Already ordered - looking for advice

[matthewspencer316]

Hi,

I’ve already ordered this system but looking for some advice which could lead to me making some amendments.

My budget was £800 but I’ve gone slightly over and am happy with it however, I don’t like my PC making noise so I am wondering if the CPU cooler will be quiet enough or if I should upgrade to a water cooler is there much difference in noise? I’m also unsure if the 2 fans that come with the case are sufficient to keep the temperature acceptable or if I need to get more.

I’m not a heavy gamer but I like to play my games at max (or as close as) at 1080p.

The games I play are Dota 2, Diablo 3, The Witcher 3, and Fallout 3.

Based on the games I play, would there be any recommendations on things I could change in the build to maybe make it cheaper? I’m also not opposed to getting something more expensive if it would benefit me more.

Case
CORSAIR CARBIDE SERIES™ 275Q QUIET CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 2600 Six Core CPU (3.4GHz-3.9GHz/19MB CACHE/AM4)

World War Z & Division 2: Gold Edition FREE w/ select AMD Ryzen CPUs!
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF X470-PLUS GAMING (DDR4, 6Gb/s, CrossFireX) - RGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 2933MHz ~ (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
8GB AMD RADEON™ RX 580 - HDMI, 3 x DP - DX® 12 (Special Offer)

World War Z & Division 2: Gold Edition FREE w/ select AMD Radeon GPUs!
1st Storage Drive
480GB ADATA SU650 2.5" SSD, SATA 6 Gb (520MB/R, 450MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
256GB ADATA SU800 M.2 2280 (560 MB/R, 520 MB/W)
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
NOT REQUIRED
Power Supply
CORSAIR 650W 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 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
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
Google Chrome™
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 9 to 12 working days

 

[matthewspencer316]

Oh, and one further thing.

My old PC died, I have 2 SSD (1 with the OS on) and 1 HDD. I am hoping I can just put these into my new system and use without any issues. I would also like to look at moving the OS from the SSD onto the m.2 but I’m not sure if this is possible.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Oh, and one further thing.

My old PC died, I have 2 SSD (1 with the OS on) and 1 HDD. I am hoping I can just put these into my new system and use without any issues. I would also like to look at moving the OS from the SSD onto the m.2 but I’m not sure if this is possible.

The build looks good, but I would certainly choose a different cooler, if you want least noise then get the noctua.

I would also get silver warranty for £5.

You’ll be able to put your drives in, but you won’t be able to use the windows that’s installed on it, you’d have to reinstall from scratch as it will have wrong drivers etc.

Also, if your previous windows isn’t tied to your Microsoft account, then you won’t be able to transfer it to another machine and would have to buy a new one.

 

[matthewspencer316]

Thanks for your advice. I’ll have a look at the cooler and the silver warranty seems like a good idea for £5.

I’m not sure about the windows license, it was upgraded from a windows 7 license that was given to me at a Microsoft event but I guess I’ll have to buy a new one if that does work.

 

[Oussebon]

Are you saying you already own 2 SSDs and 1 HDD that you want to put into the new system?

Also, why

1st Storage Drive
480GB ADATA SU650 2.5" SSD, SATA 6 Gb (520MB/R, 450MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
256GB ADATA SU800 M.2 2280 (560 MB/R, 520 MB/W)

?

 

[matthewspencer316]

Are you saying you already own 2 SSDs and 1 HDD that you want to put into the new system?

Also, why

?

1 of the SSDs is 128 GB and currently used for OS only. The other is 256 GB which I use for games I play most and is full.

The HDD is used for storing documents and photos etc. and games I don’t play too frequently.

I just want more storage really and prefer SSD for speed. I may leave the HDD out and get an external caddy to connect when I need it but it is nice to have the option to put it in the case.

 

[Oussebon]

Buying loads of small/medium sized SSDs isn't optimal at all - as you've probably already noticed.

Also, SSDs are useful for the OS and games, but not really for storing a lot of data, especially things like music and movies.

If you want a load of SSD storage for future, either spend a little extra and get a single 1TB one, or, more economically, use your existing 256gb SSD for the OS and a game or 2, a new ~500gb one for more games, and if you end up with even more games than that, put those on the SSD.

It's very easy to swap games between drives.

Your current plan will see you end up with further proliferation of small SSDs that will be a pest to manage and use up a lot of sata slots. Perhaps best to stick to a single 500gb SSD, and supplement from your existing stock.

In terms of the case, I'd go for the Fractal Define S, which is a solid performer as a quiet case, and better for airflow (the Define S is decent and has been well reviewed, the 275Q not so much: https://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/corsair_carbide_275q_review,11.html )

Instead of the TUF, consider the Gigabyte Ultra Gaming. Which has a lot more features for about the same price.

The RX 580 is not a particularly good deal. The 1660 is quite a bit more powerful, and would add only a few % to the cost of the system. Since Witcher 3 is one of your main games, this is well worth considering:




Or get the RX 570, which is way less expensive than the RX 580 but still in a similar performance bracket.

Are you using wifi? If not, drop the card.

Case
FRACTAL DEFINE S BLACK GAMING CASE (Window) ()
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 2600 Six Core CPU (3.4GHz-3.9GHz/19MB CACHE/AM4)

World War Z & Division 2: Gold Edition FREE w/ select AMD Ryzen CPUs!
Motherboard
Gigabyte X470 AORUS Ultra Gaming: ATX, USB 3.1, SATA 6GBs - RGB Ready
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 2933MHz ~ (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1660 - HDMI, DP - GeForce GTX VR Ready!

FREE Geforce Fortnite bundle w/ select GTX cards
1st Storage Drive
480GB ADATA SU650 2.5" SSD, SATA 6 Gb (520MB/R, 450MB/W)
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
NOT REQUIRED
Power Supply
CORSAIR 650W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Noctua NH-U14S Ultra Quiet 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
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
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
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
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 9 to 12 working days
Price: £992.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-pc/CJWKpzABE4/

One of the sharpest increases in cost here is the Noctua cooler. If you're after a quiet system it's the way to go, but it does push further past your initial £800 target.

 

[Oussebon]

The RX 580 is not a particularly good deal. The 1660 is quite a bit more powerful, and would add only a few % to the cost of the system. Since Witcher 3 is one of your main games, this is well worth considering:

Since the forum has decided not to let me post images in the topic above:

The 1660 will get you a lot further than an RX 580 for £30 more, and give a more consistent experience in W3. As long as you're not bothered by the free games and can afford it, get the 1660. If you do want the free games, the RX 570 is probably worth it being £60 cheaper.

 

[matthewspencer316]

Buying loads of small/medium sized SSDs isn't optimal at all - as you've probably already noticed.

Also, SSDs are useful for the OS and games, but not really for storing a lot of data, especially things like music and movies.

If you want a load of SSD storage for future, either spend a little extra and get a single 1TB one, or, more economically, use your existing 256gb SSD for the OS and a game or 2, a new ~500gb one for more games, and if you end up with even more games than that, put those on the SSD.

It's very easy to swap games between drives.

Your current plan will see you end up with further proliferation of small SSDs that will be a pest to manage and use up a lot of sata slots. Perhaps best to stick to a single 500gb SSD, and supplement from your existing stock.

In terms of the case, I'd go for the Fractal Define S, which is a solid performer as a quiet case, and better for airflow (the Define S is decent and has been well reviewed, the 275Q not so much: https://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/corsair_carbide_275q_review,11.html )

Instead of the TUF, consider the Gigabyte Ultra Gaming. Which has a lot more features for about the same price.

The RX 580 is not a particularly good deal. The 1660 is quite a bit more powerful, and would add only a few % to the cost of the system. Since Witcher 3 is one of your main games, this is well worth considering:




Or get the RX 570, which is way less expensive than the RX 580 but still in a similar performance bracket.

Are you using wifi? If not, drop the card.

Case
FRACTAL DEFINE S BLACK GAMING CASE (Window) ()
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 2600 Six Core CPU (3.4GHz-3.9GHz/19MB CACHE/AM4)

World War Z & Division 2: Gold Edition FREE w/ select AMD Ryzen CPUs!
Motherboard
Gigabyte X470 AORUS Ultra Gaming: ATX, USB 3.1, SATA 6GBs - RGB Ready
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 2933MHz ~ (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1660 - HDMI, DP - GeForce GTX VR Ready!

FREE Geforce Fortnite bundle w/ select GTX cards
1st Storage Drive
480GB ADATA SU650 2.5" SSD, SATA 6 Gb (520MB/R, 450MB/W)
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
NOT REQUIRED
Power Supply
CORSAIR 650W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Noctua NH-U14S Ultra Quiet 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
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
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
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
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 9 to 12 working days
Price: £992.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-pc/CJWKpzABE4/

One of the sharpest increases in cost here is the Noctua cooler. If you're after a quiet system it's the way to go, but it does push further past your initial £800 target.

I went for the Asus over the gigabyte because from past experience I prefer an Asus motherboard over gigabyte, but are you saying that for very similar cost the gigabyte is more value for money?

The reason for choosing the rx580 is because my last video card was an rx480 and I felt it was a very good card for my needs. I also have a freesync monitor which is why I would prefer Radeon over GeForce. I like the idea of downgrading to the rx570 if that will also give me good performance.

As for the case, i chose the Corsair to keep the price down but would consider the define S if I can bring the price down with the rx570.

As for the WiFi I want to try it as I’m currently restricted to using powerline for Ethernet and the speed is a fraction of what it is direct from an Ethernet port.

 

[Oussebon]

I went for the Asus over the gigabyte because from past experience I prefer an Asus motherboard over gigabyte, but are you saying that for very similar cost the gigabyte is more value for money?

Yes.

When I checked yesterday it was £1 more. And it offers things like USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C, better sound, and other trinkets like SLI support)

The reason for choosing the rx580 is because my last video card was an rx480 and I felt it was a very good card for my needs. I also have a freesync monitor which is why I would prefer Radeon over GeForce. I like the idea of downgrading to the rx570 if that will also give me good performance.

Does your RX 480 still work? Just keep that.

If it's 100% toast, an RX 570 gives very similar performance:

MSI Radeon RX 570 and 580 MECH 2 8G OC review

We review the MSI Radeon RX 570 and 580 MECH 2 OC with 8GB graphics memory. This all-new two slot cooled mainstream graphics card series will allow you to play your games in both the Full HD 1080P as... DX11: The Witcher III Wild Hunt

www.guru3d.com

Sapphire Radeon RX 570 Pulse 4 GB Review

Pulse is a new graphics card series by Sapphire, which does away with some rarely needed features in order to achieve better pricing. The Radeon RX 570 Pulse we review today is only $10 more expensive than the RX 570 base price and still comes with a backplate and an overclock out of the box.

www.techpowerup.com

Although check exactly what model it is and when you purchased it, as it could still be under the manufacturer warranty.

What monitor is it?

Note that Nvidia now support adaptive sync.

Pretty much any freesync monitor can now run that with an nvidia GPU.

I'm running "gsync" on this freesync Q3279VWFD8 (with a bit of fiddling - though the fiddling actually also seems to enable LFC, vastly extending the freesync range).

 

[matthewspencer316]

Yes.

When I checked yesterday it was £1 more. And it offers things like USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C, better sound, and other trinkets like SLI support)

Does your RX 480 still work? Just keep that.

If it's 100% toast, an RX 570 gives very similar performance:

MSI Radeon RX 570 and 580 MECH 2 8G OC review

We review the MSI Radeon RX 570 and 580 MECH 2 OC with 8GB graphics memory. This all-new two slot cooled mainstream graphics card series will allow you to play your games in both the Full HD 1080P as... DX11: The Witcher III Wild Hunt

www.guru3d.com

Sapphire Radeon RX 570 Pulse 4 GB Review

Pulse is a new graphics card series by Sapphire, which does away with some rarely needed features in order to achieve better pricing. The Radeon RX 570 Pulse we review today is only $10 more expensive than the RX 570 base price and still comes with a backplate and an overclock out of the box.

www.techpowerup.com

Although check exactly what model it is and when you purchased it, as it could still be under the manufacturer warranty.

What monitor is it?

Note that Nvidia now support adaptive sync.

Pretty much any freesync monitor can now run that with an nvidia GPU.

I'm running "gsync" on this freesync Q3279VWFD8 (with a bit of fiddling - though the fiddling actually also seems to enable LFC, vastly extending the freesync range).

I was going to change the case to the Fractal Define S but although it shows as £3 more expensive it is actually adding £20 to the cost so I’ll stick with the Corsair.

The RX480 is toast. The rest of my hardware is 3-5 years old so just looking for a refresh for everything.

My monitor is an ASUS MG248Q.

 

[Oussebon]

It is only £3 more expensive, and swapping between the cases only changes it by £3. The small difference is because the price of the 275Q appears to have increased significantly. it used to be a good deal cheaper

Perhaps if you have a quote saved to your account it has fixed the price to what it was when you saved the quote, hence why altering the case increases the price by the old difference rather than the new difference.

How old's the RX 480 and what brand is it (Asus, Sapphire?); could potentially be under warranty.

The MG248Q should work with 'gsync' with nvidia cards fine and I found various people reporting it was fine.

That said if you were okay with the RX 480 performance and if you definitely can't RMA it with the manufacturer e.g. if it has a 3 year warranty, then maybe the RX 570 is the way to go. It's very, very cheap these days, leaving cash in your wallet for an upgrade in the mid-future. Maybe once Navi has rolled out, or the 'next gen' in 2020.