Sim racing PC build - feedback

[TomJac]

Building up a new PC mainly for sim racing and flight sim usage, but will be doing some light photoshop work and also FPS type games too. Budget is pretty maxxed with this - feedback welcome!

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Case

LIAN LI LANCOOL 215 GAMING CASE

Processor (CPU)

AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Eight Core CPU (4.2GHz-5.0GHz/104MB w/3D V-CACHE/AM5)

Motherboard

ASUS® TUF GAMING X670E-PLUS WIFI (AM5, DDR5, PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 6E)

Memory (RAM)

32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5 6000MHz (2 x 16GB)

Graphics Card

16GB ASUS PROART GEFORCE RTX 4080 SUPER - HDMI, DP, LHR

1st M.2 SSD Drive

2TB SAMSUNG 980 PRO M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 7000MB/R, 5000MB/W)

1st M.2 SSD Drive

1TB CORSAIR FORCE MP600 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD (up to 4950 MB/R, 4000 MB/W)

Power Supply

CORSAIR 1000W RMx SERIES™ - MODULAR 80 PLUS GOLD, ULTRA QUIET

Power Cable

1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead, 1.0mm Core)

Processor Cooling

CORSAIR H100x RGB ELITE HIGH PERFORMANCE CPU COOLER

Thermal Paste

ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND

Sound Card

ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)

Network Card

ONBOARD 2.5Gbe LAN PORT

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

 

[Scott]

Hi there,

It's not far off what I would look for.

What monitor are you pairing the system with, and could you share the configurable link? Details below for guides and info etc.

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[TomJac]

Thanks Scott, link included now. Monitor wise I have an ASU’s 1440p monitor from my console but looking at the Alienware AW3423DWF.

Still not 100% on an ultrawide vs 16:9

 

[Scott]

Few changes below. Note that ultrawide and more-so Super Ultrawide are a real game changer for all sim racing and flying titles. The peripheral view is significantly increased. A number of people choose 3 monitors for this reason. I prefer to use VR as it gives another level of immersion again.

The wrap around of the curved screens is also quite good, but the bigger the better width wise.

Case
CORSAIR 4000D RGB AIRFLOW TEMPERED GLASS GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Eight Core CPU (4.2GHz-5.0GHz/104MB w/3D V-CACHE/AM5)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF GAMING X670E-PLUS WIFI (AM5, DDR5, PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 6E)
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5 6000MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
16GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 4080 SUPER - HDMI, DP, LHR
Graphics Card Support Bracket
NONE (BRACKET INCLUDED AS STANDARD ON 4070 Ti / RX 7700 XT AND ABOVE)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB SOLIDIGM P44 PRO GEN 4 M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 7000MB/sR, 4700MB/sW)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
2TB CORSAIR CORE XT MP600 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD (up to 5000 MB/R, 4400 MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB SOLIDIGM P44 PRO GEN 4 M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 7000MB/sR, 6500MB/sW)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 1200W RMx SHIFT SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead, 1.0mm Core)
Processor Cooling
CORSAIR H100x RGB ELITE 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
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 4 to 6 working days
Price: £2,624.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am5-pc/tmvgYkQ2F5/

 

[TomJac]

Appreciate the feedback. I’m not clued up on modern PC builds having been a console user for a while. What advantages do the changes suggested have over the original? I guess the case, SSDs and power supply are the obvious ones but I’m quite new to it!

 

[Scott]

The Samsung 980 isn't a great drive. The layout of the drives is improved as well. The thinking is an OS drive (the 500GB one) that only houses the operating system and your main programs (no games). The 1TB drive would be for your simulation games. I have a dedicated 1TB drive just for MSFS, but it's nowhere near full so iRacing or etc would happily fit in the 1TB drive also. The 2TB drive is for any other games that you wish to store along with fast storage and caching option for your Adobe uses.

Case is just a bigger offering to promote better airflow. The 4080 is going to put out a lot of heat, better to have a more roomy living space for high end components.

1200w PSU is an ATX3.1 version, it is basically a future proof selection. If the 1000w one was ATX3.0/1 then it would be a fine choice, it's an older generation though so worth paying a bit more.

I would consider a higher end cooler for the aesthetic. If you want the RGB look the H150i would be a better fit. The h100x does cover the cooling requirements but it's quite basic by comparison. The "link" models are really good.

 

[TomJac]

Understood thanks. And the 4080 - what’s the difference between the branded ASUS or MSI or whatever vs other cheaper version? Thanks for the help.

 

[TonyCarter]

Understood thanks. And the 4080 - what’s the difference between the branded ASUS or MSI or whatever vs other cheaper version? Thanks for the help.

Cosmetics, brand snobbery, and maybe a tiny performance uplift (1-3%) for a premium price.

Plus of course you get exactly the model of GPU that you select, rather than a random one of a few possibles from MSI, Palit, Zotac, Sapphire, etc.

 

[ThyThy]

Cosmetics, brand snobbery, and maybe a tiny performance uplift (1-3%) for a premium price.

😅 Nice way to tell.

Although, to be fair, it can be nice to know which model you get, if you really want to avoid this or that.

 

[TonyCarter]

😅 Nice way to tell.

Although, to be fair, it can be nice to know which model you get, if you really want to avoid this or that.

Well, that's exactly why I bought mine without a GPU and bought the FE version...as I didn't want a anime/manga/futa/waifu neon-fest there.

The other reason for not buying mine from PCS was that without knowing what make/model it was I couldn't look up the detailed specs to guarantee that it would fit into my original case, so went with the shortest option which was the Nvidia FE version.

Of course the 4090 now looks more like the size of a GT730 in its new, larger case

 

[ThyThy]

Well, that's exactly why I bought mine without a GPU and bought the FE version...as I didn't want a anime/manga/futa/waifu neon-fest there.

😅
The FE version has my preference, at least in terms of look.

Do you mean you sent your original case (the 6500X if I understand) to PCS for them to build into it?

 

[TonyCarter]

😅
The FE version has my preference, at least in terms of look.

Do you mean you sent your original case (the 6500X if I understand) to PCS for them to build into it?

No, I had a Corsair 220T, but wanted something bigger, so go PCS to fit new components (minus the GPU) into the 6500X case I sent in. Then I simply fitted the 4090 myself...along with some 140mm QX fans on the bottom (as PCS don't offer that size kit).

 

[ThyThy]

What I meant: you sent the 6500X.
Yep, too bad PCS don't offer 140mm options.

 

[TomJac]

@Scott Is it worth holding out for the 9000 series or stick with what I have specced with the 7800?

 

[Scott]

I think the expectation for the 9000 series 3D chips is January. If you are happy to wait until then it's possibly worth it. Unfortunately it's going to be unknown just how much of a difference it'll make until then.

The 7800X3D is the best gaming chip you can get, especially when it comes to flight sim. The 9800X3D will likely surpass it, but at what cost and by how much.... it won't be known until release.

 

[TomJac]

Yeah fair point. Appreciate the advice!

 

[TomJac]

I've just been looking at monitors and poking about in the specs for the Alienware AW3225QF (4k, 240hz). I've read that it needs some oomph from the GPU, do you think this build can handle it ok?

 

[TonyCarter]

I've just been looking at monitors and poking about in the specs for the Alienware AW3225QF (4k, 240hz). I've read that it needs some oomph from the GPU, do you think this build can handle it ok?

Well, I'm not sure any current GPU will give you the full 240FPS in a modern AAA UE5 engined game or MSFS...not even a 4090 will do that.

But if we're talking about sims/games like Forza Motorsport, Assetto Corsa, Assetto Corsa Competizione, iRacing, Automobilista etc. then the 4080 Super will provide lots of FPS (depending on settings of course), but depending on the game & track I'd say they'll deliver close to what the screen will offer.

Summary from that video (average single 4k screen, High settings):

• Automobilista 2 = 210fps
• Assetto Corsa = 250fps
• Assetto Corsa Competizione = 200fps
• iRacing = 250fps

 

[Scott]

With racing sims you'll get what you want out of it really. I wouldn't pay any more money for over 144hz though. If you want that panel make sure it's for reasons outside of the refresh rate as it's completely pointless. A crisp and solid 120 fps is far better to have than moar frames with the potential for variance.

 

[Scott]

I would also seriously consider a super ultrawide. The immersion factor cannot be underestimated. The peripheral vision in the car is night and day.