Build Advice New Build for Excel and Photo Editing ?

[matonanjin]

I have posted a couple times as I have tried to design a system that will serve me for Excel large spreadsheets and charting and to a lesser amount Photoshop editing. As a result of learning from those posts and some other research, this is the system that I am very close to clicking on the "buy" button for. I want to hear any criticism you may have, no matter how slight you think it may be, before spending a couple thousand bucks!

The reason for the amount of storage is: 1 TB nvme drive - OS and program files, 2 TB nvme drive - Excel files (and a huge library of music files), 2 - TB nvme drive - photo files, 2 TB SSD - real time back up of the first nvme drive, 2 TB SSD - real time back up of the second nvme drive.

The LianLi I/O accessory is to add a couple USB ports in front. (it's about 3/4 down the page at that link)


CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X 4.5 GHz 8-Core Processor ($271.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright RK120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($32.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard ($179.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws S5 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Black SN770 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($58.18 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 870 Evo 2 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($149.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Samsung 870 Evo 2 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($149.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Western Digital Black SN770 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($119.69 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Black SN770 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($119.69 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI VENTUS 2X BLACK OC GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB Video Card ($324.99 @ MSI)
Case: Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO ATX Mid Tower Case ($159.98)
Power Supply: MSI MAG A850GL PCIE5 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($109.50 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: be quiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 83.9 CFM 120 mm Fan ($27.90 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: be quiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 83.9 CFM 120 mm Fan ($27.90 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: be quiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 83.9 CFM 120 mm Fan ($27.90 @ Amazon)
Custom: Lian Li I/O accessory ($16.99)
Total: $1916.58

Thank you for any thoughts or suggestions.

 

[USAFRet]

Looks reasonable.

What do you mean by "real time backup"?

You also need a backup 'not in this system'.

 

[matonanjin]

Looks reasonable.

What do you mean by "real time backup"?

You also need a backup 'not in this system'.

I have a utility that constantly backs up. "Real time" actually means I think I have it set up to back up hourly. My system now backs up to to external hard drives. And, yes, I have off-line using iDrive.

Thanks for responding.

 

[USAFRet]

I have a utility that constantly backs up. "Real time" actually means I think I have it set up to back up hourly. My system now backs up to to external hard drives. And, yes, I have off-line using iDrive.

Thanks for responding.

OK, cool.

I was hoping you weren't going to say "RAID 1".

 

[matonanjin]

OK, cool.

I was hoping you weren't going to say "RAID 1".

Nope. I just have a little utility that runs constantly.

And I should have said "Thanks for responding" and Thanks for your service.

 

[matonanjin]

Anyone else? Thoughts, suggestions on my proposed build?

 

[Why_Me]

Anyone else? Thoughts, suggestions on my proposed build?

Here's another option to have a look at.

This gives you extra USB ports.

https://www.amazon.com/Lian-Li-Lancool-Controller-Black/dp/B0BNGMFN9R/

Lian Li LANCOOL 216 ARGB Controller and USB Module (Black) $13.99

LANCOOL 216 - LIAN LI is a Leading Provider of PC Cases | Computer Cases

LANCOOL 216 AIRFLOW FOCUS The LANCOOL 216 is a mainstream case that features all-around mesh panels for optimal airflow. Thanks to its modular rear panel, it can be optimized for air cooling or water cooling. It includes 2 x 160mm and 1 x 140mm pre-installed PWM fans and an innovative rear PCIe...

lian-li.com

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: *Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF 3.9 GHz 20-Core Processor ($339.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: *Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($35.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: *Gigabyte Z890 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ATX LGA1851 Motherboard ($218.00 @ Amazon)
Memory: *Patriot Viper Venom 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: *Acer Predator GM7000 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($132.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: *TEAMGROUP QX 4 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($192.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: *Acer Predator GM7000 4 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($249.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: *Asus DUAL EVO OC GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB Video Card ($304.97 @ Amazon)
Case: *Lian Li LANCOOL 216 ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Adorama)
Power Supply: *Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 - TT Premium Edition 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($71.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $1776.79
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-03-01 22:29 EST-0500

 

[Quinn2_Santini3]

Why mess around with bazillion sticks ?

I'd get myself one of those RAID cards that can work with M.2 sticks ( they are basically just PCIe bridge from host to N M.2 sticks), plop on it two nice 4TB or 8TB sticks and bind them into RAID-1 and you are good to go.

Or even better, use 4 sticks in RAID-5.
No need to mess around with automated copying etc etc.
And you get much better speeds, less clutter and redundancy protection across the board.

Most of those extra M.2 sticks on MoBo are connected through South Bridge chip, which means that tehy compete for bandwidth with other peripherals.

 

[USAFRet]

Why mess around with bazillion sticks ?

I'd get myself one of those RAID cards that can work with M.2 sticks ( they are basically just PCIe bridge from host to N M.2 sticks), plop on it two nice 4TB or 8TB sticks and bind them into RAID-1 and you are good to go.

Or even better, use 4 sticks in RAID-5.
No need to mess around with automated copying etc etc.
And you get much better speeds, less clutter and redundancy protection across the board.

Most of those extra M.2 sticks on MoBo are connected through South Bridge chip, which means that tehy compete for bandwidth with other peripherals.

You do realize that "RAID" of any type is not a good backup scenario, right?

 

[matonanjin]

Here's another option to have a look at.

This gives you extra USB ports.

https://www.amazon.com/Lian-Li-Lancool-Controller-Black/dp/B0BNGMFN9R/

Lian Li LANCOOL 216 ARGB Controller and USB Module (Black) $13.99

LANCOOL 216 - LIAN LI is a Leading Provider of PC Cases | Computer Cases

LANCOOL 216 AIRFLOW FOCUS The LANCOOL 216 is a mainstream case that features all-around mesh panels for optimal airflow. Thanks to its modular rear panel, it can be optimized for air cooling or water cooling. It includes 2 x 160mm and 1 x 140mm pre-installed PWM fans and an innovative rear PCIe...

lian-li.com

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: *Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF 3.9 GHz 20-Core Processor ($339.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: *Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($35.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: *Gigabyte Z890 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ATX LGA1851 Motherboard ($218.00 @ Amazon)
Memory: *Patriot Viper Venom 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: *Acer Predator GM7000 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($132.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: *TEAMGROUP QX 4 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($192.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: *Acer Predator GM7000 4 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($249.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: *Asus DUAL EVO OC GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB Video Card ($304.97 @ Amazon)
Case: *Lian Li LANCOOL 216 ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Adorama)
Power Supply: *Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 - TT Premium Edition 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($71.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $1776.79
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-03-01 22:29 EST-0500

Thank you for the suggestions/help. What benefit does the "another option to have a look at.

This gives you extra USB ports." provide me? The one I am looking at also has 2 USB ports and a "C".

And I need to look at your Part List but at first galnce I see it is a little cheaper ($140) but I'm not sure there is any performance benefit. Or is there?

Thanks again.

 

[matonanjin]

Why mess around with bazillion sticks ?

I'd get myself one of those RAID cards that can work with M.2 sticks ( they are basically just PCIe bridge from host to N M.2 sticks), plop on it two nice 4TB or 8TB sticks and bind them into RAID-1 and you are good to go.

Or even better, use 4 sticks in RAID-5.
No need to mess around with automated copying etc etc.
And you get much better speeds, less clutter and redundancy protection across the board.

Most of those extra M.2 sticks on MoBo are connected through South Bridge chip, which means that tehy compete for bandwidth with other peripherals.

A "bazillion sticks"? "Or even better, use 4 sticks in RAID-5." My 3 NVME sticks and 2 SATA drive are a bazillion and your 4 sticks are not? With my system the first 1 TB NVME is for the OS and program files. Did your plan keep that? If so don't we then still end up with a bazillion? And after the few minutes initially setting up the back up utility it's forgotten about. (at least until a crash). So I'm not sure there is any "need to mess around with automated copyin".

Thank you for chiming in.

 

[Quinn2_Santini3]

A "bazillion sticks"? "Or even better, use 4 sticks in RAID-5." My 3 NVME sticks and 2 SATA drive are a bazillion and your 4 sticks are not? With my system the first 1 TB NVME is for the OS and program files. Did your plan keep that? If so don't we then still end up with a bazillion? And after the few minutes initially setting up the back up utility it's forgotten about. (at least until a crash). So I'm not sure there is any "need to mess around with automated copyin".

Thank you for chiming in.

"My" sticks are :

• all on ONE interface, sharing bandwidth on one PCIe link on the CPU
• with far better bandwidth overall. RAID card gets to connect to one link on CPU, which can easily be PCIe5x8, for example. With 4 cheap 4TB PCie4 M.2 sticks on the other end in RAID-5 for example, one can get 12TB capacity, one stick redundancy and about 20+ TB/s read bandwith. All that while offering real-time redundancy.
• in RAID-1 or 5 with FAR better redundancy. No need to mess around with file copying etc
• RAID-1 backup is always current. When drive fails, the rest runs in degraded mode, but files are in current state, not the last backup
• RAID setup can cover everything, not just the couple of maps
• those sticks are in uniform formation. One type of sticks xN. Much less of a headache to maintain

* RAID-x offers much more per sticks involved. More sticks, more capacity, and usually bandwidth. You can't write a script to do what RAID-5/6 does, for example.

 

[USAFRet]

* RAID setup can cover everything, not just the couple of maps

Accidental file deletion ?

 

[USAFRet]

Nonsense. I'm using RAIDs in various forms for 20+ years now.

They are so concerned about bit-rot and whatnot that you'd expect for them to commit mass suicide on such failure.

But no. They don't care.
Their answer ? "Use real backup". 🤣

No, thanks. I'll have RAID for some time to come.

Also BTW, most of the RAID concerns are moot with M.2 sticks. They can be rewritten quickly, in contrast to HDD.

RAID has its place.
Continued uptime, in the event of physical hardware fail.

Any rational user will ALSO have a good real backup.
And if you're not time sensitive to the span of an hour or so, you don't need the RAID anyway.

You can continue to think your stuff is safe behind that RAID.
Those of us who know better...know better.

 

[matonanjin]

You guys that have responded, thank you.

I have one more question. I meant to ask this in my OP, sorry :
Are those 3 fans going to be enough?