Desktop advice for photo/video editing, 3D, and gaming

[Arvind]

Hello.
I'm new here and looking for a new PC to replace my current 11 1/2 yr old one.
I'll be using it mainly for Photoshop, Lightroom, Wondershare Filmora, possibly some games such as Death Stranding, and I want to start learning Blender (Blender requirements here). I'm not tech guy so don't really know the ins and outs of components, but I'd like to try and "future-proof" it somehow so I don't have to buy another PC in the near future.

I don't need a monitor. My current one is an Eizo ColourEdge CS2420 (see spec here). I don't need a cd/dvd/bluray driver either - I have Hitachi-LG USB 2.0 external DVD RW. My mouse is wireless (but I have a spare wired one as well) so needs a USB port for the receiver, as does my keyboard (wired). I already have anti-virus software.

Budget is around £1100 - £1400. Is that enough?? I don't know any other info you folks may need from me. Hopefully that's sufficient.

Thank you!

 

[Martinr36]

will the retiring pc be retired completely, if so you can transfer the windows over from that , which will save about £100 that can go into the build itself

 

[Arvind]

will the retiring pc be retired completely, if so you can transfer the windows over from that , which will save about £100 that can go into the build itself

I did not know that was even possible! In that case it won't be retired completely. I'll also be taking out the hard drives and use them as a spare backup or something.

 

[Martinr36]

I did not know that was even possible! In that case it won't be retired completely. I'll also be taking out the hard drives and use them as a spare backup or something.

Explained here

Transferring digital windows 10 license to new machine

Hi all Quite a few people already have a windows 10 License which they want to transfer over to the new PC. Windows 10 now makes this easy, even if you have an OEM license, you can legitimately turn it into a "digital license" by tying it to your microsoft account, and then transfer it legally...

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

 

[Martinr36]

Here you go this should do you

Case
COOLERMASTER MASTERBOX TD500 MESH ARGB GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Six Core CPU (3.7GHz-4.6GHz/35MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® STRIX B550-F GAMING (DDR4, USB 3.2, 6Gb/s) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3600MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 2060 - HDMI, DP - VR Ready!
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SAMSUNG 980 PRO M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 6900MB/R, 5000MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB INTEL® 670p M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 3500MB/sR | 2500MB/sW)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Corsair H115i ELITE CAPELLIX RGB 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
Wireless Network Card
WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 2,400Mbps/5GHz, 300Mbps/2.4GHz PCI-E CARD + BT 5.0
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
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
NO RECOVERY MEDIA REQUIRED
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 14 to 17 working days
Price: £1,555.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/GGt39k8wqz/

 

[Arvind]

Here you go this should do you

Case
COOLERMASTER MASTERBOX TD500 MESH ARGB GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Six Core CPU (3.7GHz-4.6GHz/35MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® STRIX B550-F GAMING (DDR4, USB 3.2, 6Gb/s) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3600MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 2060 - HDMI, DP - VR Ready!
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SAMSUNG 980 PRO M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 6900MB/R, 5000MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB INTEL® 670p M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 3500MB/sR | 2500MB/sW)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Corsair H115i ELITE CAPELLIX RGB 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
Wireless Network Card
WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 2,400Mbps/5GHz, 300Mbps/2.4GHz PCI-E CARD + BT 5.0
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
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
NO RECOVERY MEDIA REQUIRED
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 14 to 17 working days
Price: £1,555.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/GGt39k8wqz/

Thanks for this... Looks like a beast of a machine compared to what I have now! I may add some speakers as my Boston Acoustics seem a bit crackling sometimes - not sure if that's because of how old my PC is or not.
And thanks for that Windows licence link. Hopefully it's not too complicated a process.

 

[Arvind]

Hello again,

I have another question about compatibility. If I decide to choose a component of a different/higher spec in the list that @Martinr36 suggested above, how will I know if it's compatible with all the others? e.g. will it flag up on the website that "this processor is not compatible with the motherboard you selected", or "this graphics card isn't compatible with the processor"... or something?
Might be a stupid question, but are all the components/hardware compatible with each other?

Thanks!

 

[Bigfoot]

Hello again,

I have another question about compatibility. If I decide to choose a component of a different/higher spec in the list that @Martinr36 suggested above, how will I know if it's compatible with all the others? e.g. will it flag up on the website that "this processor is not compatible with the motherboard you selected", or "this graphics card isn't compatible with the processor"... or something?
Might be a stupid question, but are all the components/hardware compatible with each other?

Thanks!

It is best to post the complete spec on here and you can get advice from someone who knows (and can explain their advice).

 

[DarTon]

I think switching from the 2060 to 3060 GPU for £21 is a no-brainer. Latest generation GPU, twice the VRAM and modest performance bump. You could downgrade from H115i to H100i cooler to save that money. Both are more than adequate for 5600X.

 

[Martinr36]

I think switching from the 2060 to 3060 GPU for £21 is a no-brainer. Latest generation GPU, twice the VRAM and modest performance bump. You could downgrade from H115i to H100i cooler to save that money. Both are more than adequate for 5600X.

Agreed on the GPU, I think at the time I specced that there was a greater price differential, maybe the 3060 was out of stock, it was 2 months ago............................

 

[David689]

Hello again,

I have another question about compatibility. If I decide to choose a component of a different/higher spec in the list that @Martinr36 suggested above, how will I know if it's compatible with all the others? e.g. will it flag up on the website that "this processor is not compatible with the motherboard you selected", or "this graphics card isn't compatible with the processor"... or something?
Might be a stupid question, but are all the components/hardware compatible with each other?

Thanks!

I believe the configurator, when you click on "proceed" will tell you if eg something you have selected won't fit in that case. But it won't tell you if that is an ill advised selection - if you post the full details on here then other users will tell you if you have made an ill advised choice. I have had some great advice on here - I had no idea about case and cooling. The options I chose were allowed by the configurator but when I posted on these forums some very helpful and knowledgeable folk told me that the case and cooler I had selected would not offer sufficient cooling and suggested alternatives so I went back and made alterations accordingly. I am now on day15 and waiting...

 

[ubuysa]

Hello again,

I have another question about compatibility. If I decide to choose a component of a different/higher spec in the list that @Martinr36 suggested above, how will I know if it's compatible with all the others? e.g. will it flag up on the website that "this processor is not compatible with the motherboard you selected", or "this graphics card isn't compatible with the processor"... or something?
Might be a stupid question, but are all the components/hardware compatible with each other?

Thanks!

Define "compatible"....

If by compatible you mean will all the components you can select via the configurator work together, the answer is yes.

On the other hand, if by compatible you mean will all the components you can select via the configurator perform well together, or achieve their full potential, then the answer is no.

PCS will build what you order, and it will work. But to get the best performance within your budget you need advice on which mix of components to select. A build needs to be balanced so that each component is able to deliver maximum performance when operating in conjunction with every other component. That's what these forums are for, the experts on here understand how almost every component that PCS supply will work in conjunction with others and whether that combination will give you the best cost/benefit.

A build is not just the sum of its parts, there is so much more involved in getting the best bang for your buck. That's why you need to post the complete configuration you're considering (which you can do directly from the configurator) and the experts here will tell you whether you're making wise choices or not.

BTW. We can only discuss complete PCS builds on here, we're not able to give advice on components in isolation.

 

[GidRea]

I'm watching with great interest, as my situation is pretty much identical to Arvind's. I might clone the result

I'm keen to run dual monitors, as a screen calibration for photo editing is unhelpfully dim for general use. I see that the graphics card:
6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 2060 - HDMI, DP - VR Ready!
can run two or three monitors. But PCS have a special offer on the same card "DUAL", it's actually cheaper. But neither PCS website or NVIDIA tell this klutz what "DUAL" is, well, two of what? It's usually better to have two than one (monitors, ice creams...) - is it so in this instance?

 

[SpyderTracks]

I'm watching with great interest, as my situation is pretty much identical to Arvind's. I might clone the result

I'm keen to run dual monitors, as a screen calibration for photo editing is unhelpfully dim for general use. I see that the graphics card:
6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 2060 - HDMI, DP - VR Ready!
can run two or three monitors. But PCS have a special offer on the same card "DUAL", it's actually cheaper. But neither PCS website or NVIDIA tell this klutz what "DUAL" is, well, two of what? It's usually better to have two than one (monitors, ice creams...) - is it so in this instance?

If you create your own thread we can advise, it's best not to hijack other peoples.

Prices and components will have changed since this one was configured so we would likely suggest something different.

 

[GidRea]

Thanks, I'll back out then. Cheers.

 

[Arvind]

It's been a while since my last post, mainly because my circumstances have changed - I was made redundant in October (company went into administration). So trying to figure everything out and decide what I want to do! I don't think my requirements for this PC have changed much but I want to do something completely different to my previous job, so am looking towards something more creative - possibly graphic design or similar.

Anyway, I changed some of the components. Mainly because a couple of them weren't available/were on pre-order. Also my case and cooling component weren't compatible - it flagged up as the case was the wrong size. So I changed the cooling part. It then flagged up my power supply and suggested that I didn't need a Corsair 850w, and that a 450w would be suitable - is that correct, or can I get away with 850w?

OK, so here's the newly done configuration. I've also added new speakers and Windows 11.

Case
COOLERMASTER MASTERBOX TD500 MESH ARGB GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Six Core CPU (3.7GHz-4.6GHz/35MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® STRIX B550-F GAMING (DDR4, USB 3.2, 6Gb/s) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3600MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1660 Ti - HDMI, DP - GeForce GTX VR Ready!
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SAMSUNG 980 PRO M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 6900MB/R, 5000MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB INTEL® 670p M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 3500MB/sR | 2500MB/sW)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Corsair H100i ELITE CAPELLIX RGB 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
Wireless Network Card
WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 2,400Mbps/5GHz, 300Mbps/2.4GHz PCI-E CARD + BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00003]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10/11 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Google Chrome™
Speakers
LOGITECH Z333 2.1 SPEAKERS
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 13 to 16 working days
Welcome Book
PCSpecialist Welcome Book - United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland
Price: £1,653.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/SEfkYGgsg0/

 

[AgentCooper]

Sorry to hear about the redundancy, hope you manage to find something soon.

As regards your spec, stick with 850w for the PSU, it’s a bit of future proofing for the system. If you’re looking to get more involved with editing and design, you’d benefit from increasing the memory to 32GB. And there’s a significant load on the GPU itself when video editing and rendering so depending on the budget and amount you’re doing, a card like the 3060 with extra VRAM would be more suitable. A 1660 Super may struggle with these tasks.

 

[Arvind]

I changed the memory to 32GB and the GPU to the 3060, and it's pushing the price to almost £1900 - I don't think I could afford that at the moment to be honest! I'm assuming I could upgrade at a later date though - swap or add in components? I've left the memory at 16GB and kept the GPU at 3060. It's now about £1770 which is JUST about affordable. The case will be a tight fit width wise though. It says approx 217mm and the space I have is 238mm. Should be fine??
Thanks for your input and for bearing with me!

 

[Martinr36]

yeah you should be fine with those dimensions as long as you've clearance at top and back

 

[Arvind]

Soooo.....
Opted to spend more and changed the memory to 32GB and GPU to 12GB. I also had to change the motherboard because the one on the quote wasn't available, and also it wouldn't cope with the 36000MHz of the memory. Downgraded the speakers as they probably wouldn't fit on my desk and upgraded the cooling to H115i.

Below is the final spec which I've just ordered. Thank you to all who have helped. Your input has been valuable!!

Case
COOLERMASTER MASTERBOX TD500 MESH ARGB GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Six Core CPU (3.7GHz-4.6GHz/35MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® ROG STRIX X570-F GAMING (USB 3.2 Gen 2, PCIe 4.0) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3600MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
12GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3060 - HDMI, DP, LHR
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SAMSUNG 980 PRO M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 6900MB/R, 5000MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB INTEL® 670p M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 3500MB/sR | 2500MB/sW)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Corsair H115i ELITE CAPELLIX RGB 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
Wireless Network Card
WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 2,400Mbps/5GHz, 300Mbps/2.4GHz PCI-E CARD + BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00003]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10/11 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Google Chrome™
Speakers
LOGITECH Z313 2.1 SILVER/BLACK SPEAKER SYSTEM
Cable Management
3 x PCS 1.5M Zip Cable Tidy - Professional Cable Management
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Christmas Delivery No Longer Guaranteed - Assembly From 29/12/2021