Build check and 2 component questions

[TarnishedRock]

Hi! I just created this personalized build with your configurator:

Case
CASE MID TOWER PCS P209 RGB
Processore (CPU)
CPU AMD Ryzen 7 2700 octa-core (3,2 GHz-4,1 GHz/20 MB CACHE/AM4)
Scheda madre
ASUS® PRIME B450-PLUS (DDR4, USB 3.1, 6 Gb/s) – RGB-ready!
Memoria (RAM)
DDR4 Corsair VENGEANCE 2666 MHz 16 GB (2 da 8 GB)
Scheda grafica
AMD RADEON™ RX 5600 XT 6 GB – HDMI, DP – DX® 12
1o Unità di archiviazione
NON RICHIESTO
1o drive SSD M.2
SSD PCIe INTEL® 660p M.2 NVMe 512 GB (fino a 1500 MB/sR | 1000 MB/sW)
Unità DVD/BLU-RAY
NON RICHIESTO
Alimentatore
ALIMENTATORE CORSAIR 550 W CV SERIES™ CV-550
Cavo di alimentazione
1 cavo di alimentazione europeo 1 metro (tipo kettle)
Raffreddamento processore
DISSIPATORE CPU AMD STANDARD
Pasta termica
ARCTIC MX-4 composto ad alta conduttività termica
Scheda audio
AUDIO ALTA DEFINIZIONE INTEGRATO A 6 CANALI (5.1) (DI SERIE)
Connessione di rete wireless/cablata
WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 2.400Mbps/5GHz, 300Mbps/2.4GHz PCI-E CARD + BT 5.0
Opzioni USB/Thunderbolt
MIN. 2 PORTE USB 3.0 & 2 PORTE USB 2.0 @ PANNELLO SUL RETRO + MIN. 2 PORTE FRONTALI
Sistema operativo
NESSUN SISTEMA OPERATIVO RICHIESTO
Lingua del sistema operativo
Italia/Italia – Lingua italiana
Supporto di ripristino Windows
NESSUN RIPRISTINO RICHIESTO
Software Office
Prova GRATUITA 30 giorni di Microsoft 365® (richiesto sistema operativo)
Antivirus
NESSUN SOFTWARE ANTIVIRUS
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (solo con Windows 10)
Garanzia
Garanzia Oro 3 anni (2 anni Ritiro e reso, 2 anni Ricambi, 3 anni Manodopera)
Consegna
3 - 4 GIORNI PER LA SPEDIZIONE IN ITALIA
Tempo di costruzione
Costruzione standard – da 15 a 18 giorni lavorativi


Prezzo: €1.007,00 IVA e consegna incluse

I would like to be sure that the components I have chosen are compatible and the build actually works. Moreover, I have two questions:

1. I have chosen the DDR4 Corsair VENGEANCE 2666 MHz 16 GB (2 da 8 GB). Would it be possible to have the same model and GB quantity, but with higher frequency?

2. I read from the motherboard specs that it includes the Realtek® ALC887-VD2 audio card which is 8-channel, but from the audio card specs from this build I see that the audio card is 6-channel. Why?

 

[Dan79]

Looks like you are in the wrong configurator. I assume this is going to be a gaming machine. AMD Config

This has the newer CPUs and memory choices

Also if you list your uses, budget and monitor resolution and refresh rate people can suggest builds.

 

[TarnishedRock]

You are right, sorry!

I'm looking to create a 1000 Euros gaming machine, to pair with a 1080p 144 hz monitor.

I configured a new, similar build with the newer configurator:

Case
PCS P209 RGB MID TOWER CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Six Core CPU (3.6GHz-4.2GHz/36MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® PRIME B450-PLUS (DDR4, USB 3.1, 6Gb/s) - RGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
6GB AMD RADEON™ RX 5600 XT - HDMI, DP, DX® 12
1st Storage Drive
NOT REQUIRED
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB INTEL® 660p M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 1500MB/sR | 1000MB/sW)
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
NOT REQUIRED
Power Supply
CORSAIR 550W CV SERIES™ CV-550 POWER SUPPLY
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre European Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
STANDARD AMD CPU COOLER
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Wireless/Wired Networking
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 Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
3 - 4 DAY DELIVERY TO ITALY
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 15 to 18 working days
Price: €1.043,00 including VAT and Delivery

What do you think?
I still have that audio card doubt by the way: from the specs of the integrated card it should be 8 channel and still I read 6 channel in the configurator. Not that it is a key issue

I'm not a pc expert, but I think that installing windows on my own won't be a particularly difficult task. Am I wrong?

 

[ubuysa]

I'm not a pc expert, but I think that installing windows on my own won't be a particularly difficult task. Am I wrong?

I'll leave others more hardware knowledgeable to comment on the build.

As for installing Windows, no it's not that hard but it would be very useful if you have done it before. It's a simple process once you get used to it, but like all processes you need to build experience.

Your PC will arrive with an unlicensed Windows system already on it. PCS use that to test your PC. I strongly advise that you boot and use that system to test your PC once it arrives. Make certain that everything is working properly - sometimes stuff comes loose in transit. Only once you are certain that it's all working well should you consider installing your own copy of Windows.

Don't activate the testing copy with whatever license key you have, that system was designed only for testing and you don't know whether it's complete or fully configured. Remove that testing system when you install your own (just delete all the partitions).

 

[TarnishedRock]

Got it! Thank you for the advice!

 

[Dan79]

1660s super should be fine for 1080 144hz (not up to date with AMD cards but hear they have driver issues)

A better case from a thermal perspective.

16 gb of the fastest RAM which AMD love

A semi-modular power supply - better thermals and quality

Windows is very easy to self install

The 6 channel part is a placeholder I believe - In 'more details' it says depending on which Motherboard you select, it will determine which Onboard Audio you will recieve. So i'd go with the 8 channel on the motherboard spec.

around €1005 euro (I think)



Case
FRACTAL FOCUS G BLACK GAMING CASE (Window)
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Six Core CPU (3.6GHz-4.2GHz/36MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® PRIME B450-PLUS (DDR4, USB 3.1, 6Gb/s) - RGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3600MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1660 SUPER - HDMI, DP - GeForce GTX VR Ready!
1st Storage Drive
1TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 64MB CACHE
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2000 MB/R, 1100 MB/W)
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
NOT REQUIRED
Power Supply
CORSAIR 550W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
STANDARD AMD 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
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 15 to 18 working days
Price: £896.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/BQwCm4AWSt/

 

[Charlas]

The HD audio module is just a header collection on the front/back of the case, it does have some electronics on it as usually has a TOSLink port, and that obv needs the fiber driver led's.

You can get them and install yourself, even seen them on a blanking plate dropped into an empty pci slot.

 

[Charlas]

Just looked the fractal case doesn't have HD audio breakout built in. But like I say it's just a breakout box that can go in a 3.5 bay or pci slot cover.

The motherboard (450) doesn't have TOSLink on it either, I know the gigabyte x570 aurus elite does have TOSLink on it, not sure if that's an option or not, but the ods are better with x570 board to have TOSLink

 

[Dan79]

Just noticed Dan's spec is showing delivery to the UK whereas the OP is in Italy...so that would need to be changed before ordering....the total cost with that change is 1059 Euros

Well spotted... I very rarely go below the warrenty line.

Apologies

 

[TarnishedRock]

Thank you all for your answers!

I understand that audio card matter! How crucial is a dedicated audio card in your opinion? (as opposed to the integrated one in the B450 motherboard).

I'll probably stick to a 1660 super and to the modular power supply as @Dan79 suggested!

About the motherboard I'm not sure, @Nursemorph what do you mean by saying that it is not that open to future improvements? Will I be able to upgrade my GPU when it won't support 1080p gaming anymore? (it shouldn't anytime soon for the 1660s, right?)

 

[Dan79]

I think the general consensus is that onboard audio is currently very good... however if better is required an external DAC is the best option. However not my area of expertise.

And as @Nursemorph stated, its about the next gen chips - AMD say they might work but may need bios updates and won't work with certain features. GPUs should be fine.

 

[TarnishedRock]

I see, thank you all again!

 

[Charlas]

Onboard AC97 is pretty good, I use two external sound cards on laptop, one driving microphone (as needs phantom power) one driving speakers (7.1 Atmos through Onkyo amp)

One of Microsoft best introduction was the AC97 codec, and getting rid of sound cards 😉