First PC in 10 years

D

Duncan70

Member
Hi all,

I purchased a gaming setup from PC Specialist in early January 2011. Surprisingly, I am still using it without any upgrades (other than going up to 8GB RAM). This means I am still using my i5-2500 and my GEFORCE GTX570, and never having had an SSD.

I don't have a budget set in stone, but from putting builds together I think it will be around £2,000 with some flexibility. I intend to use this with 2 x 1440p monitors but may increase this to 4 x 1440p monitors in the future. This is going to be quite an all-purpose machine: gaming (on one screen), running multiple VM's, game development, and occasionally some Blender rendering and video editing (listed in terms of priority/focus).

My current PC is reaching the end of life, so I am trying to find a balance between a powerful future proof setup, and one that isn't going to take 2-4 months or more to arrive. There are some areas I am less confident with in terms of component picking as it has been so long since I've last looked into this kind of stuff, so hopefully, you're able to help!

This is my first attempt, I'd welcome feedback and suggestions:

Case
CORSAIR 4000D AIRFLOW TEMPERED GLASS GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X Eight Core CPU (3.8GHz-4.7GHz/36MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF X570-PLUS GAMING (USB 3.2 Gen 2, PCIe 4.0, CrossFireX) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3000MHz (4 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
8GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3070 - HDMI, DP
1st Storage Drive
2TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 256MB CACHE
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 3300MB/W)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 750W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
PCS FrostFlow 100 RGB V3 Series High Performance CPU Cooler (AMD)
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Extra Case Fans
2x 120mm Black Case Fan (configured to extract from rear/roof)
Sound Card
Asus Xonar AE 7.1-Channel Gaming Audio Card
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)
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
Firefox™
Warranty
3 Year Gold Warranty (2 Year Collect & Return, 2 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Subject to stock availability on pre-order products
Price: £2,057.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/G57fZZkuum/

From what I have read on these forums, the 5800X doesn't have much/any of a wait, and the 3070 has been better in recent weeks. I am aware there is going to be some wait, I'd just prefer it not to be multiple months if possible (originally I had planned for a 3080 with a 5900x).

Thanks!
 
JUNI0R

JUNI0R

VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
Duncan70 said:
Hi all,

I purchased a gaming setup from PC Specialist in early January 2011. Surprisingly, I am still using it without any upgrades (other than going up to 8GB RAM). This means I am still using my i5-2500 and my GEFORCE GTX570, and never having had an SSD.

I don't have a budget set in stone, but from putting builds together I think it will be around £2,000 with some flexibility. I intend to use this with 2 x 1440p monitors but may increase this to 4 x 1440p monitors in the future. This is going to be quite an all-purpose machine: gaming (on one screen), running multiple VM's, game development, and occasionally some Blender rendering and video editing (listed in terms of priority/focus).

My current PC is reaching the end of life, so I am trying to find a balance between a powerful future proof setup, and one that isn't going to take 2-4 months or more to arrive. There are some areas I am less confident with in terms of component picking as it has been so long since I've last looked into this kind of stuff, so hopefully, you're able to help!

This is my first attempt, I'd welcome feedback and suggestions:

Case
CORSAIR 4000D AIRFLOW TEMPERED GLASS GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X Eight Core CPU (3.8GHz-4.7GHz/36MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF X570-PLUS GAMING (USB 3.2 Gen 2, PCIe 4.0, CrossFireX) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3000MHz (4 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
8GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3070 - HDMI, DP
1st Storage Drive
2TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 256MB CACHE
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 3300MB/W)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 750W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
PCS FrostFlow 100 RGB V3 Series High Performance CPU Cooler (AMD)
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Extra Case Fans
2x 120mm Black Case Fan (configured to extract from rear/roof)
Sound Card
Asus Xonar AE 7.1-Channel Gaming Audio Card
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)
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
Firefox™
Warranty
3 Year Gold Warranty (2 Year Collect & Return, 2 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Subject to stock availability on pre-order products
Price: £2,057.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/G57fZZkuum/

From what I have read on these forums, the 5800X doesn't have much/any of a wait, and the 3070 has been better in recent weeks. I am aware there is going to be some wait, I'd just prefer it not to be multiple months if possible (originally I had planned for a 3080 with a 5900x).

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Hi there, this looks like a pretty solid build! I've made a few tweaks that will improve this PC generally. I've mostly skewed towards the gaming side as that's highest on your priority and what I'm the most knowledgable in. Other users may be able to give some insight about whether this PC will be approprate for your other uses.

I've changed the RAM to 2x16GB 3200mhz as there's been reports of issues with 4 sticks on Ryzen and Ryzen benefits from faster RAM (plus it gives you the option to upgrade to 64GB if you see fit down the line)
I've fiddled with the storage layout a little too, I've given you a 500GB Gen 4 SSD for Windows, a 1TB SSD for games and apps and kept the 2TB HDD for general file storage
I've upgraded to the RMx850W PSU as it's a higher quality fully modular PSU that will likely outlive the rest of the system (plus give more allowance for upgrades down the road)
For the Ryzen 7 you'll want an AIO so I've gone for the Cooler Master 240 AIO
And I've removed the sound card as realistically motherboard audio chipsets are perfectly good for the majority of people these days

The only shortcoming of this system is the AIO may be a little light for the Ryzen 7. If you're happy to increase the budget by another £60 or so I'd highly recommend the Corsair H115i as it'll do a better job at cooling the CPU and be quieter in the process. If you're not a fan of the RGB, it can always be turned off using Corsair's iCUE software.

Case
CORSAIR 4000D AIRFLOW TEMPERED GLASS GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X Eight Core CPU (3.8GHz-4.7GHz/36MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF X570-PLUS GAMING (USB 3.2 Gen 2, PCIe 4.0, CrossFireX) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3000MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
8GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3070 - HDMI, DP
1st Storage Drive
2TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 256MB CACHE
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SEAGATE FIRECUDA 520 GEN 4 PCIe NVMe (up to 5000MB/R, 2500MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2000 MB/R, 1100 MB/W)
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
CoolerMaster MasterLiquid Lite 240 High Performance Liquid Cooler
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Extra Case Fans
2x 120mm Black Case Fan (configured to extract from rear/roof)
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)
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
Firefox™
Warranty
3 Year Gold Warranty (2 Year Collect & Return, 2 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Subject to stock availability on pre-order products
Price: £2,047.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/Tc2q!8TguT/
 
B

Bigfoot

Grand Master
JUNI0R said:
Hi there, this looks like a pretty solid build! I've made a few tweaks that will improve this PC generally. I've mostly skewed towards the gaming side as that's highest on your priority and what I'm the most knowledgable in. Other users may be able to give some insight about whether this PC will be approprate for your other uses.

I've changed the RAM to 2x16GB 3200mhz as there's been reports of issues with 4 sticks on Ryzen and Ryzen benefits from faster RAM (plus it gives you the option to upgrade to 64GB if you see fit down the line)
I've fiddled with the storage layout a little too, I've given you a 500GB Gen 4 SSD for Windows, a 1TB SSD for games and apps and kept the 2TB HDD for general file storage
I've upgraded to the RMx850W PSU as it's a higher quality fully modular PSU that will likely outlive the rest of the system (plus give more allowance for upgrades down the road)
For the Ryzen 7 you'll want an AIO so I've gone for the Cooler Master 240 AIO
And I've removed the sound card as realistically motherboard audio chipsets are perfectly good for the majority of people these days

The only shortcoming of this system is the AIO may be a little light for the Ryzen 7. If you're happy to increase the budget by another £60 or so I'd highly recommend the Corsair H115i as it'll do a better job at cooling the CPU and be quieter in the process. If you're not a fan of the RGB, it can always be turned off using Corsair's iCUE software.

Case
CORSAIR 4000D AIRFLOW TEMPERED GLASS GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X Eight Core CPU (3.8GHz-4.7GHz/36MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF X570-PLUS GAMING (USB 3.2 Gen 2, PCIe 4.0, CrossFireX) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3000MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
8GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3070 - HDMI, DP
1st Storage Drive
2TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 256MB CACHE
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SEAGATE FIRECUDA 520 GEN 4 PCIe NVMe (up to 5000MB/R, 2500MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2000 MB/R, 1100 MB/W)
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
CoolerMaster MasterLiquid Lite 240 High Performance Liquid Cooler
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Extra Case Fans
2x 120mm Black Case Fan (configured to extract from rear/roof)
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)
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
Firefox™
Warranty
3 Year Gold Warranty (2 Year Collect & Return, 2 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Subject to stock availability on pre-order products
Price: £2,047.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/Tc2q!8TguT/
Click to expand...
Although you said you changed the RAM to 2x16 @3200MHz, you have actually selected 3000MHz.
 
D

Duncan70

Member
JUNI0R said:
Hi there, this looks like a pretty solid build! I've made a few tweaks that will improve this PC generally. I've mostly skewed towards the gaming side as that's highest on your priority and what I'm the most knowledgable in. Other users may be able to give some insight about whether this PC will be approprate for your other uses.

I've changed the RAM to 2x16GB 3200mhz as there's been reports of issues with 4 sticks on Ryzen and Ryzen benefits from faster RAM (plus it gives you the option to upgrade to 64GB if you see fit down the line)
I've fiddled with the storage layout a little too, I've given you a 500GB Gen 4 SSD for Windows, a 1TB SSD for games and apps and kept the 2TB HDD for general file storage
I've upgraded to the RMx850W PSU as it's a higher quality fully modular PSU that will likely outlive the rest of the system (plus give more allowance for upgrades down the road)
For the Ryzen 7 you'll want an AIO so I've gone for the Cooler Master 240 AIO
And I've removed the sound card as realistically motherboard audio chipsets are perfectly good for the majority of people these days

The only shortcoming of this system is the AIO may be a little light for the Ryzen 7. If you're happy to increase the budget by another £60 or so I'd highly recommend the Corsair H115i as it'll do a better job at cooling the CPU and be quieter in the process. If you're not a fan of the RGB, it can always be turned off using Corsair's iCUE software.

Case
CORSAIR 4000D AIRFLOW TEMPERED GLASS GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X Eight Core CPU (3.8GHz-4.7GHz/36MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF X570-PLUS GAMING (USB 3.2 Gen 2, PCIe 4.0, CrossFireX) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3000MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
8GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3070 - HDMI, DP
1st Storage Drive
2TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 256MB CACHE
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SEAGATE FIRECUDA 520 GEN 4 PCIe NVMe (up to 5000MB/R, 2500MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2000 MB/R, 1100 MB/W)
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
CoolerMaster MasterLiquid Lite 240 High Performance Liquid Cooler
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Extra Case Fans
2x 120mm Black Case Fan (configured to extract from rear/roof)
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)
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
Firefox™
Warranty
3 Year Gold Warranty (2 Year Collect & Return, 2 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Subject to stock availability on pre-order products
Price: £2,047.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/Tc2q!8TguT/
Click to expand...

Thanks for taking a look, I appreciate it.

There's nothing I'd disagree with about your suggestions, I think I'll take it all on board and go with your suggested build. It's really useful to read the reasoning behind the suggested changes.

I have no experience with an AIO, is there much in the way of a maintenance burden or anything I should be aware of? Is air cooling not sufficient on higher-end modern builds?
 
Martinr36

Martinr36

MOST VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
Duncan70 said:
Thanks for taking a look, I appreciate it.

There's nothing I'd disagree with about your suggestions, I think I'll take it all on board and go with your suggested build. It's really useful to read the reasoning behind the suggested changes.

I have no experience with an AIO, is there much in the way of a maintenance burden or anything I should be aware of? Is air cooling not sufficient on higher-end modern builds?
Click to expand...
Maintenance on an AIO, dust the fans when you dust the rest of the system,
 
JUNI0R

JUNI0R

VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
Duncan70 said:
Thanks for taking a look, I appreciate it.

There's nothing I'd disagree with about your suggestions, I think I'll take it all on board and go with your suggested build. It's really useful to read the reasoning behind the suggested changes.

I have no experience with an AIO, is there much in the way of a maintenance burden or anything I should be aware of? Is air cooling not sufficient on higher-end modern builds?
Click to expand...
No worries!

Make sure you use the link I added in a later comment after @Ash_ pointed out a change to the RAM, I said I did then didn't 😂 I feel it's always nice to add that explanation in for people are wanting to learn or if they're wanting a justifcation if there's a price increase over their original build. And nope! As Martin said, there's no extra maintenence on an AIO, it'd be the same as an air tower cooler, you just need to dust the fans along with the rest of your PC every month or so.
 
B

Bigfoot

Grand Master
JUNI0R said:
No worries!

Make sure you use the link I added in a later comment after @Ash_ pointed out a change to the RAM, I said I did then didn't 😂 I feel it's always nice to add that explanation in for people are wanting to learn or if they're wanting a justifcation if there's a price increase over their original build. And nope! As Martin said, there's no extra maintenence on an AIO, it'd be the same as an air tower cooler, you just need to dust the fans along with the rest of your PC every month or so.
Click to expand...
Someone definitely didn’t have enough coffee today. Maybe @Ash_ also has a @Bigfoot 😀
 
D

Duncan70

Member
JUNI0R said:
No worries!

Make sure you use the link I added in a later comment after @Ash_ pointed out a change to the RAM, I said I did then didn't 😂 I feel it's always nice to add that explanation in for people are wanting to learn or if they're wanting a justifcation if there's a price increase over their original build. And nope! As Martin said, there's no extra maintenence on an AIO, it'd be the same as an air tower cooler, you just need to dust the fans along with the rest of your PC every month or so.
Click to expand...

I upgraded to the Corsair H115i as it had some good reviews. I made sure it had the RAM update, thanks for checking, and for the help!
 
A

Ash_

Master Poster
DE9600A9-4C9F-424E-82F4-D02E546731A7.jpeg

I attribute my components running so well, to overkill cooling
 
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