginal with a 3080) (6 cores 12 threads, vs 6 cores 16 threads on the Intel as well)

If I add a 1TB SSD and 32GB of memory, no other changes, that brings it to 2213. Could probably do with a better motherboard as well. Not a huge fan of that case either. I just had to click around that other one, it kept warning me about GPU length (which is reasonable with a front mounted AIO, as they were clearly going to do)

 

[Readycheck]

As is, or with similar stats to what you wanted? Seems overpriced a little compared to the other one.

16GB of memory, 500GB SSD, 750W PSU (should be enough, but marginal with a 3080) (6 cores 12 threads, vs 6 cores 16 threads on the Intel as well)

If I add a 1TB SSD and 32GB of memory, no other changes, that brings it to 2213. Could probably do with a better motherboard as well. Not a huge fan of that case either. I just had to click around that other one, it kept warning me about GPU length (which is reasonable with a front mounted AIO, as they were clearly going to do)

Fair enough, last question then I'm happy, would you personally go I5/3080 over AMD build? I'm just going off your "right this second a 12th gen build with a 3080 is about the best you can do ". I assume you mean with my budget in the current climate? I might even drop my expectations and go for the 3070TI. I won't be stressing that much if I'm honest/ I just tend to buy a new PC every time a new Borderlands rolls around. I don't actually have any massive high spec games in mind, I'm just wanting to splash some cash and treat myself. Sold a few houses so feel like getting myself an upgrade. Currently running AMD Ryzen 5, RTX 2060 Super.

Is it possible to share the customization link from the rig you bought or is it just a case of picking all the parts manually?

TY

 

[Eximo]

No, the best gaming PC you can possibly build is around the 12900k and a high end Nvidia GPU. Gives you the most up to date everything and 3080 and up is already beyond the point of diminishing returns (I only have a 3080Ti because I got it at retail MSRP, glad I did, price has only gone up since, and I know I am going to keep it a long while to justify the price tag)

Operating within your budget you can opt for a little more CPU or keep it all in the GPU. Generally for gaming at high resolutions or quality the GPU is very important. If you are targeting pure FPS, then CPU matters more.

Depending on what Ryzen 5 you have, nothing says you can't drop a 5600X or more directly in. X370* B450, B550, X470, X570 should all be able to do it with a BIOS update. *X370 is very recent, not all boards have it available yet, and it is completely optional for the board makers.

Borderlands doesn't tend to have the highest requirements. Nice to play with everything on, but for the most part you can halve the settings and it still looks fine. So downgrading to a more reasonable GPU isn't a bad idea. Keep in mind that you can sell that 2060 Super for several hundred at the moment. Still outperforms the new RTX3050 for example. So you can recoup quite a bit of what you spend on the new system.

i5-12600K 6 cores 12 threads Plus 4 efficiency cores (roughly Skylake/Kabylake in performance)
Single Thread Passmark rating : 3968
Multi Thread: 26914

Ryzen 5 5600X 6 Cores 12 Threads
Single Thread Passmark rating: 3381
Multi Thread: 22138

The idea being that Windows 11 will put low priority tasks onto the slower cores, leaving the full power of the big cores for your applications. It is a huge change in design, but this is only the first generation of it.

Now getting a GPU is a bit of a problem, but there are certainly ways. Without the cost of a full PC, you could just pay the scalped premium for a card for example.

Hard to make an argument for an older Intel with the 12400 and up around. If I were building right now I would probably make the attempt to get a R7 5800X3D when that comes out. Should put Intel back in second place (maybe). Or hold out for AM5 later this year. The big downside to AMD right this second is that AM4 is end of life.

Bad thing about Intel is that DDR5 is ludicrously expensive and not much faster than low latency DDR4. 13th gen should also support LGA1700 and DDR4 from the roadmaps, but Intel could change their mind. But, that means maybe a drop in upgrade later on for Intel. 5800X3D is the only one on the roadmap for AM4, and I suspect the 3D cache will be standard on AM5.

 

[Readycheck]

No, the best gaming PC you can possibly build is around the 12900k and a high end Nvidia GPU. Gives you the most up to date everything and 3080 and up is already beyond the point of diminishing returns (I only have a 3080Ti because I got it at retail MSRP, glad I did, price has only gone up since, and I know I am going to keep it a long while to justify the price tag)

Operating within your budget you can opt for a little more CPU or keep it all in the GPU. Generally for gaming at high resolutions or quality the GPU is very important. If you are targeting pure FPS, then CPU matters more.

Depending on what Ryzen 5 you have, nothing says you can't drop a 5600X or more directly in. X370* B450, B550, X470, X570 should all be able to do it with a BIOS update. *X370 is very recent, not all boards have it available yet, and it is completely optional for the board makers.

Borderlands doesn't tend to have the highest requirements. Nice to play with everything on, but for the most part you can halve the settings and it still looks fine. So downgrading to a more reasonable GPU isn't a bad idea. Keep in mind that you can sell that 2060 Super for several hundred at the moment. Still outperforms the new RTX3050 for example. So you can recoup quite a bit of what you spend on the new system.

i5-12600K 6 cores 12 threads Plus 4 efficiency cores (roughly Skylake/Kabylake in performance)
Single Thread Passmark rating : 3968
Multi Thread: 26914

Ryzen 5 5600X 6 Cores 12 Threads
Single Thread Passmark rating: 3381
Multi Thread: 22138

The idea being that Windows 11 will put low priority tasks onto the slower cores, leaving the full power of the big cores for your applications. It is a huge change in design, but this is only the first generation of it.

Now getting a GPU is a bit of a problem, but there are certainly ways. Without the cost of a full PC, you could just pay the scalped premium for a card for example.

Hard to make an argument for an older Intel with the 12400 and up around. If I were building right now I would probably make the attempt to get a R7 5800X3D when that comes out. Should put Intel back in second place (maybe). Or hold out for AM5 later this year. The big downside to AMD right this second is that AM4 is end of life.

Bad thing about Intel is that DDR5 is ludicrously expensive and not much faster than low latency DDR4. 13th gen should also support LGA1700 and DDR4 from the roadmaps, but Intel could change their mind. But, that means maybe a drop in upgrade later on for Intel. 5800X3D is the only one on the roadmap for AM4, and I suspect the 3D cache will be standard on AM5.

Might run the numbers on a more balanced system with the combo of AMDR7/3070TI. Another option as you said is keep my system but swap cards. Ive always been more into replacing whole system every X amount of years though to reset the mileage so to speak.

I can pick up a 3070TI for about £800 and sell my 2060 for about £400. Would a straight swap out be feasible? Would only set me back £400 then. My process/Mobo are (don't ask how but bought a micro in error, was a rookie mistake many moons ago)

AMD RYZEN 5 3600 6-CORE 3600MHZ 12 LOGICAL PROCESS
B450M GAMING PLUS MS-7887

 

[Eximo]

Might run the numbers on a more balanced system with the combo of AMDR7/3070TI. Another option as you said is keep my system but swap cards. Ive always been more into replacing whole system every X amount of years though to reset the mileage so to speak.

I can pick up a 3070TI for about £800 and sell my 2060 for about £400. Would a straight swap out be feasible? Would only set me back £400 then. My process/Mobo are (don't ask how but bought a micro in error, was a rookie mistake many moons ago)

AMD RYZEN 5 3600 6-CORE 3600MHZ 12 LOGICAL PROCESS
B450M GAMING PLUS MS-7887

You can also pick up an R7 and drop it in. Upgrading only the GPU makes way more sense. Double check the power supply is big enough, probably at least 750W.

Nothing wrong with a Micro ATX board, just a few less slots. Only two memory slots, but that is only a problem if you need more than 32GB of memory. CPU VRMs are okay, at least there is a heatsink for the main ones. A decent mid-range board.

 

[Readycheck]

You can also pick up an R7 and drop it in. Upgrading only the GPU makes way more sense. Double check the power supply is big enough, probably at least 750W.

Nothing wrong with a Micro ATX board, just a few less slots. Only two memory slots, but that is only a problem if you need more than 32GB of memory. CPU VRMs are okay, at least there is a heatsink for the main ones. A decent mid-range board.

That sounds like a sensible route my friend. As it's only Wonderlands I am even eying up currently before Elder Scrolls is announced for a 2038 release, I'm letting my kiddy candy shop get the better of my steady head. I love to waste cash when I have it. I'm thinking sell my GPU, buy 3070TI, if rest of system starts dropping off I can take the 3070 and bang it in a new upto date shell

PSU is 750w Seasonic Focus Gold, assume that will do?

 

[Eximo]

Yes, that should do nicely.

I upgrade when something tickles my fancy. I almost never upgrade for true performance reasons. I also figure that when I do have the time for gaming, I don't want to spend any extraneous time messing with settings.

i9-10900F was on sale, 11th gen wasn't that impressive, and I was still running a quad core 7700k. I don't really need the 10 cores, but doesn't hurt having them. Not long after that, Newegg Shuffle, MSRP 3080Ti came up, and I couldn't say no. Got a waterblock, didn't really work very well, so I bought the EK one, huge improvement, while at it replaced the core pump/res/rad. So I have that, then a few weeks ago, SSD died. So now a shiny new 2TB NVMe. So somehow ended up replacing every component in my computer but the fans and case in the last year.

7700k became a Christmas present for my nephew sporting my backup GTX980. (Still need to decide what to do with the GTX1080, probably keep my other GTX980 as a spare part)

 

[Readycheck]

I used to swap every 5 years which is quite sensible, also given the market wasnt broken

last PC was for BL3 release but my current rig was 7.5 years old so can argue it was necessary

this time was for pure greed, but you have talked me down to a sensible route

appreciate all the help mate

 

[Eximo]

Last time I upgraded for something specific was the transition to Direct X 10. Unreal Tournament III, and pretty sure Eve Online made the switch to a new graphics engine at the same time. Athlon X2 6000 and a 8800GTS. Replaced the GPU at some point to try and get better performance out of a Crysis 2 mod, helped a little, but the CPU was the real issue there. First full time job I picked up the first of the i7. From then it has been an Intel chip every three generations, water cooled the 4th gen. 7700k actually lasted the longest I think, but I bought the 10th gen CPU well after 11th gen launched.

I should play through BL3, haven't touched it since the Pre-Sequel.

 

[Readycheck]

I should play through BL3, haven't touched it since the Pre-Sequel.

bl3 is good, but tinas wonderlands looks set to be better. hold on for a month