New build for gaming and maybe a dabble in 3D modelling...

[ClosetGamer]

Hi, I've read the 'please read before posting' bit and tried to include everything that's useful, but let me know if more info would help.

As the title suggests, I'm looking for a desktop for gaming (a lot of this will be strategy-based games, but also your open-world stuff and maybe even an online shooter). I'm also interested in the idea of learning 3D modelling, but this might just be a bit of a hobby that I pick up now and then so won't be the main use.

Current monitor is: AOC Gaming 24G2U5 - 24 Inch FHD Monitor, 75Hz, 1ms, IPS, AMD FreeSync, Height Adjust, Speakers, USB Hub, Low Input Lag (1920x1080@ 75hz, 250cd/m², HDMI/DP/VGA/USB 3.0). How do this and the spec match up?

Max budget was about £900 and this came in at £925. Thinking of removing the wireless card as I'll use a wired connection (but I want bluetooth and the card isn't that much).

Spec below -- really appreciate any advice you can give on whether there is anything in there that seems unbalanced. I'm a novice in custom building a PC, so I've spent probably 20 hours or so researching, but I know there's no substitute for a bit of expert knowledge!

Case
PCS PRISM-X ARGB MID TOWER CASE
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i5 Six Core Processor i5-11400F (2.6GHz) 12MB Cache
Motherboard
GIGABYTE B560M DS3H (rev. 1.0) : LGA1200, DDR4, USB 3.2
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 2666MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
4GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1650 - HDMI
1st Storage Drive
512GB PCS 2.5" SSD, SATA 6 Gb (520MB/R, 450MB/W)
1st Storage Drive
1TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 64MB CACHE
Power Supply
CORSAIR 550W CV SERIES™ CV-550 POWER SUPPLY
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
PCS FrostFlow 100 V3 Series High Performance CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Extra Case Fans
2x 120mm Black Case Fan (configured to extract from rear/roof)
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 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 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
BullGuard™ Internet Security - 3 User, 1 Year
Browser
Google Chrome™
Surge Protection
6 Socket 2m Surge Protector
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 10 to 12 working days

Price: £925.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/intel-z590-pc/zNkAS3anhR/

 

[Salmon Fisher]

It's difficult, you're up against it somewhat with that budget but I guess you know that. A couple of small changes? standard thermal paste is more than adequate, I would take windows 10 rather than 11, and windows defender is better than Bullguard. It's not that long ago that £900 was capable of buying a mid range pc but, Ship sailed, horse bolted I'm afraid.
Someone with far more knowledge than I will be all along in a moment to give some far better help than I can offer.

 

[sck451]

I'd suggest you bump your budget up just a little bit. Your build has so many compromises that it's not going to be a good system for the long run. A few changes and you can make it a lot stronger. There's no reason why this build couldn't take a graphics upgrade and then be good enough for half a decade or more.

Case
FRACTAL FOCUS G BLACK GAMING CASE (Window) Much better case for cooling
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i5 Six Core Processor i5-11400F (2.6GHz) 12MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF GAMING B560-PLUS WIFI: ATX, LGA1200, USB 3.2, SATA 6GBs - RGB Ready Good motherboard -- the Gigabyte one you selected is horrible
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 2666MHz (2 x 8GB) Slower than I'd like, but probably ok for the 11400
Graphics Card
4GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1650 - HDMI
1st Storage Drive
1TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 64MB CACHE
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2200 MB/R, 1500 MB/W) Much faster for booting from
Power Supply
CORSAIR 550W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET Much better power supply (I'd like more, but budget)
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
PCS FrostFlow 100 V3 Series High Performance CPU Cooler Not the world's greatest cooler, but probably OK for the 11400
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING Definitely enough for this build
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
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
Google Chrome™
Surge Protection
6 Socket 2m Surge Protector
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 10 to 12 working days
Price: £969.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/intel-z590-pc/7k3xEy36UD/

 

[ClosetGamer]

Massive thank you both of you for the feedback and responding so quickly. I'll dump bullguard then and also plump for Win10.

Really didn't know where to start on motherboards. One of the more difficult areas to grasp for a newbie, so thanks for the help on that and some of the other more technical stuff.

I guess there's no need for the 2 extra fans I had at the back. That means there's only 2 on here, which I assume is enough? Also assume that's a very novice question, but I'm trying to learn as I go rather than just leach the answers!

Further question: how long do you think this graphics card will be able to play new games at a reasonable spec?

For reference, my last (current) PC with an i5 2400, 8gb ram and a gtx 550ti has bravely battled its way through since 2011 and still functions -- appears to have begun the death phase of freeze, crash, reboot whenever asked to do anything particularly significant though!

Thanks again!