Need advice please! PC of budget around £2000

[KenLi]

Plan to use the PC mainly for gaming, VR and maybe some video editing. Couple of questions:

1. does this spec make sense in general?
2. Is it better to choose a motherboard with wifi or a separated wifi network card
3. I have bad experience with Seagate HDD, but there's no other choice of mechanical HDD here, should I buy it somewhere else?

Thanks in advance!

Case
FRACTAL FOCUS G BLACK GAMING CASE (Window)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Eight Core Processor i7-10700 (2.9GHz) 16MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® ROG MAXIMUS XII HERO Wi-Fi (LGA1200, USB 3.2, CrossFireX/SLI) - RGB Ready
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 2666MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
8GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 2080 SUPER - HDMI, 3x DP GeForce - RTX VR Ready!
1st Storage Drive
256GB PCS 2.5" SSD, SATA 6 Gb (500MB/R, 400MB/W)
2nd Storage Drive
4TB SEAGATE IRONWOLF PRO 3.5", 7200 RPM 128MB CACHE
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 80 Series 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)
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
Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account

 

[KenLi]

Thanks! answers below:

It may be that an AMD build is better suited to your uses but, if you can tell us a few things, we can advise correctly:

- Maximum budget? --> £2200
- Monitor you are using? Resolution and refresh rate or make and model if unsure. -->1080, 144Hz
- type of games played? -->RDR2, COD

That will help us decide what is likely to be best. To answer your other questions in the meantime:

1 - In theory, it makes sense with perhaps an alteration or two
2 - I don't think it really matters to be honest...the better question is "would getting a more expensive motherboard for the Wi-Fi over a non-Wi-Fi motherboard be more expensive than buying a separate Wi-Fi card?"
3 - Personally, I have never had any issues with Seagate (and plenty of others would say the same) but, if you aren't 100% confident, then you could always buy your own and fit it when you get the new system...it's simple to do.

 

[Charlas]

I'll be honest I'd be inclined to go AMD for this if I was you, the extremely small (0.1 and 1% lows) benefit that Intel has isn't worth the Intel Tax, and 99.999% of users will never notice it, after all for 144hz refresh you need 6.9ms frame times, and if you skip one frame every multiple ten thousand your never going to notice. Intel is only needed for competitive gamers at super high refresh rates (300+)

Personal opinion, and from someone that's been Intel all the way since I swapped my k6 out years (and years) ago.

Get an x570 main board, then you have an upgrade path to a ryzen 4000 when that's out if need be too.

 

[KenLi]

Thanks for the advice. I bet you are right, Intel is merely an emotional bond (been using Intel since 486

I'll be honest I'd be inclined to go AMD for this if I was you, the extremely small (0.1 and 1% lows) benefit that Intel has isn't worth the Intel Tax, and 99.999% of users will never notice it, after all for 144hz refresh you need 6.9ms frame times, and if you skip one frame every multiple ten thousand your never going to notice. Intel is only needed for competitive gamers at super high refresh rates (300+)

Personal opinion, and from someone that's been Intel all the way since I swapped my k6 out years (and years) ago.

Get an x570 main board, then you have an upgrade path to a ryzen 4000 when that's out if need be too.

 

[Charlas]

I've had Intel since 8088! yeah a good old 4.77mhz (yes MEGA hertz), but dabbled with AMD when they were on their upstrokes (K6 and the likes), at the moment they are the better processor, no ifs and buts about it, it's not worth hurting your own pocket to get an inferior product just because of brand loyalty, after all, would you just renew your car insurance with the same provider, even though switching would save you hundreds? Nah you wouldn't, so don't do the same with your money here. Buy the best product, who cares who makes it in the end

 

[Charlas]

Saying that I've just bought an Intel 10th gen laptop, but that's only because Ryzen 4000 isn't getting the decent GPU's

 

[Charlas]

2070S is just fine for VR, depending on the VR kit you use obviously. But never had issues with anything on a standard 2070, on either my Occy Rift or my Vive pro. I know neither are the latest all singing all-dancing, but never had issues.

 

[Scott]

If we swap out the Firecuda for the 970 Evo (Faster writes anyway) and do away with the expedited delivery, we can just about eek out the 3900X..... which is what you really want for an all round beast of a system.

I would personally recommend the 2080S as well for VR. I have the standard 2080 and, as much as it doesn't struggle, FPS could be a bit higher for me with some heavy use titles. Project cars 2 immediately springs to mind as I need to be careful with my settings in order to get 90fps.

As suggested though, it depends on which headset you are using and which games you want to play. The 2070 Super I would consider as being the entry level.

Case
FRACTAL DEFINE 7 BLACK QUIET MID-TOWER CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X 12 Core CPU (3.8GHz-4.6GHz/70MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF X570-PLUS GAMING (USB 3.2 Gen 2, PCIe 4.0, CrossFireX) - RGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
8GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 2080 SUPER - HDMI, 3x DP GeForce - RTX VR Ready!
1st Storage Drive
1TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 64MB CACHE
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 3200MB/W)
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
NOT REQUIRED
Power Supply
CORSAIR 1000W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Corsair H115i 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
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
Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 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
Firefox™
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: £2,257.00 including VAT and Delivery

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

 

[KenLi]

Thanks for all the good suggestions..... just one question about this build, do I really need a 1000W PSU? I though 750W is more than enough?

 

[Charlas]

You could probably get away with 750w but the guys probably showed the 1000w for a reason like its only a few Bob more for the extra headroom.

Your cpu and gpu would use 470w on their own at peak with nothing else for example. Gpu 250w and cpu 220w (well 216 spec wise technically but) then you have the vrm's, lan/chipset/wifi/usb/ac97 on main board, plus any drives, and usb devices plugged in, then any rgb and cooling (fans/water pumps etc)

It all adds up and I bet with a config like the above you would be well into the late 500 early 600w. Psu's work best when not stressed so you get a nice smooth power delivery on all the rails, easiest way to do that is over spec it. Especially if it's not a considerable cost difference (of which I'm not sure @Scott be best to say that with above spec)

 

[Scott]

The only reason for the 1000W is that the 750 & 850W RMx PSUs are sold out. You really want the RMx PSU, as it's extremely high end and will run at zero fan RPM below 40% utilisation (passive cooling).

There's not a HUGE difference in cost (around £40) and you are covered for every single eventuality.

 

[Charlas]

The only reason for the 1000W is that the 750 & 850W RMx PSUs are sold out. You really want the RMx PSU, as it's extremely high end and will run at zero fan RPM below 40% utilisation (passive cooling).

There's not a HUGE difference in cost (around £40) and you are covered for every single eventuality.

That's what I assumed, thanks for clarifying, didn't want to put words in your mouth 😁