1st Desktop PC

[ArcheKlaine]

Hi All,

I've bought 3 gaming laptops from PCSpecialist since 2013. This year I was thinking of getting a gaming desktop instead. Im not very familiar with PC builds so if anyone can advise me, that would be great.

Below is the spec I made with budget around £2000. Let me know what you think. Thanks

Case
CORSAIR CRYSTAL SERIES 680X RGB GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Six Core Processor i7-7800X (3.5GHz) 8.25MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® PRIME X299-A II: ATX, USB 3.2, SATA 6 GB/s, RGB Ready
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 2400MHz (4 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
8GB AMD RADEON™ RX 5700 XT - HDMI, DP - DX® 12
1st Storage Drive
500GB SEAGATE BARRACUDA 120 2.5" SSD, (upto 560MB/sR | 540MB/sW)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
250GB SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 2300MB/W) (OS goes here)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 750W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Corsair H100x Hydro Cooler w/ PCS Ultra Quiet Fans
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card
ONBOARD 8 CHANNEL (7.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Wireless/Wired Networking
WIRELESS 802.11 Gigabyte GC-W867D-I AC 867Mbps + BT4.0 + Intel Wi-Di PCI-E CARD
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 6 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 - Supplied on USB Drive
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365 (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Google Chrome™
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 12 to 14 working days
Promotional Item
Get up to 3 Games with select AMD Radeon RX 5000 Series Graphics Cards
Welcome Book
PCSpecialist Welcome Book - United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland
Logo Branding
PCSpecialist Logo
Price: £0.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/intel-x299-pc/CcacFJbYdv/

 

[SpyderTracks]

An AMD build would give much better performance.

What monitor are you pairing it with, what resolution and refresh rate or make and model if you're unsure?

 

[ArcheKlaine]

An AMD build would give much better performance.

Ive put AMD graphics but left the CPU as Intel. Ive never used AMD so Im not comfortable having it on CPU because of heat issue. Im looking to upgrade it anyway in few years time. Right now I want a decent desktop to start with.

What monitor are you pairing it with, what resolution and refresh rate or make and model if you're unsure?

Im not fussed with monitors and refresh rates. I have LG monitor and its alright when I place M&B Bannerlord. I might change it in the future if I have to.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Ive put AMD graphics but left the CPU as Intel. Ive never used AMD so Im not comfortable having it on CPU because of heat issue. Im looking to upgrade it anyway in few years time. Right now I want a decent desktop to start with.

Sorry, this makes no sense, what heat issue? AMD processor run about 20c cooler than Intel and are far more powerful?

Im not fussed with monitors and refresh rates. I have LG monitor and its alright when I place M&B Bannerlord. I might change it in the future if I have to.

That wasn't what I asked, without knowing what monitor you're pairing it with, it's impossible to know what PC you need as they pair together.

 

[ArcheKlaine]

Sorry, this makes no sense, what heat issue? AMD processor run about 20c cooler than Intel and are far more powerful?

Oh okay. Like I said. Im only familiar with Intel so I dont know exactly whats AMD CPU I need.
Anything equivalent to what in quote is good enough for me right now. If you have any recommendation, I can look into it.

That wasn't what I asked, without knowing what monitor you're pairing it with, it's impossible to know what PC you need as they pair together.

Im using LG monitor 22MT48DF-PZ right now which what intend to use when I get the Desktop. I mainly play City Builder and Strategy so not really fussed about it.


Do you have any comments on the spec aside from the CPU? Coz thats what Im really keen to know. Thanks.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Oh okay. Like I said. Im only familiar with Intel so I dont know exactly whats AMD CPU I need.
Anything equivalent to what in quote is good enough for me right now. If you have any recommendation, I can look into it.



Im using LG monitor 22MT48DF-PZ right now which what intend to use when I get the Desktop. I mainly play City Builder and Strategy so not really fussed about it.


Do you have any comments on the spec aside from the CPU? Coz thats what Im really keen to know. Thanks.

It's not a good spec, the platform isn't a gaming platform, it's a 3 year old processor from a 5 year old refreshed design and has slow clocks compared to a gaming CPU as well as generally being a poor processor.

Really slow memory which would negatively affect performance

The GPU isn't suited to the monitor at all and wouldn't give any improvement over a GTX1650 at half the cost

Secondary SSD wouldn't be used, HDD is ample.

The PSU is completely overpowered for the system

 

[SpyderTracks]

This would suit your setup much better, it's for 1080p 60Hz to match the monitor as anything over that, the monitor can't display so it's pointless:

Case
CORSAIR iCUE 220T RGB AIRFLOW MID TOWER GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Six Core CPU (3.6GHz-4.2GHz/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
4GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1650 SUPER - HDMI
1st Storage Drive
2TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 256MB 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 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
Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KK3-00002]
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® Office® 365 (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
BullGuard™ Internet Security - Free 90 Day License inc. Gamer Mode
Browser
Firefox™
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
TIMED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND - MON-FRI (BEFORE 2PM)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 12 to 14 working days
Price: £1,126.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/J3C00APVYh/

 

[ArcheKlaine]

Thanks a lot. I think I would save more with your recommended build.

One thing I want to know, if I were to upgrade the CPU and GPU in 2 years time, would any of the other main parts need to replaced too? Like motherboard and stuff.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Thanks a lot. I think I would save more with your recommended build.

One thing I want to know, if I were to upgrade the CPU and GPU in 2 years time, would any of the other main parts need to replaced too? Like motherboard and stuff.

There’s no point upgrading the CPU, wouldn’t give any difference, that CPU will be perfect for gaming for 7 years or so.

It’s pointless upgrading your GPU until you upgrade your monitor, that’s the bottleneck to any modern GPU.

But I would up the PSU to 750w To accommodate for any GPU in the future.

 

[Scott]

The above recommendation from @SpyderTracks isn't corner cutting btw. Just in case you think it may be. It's a very high end base system for all manner of future potential. You could drop in a 2080Ti (PSU aside) to that system and it would be a 4k machine right off the bat. There's just no point in going past the 1650 Super right now due to the monitor limitations.

 

[ArcheKlaine]

You could drop in a 2080Ti (PSU aside) to that system and it would be a 4k machine right off the bat. There's just no point in going past the 1650 Super right now due to the monitor limitations.

I thought its just the point of GPU is for the game to render, not the monitor? I dont know since I only used laptops.

My flat is normally around 25c temp. Would I have to worry about heat if I dont have liquid cooling if I get higher end GPU/CPU in the future?

 

[Scott]

I thought its just the point of GPU is for the game to render, not the monitor? I dont know since I only used laptops.

My flat is normally around 25c temp. Would I have to worry about heat if I dont have liquid cooling if I get higher end GPU/CPU in the future?

The 5700XT is for gaming at 1440p. At 1080p it would manage about 400fps. Your monitor cannot display these frames so if you limit it via Vsync... your GPU will be used about 60-70%. This is a complete waste.

The 1660 Super will render between 80 and 200+fps (depending on game) which is the sweet spot for normal gaming.

Your monitor is good for 60fps. Clearly neither of the above are suited so you want to look at the 1650 Super which will do 50-100+fps... ideally matched to your monitor without wasting any money.

Those selections don't need liquid cooling of any sort. The standard AMD cooling is fantastic and more than capable for your uses.

 

[ArcheKlaine]

Thank you for recommendations. I've learned a lot in this discussion.