Desktop specification - what's your opinion please?

[heavy user]

As my user name may suggest I'm a heavy user of the internet. I spend a few hours on YouTube a day and like to multi task as I have two screens so I can use Facebook, WhatsApp, Ebay, BBC radio all while watching multiple YouTube videos. I also use Photoshop (large files at times), photography film scanner, copying photography and videos from DSLR, Tracktor DJ software and write CD's

I currently have an old desktop with ASUS motherboard, 3 GHz AMD processor, 16 GB Ram and Multiple hard drives and she runs great but is getting slow with windows 7 and USB 2.0 - I think it's time for an upgrade! Operating system and all programs are sitting on SSD's and my files sit on conventional RPM drives and it's great.

So the spec down below is a twist on my old system

The specification below has been formatted so you can easily copy and paste this to our forums when discussing your specification. Once you've copied the specification, please click here to continue.

Case
FRACTAL POP SILENT CASE TG (BLACK)
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Six Core CPU (3.6GHz-4.2GHz/36MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® PRIME B550-PLUS (DDR4, USB 3.2, 6Gb/s) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3200MHz (4 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
PNY NVIDIA T600 - 4GB GDDR6, 640 CUDA Cores - 4 x mDP
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SEAGATE FIRECUDA 530 GEN 4 PCIe NVMe (up to 7000MB/R, 3000MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
2TB CORSAIR FORCE MP600 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD (up to 4950 MB/R, 4000 MB/W)
1st Storage Drive
8TB SEAGATE IRONWOLF PRO 3.5", 7200 RPM 256MB CACHE
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM
Power Supply
CORSAIR 550W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
CoolerMaster Hyper 212 (120mm) Fan CPU Cooler Black Edition
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card
Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy Rx
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
Wireless Network Card
ASUS PCE-AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) 2400Mbps/5GHz, 600Mbps/2.4GHz
USB/Thunderbolt Options
2 PORT (2 x TYPE A) USB 3.1 PCI-E CARD + STANDARD USB PORTS
Operating System
Windows 10 Professional 64 Bit - inc Single License
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 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge
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 8 to 10 working days

Price: £1,497.00 including VAT and Delivery

Windows 10 Professional 64 Bit

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

Can I ask a few questions please?

Is this over spec'd?

Could I make any cost savings? graphics?

Is the processor too slow?

I want to have four displays with one screen in the kitchen, two screens on a desk and then another display in the living room. I'm then thinking WiFi repeaters so I can run multiple wireless keyboard and mouse's in the different rooms. I will be using odd screen that I have collected as I can deal with aspect ratio issues in the short term.

PCI hard drive space will be for operating system/programs and the conventional rpm drive is to back up my old system and allow expansion for my photography/videos

RAM is 32 GB as I hope it will help with the multi tasking rather than get a faster CPU as the 3 GHz 4 core in my current system does a good job

Sound card for audio options

Extra USB ports for all the equipment

Windows 10 because I know it works fine

I want a silent PC because current PC is too loud but I'm also concerned about power supply consumption, is the chosen supply to powerful for my needs?

My budget has stretched to £1500 as I want to create a system that will last me for afew years.


Thanks, Chris

 

[Martinr36]

I seriously suggest you give this a read, and post the spec as described in the article, hopefully you haven't ordered the above

Please read before posting:- Collaboration of Helpful Hints

NB: These forums are not an official support channel. None of us work for PCS, we're all either customers or techies who just like to help out where possible. For any official support, you need to contact PCS directly either through your PCS account, or via the contact details on the main...

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

 

[heavy user]

I think I've edited it accordingly now ???

 

[heavy user]

I think I've edited it accordingly this time ???

 

[SpyderTracks]

I think I've edited it accordingly this time ???

We need the link at the bottom of the quotation please?

 

[heavy user]

Could you also please go back into the post to forum page (where you copy/pasted the spec from) and include the Unique configurable URL from the bottom? Just makes it easier to edit a spec rather than doing one from scratch. Thanks

At a quick glance, given the relatively small budget, you need to remove unecessary costs: The sound card is an un-needed expense...onboard audio covers most uses; The Wi-fi card is only useful if you can only connect at the 2.4GHz band...if you connect at 5GHz, it doesn't warrant the extra cost. Those 2 alone would save £50

URL added

 

[heavy user]

I seriously suggest you give this a read, and post the spec as described in the article, hopefully you haven't ordered the above

Please read before posting:- Collaboration of Helpful Hints

NB: These forums are not an official support channel. None of us work for PCS, we're all either customers or techies who just like to help out where possible. For any official support, you need to contact PCS directly either through your PCS account, or via the contact details on the main...

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

No purchase made, still seeking opinions

 

[heavy user]

Could you also please go back into the post to forum page (where you copy/pasted the spec from) and include the Unique configurable URL from the bottom? Just makes it easier to edit a spec rather than doing one from scratch. Thanks

At a quick glance, given the relatively small budget, you need to remove unecessary costs: The sound card is an un-needed expense...onboard audio covers most uses; The Wi-fi card is only useful if you can only connect at the 2.4GHz band...if you connect at 5GHz, it doesn't warrant the extra cost. Those 2 alone would save £50

I'll have to investigate the idea of a WiFi card - I thought it would be a better idea than my current "dongle" setup. The idea of the sound card is to have full control of my audio as the sound blaster comes with software to customise the settings.

 

[heavy user]

Is there a specific reason for Windows 10? I only ask as you are paying a £54 premium over Win 11 Home.

Have had a play with some specs and come up with this...a touch more but I feel it's worth it:

Case
FRACTAL POP SILENT CASE TG (BLACK)
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Six Core CPU (3.7GHz-4.6GHz/35MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® PRIME B550-PLUS (DDR4, USB 3.2, 6Gb/s) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
32GB PCS PRO DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
12GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3060 - HDMI, DP, LHR
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SAMSUNG 980 PRO M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 6900MB/R, 5000MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
2TB SOLIDIGM P41+ GEN 4 M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 4125MB/sR, 3325MB/sW)
1st Storage Drive
8TB SEAGATE IRONWOLF PRO 3.5", 7200 RPM 256MB CACHE
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM
Power Supply
CORSAIR 750W RMi SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
CoolerMaster Hyper 212 (120mm) Fan CPU Cooler Black Edition
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
Wireless Network Card
WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6E AX210 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 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00003]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10/11 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
Microsoft® Edge
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 7 to 9 working days
Price: £1,552.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/JG6hCgY70w/

The idea around getting windows 10 is because I know it runs well and I hear that with windows 11 you have to create a Microsoft account. I would like to remain as anonymous as possible for as long as possible due to data collection concerns

 

[SpyderTracks]

The idea of the sound card is to have full control of my audio as the sound blaster comes with software to customise the settings.

There's no benefit to a gaming soundcard over on board sound these days, they're really legacy components that don't really have a place anymore. You can get any software like the sound blaster suite for free, and actually they're far better anyway.

I'll have to investigate the idea of a WiFi card - I thought it would be a better idea than my current "dongle" setup.

The point was there's no benefit to the expensive Asus branded wifi card over the normal AX200, you're paying a substantial premium for very little gain.