New quote for a desktop - opinions wanted.

[UKTSEasilyconfused]

After 9 years my reliable PC Specialists Core 2 Duo machine is at the end of its much upgraded life so I have been given permission to get a quote for a replacement machine with a view to it lasting at least 5 years and being able to be upgraded as time goes on.

The specs are below but a few things to note when looking at the quote.

1. There are 2 * 2TB WD Black drives to come over from the old PC.
2. There is also a DVD player locked down to region 1 from the old PC so region 2 discs will use the new drive supplied with the PC.
3. The PSU is specced with that in mind and I really wanted a modular one so I can remove unnecessary wires.
4. Windows and Office will come from the old PC as a reinstall (I hope) since that is being turned into a Unbuntu Server running Minecraft.
5. I need to keep the machine as quiet as possible and cool since the summer temperature in the home office / play room reaches 32C regularly.

Case
COOLERMASTER HAF 912 PLUS MID TOWER GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Processor i7-7700k (4.2GHz) 8MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® PRIME Z270-P: ATX, LG1151, USB 3.0, SATA 6GBs
Memory (RAM)
16GB HyperX PREDATOR DDR4 3200MHz X.M.P (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
3GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1060 - DVI, HDMI, 3 x DP
1st Hard Disk
NOT REQUIRED
M.2 SSD Drive
512GB SAMSUNG PM961 M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 2800MB/R, 1600MB/W)
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM
Memory Card Reader
INTERNAL 52 IN 1 CARD READER (XD, MS, CF, SD, etc) + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Power Supply
CORSAIR 650W CS SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
CoolerMaster Hyper 212X (120mm) Fan CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Extra Case Fans
2x 120mm Apache Black Quiet Fan (fitted to extract from rear/roof)
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 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
DVD Recovery Media
NO DVD RECOVERY MEDIA REQUIRED
Office Software
NO OFFICE SOFTWARE
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE

Any comments appreciated since this is a big spend for me and the domestic boss has to approve it. It is within her budget currently. I did think about liquid cooling but unsure how long that will last. As previously noted the current PC was delivered in 2007 and I am not sure how long a liquid cooling system will last. When I see phrases about low permeability on the hoses that leads me to think evaporation might be an issue over the long term?

Regards

John

 

[keynes]

4. Windows and Office will come from the old PC as a reinstall

Windows (assuming OEM) is linked to your previous pc and can't be transferred.
It would be helpful to indicate the intended use

 

[UKTSEasilyconfused]

Windows (assuming OEM) is linked to your previous pc and can't be transferred.
It would be helpful to indicate the intended use

Hmm that is what I feared but talking on the phone to PC Specialist today the guy seemed to think I could download an ISO and put it on a USB and boot from that and then reinstall and activate using my existing licence.

<edit> I just looked at the original order. The orginal PC had no OS since I had a boxed XP Pro full install from Software For Students. That then got upgraded to Win 7 on an upgrade package also from Software For Students. Then the auto upgrade to Win 10. So it is not OEM software.

Stupidly, I overlooked to state the intended usage : as well as normal domestic PC stuff like email etc. the main usage would be lighter weight gaming such as Minecraft / Euro Truck sim. However Civilisation VI and the new Train Simulator are on the agenda also. TSW has not been released yet so the true requirements for that are unknown. The monitor is 1600 * 900 with 60 Hz refresh.

Basically I need something that can expand within reason so although I specified 16GB memory I want to leave space to add more in future.

 

[Oussebon]

Case
COOLERMASTER HAF 912 PLUS MID TOWER GAMING CASE

May I advise against this case. It's a design from 2010 and it doesn't even have front-facing USB 3.0. Most other cases won't have the special card reader slot, but you can use an external one. If you really need an internal card reader, get one yourself install it into a dvd drive bay with an adapter.

I did think about liquid cooling but unsure how long that will last.

Unless you're overclocking it's just not worth it. Besides which the Noctua air cooler will actually match or beat any of the cheap AIO liquid coolers for less £.

If quiet and cool is the way you want to play it you could, depending on budget:
- stump up the extra for the Noctua, one of the most effective and quietest air coolers of its class.
- go for the Fractal Define R5 or the Define S (Define S lacks an optical drive but you can use an external one) as these cases are decent thermal performers and have sound dampening material in the case
- go for the RM850x PSU. This is semi-passive and will cool itself silently when below given temp/load thresholds. My RMi doesn't switch the fan on even under gaming load.

Motherboard
ASUS® PRIME Z270-P: ATX, LG1151, USB 3.0, SATA 6GBs

This motherboard only has 2 sata connectors. And you're using 2 HDDs and 2 DVD drives it seems. So you might want a better mobo.

You could go for the Gigabyte Z270-D3 (+£4) which I believe has 6 sata connectors. Unlike the Asus Z270-P it only has 1 M.2 connector (so if you want another M.2 SSD in the future you're out of luck, unless you start using PCI-E adapters I guess)
http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=6113#sp

The Z270X-Ultra Gaming (+£40) also has 6 Sata connectors and 1 M.2 connector but also has USB 3.1 Type A and C. http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=6095#kf

The Asus Z270E (+£ 57 compared to the Z270-P) has 6 sata connectors, USB 3.1 Type A and C, and M.2 connectors and things like built in wifi and other goodies.

 

[UKTSEasilyconfused]

Thanks for the advice. I will reconsider the case since it would be handy to have USB 3 on the front rather than having to poke around behind the machine.

The Noctua fan still keeps us in budget and the specs do look good.