No more lurking, time for action!

[seewhatyouthink]

Afternoon all, I've lurked for a long time and because of the help this forum has given other members, it's time to jump in...

So this is going to be my work at home PC (3/4 days a week), no gaming planned at the moment, it's basically to run multiple adobe apps at the same time, alongside word docs and another program - I have a good hunch my future workload is going to have more video creation (no 4K and 5 minutes max clips). Also need to run Blender at a fair standard (3ds max will also be installed, but I'm trying to move over to Blender, none of the 3d is too extensive, just short construction animations).

Monitor wise and thanks to a cracking amazon deal, I've already picked up two dell ultrasharp 1440p monitors.

The method in my madness (or so the internet tells me) is the 3700 is a good value allrounder (same for the 1660ti). The motherboard I'm hoping will be a solid base for any future upgrades, which right now I can only see being the GPU and another hard drive down the line. I've gone 32gb of ram to match my office PC but also it was of the idea of saving slot space rather than buying 16 now and a further 16 later.

The 860 hard drive was picked on a School of Motion/Adobe/Pudget suggestion for the OS being installed on that, the other HD from recommendations I’ve read on the forum.

So I guess I’m looking for any money saving tweaks that might improve one element without taking from the other (so dropping the ram possibly or hard drive brand and getting a better case? Downgrading the MB?) Or giving me the confidence to say I’ve picked well, built a balanced system without going overboard. Obviously, if there is a way to save money, I’d appreciate it or it proves that hanging in the shadows here every day has finally paid off! 😉

Anyway, spec is a follows...

Case
FRACTAL MESHIFY C BLACK GAMING CASE (Window)
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Eight Core CPU (3.6GHz-4.4GHz/36MB 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
6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1660 Ti - HDMI, DP - GeForce GTX VR Ready!
1st Storage Drive
500GB Samsung 860 EVO 2.5" SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (upto 550MB/sR | 520MB/sW)
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 VS SERIES™ VS-550 POWER SUPPLY
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
PCS FrostFlow 120 Series RGB High Performance Liquid 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 802.11N 300Mbps/2.4GHz PCI-E CARD
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Firewire
2 Port IEEE 1394a Firewire PCI-E Card (2 x 6 pin)
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® Office® 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
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 12 to 13 working days
Price: £1,270.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/GhB4StgXFs/


Cheers All!!

 

[Oussebon]

Welcome over the parapet

What's your thinking on how to use the 2 SSDs? What are you putting on each?

 

[seewhatyouthink]

Hello Oussebon - the 860 would hold the OS and programs, the 2nd drive would be the project files, which would become a scratch disk later down the line with a 3rd hard drive.

 

[Oussebon]

I think I've seen the puget article you might be basing the decision off to have the OS on a Sata SSD, but in general you will want the OS on your fastest drive.

The X570 motherboard could be dropped to a B450 fine with the R7 3700x. But if you might upgrade the CPU once Zen 3 is out later this year (perhaps get whatever monster replaces the 3950x as a future upgrade?) then the X570 with its better VRMs is advisable. Also it will support PCIe 4.0 SSDs.

If you're unlikely to take advantage of either, then a B450 saves you money to potentially invest in elsewhere e.g. faster storage

I'm not sure the 1660 ti is worth the ~£40 over the 1660 Super, as the 1660 Super is within a hair's breadth of the 1660 ti in performance.

I'd also go with a 240mm rather than 120mm AIO cooler for the CPU as they are a decent bit better for little more £.

If you're using wifi, the £18 AX200 card is much better value - and if you're not, drop the wifi card

A TXm PSu would be ideal as it's better quality and more efficient,

 

[seewhatyouthink]

Cheers Oussebon, I really appreciate your input - I've taken on board the PSU, GPU and cooler amends (wifi has to stay) and once I saw the pounds coming off I've given myself 16gb to start with and add to it later in the year, alongside keeping my eye out for hard drive deals. Anyway, this spec is now currently 130 quid in a better direction Thank you!

Case
FRACTAL MESHIFY C BLACK GAMING CASE (Window)
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Eight Core CPU (3.6GHz-4.4GHz/36MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF X570-PLUS GAMING (USB 3.2 Gen 2, PCIe 4.0, CrossFireX) - RGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1660 SUPER - HDMI, DP - GeForce GTX VR Ready!
1st Storage Drive
500GB Samsung 860 EVO 2.5" SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (upto 550MB/sR | 520MB/sW)
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
PCS FrostFlow 240 Series RGB High Performance Liquid 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
Firewire
2 Port IEEE 1394a Firewire PCI-E Card (2 x 6 pin)
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® Office® 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
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 12 to 13 working days
Price: £1,141.00 including VAT and Delivery

 

[Oussebon]

Be careful with the plan to upgrade RAM. RAM isn't likely to get cheaper, the opposite in fact, but more important is that RAM that isn't sold as part of a matched kit may not be compatible with seemingly identical RAM.

i.e. if you buy 2 more of the exact same thing, it may not actually be compatible.

If you are going to need 32gb RAM, best to buy it outright.

 

[seewhatyouthink]

Really?! - I would have never expected that, right, in that case, I'll stick with my 32gb, which gives me two more questions (I bet you'd thought you'd escaped ) - is 2 x 16 better than 4 x 8? I had the original idea in the very unlikely event I'd ever need 64gb I'd get another 32gb, but if there's a risk in it not being compatible do I just fill the 4 slots and be done with?

Second RAM question is: I would have stuck to the same brand but within that, is there ever a way to find matching RAM or does it just come down to luck? Other than that, I'm guessing I'm good to order?

 

[Oussebon]

2 x 16gb is generally preferable to 4 x 8gb. Less load on the memory controller, for no or minimal performance difference.

t, is there ever a way to find matching RAM

No. You can buy non matched RAM and it may work, but the only way to get guaranteed matched RAM is for it to come as a single matched kit, sold as such.

 

[seewhatyouthink]

Thanks Oussebon, I'll make the RAM changes and get it ordered

 

[seewhatyouthink]

Just a quick message to say thanks to Oussebon for your advice, infact thanks to the all the main names I regularly see popping up giving advice, reading all your tips gave me a headstart I didn't have before i joined this forum - had my PC for a couple of weeks, it's excellent and does everything I need it for (and man, with working at home permanently now it couldn't have come at at better time).

 

[SpyderTracks]

Just a quick message to say thanks to Oussebon for your advice, infact thanks to the all the main names I regularly see popping up giving advice, reading all your tips gave me a headstart I didn't have before i joined this forum - had my PC for a couple of weeks, it's excellent and does everything I need it for (and man, with working at home permanently now it couldn't have come at at better time).

Thanks for the appreciation. Oussebon is definitely in a class of his own when configuring a system, he's truly excellent.

I'm so glad you got it in time for what's going on!

If you need any help with anything, hardware or software, just give us a shout, all willing to help out where we can.

 

[seewhatyouthink]

Cheers Spydertracks, much appreciated (and I can say thanks to you as well) - I'm definitely hanging around and chipping in with comments when I can