Johnny Silverhand needs a breathtaking build!

[JumpinJackFlash]

Greetings good people,

I need your help, its time for a PC Specialist upgrade........ and im lost, out of the loop, and clueless...... so im hoping you can assist.

Budget? - I have around 3k - 4k to spend, ideally 3k but if a particular component is well worth it then not an issue to top 4k

Games it needs to run on max? - Cyberpunk 2077 (real reason for upgrading, I need Keanu in breathtaking definition), Total War Warhammer 2 (with mods), Stellaris (with mods), Skyrim/Fallout4 bethesda RPGs (with mods), Bannerlord (with mods), x4 Foundations (with mods) etc etc............. you get the picture, I like Open World RPGs and CPU/GPU heavy strategy and then flood them with ludicrous mods.

Any other uses, like work or editing - Nope, have a lenovo bucket for work, and no need for streaming or photo editing jazz hands, this luxurious and rosy cheeked build is for gaming only.

Monitor? - Have an Acer Predator 34 inch, so no need for a monitor etc or any other perhipherals (that im aware off)

VR Ready? - Yes please, keen to run the next gen VR titles and pretend im Mad Martigan from Willow, finally.

Couple of additional thoughts to help me with?

1 - AMD or Intel?​

1.1 - And if AMD better than Intel, should I go Threadripper series or Ryzen or something else for price/performance/longevity?​

2 - Wait for a new release of CPU (x) or Component ? E.g. is there something new a week away that I should hold out for?​

3 - What case is best for silence? Im conscious the more power then the more likely it will sound like a 747 taking off but my bonsai trees are very temperamental and loud whirring noises effect the Chi of the man cave.​

Really do appreciate your time and help, cash prize* and respect for all suggestions and help with my questions

*note, cash prize can only be redeemed 36th of Septober during lunar eclipse

 

[Scott]

First.... a caveat (or 3)......

The 5900X is due out on the 5th of November (remember, remember). This is the chip you want to wait for but you can have the build in the queue and "upgrade" to this chip when it becomes available (before your system is built).

Second..... the below build won't be "silent" but it won't sound like a jumbo jet taking off. It's very cooling efficient with the sound it will bring. Another build will follow for ultimate in silence....

Third...... I hope that screen you have is 4k, it's going to need to be to do this build justice

Case
CORSAIR OBSIDIAN SERIES™ 500D SE CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT 12 Core CPU (4.7GHz/70MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® ROG STRIX X570-F GAMING (USB 3.2 Gen 2, PCIe 4.0) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE RGB PRO DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
10GB ASUS ROG STRIX GEFORCE RTX 3080 - HDMI, DP
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SAMSUNG 980 PRO M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 6900MB/R, 5000MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
2TB SEAGATE FIRECUDA 520 GEN 4 PCIe NVMe (up to 5000MB/R, 4400MB/W)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 1000W AX SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® TITANIUM
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Corsair H100i RGB PLATINUM 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)
Wireless/Wired Networking
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)
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 Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
TIMED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND - MON-FRI (BEFORE 2PM)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 9 to 11 working days
Price: £2,861.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/Kx6AjktAmc/

 

[Scott]

The Silent option....

Case
FRACTAL DEFINE 7 BLACK QUIET MID-TOWER CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT 12 Core CPU (4.7GHz/70MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® ROG STRIX X570-F GAMING (USB 3.2 Gen 2, PCIe 4.0) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE RGB PRO DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
10GB ASUS ROG STRIX GEFORCE RTX 3080 - HDMI, DP
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SAMSUNG 980 PRO M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 6900MB/R, 5000MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
2TB SEAGATE FIRECUDA 520 GEN 4 PCIe NVMe (up to 5000MB/R, 4400MB/W)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 1000W AX SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® TITANIUM
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Corsair H100i RGB PLATINUM 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)
Wireless/Wired Networking
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)
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 Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
TIMED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND - MON-FRI (BEFORE 2PM)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 9 to 11 working days
Price: £2,815.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/DJGtypFDh0/

 

[JumpinJackFlash]

First.... a caveat (or 2)......

The 5900X is due out on the 5th of November (remember, remember). This is the chip you want to wait for but you can have the build in the queue and "upgrade" to this chip when it becomes available (before your system is built).

Second..... the below build won't be "silent" but it won't sound like a jumbo jet taking off. It's very cooling efficient with the sound it will bring. Another build will follow for ultimate in silence....

Case
CORSAIR OBSIDIAN SERIES™ 500D SE CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT 12 Core CPU (4.7GHz/70MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® ROG STRIX X570-F GAMING (USB 3.2 Gen 2, PCIe 4.0) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE RGB PRO DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
10GB ASUS ROG STRIX GEFORCE RTX 3080 - HDMI, DP
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 SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 3300MB/W)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 1000W AX SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® TITANIUM
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Corsair H100i RGB PLATINUM 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)
Wireless/Wired Networking
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)
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 Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
TIMED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND - MON-FRI (BEFORE 2PM)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 9 to 11 working days
Price: £2,674.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/ktEQtE5kDD/

Thank you good sir, the avatar fits you well!

The bonsais will be safe!

Another myth to dispel for me if possible?.....(1) Sound cards? are they pointless?.............and (2) If I stop scratching will the rash go away?

 

[Scott]

Thank you good sir, the avatar fits you well!

The bonsais will be safe!

Another myth to dispel for me if possible?.....(1) Sound cards? are they pointless?.............and (2) If I stop scratching will the rash go away?

Sound cards have their uses but not in the way that most people presume. The cards in the configurator are more a gimmick for me than anything. Anyone who is serious about sound will have an external DAC & amp. The audio processing in the high end motherboards (which the Strix is) is fantastic for what it is. On-board, decent, DAC and multiple channels for surround sound.

There will be no audible difference to you so it's completely pointless. I feel that I could rattle on and write a paper here so I'll just stop now haha.

As for (2)....... you need to keep scratching till it bleeds, if it bleeds..... you can kill it.

 

[SpyderTracks]

and (2) If I stop scratching will the rash go away?

As for (2)....... you need to keep scratching till it bleeds, if it bleeds..... you can kill it.

ROFL I saw @Scott response and thought "What???".... Brilliant!

 

[Scott]

ROFL I saw @Scott response and thought "What???".... Brilliant!

I assumed he was referring to the monitor

 

[Gavras]

why Have a silent gaming PC?

the Strix has great sound output, coupled with a good surround sound setup, sub woofer etc, and volume cranked to playing levels, you can’t hear a a thing, apart from the 747 taking off (the one you are flying), the screaming (Resident Evil and you realise it’s you not the PC)

;-)

 

[JumpinJackFlash]

Sound cards have their uses but not in the way that most people presume. The cards in the configurator are more a gimmick for me than anything. Anyone who is serious about sound will have an external DAC & amp. The audio processing in the high end motherboards (which the Strix is) is fantastic for what it is. On-board, decent, DAC and multiple channels for surround sound.

There will be no audible difference to you so it's completely pointless. I feel that I could rattle on and write a paper here so I'll just stop now haha.

As for (2)....... you need to keep scratching till it bleeds, if it bleeds..... you can kill it.

Gotcha, apply Predator 1 tactics, cover in mud, make hand-made weapon from bark of Bonsai tree, then scream at the night sky in Austrian accent!

Another quick one........ if the noise wasnt an issue, would you suggest any adjustments on build?.........or will either of those builds ensure that Keanu appears in high def with zero FPS issuesregardless?........ (e.g. If the bonsais can get moved to a different room to let me go balls out on a power build to spend my hard earned granny inheritance money on should I adjust anything you suggested to ensure maximum longevity?)

Also any other things that wont be in the build configurator that I should consider? e.g. you mentioned to ensure its a 4k monitor (im sure it is, it was like 1100 quid when I bought it last year)....... any other factors like monitor or sound or lumber support density for the upcoming CD Projekt Red nerdgasm november or VR "dont let the wife and kids catch you pretending you are a jedi in the man cave"?

 

[JumpinJackFlash]

why Have a silent gaming PC?

the Strix has great sound output, coupled with a good surround sound setup, sub woofer etc, and volume cranked to playing levels, you can’t hear a a thing, apart from the 747 taking off (the one you are flying), the screaming (Resident Evil and you realise it’s you not the PC)

;-)

Gotcha, im influenced, utterly, like a TikTok thot, the bonsais are now relegated to the toilet....where they will be casually destroyed over time via attritional dumps............................... silence is out the window, what should I configure to get most power for £3k - £4k?

 

[Scott]

Either build is absolutely ideal when paired with the 5900X. They will knock absolutely any scenario out of the park.

The CPU is the best gaming chip you can get, almost, right now (not due till 5th). If you wanted to get silly you could opt for the 5950X but I genuinely wouldn't recommend it for a gaming rig. You would need a beefier cooler (H115i Platinum) and you would need to drop the RGB RAM.... which would be a shame. It's also a LOT of extra dosh for not a lot of noteable gaming performance.

The socket of the motherboard is expected to be good for another generation (6000 series maybe). If it's not, it won't make much odds as a refresh will fit in and by the time it's even remotely sub-par DDR5 will be alive and kicking so you would be replacing anyway. Future is covered with the motherboard.

PSU is 1000W of high end goodness. It'll cover any future GPU upgrade.

The 3080 Strix is one of the best. harder to get a hold of so be prepared for a wait but it'll all be worth it. In a year or so you may find you want to bump it up to the next level again, this system will happily take that.

The storage selected is the stuff of dreams.... just look at the througput on the numbers. And the 2TB drive is for all the mods that you like so much. Separate drive for any reformats etc, just keep all your games on the secondary drive and you'll be golden. Load times will be as low as they possibly can be and time between turns will be minimised between the CPU and the speedy RAM.

Basically.... every single base is covered. All you will ever need to consider in the future will be a GPU upgrade when things move on. The CPU upgrade would be optional but, depending on when the socket gets dropped, likely not warranted. If the socket gets the same lifespan as the B450 did then you'll be laughing with some next-next gen again in a few years.

I'm looking to build myself a system next year. What I have suggested for you is a money no object wish list that has me jealous....

see the thread I started here https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/threads/wheres-your-specs-at.73481/

 

[Scott]

Gotcha, im influenced, utterly, like a TikTok thot, the bonsais are now relegated to the toilet....where they will be casually destroyed over time via attritional dumps............................... silence is out the window, what should I configure to get most power for £3k - £4k?

Above builds are the most gaming power you can get. If you want to hit theoretical maximum output you could opt for the H115i RGB platinum paired with the 5950X. That way.... you can have absolutely no doubt. I think the only difference you would see would be turn based games. though. Whether that's worth the extra dough or not is up to you.

One thing to keep in mind. You can put the order in now, knowing fine well you won't get it till at least November..... wait and see what the reviews bring. If the 5950X really does add a level over the 5900X then pair it with the H115i platinum. If it doesn't, simply switch out the CPU for the 5900X and you're laughing.

This can all be done post order btw. Ordering now gets you in the queue for the 3080 Strix

 

[JumpinJackFlash]

Above builds are the most gaming power you can get. If you want to hit theoretical maximum output you could opt for the H115i RGB platinum paired with the 5950X. That way.... you can have absolutely no doubt. I think the only difference you would see would be turn based games. though. Whether that's worth the extra dough or not is up to you.

One thing to keep in mind. You can put the order in now, knowing fine well you won't get it till at least November..... wait and see what the reviews bring. If the 5950X really does add a level over the 5900X then pair it with the H115i platinum. If it doesn't, simply switch out the CPU for the 5900X and you're laughing.

This can all be done post order btw. Ordering now gets you in the queue for the 3080 Strix

You sir have nailed the game of life, like Gervais nailed second season office, thank you so much for all of the info it really is appreciated, delighted, I definitely won't have to burn my mattress with cigarettes tonight out of awkward rage at my failed rock band dreams

 

[Gavras]

Gotcha, im influenced, utterly, like a TikTok thot, the bonsais are now relegated to the toilet....where they will be casually destroyed over time via attritional dumps............................... silence is out the window, what should I configure to get most power for £3k - £4k?

Consider something along these lines..

Logitech Z906 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers System

Shop Z906 Speakers. Features THX certified, 500 watts RMS, Dolby Digital / DTS decoding, supports multiple inputs, digital coaxial, optical inputs, and more

www.logitech.com

Also for headphones Sony WH-1000XM3 are a really good price at moment - solo play, noise cancelling.

​

 

[JumpinJackFlash]

Another quick question on this build..............looking for your thoughts on water cooling!

So, I reckon I now have the spec set thanks to you fine people (e.g. AMD Ryzen 5900x when it arrives, an Nvidia 3080, ASUS® ROG STRIX X570-F GAMING, 32GB Corsair VENGEANCE RGB PRO DDR4 3200MHz etc)............ what I now need is the case.

I have my eye on the Thermaltake 900 ..... I like this little gem because I have my machine on the left hand side against a wall, which means I would need something thatr has a glass panel on right hand side of case (and I dont think they exist?) to show off all the luxurious RGB goodness.

However I noticed that the Thermaltake 900 is only availble on the configurator if I choose a liquid cooling system.......

However, I am about as useful as a Durex machine in the vatican when it comes to maintenance of a system (I can install RAM, and sometimes a gpu, that is about my max)....... which means :

(1) Is one of the PC specialist liquid series wortwhile.....or better to go with a closed loop liquid cooling? (e.g. I heard that if its closed loop you dont need to touch it or maintain it which is good for my uselessness, but if its open loop I need to do yearly maintenance?...... keep in mind im not even sure what open loop or closed loop really mean, e.g. are the liquid series ones pc specialist actually closed loop and dont need maintenance?)

(2) If the Liquid series cooling is "AVOID!", then do you think PC Specialist would install my specs on the Thermaltake?

(3) Do any right side clear panel cases exist? Or is it basically a unicorn, or I would need some crazy russian dude to build one custom in his bunker?

Thanks again you handsome people!

Current thoughts...... (processor will change when 5900x comes out)---> https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-liquid/AKwsEjXG9D/

 

[Scott]

Your M2 drive selection is a bit strange. You want a small but fast drive as your primary (Windows & Programs) which you will aim to keep as slim and trim as you can. I normally aim for 500GB to have a decent capacity without ever having to go over 50% usage. The secondary drive is where you're going to store all your fast access stuff, such as games. With your budget you would want to run with a 980 for the primary and a 2TB firecuda for the secondary.

With regards to the case, that's a bit of a tricky situation. I would personally just re-adjust to have the case on the right but I understand this may not be possible. Worst case you could have the "dark" side of the case at the rear, have the "front/Rear" at the "Right/Left" and that would leave the shiny RGB goodness pointing right at you. That's actually the same orientation as the case you have linked.

I would strongly advise against an open loop liquid build. Even taking out the extreme waste of cash, the upkeep of them to keep them running sweet is a bit much. I considered one for years but never ever did it as I know the work that goes into them and the upkeep of them. If anything goes wrong it's just a PITA trying to put right. If I had a showy desk space then I would maybe consider it but I would know fine well the hassle I would be giving myself doing it.

 

[JumpinJackFlash]

Your M2 drive selection is a bit strange. You want a small but fast drive as your primary (Windows & Programs) which you will aim to keep as slim and trim as you can. I normally aim for 500GB to have a decent capacity without ever having to go over 50% usage. The secondary drive is where you're going to store all your fast access stuff, such as games. With your budget you would want to run with a 980 for the primary and a 2TB firecuda for the secondary.

With regards to the case, that's a bit of a tricky situation. I would personally just re-adjust to have the case on the right but I understand this may not be possible. Worst case you could have the "dark" side of the case at the rear, have the "front/Rear" at the "Right/Left" and that would leave the shiny RGB goodness pointing right at you. That's actually the same orientation as the case you have linked.

I would strongly advise against an open loop liquid build. Even taking out the extreme waste of cash, the upkeep of them to keep them running sweet is a bit much. I considered one for years but never ever did it as I know the work that goes into them and the upkeep of them. If anything goes wrong it's just a PITA trying to put right. If I had a showy desk space then I would maybe consider it but I would know fine well the hassle I would be giving myself doing it.

Why thank you good sir, Ah ive done that wrong, I was planning on having the operating system on the fast one and then the brick for basic storage (some movies etc), ill adjust though I think i messed that up.

Why didnt I think of this? E.g. dark side against the wall........ingenius!

And thanks for the open loop advice, had done some snooping and there was a lot of comments that basically said "unless you know what your doing, and its a hobby, then no touchy!"............. closed loop corsair it is!

 

[Scott]

Oh, neither of the M2 drives I've suggested are bricks. They are both BLISTERINGLY fast. I was thinking that the OS goes crazy fast and the games go as crazy fast as you can get in 2TB fashion. I would also add another 3TB+ drive for fossil storage

Everything else, bob on

 

[Scott]

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Manufacturer of performance custom computers and laptops. Customise your ideal gaming PC or laptop using our advanced configurator.

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That's basically what you want. It's going to be quiet enough for just about every scenario, powerful enough for absolutely every scenario and pretty enough that you'll switch it on just to look at.

The Define 7 is as quiet as you will get but unless specifically looking for silent I think pretty should win

The 980 pro seems sold out at the moment so I would call PCS/Hold off till it's there. it's the one to have for a primary in your shoes. Don't settle.

 

[JumpinJackFlash]

Oh, neither of the M2 drives I've suggested are bricks. They are both BLISTERINGLY fast. I was thinking that the OS goes crazy fast and the games go as crazy fast as you can get in 2TB fashion. I would also add another 3TB+ drive for fossil storage

Everything else, bob on

Aha! Gotcha my good sir, I shall adjust!

And pretty all the way, the bonsais have been moved from the mancave so its all about rosy cheeked RGB and luxurious side panels!