Half Build Support - Motherboard, CPU, RAM

[WickedWall]

Hi All,

About 6 years ago I bought a custom built PC from a friend.
I recently upgraded my GPU to an RTX 2070 Super, which made a huge difference, but is still struggling to run some games smoothly at 1080p.

I am making the presumption this is due to quite an old motherboard, CPU and slow RAM bottle necking the performance. (I will attach all details at the bottom).
I use this PC for gaming, while streaming, recording and editing - so quite heavy usage. I am currently only running this in 1080p, but would like the possibility to upgrade to 2k/4k in the future.

I am looking to upgrade these parts with some solid future proofing specs, but due to the technical work involved, would like to get this prebuilt - and therefore would like to use PC Specialist - and was looking for some support on if and how I can incorporate some of my current parts into this.
Also I am very inexperienced with this but am trying to learn, so any support is appreciated!

My current setup is as follows:
CPU: Intel Core i7 4770k (Clock speed: 3896Mhz)
GPU: NVIDIA GeFore RTX 2070 Super
Motherboard: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. 7970Deluxe

Ram: Corsair CMZ16GX3M4A2400C10 DDR (4GB) x4
Storage: Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB
PSU: Corsair RM1000

I am looking to personally install my GPU, PSU and bootup SSD into the new PC, but am very inexperienced with this. Is this something that will be possible? I have windows installed on my SSD, So will I therefore not require a new copy of windows with the purchase, and this should be plug and play? (I do not have the disk or flash drive of this)

I am aware the builds here needs a PSU so am happy to include the cheapest version and run this in my current PC as a weaker second PC in the future.

Here is the build I am looking to get below:
Case
NZXT H511 MID-TOWER GAMING CASE (WHITE)
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 7 3800X Eight Core CPU (3.9GHz-4.5GHz/36MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® ROG STRIX X570-F GAMING (USB 3.2 Gen 2, PCIe 4.0) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE RGB PRO DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
NONE, I ALREADY HAVE A GRAPHICS CARD
1st Storage Drive
2TB SEAGATE IRONWOLF PRO 3.5", 7200 RPM 128MB CACHE
Power Supply
CORSAIR 350W VS SERIES™ VS-350 POWER SUPPLY
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
CoolerMaster MasterLiquid Lite 240 High Performance Liquid 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
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 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 16 to 18 working days
Price: £929.00 including VAT and Delivery

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

Additionally, I like to record MIDI piano, and am currently using a mac for this, as my sound card has huge input delay.
Would you recommend upgrading the sound card with this to record midi instruments, or will the newer motherboard be sufficient?

Thank you for your help!

Happy to answer any more questions if anything isnt clear!

Best,
Ryan

 

[Scott]

I would actually recommend selling on the system complete, or part it out, rather than use certain parts on the new system.

You can't change out the PSU as I believe this would invalidate the warranty. Better to just get a working system with some plug in bits. The SSD is a fair addition but I would personally be wanting a new M2 drive in there with potentially using the SSD as a secondary cache drive. It's only 250GB so really not worth the hassle to be honest.

The rest looks pretty decent. I've made a few tweaks and changes based on your uses and my points above...

Case
NZXT H511 MID-TOWER GAMING CASE (WHITE)
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 7 3800X Eight Core CPU (3.9GHz-4.5GHz/36MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® ROG STRIX X570-F GAMING (USB 3.2 Gen 2, PCIe 4.0) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3600MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
NONE, I ALREADY HAVE A GRAPHICS CARD
1st Storage Drive
2TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 256MB CACHE
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2000 MB/R, 1100 MB/W)
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
CoolerMaster MasterLiquid Lite 240 High Performance Liquid 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
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 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 16 to 18 working days
Price: £1,043.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/mnh5VeR3Wy/

 

[WickedWall]

Hi Scott,

Fantastic - thanks for the quick help!
Happy to go ahead with your suggested changes!

Regarding the M.2 SSD, will this come with a free version of windows on, then allowing me to activate my code, or how will this work?
If I can avoid paying for another version of windows that would be ideal.

Thanks again!

Ryan

 

[AgentCooper]

It wouldn’t be a case of plug and play after installing your SSD over to the new case as far as I know, you would have to use a USB flash drive to create and load a bootable copy of Windows. You would also have to transfer the license over so you would no longer be able to run the same copy of Windows on your current PC.

One of the technical geniuses on here will be able to help you out with the logistics of what you’re planning and if it’s worth it.

 

[AgentCooper]

Dang, Scott beat me to it yet again!

 

[Scott]

Hi Scott,

Fantastic - thanks for the quick help!
Happy to go ahead with your suggested changes!

Regarding the M.2 SSD, will this come with a free version of windows on, then allowing me to activate my code, or how will this work?
If I can avoid paying for another version of windows that would be ideal.

Thanks again!

Ryan

The first thing you need to do is link your current Windows install to a Microsoft account

How to link your Windows 10 product key to a Microsoft account

If you're using a local account, use this guide to link your Windows 10 product key to your Microsoft account for easier re-activation.

www.windowscentral.com

Once you have done this, you can de-register your current build and register your new build without having to pay for a license.

Windows will be installed on the M2 drive but it will be a pre-determined install with potentially differing options/settings from what would be ideal. I always recommend downloading and installing a fresh copy of Windows (regardless of whether you paid for it or not). You need a USB stick, 8GB is fine. Using your current system download the Win 10 installation tool...

Download Windows 10

Point it to the USB, install, then that's your USB ready.

Download the latest GPU drivers for your card and have them handy on the USB
Same with the Chipset drivers which can be gotten from AMD.

When you get the new system, put it through its paces and make sure you are happy with everything. Install your GPU, get it set up and working and make sure everything is as it should be. Once you're happy, boot from the USB (may need to access the BIOS to do this). When you get to the install option, choose advanced and make sure you wipe out allllllll partitions on the M2 drive. Then select your M2 drive, click next and you're off.

10 mins later you'll have a fresh install of Windows.

Install the Chipset drivers from above
Install the GPU drivers from above

Run windows update multiple times.

One fresh system

 

[ubuysa]

Hi Scott,

Fantastic - thanks for the quick help!
Happy to go ahead with your suggested changes!

Regarding the M.2 SSD, will this come with a free version of windows on, then allowing me to activate my code, or how will this work?
If I can avoid paying for another version of windows that would be ideal.

Thanks again!

Ryan

As above, it will come with a copy of Windows on there which was used by PCS to test it. You could simply activate that but I STRONGLY recommend that you don't.

First off, you have no idea whether the test system is complete nor fully configured, because its only there to provide a test platform for PCS.

Secondly, there are countless threads on here from customers who have activated the testing system and later run into all sorts of niggly problems.

I ALWAYS recommend that those buying without an OS install their own copy.

That said, I do suggest that you boot it the first time with the testing system (and go through the initial setup) and use that system to check that everything is working OK, that all devices are there, and that nothing is amiss.

Once you're happy it's all working OK then install your own OS, using your own product key or digital license, and configure it the way you want.

 

[WickedWall]

Hi All,

Thank you so much for the help - I think seems I am going this far, I am going to include a new license of Windows to avoid the hassle.
My previous version was already on the system when I got this from a friend so I am not even sure this will be transferable.

I don't want the system to arrive then realise I need to resolve this all and have the concern of getting it all working. So thank you for breaking this all down down for me.

So I am pretty much ready to go ahead with this - I just have one small concern. The case I have selected, I like the look of, however it does not have any intake fans on the front - will this cause any potential overheating issues or should this be absolutely fine?

Case
NZXT H511 MID-TOWER GAMING CASE (WHITE)

Thanks so much!

Best,
Ryan

 

[Scott]

With the license, you could leave it off just now while you attempt to link it to a M$ account while you're in the queue. If you can't manage, simply add at any time.

It's a decent case. It's not the absolute best for airflow but it is a competent case that will suit your needs just fine

 

[WickedWall]

Hi All,

I have just placed my order (and will experiment with the windows key).
Thank you so much for all your great advice - it has really put me at ease and helped a lot.
If there is anywhere I can leave a review for your support or positive feedback I would be more than happy to.

Ill now eagerly await the delivery!

Thanks again everyone.

All the best.

Ryan.

 

[ubuysa]

Hi All,

I have just placed my order (and will experiment with the windows key).
Thank you so much for all your great advice - it has really put me at ease and helped a lot.
If there is anywhere I can leave a review for your support or positive feedback I would be more than happy to.

Ill now eagerly await the delivery!

Thanks again everyone.

All the best.

Ryan.

What do you mean by 'experiment with the Windows key' ? Once you activate Windows with a specific key, trying to then use another key (or digital license) may not be a straightforward process.

 

[Scott]

What do you mean by 'experiment with the Windows key' ? Once you activate Windows with a specific key, trying to then use another key (or digital license) may not be a straightforward process.

I think they will be referring to my advice regarding linking their license to a Microsoft account to allow transfer

 

[WickedWall]

Hi All,

I have just received the new PC!
I got this with a windows license to minimise difficulty with the new setup - and will sell my old pc with windows installed.

I have just unboxed, connected my RTX 2070 Super and booted up - and there is not picture on the monitor.
I have tried HDMI and D Port inputs. I have now taken out the GPU and tried booting again, plugging in to the motherboard, and still no picture on the monitor. I have also tried with 2 monitors. No picture at all - so I am a little stuck?

Any advice on resolutions here?

Thanks everyone!

Best regards,
Ryan

 

[WickedWall]

Hi!

I installed the GPU myself as I had this in my previous PC.
It was all locked in solid and power cables fully locked in.
I have rebooted without the GPU in to see if i could launch from the motherboard and still no luck.

Do you think I should reinsert the GPU and try again?

Thanks!

 

[Scott]

Just check all of the power pins as the CPU one could come loose and cause such issues. Do the same with the actual RAM itself, as it can come loose as well.

Is there any beeping or light indicators on the motherboard itself?

 

[WickedWall]

Hi All,

Thanks for the quick response - after a stressful hour, I reinserted the GPU - made sure all cables were tight, and input the D port cable into a different GPU slot, and to my delight I saw the Yellow - Green - and my screen lit up! We are all up and running and I am replying from the new computer.

I think after all of that I just needed to restart the PC with the D Port in a different slot (there are 3 on the back of the GPU).

Also you are right, the Ryzen CPU has no integrated graphics so was beeping a lot when booting without the GPU.

Thanks very much everyone, its running like a dream and you are all very, very helpful!

Best regards,
Ryan