Need a new PC. Check thy Spec!

[PostRaptor]

Howdy, all.

I got my PC in 2015 and now with the advent of Windows 11 I need to upgrade since my old rig won't accommodate W11. I don't really know much about building a PC so I've gone back to PC Specialist to get another one which I'm hoping to purchase by the end of the year once I've saved up the money for it. I've tried to follow the instructions for this forum on asking about new PC's so here is my proposed spec.

I mainly use my PC for gaming and some digital applications (Photoshop, Maya, Adobe After Effects). Nothing too heavy, it doesn't need to be a souped up elite rig. Ideally, it should be reliable enough to last another 10+ years like my last one without becoming outdated or obsolete too quickly.

Case
PCS PULSE MID TOWER CASE (PWM)

Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i9 16-Core Processor i9-12900 (Up to 5.1GHz) 30MB Cache

Motherboard
ASUS® PRIME B760-PLUS D4 (LGA1700, DDR4, PCIe 5.0)

Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3200MHz (1 x 32GB)

Graphics Card
8GB ASUS DUAL GEFORCE RTX 4060 OC V2 - HDMI, 3 x DP

1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (3500 MB/R, 3200 MB/W)

Power Supply
CORSAIR 550W CX SERIES™ CX-550 POWER SUPPLY

Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)

Processor Cooling
PCS FrostFlow 150 Series High Performance CPU Cooler

Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING

Sound Card
Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy™ FX v2

Network Card
ONBOARD LAN PORT

Wireless Network Card
WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6E AX210 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

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
Norton 360 inc. Game Optimizer - Free 90 Day License

Browser
Microsoft® Edge

Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (6 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)

Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)

Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 7 to 9 working days
Price: £1,280.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/intel-z690-pc/3qeHaM2U9h/

Budget: £1,500 but possible to spend a bit more if necessary.
Monitor: IIyama ProLite E2283HS-B1
Other notes:
I have two Corsair VENGEANCE LPX DDR4 RAM 32GB memory sticks plus a Samsung 990 Pro SSD over to my new rig. I use Wi-Fi for my internet since I can't run a cable through the whole house to the router. I had hoped to get a CD drive but it appears none of the cases accommodate one .

So, there we have it. Hopefully, it looks okay, but of course I'm looking for advice or suggestions if this is okay or in need of some changes/improvements.

 

[Ekans2011]

Howdy, all.

I got my PC in 2015 and now with the advent of Windows 11 I need to upgrade since my old rig won't accommodate W11. I don't really know much about building a PC so I've gone back to PC Specialist to get another one which I'm hoping to purchase by the end of the year once I've saved up the money for it. I've tried to follow the instructions for this forum on asking about new PC's so here is my proposed spec.

I mainly use my PC for gaming and some digital applications (Photoshop, Maya, Adobe After Effects). Nothing too heavy, it doesn't need to be a souped up elite rig. Ideally, it should be reliable enough to last another 10+ years like my last one without becoming outdated or obsolete too quickly.

That build is incapable of lasting more than a couple of years because it is a dead platform, and even if it weren't, there would be zero margins for upgrades because of its poor design.

The mentioned £1500 budget is just enough for a basic 1080p system; however, if you want to buy in late 2025, it makes little sense to spec now because prices are continuously changing and a configuration that is a good value today will most likely be quite different in 6 months.

 

[PostRaptor]

That build is incapable of lasting more than a couple of years because it is a dead platform, and even if it weren't, there would be zero margins for upgrades.

The mentioned £1500 budget is just enough for a basic 1080p system; however, if you want to buy in late 2025, it makes little sense to spec now because prices are continuously changing and a configuration that is a good value today will most likely be quite different in 6 months.

That's a bummer then, so where can I go from here?

 

[Ekans2011]

That's a bummer then, so where can I go from here?

I'm not sure I understand your question; here's what I'd suggest today for a 1080p gaming PC with plenty of room for future upgrades.

You'd have to add the cost of a decent 1080p gaming monitor (£120-150 at least), as your ProLite E2283HS-B1 isn't suitable.

Case
CORSAIR FRAME 4000D RS ARGB MODULAR
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Eight Core CPU (4.2GHz-5.0GHz/104MB w/3D V-CACHE/AM5)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF GAMING B850-PLUS WIFI (AM5, DDR5, M.2 PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 7)
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5 6000MHz CL30 (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
12GB INTEL ARC B580 LIMITED EDITION - HDMI, 3 x DP
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB CORSAIR ELITE MP600 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD (up to 7000 MB/R, 6200 MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
2TB CORSAIR CORE XT MP600 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD (up to 5000 MB/R, 4400 MB/W)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 1000W RMx SERIES™ ATX 3.1, MODULAR, CYBENETICS GOLD
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead, 1.0mm Core)
Processor Cooling
CORSAIR NAUTILUS 240 RS ARGB 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
ONBOARD 2.5Gbe LAN PORT
Wireless Network Card
NONE OR ONBOARD Wi-Fi (MOTHERBOARD DEPENDENT)
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
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
Microsoft® Edge
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 7 to 9 working days
Price: £1,664.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am5-pc/jXqMF3tFPE/

 

[PostRaptor]

I'm not sure I understand your question; here's what I'd suggest today for a 1080p gaming PC with plenty of room for future upgrades.

You'd have to add the cost of a decent 1080p gaming monitor (£120-150 at least), as your ProLite E2283HS-B1 isn't suitable.

Case
CORSAIR FRAME 4000D RS ARGB MODULAR
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Eight Core CPU (4.2GHz-5.0GHz/104MB w/3D V-CACHE/AM5)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF GAMING B850-PLUS WIFI (AM5, DDR5, M.2 PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 7)
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5 6000MHz CL30 (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
12GB INTEL ARC B580 LIMITED EDITION - HDMI, 3 x DP
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB CORSAIR ELITE MP600 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD (up to 7000 MB/R, 6200 MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
2TB CORSAIR CORE XT MP600 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD (up to 5000 MB/R, 4400 MB/W)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 1000W RMx SERIES™ ATX 3.1, MODULAR, CYBENETICS GOLD
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead, 1.0mm Core)
Processor Cooling
CORSAIR NAUTILUS 240 RS ARGB 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
ONBOARD 2.5Gbe LAN PORT
Wireless Network Card
NONE OR ONBOARD Wi-Fi (MOTHERBOARD DEPENDENT)
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
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
Microsoft® Edge
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 7 to 9 working days
Price: £1,664.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am5-pc/jXqMF3tFPE/

Since my own choice wasn't ideal, I guess I was asking for a better build. Like I said, I don't know much about building PCs. But I do appreciate you making up a new build for me what did you mean by dead platform?

 

[Ekans2011]

what did you mean by dead platform?

A platform that has reached the end of its life and hence cannot be upgraded.

The ability to upgrade is the paramount of the Custom PC; designing a new system that cannot be upgraded makes absolutely no sense.

 

[PostRaptor]

A platform that has reached the end of its life and hence cannot be upgraded.

The ability to upgrade is the paramount of the Custom PC; designing a new system that cannot be upgraded makes absolutely no sense.

Aah, fair enough. I guess if I want something to last 10+ years then upgrade potential should've been a key consideration. But what was it specifically about my original build that was dead? The CPU or the motherboard? Or something else? I'd like to learn a bit so I can move forward with making better build decisions.

 

[Ekans2011]

Aah, fair enough. I guess if I want something to last 10+ years then upgrade potential should've been a key consideration. But what was it specifically about my original build that was dead? The CPU or the motherboard? Or something else? I'd like to learn a bit so I can move forward with making better build decisions.

The whole Intel platform: the 12900 is a three-year-old CPU, and the motherboard is a fairly low-end model.
The next generation of Intel CPUs that support it (13th and 14th) are also DOA.

Intel 13th and 14th Gen confirmed defective

So there's been a lot of upset gathering steam on the inter webs with intermittent games crashes on Intel 13th and 14th gen. Workarounds range from underclocking to disabling ecores. BUT, there are a lot of people finding that simply disabling hyperthreading is a proper solution. The findings...

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

Furthermore, you've chosen an unknown case of questionable quality (it's not a simple metal box!), an unknown and insufficient cooler, an office-grade and insufficient PSU, an unknown and unreliable M.2, a low-end GPU with insufficient VRAM for modern games, and Norton, which is malware!

 

[PostRaptor]

Fair enough building PC's has never been my forte. I appreciate the new build you made, I'll be moving forward with that one.

 

[PostRaptor]

If you aren't planning to buy till the end of the year, then I would come back a couple of weeks before and repost in this thread. Ekan's spec is the best for the budget today...however, prices are always fluctuating and so you may be able to get more for your money.

Good call. I'll do that nearer the time, for now it's just a case of saving money.

 

[Ekans2011]

Good call. I'll do that nearer the time, for now it's just a case of saving money.

I've highlighted the same things in my prior postings; very likely, you have missed them, so I made them bold now.

 

[PostRaptor]

Fair enough, but I believe it's still useful to start now, at least that way I can get some advice instead of jumping into it blindly. I wouldn't have considered much of what I've learnt now possibly until it's too late by the end of 2025.