First Ever Build.

[p3x982]

Morning,

So, PC is collapsing from old age so am going for my first ever build. Am quite tech savvy but have little clue about building a pc. Gone for a lappy instead of a tower as I have small children and tower pc's have lights on them and make nice whirring noises, etc. Please feel free to point out any glaring errors or suggestions for improvement. Budget is pretty much where I am on current cost. Not a gamer but wanted something quite speedy as I hate lag. Might do some streaming, don't know yet. Anyhoo, spec is as follows:


Chassis & Display
Cosmos Series: 17.3" Matte Full HD IPS LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i5 Quad Core Processor 7300HQ (2.5GHz, 3.5GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
8GB Corsair 2133MHz SODIMM DDR4 (1 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
INTEL® HD GRAPHICS 630 - 1.7GB Max DDR4 Video RAM - DirectX® 12
1st Hard Disk
2TB SLIM SERIAL ATA III 2.5" HARD DRIVE WITH 128MB CACHE (5,400rpm)
M.2 SSD Drive
240GB KINGSTON SSDNow M.2 2280 G2, SATA 6Gb/s (550MB/R, 330MB/W)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated 6 in 1 Card Reader (SD /Mini SD/ SDHC / SDXC / MMC / RSMMC)
AC Adaptor
1 x 120W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card
Intel 2 Channel High Def. Audio + SoundBlaster™ Cinema 3
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® AC-8265 M.2 (867Mbps, 802.11AC) +BT 4.0, vPRO
USB Options
1 x USB 3.0 PORT (Type C) + 2 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Battery
Cosmos VI Series 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Keyboard Language
SINGLE COLOUR BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc DVD & Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Office Software
NO OFFICE SOFTWARE
Anti-Virus
BullGuard™ Internet Security - Free 90 Day License inc. Gamer Mode
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Notebook Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Insurance
1 Month Free Laptop Insurance inc. Accidental Damage & Theft
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 7 to 9 working days
Quantity
1

Price £839.00 including VAT and delivery

How much do I need Win10? Still have the disc and licence for my Win7 Professional so was wondering if that would suffice? Or should I just accept the future and go with Win10?

Cheers,

Rick

 

[Oussebon]

I'd suggest the PM961 SSD over the relatively slow Kingston one.

You can generally install Windows 7 on Skylake/Kaby Lake platforms but it can take some extra work. If your old licence was OEM, it may be tied to your motherboard. Windows 7 stops getting security updates in early 2020, so you'll want a new OS before the end of the machine's lifespan anyway.

There are PC cases like the Corsair Carbide Air series which are quite robust and being cube-shaped are impossible to knock over.

 

[p3x982]

Cheers for the quick reply. Knocking a tower over isn't the problem, pressing the power button is (bless the little poppets). Wifey has decided she also want the space where the desk is as well so a laptop is the way to go, especially as I'm spec'ing (hence the biggest screen size)

Windows 10 it is then. If I remember correctly isn't there a shed load of stuff to check / uncheck to make sure you're (apparently) not being super spied on?

Will look into the faster ssd.

 

[ubuysa]

I would second Oussebon's suggestion on the PM961, it's around 5 times faster than the one you selected.

If you can get a 7200rpm HDD you will notice the difference, especially as files become fragmented. I realise the HDD you selected has a big cache but I think you'll find very little benefit from that.

I would also suggest you go with Windows 10, the extra hassle getting Windows 7 installed isn't worth it IMO and Window 10 is a different class of OS.

Regarding the telemetry, first off I think people make way too much fuss about it, but the best way to reduce it is to proceed slowly with the initial Windows 10 setup. You will be presented with several screens of options (all of which are on by default) and by making sure that you understand what each option does, how it will make your life better and how much data it will give away, you can ensure that you're not sending stuff to Microsoft that they don't need to have. FWIW I have just about all those options turned off.

The mistake I think most people make is that they're so keen to get to playing with Windows 10 that they just click through those setup screens taking all the defaults.

 

[p3x982]

I've added the 256gb Samsung PM961 to the spec, didn't really change the price much, cheers for that. Wasn't planning on charging into my new shiny laptop, I like to make sure everything is all singing and dancing on a set up and done up properly before I start tinkering.

 

[Oussebon]

There are things like Spybot anti-beacon for Windows, O&O shutup10 etc to tweak certain things, which you can look into in due course.

 

[Tony1044]

There are things like Spybot anti-beacon for Windows, O&O shutup10 etc to tweak certain things, which you can look into in due course.

I just turn the telemetry right down and leave it at that for a number of reasons:

1 - You can never be 100% certain that turning off things with third party applications won't lead to issues down the line or that they are 100% free of spying themselves*;
2 - If you use Facebook, Google, Credit/debit/store loyalty cards then you already give a lot of information away
3 - Android phone? iPhone? You're tracked;
4 - Even banks have been getting in on the act. Some of them (though to date, I believe non in the UK) have been embedding trackers into their account management websites to do things like scrape data to pre-screen for loans etc (very naughty)
5 - Know what's in every site you visit? Every cookie that's served?

*I am not saying any do have them but how'd you know, completely, 100%, unless they open up the source code?

 

[Oussebon]

Now your argument isn't "You've given some of your data to one outfit - you might as well not care about any of your data" because that wouldn't hold water for 2 seconds. But that is kind of what you're saying in points 2-5.

I hear what you're saying but I don't think you can boil it down to bullet points.

As for point 1, the apps are basically a UI for tweaks you could make in GPE/regedit, and make the tweaks a lot faster to implement.

 

[ubuysa]

Now your argument isn't "You've given some of your data to one outfit - you might as well not care about any of your data" because that wouldn't hold water for 2 seconds. But that is kind of what you're saying in points 2-5.

I hear what you're saying but I don't think you can boil it down to bullet points.

As for point 1, the apps are basically a UI for tweaks you could make in GPE/regedit, and make the tweaks a lot faster to implement.

Well yes, but I tend to agree with Tony1044 in the main. It is unreasonable I think to complain that Windows 10 'gives away too much data' and at the same time give personal data away elsewhere. My brother for example, asked my advice about upgrading to Windows 10 saying that he was wary of upgrading because he's heard it gives away too much personal data. I pointed him at his Facebook profile which contained everything bar his blood group. It's this leakage of personal data elsewhere that makes me think that 'people make too much fuss' about Windows 10 telemetry, Microsoft are not collecting data that isn't being collected elsewhere. Personally I'm a lot more concerned about Google's personal data collection policies...

 

[p3x982]

If you can get a 7200rpm HDD you will notice the difference, especially as files become fragmented. I realise the HDD you selected has a big cache but I think you'll find very little benefit from that.
.

Would swapping out the 2TB SLIM SERIAL ATA III 2.5" HARD DRIVE WITH 128MB CACHE (5,400rpm) for the 2tb SEAGATE FIRECUDA 2.5" SSHD be better?

 

[Oussebon]

Likewise. Though I hear google are now going to cease scanning your emails to generate advertising content? So that's nice.

I do have an android phone but do my level best to keep what I do on it separate from anything else. Different google account, not logging in to facebook etc on it, and do my level best to limit location features etc. While I own another google account, I don't use it, and do my best to make sure it isn't associated with other accounts like Youtube and so on.

It's not possible to live under a rock, nor would I want to, but if a company wants to have my data I try not to give them more than necessary. I don't benefit from them having it, and if one of them were compromised by people with a less benign intent than trying to sell me things I'd rather not have them have more of my stuff than the bare minimum.

 

[ubuysa]

Would swapping out the 2TB SLIM SERIAL ATA III 2.5" HARD DRIVE WITH 128MB CACHE (5,400rpm) for the 2tb SEAGATE FIRECUDA 2.5" SSHD be better?

No not really, if you check the specs for the Seagate you'll see it's also a 5400rpm drive.

 

[Oussebon]

Would swapping out the 2TB SLIM SERIAL ATA III 2.5" HARD DRIVE WITH 128MB CACHE (5,400rpm) for the 2tb SEAGATE FIRECUDA 2.5" SSHD be better?

Not really.

What was being suggested was an HDD that spins faster - the HDD you have selected is 5400rpm, and the HDD component of the SSHD is also 5400rpm. People were suggesting that a 7200rpm drive would be better (which it would). However the only 7200rpm drive PCS offer with that chassis is a 500gb one rather than 1 or 2 TB.

If you're just using the SSHD for mass file storage you wouldn't be likely to see much in the way of gains from it, since SSHDs benefit you more when they can learn what to cache to the flash memory part - which requires you doing the same thing over and over like loading Windows (but you have Windows on your much faster SSD anyway).

The SSHD is only £8 more so it's not a dire waste of money, but it may still not entirely be worth it.

 

[ubuysa]

Likewise. Though I hear google are now going to cease scanning your emails to generate advertising content? So that's nice.

I do have an android phone but do my level best to keep what I do on it separate from anything else. Different google account, not logging in to facebook etc on it, and do my level best to limit location features etc. While I own another google account, I don't use it, and do my best to make sure it isn't associated with other accounts like Youtube and so on.

It's not possible to live under a rock, nor would I want to, but if a company wants to have my data I try not to give them more than necessary. I don't benefit from them having it, and if one of them were compromised by people with a less benign intent than trying to sell me things I'd rather not have them have more of my stuff than the bare minimum.

Yep and I wouldn't argue with any of that. I too have as much Windows telemetry switched off as is possible but I still think that in the big scheme of things Windows 10 telemetry is small potatoes given the private data that's available about us from elsewhere....

 

[ubuysa]

NHowever the only 7200rpm drive PCS offer with that chassis is a 500gb one rather than 1 or 2 TB.

Ah, I didn't realise that. In which case I withdraw my comments.

 

[Oussebon]

but I still think that in the big scheme of things Windows 10 telemetry is small potatoes given the private data that's available about us from elsewhere....

That's likely very true.

 

[Scott]

Just for every ones info, the options given during the setup and via the configuration panels within the control panel of Win10 only allow around 50% of the telemetry to be configured. The rest needs to be done with either registry tweaks or service changes. It's not a big fuss if you know what you are doing, but it's not as simple as being careful during the setup process either.... that's only half the story.

With regards to the system. I would be more inclined to increase the CPU option to an i7 at the expense of storage options for the moment. I know you want a snappy PC but the storage prices are constantly coming down so it's something that could be added at a later date. Having the fastest bare bones unit you can to begin with would be the more advantageous starting point IMO.

Without compromise this is the price reflection....

Chassis & Display
Cosmos Series: 17.3" Matte Full HD IPS LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Quad Core Processor 7700HQ (2.8GHz, 3.8GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
8GB Corsair VENGEANCE 2400MHz SODIMM DDR4 (1 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
INTEL® HD GRAPHICS 630 - 1.7GB Max DDR4 Video RAM - DirectX® 12
1st Hard Disk
2TB SLIM SERIAL ATA III 2.5" HARD DRIVE WITH 128MB CACHE (5,400rpm)
M.2 SSD Drive
256GB SAMSUNG PM961 M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 2800MB/R, 1100MB/W)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated 6 in 1 Card Reader (SD /Mini SD/ SDHC / SDXC / MMC / RSMMC)
AC Adaptor
1 x 120W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card
Intel 2 Channel High Def. Audio + SoundBlaster™ Cinema 3
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® AC-8265 M.2 (867Mbps, 802.11AC) +BT 4.0
USB Options
1 x USB 3.0 PORT (Type C) + 2 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Battery
Cosmos VI Series 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Keyboard Language
SINGLE COLOUR BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc DVD & Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365
Anti-Virus
BullGuard™ Internet Security - Free 90 Day License inc. Gamer Mode
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Notebook Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
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 7 to 9 working days
Quantity
1

Price £902.00 including VAT and delivery

Unique URL to re-configure : https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/cosmosVI-17/F8U!yPzMZJ/

 

[p3x982]

Ah, I didn't realise that. In which case I withdraw my comments.

I'll stick to the original slim ata then. Interesting comments on the privacy stuff.

 

[p3x982]

Decuded to up it to an i7, thanks. On the Gigabit Lan & Wireless what's the difference between the one listed above and the vPro version on my build?

 

[ubuysa]

On the Gigabit Lan & Wireless what's the difference between the one listed above and the vPro version on my build?

See https://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/public/us/en/documents/product-briefs/dual-band-wireless-ac-8260-brief.pdf. It seems that vPro is a technology aimed at businesses to make remote PC management easier. At least that's what it appears to say there.