productivity PC build for under 1,400AUD - Need recomendations!

[Allanco]

Hey guys,
This is my first time building a PC and I'm a bit unsure if I've chosen wisely.
I'm not really into gaming, more looking for a productivity build.
I'm a 2nd year electrical engineering student so I'll need a video card that can handle some 3D simulations, nothing over the top.

I've spent the past 3 days researching and this is what I've come up with: https://au.pcpartpicker.com/list/WgfdVY
I still need to find a motherboard, but I'm unsure if I should put more money into my graphic card or if the GTX1050 Ti will be enough?

I'm also unsure if I should upgrade to the Intel i7 6700 from the i7 7700, considering that I've only got limited funds.

Any thoughts regarding this build would be most appreciated
Thanks!

(Motherboard recommendations welcome!)

 

[okcnaline]

What programs are you using for productivity?

 

[Allanco]

What programs are you using for productivity?

Thanks for the reply.
Google, Word, Mat lab, Visual Studio and OneNote mostly.

 

[okcnaline]

What programs are you using for productivity?

Thanks for the reply.
Google, Word, Mat lab, Visual Studio and OneNote mostly.

Welp, you don't need any strong GPUs for that then! You want as much cores and video outputs. Multiple monitors help the workflow a lot.

Would suggest this build:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 7 1700 3.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($419.00 @ Shopping Express)
Motherboard: Gigabyte - GA-AB350M-D3H Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($109.00 @ Shopping Express)
Memory: Corsair - Vengeance LPX 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2800 Memory ($195.00 @ Shopping Express)
Storage: Crucial - MX300 275GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($128.00 @ Shopping Express)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($63.00 @ Shopping Express)
Video Card: Gigabyte - GeForce GTX 1050 2GB OC Low Profile Video Card ($172.00 @ IJK)
Case: Corsair - SPEC-01 RED ATX Mid Tower Case ($68.00 @ Shopping Express)
Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 450W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($85.00 @ Shopping Express)
Wireless Network Adapter: Intel - 7260HMWDTX1 PCI-Express x1 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Adapter ($89.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Total: $1328.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-07-21 10:09 AEST+1000

 

[Chugalug_]

Ditto to that, some strange choices in there though man, like that wireless adapter, and that RAM! 😛
Mobo is also pretty bottom tier.
@OP and @okcnaline, you need to factor in windows cost btw.

 

[M04D18]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 7 1700 3.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($419.00 @ Shopping Express)
Motherboard: ASRock - AB350 Pro4 ATX AM4 Motherboard ($124.00 @ Umart)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($185.00 @ IJK)
Storage: SanDisk - SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($117.00 @ Shopping Express)
Storage: Seagate - BarraCuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($62.00 @ Shopping Express)
Video Card: Gigabyte - Radeon RX 460 2GB WINDFORCE OC Video Card ($129.00 @ Umart)
Case: Corsair - 270R ATX Mid Tower Case ($83.00 @ Umart)
Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 450W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($85.00 @ Shopping Express)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($128.00 @ Shopping Express)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link - Archer T6E AC1300 PCI-Express x1 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Adapter ($68.00 @ Shopping Express)
Total: $1400.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-07-21 10:22 AEST+1000

 

[Allanco]

What programs are you using for productivity?

Thanks for the reply.
Google, Word, Mat lab, Visual Studio and OneNote mostly.

Welp, you don't need any strong GPUs for that then! You want as much cores and video outputs. Multiple monitors help the workflow a lot.

Would suggest this build:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 7 1700 3.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($419.00 @ Shopping Express)
Motherboard: Gigabyte - GA-AB350M-D3H Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($109.00 @ Shopping Express)
Memory: Corsair - Vengeance LPX 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2800 Memory ($195.00 @ Shopping Express)
Storage: Crucial - MX300 275GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($128.00 @ Shopping Express)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($63.00 @ Shopping Express)
Video Card: Gigabyte - GeForce GTX 1050 2GB OC Low Profile Video Card ($172.00 @ IJK)
Case: Corsair - SPEC-01 RED ATX Mid Tower Case ($68.00 @ Shopping Express)
Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 450W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($85.00 @ Shopping Express)
Wireless Network Adapter: Intel - 7260HMWDTX1 PCI-Express x1 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Adapter ($89.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Total: $1328.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-07-21 10:09 AEST+1000

Thanks man!
If I wanted to stick with Intel, what CPU would you recommend?
I'll be using two 25" monitors.

 

[okcnaline]

A Intel Xeon E5-2620 v4.

 

[Chugalug_]

That's Intel's equivalent of the Ryzen 1700 for $200 more and lower clocked.

 

[Chugalug_]

Here's a far improved list from both above.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 7 1700 3.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($419.00 @ Shopping Express)
Motherboard: ASRock - AB350M Pro4 Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($119.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($185.00 @ IJK)
Storage: Samsung - 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($138.00 @ Shopping Express)
Storage: Seagate - Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($93.00 @ Shopping Express)
Video Card: Gigabyte - Radeon RX 460 2GB WINDFORCE OC Video Card ($129.00 @ Umart)
Case: Cooler Master - MasterBox Lite 3 (Windowed) MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($49.00 @ Umart)
Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 450W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($85.00 @ Shopping Express)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($128.00 @ Shopping Express)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link - Archer T6E AC1300 PCI-Express x1 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Adapter ($68.00 @ Shopping Express)
Total: $1413.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-07-21 10:32 AEST+1000

 

[okcnaline]

4x4 DIMMs improve memory speed a little bit when compared to 2x8. $10 more for less storage and very similar performances to MX300? No dice. RX 460 over an extra GPU output? No, man! Case has no room for expansion. The only thing you've "improved" over mine is the wireless card, where Broadcom is also quite reliable for $20 less. It's not a far improved list.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 7 1700 3.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($419.00 @ Shopping Express)
Motherboard: Gigabyte - GA-AB350M-D3H Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($109.00 @ Shopping Express)
Memory: Corsair - Vengeance LPX 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2800 Memory ($195.00 @ Shopping Express)
Storage: Crucial - MX300 275GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($128.00 @ Shopping Express)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($63.00 @ Shopping Express)
Video Card: Gigabyte - GeForce GTX 1050 2GB OC Low Profile Video Card ($172.00 @ IJK)
Case: Silverstone - PS11B-Q ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.00 @ Scorptec)
Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 450W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($85.00 @ Shopping Express)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($128.00 @ Shopping Express)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link - Archer T6E AC1300 PCI-Express x1 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Adapter ($68.00 @ Shopping Express)
Total: $1426.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-07-21 10:43 AEST+1000

 

[Chugalug_]

The motherboard was poor for a start.
The RAM allows for no upgradability, and while a higher dimm count does typically allow for higher frequencies i kits, you haven't put that in your list.
For $10 less you can get 3000MHz Ripjaws V in 2x8GB, 4x4 only puts more stress on the memory controller, since Ryzen is dual channel, not quad.
The case I included is higher quality, the RX 460 is all that's needed for GPU horsepower, and the 850 Evo runs far faster, only sacrifices 25GB of space and costs $10 more.
There's also a 2TB HDD in there which would be optimal.
http://ssd.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Samsung-850-Evo-250GB-vs-Crucial-MX300-275GB/2977vs3642

The GPU connections are perfectly fine, I don't suspect a Uni student will use more than two monitors, but @OP, if this is the case let us know and I'll adjust for it.

 

[Karadjgne]

Xeon e5-2620. 8 core/16 thread. 2MB L2 cache, 20MB L3 SmartCache, 40 pcie lanes, native support from vPro and TXT, native support for upto 1.5Tb of EEC ram.

Ryzen R7 1700. 8 core/16 thread. 4MB L2 cache, 16MB ddr3 L3 cache, 24 pcie lanes, no support for vPro or TXT, no support for EEC ram, native support for upto 256Gb DDR4

Then add Ryzen IPC up against Intel IPC, yeah they are the same cpu all right....

Not even close.

 

[okcnaline]

The motherboard was poor for a start.
The RAM allows for no upgradability, and while a higher dimm count does typically allow for higher frequencies i kits, you haven't put that in your list.
For $10 less you can get 3000MHz Ripjaws V in 2x8GB, 4x4 only puts more stress on the memory controller, since Ryzen is dual channel, not quad.
The case I included is higher quality, the RX 460 is all that's needed for GPU horsepower, and the 850 Evo runs far faster, only sacrifices 25GB of space and costs $10 more.
There's also a 2TB HDD in there which would be optimal.
http://ssd.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Samsung-850-Evo-250GB-vs-Crucial-MX300-275GB/2977vs3642

Do you get all your data from a benchmark repository?

For the record, in an MX300 comparison against the 850 EVO and other SSDs, the MX 300 beats out the 850 EVO in 2/3 benchmarks.

More stress on a memory controller? Does it matter? There's never been any problems anywhere on the memory controller failing due to quad or dual channels. Plus, RAM in quad channel are faster than dual channel. Screw upgrading; does OP need it?

Motherboard poor for a start? I've never seen a problem of a motherboard failing before other components.

Case isn't higher quality. Both are low-ended cases anyways.

 

[Chugalug_]

There is no. Quad. Channel. On Ryzen.
Also @Karadjgne, I was comparing it on a simple level for @OP, for his uses there's no use paying $200 AUD more for that extra functionality and sacrificing the clock speeds.
I fully understand the differences, but it's jargon to people who don't know what any of that means.

 

[Chugalug_]

The motherboard was poor for a start.
The RAM allows for no upgradability, and while a higher dimm count does typically allow for higher frequencies i kits, you haven't put that in your list.
For $10 less you can get 3000MHz Ripjaws V in 2x8GB, 4x4 only puts more stress on the memory controller, since Ryzen is dual channel, not quad.
The case I included is higher quality, the RX 460 is all that's needed for GPU horsepower, and the 850 Evo runs far faster, only sacrifices 25GB of space and costs $10 more.
There's also a 2TB HDD in there which would be optimal.
http://ssd.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Samsung-850-Evo-250GB-vs-Crucial-MX300-275GB/2977vs3642

Do you get all your data from a benchmark repository?

For the record, in an MX300 comparison against the 850 EVO and other SSDs, the MX 300 beats out the 850 EVO in 2/3 benchmarks.

More stress on a memory controller? Does it matter? There's never been any problems anywhere on the memory controller failing due to quad or dual channels. Plus, RAM in quad channel are faster than dual channel. Screw upgrading; does OP need it?

Motherboard poor for a start? I've never seen a problem of a motherboard failing before other components.

Case isn't higher quality. Both are low-ended cases anyways.

Please actually read your own links, the 850 Evo beats the MX300 practically across the board, in addition it's a 1TB MX300 model vs a 500GB 850 Evo which isn't a fair comparison regardless, but the Samsung still proves to be the better drive, I don't get why this is an argument anyway...

 

[okcnaline]

Please actually read your own links, the 850 Evo beats the MX300 practically across the board, in addition it's a 1TB MX300 model vs a 500GB 850 Evo which isn't a fair comparison regardless, but the Samsung still proves to be the better drive, I don't get why this is an argument anyway...

Obviously I read my own links before preaching the MX300. Go ahead and compare the MX300 525GB then. In most of the benchmarks the MX300 is literally stepping on Samsung 850 EVO's graphs anyways. Plus, $10 cheaper than the 850 EVO for 25GB more means it's a better deal.

As for your Xeon E5 fiasco, it doesn't matter? ECC and core count doesn't matter for your average board members yet the IT members push for ECC RAM in Pixar render servers and spending some $20 extra even if "it's jargon to board members who don't know what any of that means".

 

[Chugalug_]

I'm just gonna let the benchmarks do the talking and stop arguing over this, let @OP make a decision.

 

[Mike3k24]

Pretty good build for your needs
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 7 1700 3.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($419.00 @ Shopping Express)
Motherboard: ASRock - AB350 Pro4 ATX AM4 Motherboard ($124.00 @ Umart)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($185.00 @ IJK)
Storage: Western Digital - Blue 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($129.00 @ Centre Com)
Storage: Seagate - Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($93.00 @ Shopping Express)
Video Card: MSI - GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Video Card ($258.00 @ Shopping Express)
Case: Thermaltake - Versa N21 ATX Mid Tower Case ($129.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Power Supply: Corsair - Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($62.00 @ IJK)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit
Total: $1399.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-07-21 11:13 AEST+1000

 

[Chugalug_]

The Corsair CX is a garbage power supply, don't get it @OP, Windows cost is also not included.

 

[okcnaline]

Pretty good build for your needs
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 7 1700 3.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($419.00 @ Shopping Express)
Motherboard: ASRock - AB350 Pro4 ATX AM4 Motherboard ($124.00 @ Umart)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($185.00 @ IJK)
Storage: Western Digital - Blue 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($129.00 @ Centre Com)
Storage: Seagate - Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($93.00 @ Shopping Express)
Video Card: MSI - GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Video Card ($258.00 @ Shopping Express)
Case: Thermaltake - Versa N21 ATX Mid Tower Case ($129.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Power Supply: Corsair - Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($62.00 @ IJK)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit
Total: $1399.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-07-21 11:13 AEST+1000

The CX430 isn't very reliable, especially when it has to pull power for something like a Ryzen.

 

[Mike3k24]

Alright, I mean I've used the CX430 in a few builds and it's always been just fine.

 

[okcnaline]

Alright, I mean I've used the CX430 in a few builds and it's always been just fine.

If you're talking about Intel Core i3-6100 and a H110 motherboard, yep.

 

[Mike3k24]

No xD it was for an i5 7600k and a GTX 1060 build for a friend. Works perfectly fine my friend.

 

[Chugalug_]

That system draws about 300w on load, either way it's a terrible choice.
It will run, but stability, quality and design are all bottom tier.
I would prefer a Coolermaster PSU over that any day.