[SOLVED] request for new build advice

joseph2011

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Greetings... I am planning my sixth new build. With my previous builds, I received great advice on this forum, which sometimes led to me making key changes to improve my build. All of my previous builds turned out great.

This is not a gamer build. It will be a Linux machine for my business, which requires a lot of math and science processing.

If anyone has any advice about my proposed components, I would appreciate your suggestions and feedback.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/BY3JYT

Thanks kindly,
Joseph
 
Solution
It looks good. https://pcpartpicker.com/list/wbfBw6 is my tweaked version. I added faster RAM (3200MHz Vs 3000Mhz). I'm not sure how this will affect your usage, but it is around the same price (I think mine is less actually) for better speed. I also added faster SSD storage, and changed the motherboard to one compatible with the two Samsung M.2 drives I used. Also, mine has a 1660 Ti, it's faster than the 1060, but was also cheaper, so why not? The PSU is a cheaper one. Less wattage, but very good and still plenty to power your system. Also I think the motherboard was cheaper. Regardless of whether you like what I changed, it is still worth adding the 1660 Ti to your build.
It looks good. https://pcpartpicker.com/list/wbfBw6 is my tweaked version. I added faster RAM (3200MHz Vs 3000Mhz). I'm not sure how this will affect your usage, but it is around the same price (I think mine is less actually) for better speed. I also added faster SSD storage, and changed the motherboard to one compatible with the two Samsung M.2 drives I used. Also, mine has a 1660 Ti, it's faster than the 1060, but was also cheaper, so why not? The PSU is a cheaper one. Less wattage, but very good and still plenty to power your system. Also I think the motherboard was cheaper. Regardless of whether you like what I changed, it is still worth adding the 1660 Ti to your build.
 
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PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel - Core i9-9900K 3.6 GHz 8-Core Processor ($484.99 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master - Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.89 @ OutletPC)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver - 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5 g Thermal Paste ($5.59 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus - PRIME Z390-A ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($179.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Crucial - Ballistix Sport AT 64 GB (4 x 16 GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($263.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Intel - 660p Series 2.048 TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($194.85 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Intel - 660p Series 2.048 TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($194.85 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte - GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6 GB WINDFORCE OC 6G Video Card
Case: Antec - P110 Silent ATX Mid Tower Case ($98.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec - 850 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($137.70 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Asus - MX34VQ 34.0" 3440x1440 100 Hz Monitor ($648.99 @ B&H)
Monitor: Asus - MX34VQ 34.0" 3440x1440 100 Hz Monitor ($648.99 @ B&H)
Keyboard: Logitech - K120 Wired Standard Keyboard ($13.78 @ Newegg)
Mouse: Logitech - M325 Wireless Optical Mouse ($15.59 @ OutletPC)
UPS: APC - BX1500M UPS ($164.99 @ B&H)
Total: $3088.07
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-07-06 05:04 EDT-0400

I do not consider the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO suitable for cooling the i9-9900k. You need to consider high end air coolers from Noctua or Be Quiet! for example or 280mm and larger AIO liquid CPU Coolers, This also means you will need to find a case that is the right size to accommodate these massive CPU Coolers. Since this is a professional build I can not recommend the Intel 660p series SSD's you will want a SSD that can accept a higher amount of TBW (Terabytes Written) and that come with a longer warranty such as the Samsung 970 Pro line up or perhaps a Western Digital SN750. They cost more but its a small price to pay for data integrity and drive life.
 
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joseph2011

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It looks good. https://pcpartpicker.com/list/wbfBw6 is my tweaked version. I added faster RAM (3200MHz Vs 3000Mhz). I'm not sure how this will affect your usage, but it is around the same price (I think mine is less actually) for better speed. I also added faster SSD storage, and changed the motherboard to one compatible with the two Samsung M.2 drives I used. Also, mine has a 1660 Ti, it's faster than the 1060, but was also cheaper, so why not? The PSU is a cheaper one. Less wattage, but very good and still plenty to power your system. Also I think the motherboard was cheaper. Regardless of whether you like what I changed, it is still worth adding the 1660 Ti to your build.
Thank you, ConanLock. Good ideas and much appreciated!
 

joseph2011

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I do not consider the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO suitable for cooling the i9-9900k. You need to consider high end air coolers from Noctua or Be Quiet! for example or 280mm and larger AIO liquid CPU Coolers, This also means you will need to find a case that is the right size to accommodate these massive CPU Coolers. Since this is a professional build I can not recommend the Intel 660p series SSD's you will want a SSD that can accept a higher amount of TBW (Terabytes Written) and that come with a longer warranty such as the Samsung 970 Pro line up or perhaps a Western Digital SN750. They cost more but its a small price to pay for data integrity and drive life.
Thank you very much, JQB45. Good ideas and much appreciated!

I've been wrestling with the pros and cons of high end air coolers v. AIO liquid CPU coolers. Which cooler would you choose for the i9-9900k, and what case would you recommend that works well with it and facilitates the best airflow and cooling?

I originally chose Antec because I've always had great success with their cases, and I really like how quiet they are. I tend to be very loyal to brands that I know work well through my own experience, but having said that, I'm willing to try something different based on the need for better cooling.

I'm a little reluctant to choose an AIO liquid cooler, but only because those represent at least two more things than can go wrong. But again, I'm willing to try an AIO liquid cooler if that's the superior cooling/performance option.

I appreciate your feedback and suggestions.

Thanks kindly,
Joseph
 
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AMD 3600x is within 10% performance of the 9900k at half the price. You can use the savings in cost to get a significantly better graphics card (Or focus on other areas of your build budget wise) for an overall better balanced system, regarding your use case!
Who knows, you might be able to use your applications and leverage the graphics card's processing power :)

PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 3600X 3.8 GHz 6-Core Processor ($248.50 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus - PRIME X570-PRO ATX AM4 Motherboard ($249.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 64 GB (4 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($284.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Intel - 660p Series 2.048 TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($190.60 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Intel - 660p Series 2.048 TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($190.60 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus - GeForce RTX 2070 8 GB STRIX GAMING Video Card ($439.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec - P110 Silent ATX Mid Tower Case ($93.99 @ Newegg Business)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Gold 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply ($92.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Asus - MX34VQ 34.0" 3440x1440 100 Hz Monitor ($648.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Asus - MX34VQ 34.0" 3440x1440 100 Hz Monitor ($648.99 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Logitech - K120 Wired Standard Keyboard ($13.78 @ Newegg)
Mouse: Logitech - M325 Wireless Optical Mouse ($15.59 @ OutletPC)
UPS: APC - BX1500M UPS ($164.99 @ B&H)
Total: $3283.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-07-10 11:57 EDT-0400
 
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joseph2011

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I'd just ditch the i9 9900k and get a Ryzen 9 3900x instead. It's much more powerful, comes with it's own air cooler and draws much less power.
You also get access to PCI-e 4.0 which supports much faster SSDs.

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html
Thanks, Finstar! I'm definitely looking into it and considering it. At first glance, I like the looks of it. In your opinion, what are the cons to using an AMD processor instead of an Intel processor? Any special considerations to be aware of?

Thanks kindly,
Joseph
 
Thanks, Finstar! I'm definitely looking into it and considering it. At first glance, I like the looks of it. In your opinion, what are the cons to using an AMD processor instead of an Intel processor? Any special considerations to be aware of?

Thanks kindly,
Joseph

There's really no cons with using AMD over Intel. The new 3rd gen chips run much cooler and draw far less power, cost less and are more secure than their Intel counterparts.
Though a small con might be the fact that the x570 chipset runs pretty hot due to PCI-e 4.0. Most motherboard manufacturers have decided to put a small fan on their boards to cool the chipset down.
 
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joseph2011

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There's really no cons with using AMD over Intel. The new 3rd gen chips run much cooler and draw far less power, cost less and are more secure than their Intel counterparts.
Though a small con might be the fact that the x570 chipset runs pretty hot due to PCI-e 4.0. Most motherboard manufacturers have decided to put a small fan on their boards to cool the chipset down.
I've reviewed a few videos and comparison graphs for the Ryzen 9 3900x. I like what I'm seeing. Is there a specific x570 board that you would recommend? Anything but MSI, please. I had a very bad experience with MSI in the past. Also, I am not into the RGB flair. This will be a science and math machine. I'm considering the Asus PRIME X570-PRO and the Gigabyte X570 AORUS PRO , but I am definitely open to suggestions.

Thanks again!

Joseph
 
AMD runs a lot cooler, and if you want more cores, you get the Threadripper if not, get the 3900X.
The 9900k draws up to 250W of power. Intel blatantly lies when they mention power draw, because they don't ever quote MAX, where as AMD Always quote MAX

Save a small fortune, get a more powerful machine by going AMD

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@joseph2011 did you decide on which CPU and Motherboard to get? I agree that for your use case (Math/Science) that the R9-3900X makes more sense then any of the Intel i9-9900's.

With that said, if you need more then 12c/24t then you can either wait till early next year and get a Zen2 based Threadripper or you can get Zen+ based Threadripper now at decent prices.
 
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joseph2011

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@joseph2011 did you decide on which CPU and Motherboard to get? I agree that for your use case (Math/Science) that the R9-3900X makes more sense then any of the Intel i9-9900's.

With that said, if you need more then 12c/24t then you can either wait till early next year and get a Zen2 based Threadripper or you can get Zen+ based Threadripper now at decent prices.

Hi. Yes, I've decided on the Ryzen 9 3900X, and I'm considering the Asus PRIME X570-PRO and the Gigabyte X570 AORUS PRO , but I am definitely open to suggestions. I'm trying to determine if the stock cooler that comes with the R9 is adequate, and I'm also concerned about which board runs the hottest and what the best cooling and case options are. I'm still reading and reviewing for now.

Cheers,
Joseph
 
Will you be overclocking? If so, get a liquid cooler... But if not then the stock cooler is great! It performs well and has good looks, there's not much point in getting an aftermarket air cooler. As for the motherboard, all x570s are pretty equal. In my opinion, the looks and price are the main differences. In my opinion, the blower fan thing on the heatsink really made this generation of motherboard ugly, it only looks good in the x570 Taichi. But then again, that is just my opinion.
 
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Will you be overclocking? If so, get a liquid cooler... But if not then the stock cooler is great! It performs well and has good looks, there's not much point in getting an aftermarket air cooler. As for the motherboard, all x570s are pretty equal. In my opinion, the looks and price are the main differences. In my opinion, the blower fan thing on the heatsink really made this generation of motherboard ugly, it only looks good in the x570 Taichi. But then again, that is just my opinion.
From what info i've found, there's not much overclocking headroom to begin with via the 3000 series Ryzen's. My advice would be to purchase an aftermarket air cooler to ensure PBO works. I've read articles where PBO doesn't work because the wraith isn't enough. I'd just install the processor into the x570 mobo with an air cooler, make sure pbo is enabled.
 
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joseph2011

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From what info i've found, there's not much overclocking headroom to begin with via the 3000 series Ryzen's. My advice would be to purchase an aftermarket air cooler to ensure PBO works. I've read articles where PBO doesn't work because the wraith isn't enough. I'd just install the processor into the x570 mobo with an air cooler, make sure pbo is enabled.
I do not plan to overclock, but your points are well taken. I need to brush up more on the technical specs of the primary boost overdrive (PBO) feature of the R9 3900X before making a final decision. Thanks for your advice!

@ConanLock: I appreciate your advice as well. Thanks!
 
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joseph2011

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Latest R9 3900X build draft

Comments/advice welcome:

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/CMqMBb

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 9 3900X 3.8 GHz 12-Core Processor ($499.00 @ B&H)
Motherboard: Asus - PRIME X570-PRO ATX AM4 Motherboard ($240.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial - Ballistix Sport LT 64 GB (4 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($308.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Samsung - 970 Evo 2 TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($474.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung - 970 Evo 2 TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($474.98 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte - GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6 GB WINDFORCE OC 6G Video Card ($309.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Antec - P110 Silent ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg Business)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Platinum 750 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Asus - MX34VQ 34.0" 3440x1440 100 Hz Monitor ($648.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Asus - MX34VQ 34.0" 3440x1440 100 Hz Monitor ($648.99 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Logitech - K120 Wired Standard Keyboard ($9.00 @ Walmart)
Mouse: Logitech - M325 Wireless Optical Mouse ($20.18 @ OutletPC)
UPS: APC - BX1500M UPS ($144.99 @ B&H)
Total: $4001.06
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-07-15 17:48 EDT-0400
 
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joseph2011

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It looks good... But as far as I can see, the 1660 Ti is still cheap than the 1060. (By $50). Other than that, it all looks good.
Good point. I switched the video card card to the Asus - GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6 GB DUAL Video Card. I appreciate your MSI recommendation, but I had a major problem with an MSI component in the past and I cannot use their products again. What do you think of the Asus video card I selected?

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/VrXw9J

The full build is a little pricey, but since it's for one of my businesses, I can write it off on my taxes. :)

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.
 
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joseph2011

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I think that build looks fine, did you already order the parts?
Thanks! I still haven't ordered the components yet, but hopefully soon. I'm waiting for the Seasonic PSU to become available again. It's odd that it is suddenly out of stock at the major outlets, and I'm afraid to order anyrthing that is not brand new. :)

I wrote to Seasonic and I'm awaiting a response. If it's not available in a day or two, I will likely switch to a Corsair 750W 80+ PSU, which is also highly-rated.
 

joseph2011

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Update: I've ordered all of the parts on my list. I'm on a waiting list for the Ryzen 9 3900X. Hopefully it will be available within 10 days. I also added an external USB 3.0 DVD player. I've begun the process of downloading all of the pdf manuals and videos and starting my support folder as I do for every new build. Now, I only need to decide which Linux disto I want. Many thanks to everyone who offered advice for the new build!
 
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Update: I've ordered all of the parts on my list. I'm on a waiting list for the Ryzen 9 3900X. Hopefully it will be available within 10 days. I also added an external USB 3.0 DVD player. I've begun the process of downloading all of the pdf manuals and videos and starting my support folder as I do for every new build. Now, I only need to decide which Linux disto I want. Many thanks to everyone who offered advice for the new build!

I like Debian quite a bit.
 
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