[SOLVED] Need help with a pc build under $1600AUD (new to this)

[dconn455]

Hi, I'm looking for a PC to build as I'm looking for a long-term computer. I've had a go at the PCPartPicker but I don't really know what I'm looking for (I have a general idea).
I'm a student, so it'd need to be fine with handling multiple documents open at once, I'm looking to keep it for about 4-5 years because I'm annoyed at having to replace my laptop every two years. Other things it would need to be able to handle would be listening to music, running on two screens 1440px1080p 144Hz, casual gaming - couple hours a week (COD 4 remastered, Skyrim, and Witcher 3 and possibly future games which come out).

I kinda like the idea of a compact PC, however not 100% necessary if the money would be better spent on a full tower. My budget is $1600AUD plus/minus 15%.

If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer as I'm not 100% sure what to include in this post, but I hope I've included enough info for you to help me out.

Thanks!

 

[Hellfire13]

Something like this should be good for what you are looking for...

PCPartPicker Part List

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor | $314.00 @ Shopping Express
Motherboard | ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming 4 ATX AM4 Motherboard | $249.00 @ PCCaseGear
Memory | Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory | $106.93 @ Amazon Australia
Storage | Crucial P1 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive | $88.19 @ Amazon Australia
Storage | Seagate Barracuda Computer 2 TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $79.00 @ Umart
Video Card | MSI Radeon RX 5700 8 GB MECH OC Video Card | $598.00 @ Skycomp Technology
Case | Cooler Master MasterBox Lite 5 ATX Mid Tower Case | $66.00 @ Shopping Express
Power Supply | Corsair TXM Gold 550 W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply | $117.00 @ Shopping Express
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total | $1618.12
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-09-17 16:12 AEST+1000 |

 

[helper800]

Something like this should be good for what you are looking for...

PCPartPicker Part List

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor | $314.00 @ Shopping Express
Motherboard | ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming 4 ATX AM4 Motherboard | $249.00 @ PCCaseGear
Memory | Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory | $106.93 @ Amazon Australia
Storage | Crucial P1 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive | $88.19 @ Amazon Australia
Storage | Seagate Barracuda Computer 2 TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $79.00 @ Umart
Video Card | MSI Radeon RX 5700 8 GB MECH OC Video Card | $598.00 @ Skycomp Technology
Case | Cooler Master MasterBox Lite 5 ATX Mid Tower Case | $66.00 @ Shopping Express
Power Supply | Corsair TXM Gold 550 W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply | $117.00 @ Shopping Express
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total | $1618.12
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-09-17 16:12 AEST+1000 |

The only thing that you tend to do that in your ryzen 3000 builds that I don't like is recommend 3200 speed DIMMs instead of 3600 speed. Other than that we are usually in lock-step.

 

[Hellfire13]

The only thing that you tend to do that in your ryzen 3000 builds that I don't like is recommend 3200 speed DIMMs instead of 3600 speed. Other than that we are usually in lock-step.

That is because DDR4 standard and current APIs saturates out around 3200mhz. Going above that kicks in diminishing value of return, which means the price to performance ratio is not worth the extra cost, unless you get a kit with pretty low latency which is very very expensive. A 3200mhz kit with CAS 16 will perform more or less similar to 3600mhz CAS 19. The real benefit will come with 3600 CAS 16, but it will blow a hole in your pocket.

 

[helper800]

That is because DDR4 standard and current APIs saturates out around 3200mhz. Going above that kicks in diminishing value of return, which means the price to performance ratio is not worth the extra cost, unless you get a kit with pretty low latency which is very very expensive. A 3200mhz kit with CAS 16 will perform more or less similar to 3600mhz CAS 19. The real benefit will come with 3600 CAS 16, but it will blow a hole in your pocket.

Usually, a 3600 cl16 19 19 19 kit is only 5-15 dollars more right now. That is worth the extra cost imo.

 

[WildCard999]

The B450 Tomahawk MAX supports the 3rd gen, faster memory & would save you $60.

PCPartPicker Part List

Motherboard: MSI B450 TOMAHAWK MAX ATX AM4 Motherboard ($188.00 @ Shopping Express)
Total: $188.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-09-18 06:13 AEST+1000

 

[Hellfire13]

Usually, a 3600 cl16 19 19 19 kit is only 5-15 dollars more right now. That is worth the extra cost imo.

Check this out...

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnRVEgCZJ7c

As you can see, there is not really much difference between them. Just gives you sadistic pleasure and bragging rights.

 

[helper800]

Check this out...

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnRVEgCZJ7c

As you can see, there is not really much difference between them. Just gives you sadistic pleasure and bragging rights.

Or it gives an extra 1-4% performance at a minimal cost as well as lower latency which is an issue with Ryzen in the first place.
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-ryzen-3000-best-memory-timings,6310-2.html

 

[Hellfire13]

Or it gives an extra 1-4% performance at a minimal cost as well as lower latency which is an issue with Ryzen in the first place.
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-ryzen-3000-best-memory-timings,6310-2.html

"The best practical configuration is four ranks of DDR4-3600 at the lowest stable latencies. "
Precisely. CL16 not CL19.

 

[helper800]

"The best practical configuration is four ranks of DDR4-3600 at the lowest stable latencies. "
Precisely. CL16 not CL19.

16 19 19 19 at 3600 is still faster than 3200 cl 16 18 18 18...

 

[Hellfire13]

16 19 19 19 at 3600 is still faster than 3200 cl 16 18 18 18...

I know that.
The 3200mhz RAM costs 106 bucks where as the cheapest 3600mhz with CL 16 costs more than double. We are talking about AUD here...

PCPartPicker Part List

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
Memory | G.Skill Trident Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 Memory | $239.80 @ Newegg Australia
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total | $239.80
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-09-18 23:29 AEST+1000 |

Do you get the point now???

 

[helper800]

I know that.
The 3200mhz RAM costs 106 bucks where as the cheapest 3600mhz with CL 16 costs more than double. We are talking about AUD here...

PCPartPicker Part List

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
Memory | G.Skill Trident Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 Memory | $239.80 @ Newegg Australia
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total | $239.80
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-09-18 23:29 AEST+1000 |

Do you get the point now???

At the time the build was being built I saw a 16 19 19 19 3600 speed G skill kit for only 12 more AUD.

 

[Hellfire13]

At the time the build was being built I saw a 16 19 19 19 3600 speed G skill kit for only 12 more AUD.

Ahhh crap! You should have linked that. We went through so much for nothing...lol

 

[helper800]

Ahhh crap! You should have linked that. We went through so much for nothing...lol

lol yeah, but when I checked it again it was no longer listed in the link. I think it sold out at the vender.