Considering Options

[Spacedeck]

Ok so I'm currently just looking at my options going forward. Made a post earlier on how my PC got wet and currently airing the components out. So this is a good time for me to consider a few changes I've thought about making and definitely get rid of the case that I don't like.

So anyway, providing everything works again in a day or two, these are the current components I do have.

5800X3D
Lexar NM790 1TB
Samsung 970 Evo 250 GB
Seagate BarraCuda 4 TB 3.5"
Team Group Vulkan Z T-Force 32GB DDR4
RTX 2070
Kraken X62 Liquid CPU Cooler
Gigabyte X470 AORUS GAMING 7 WIFI ATX AM4
Corsair TX750M 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply
Some midi full tower case

What I'd be looking for is

a. Smaller, more compact case (preferably no vents in the top)
b. Most likely would require new MB depending on case?
c. New power supply that can support more current GPUs.
d. CPU cooler? I imagine depending on the case, it might not fit.

I think the other stuff should still be compatible with what I'd like to upgrade, or have I overlooked something obvious?

This would set me up in preparation for a new GPU down the line (so case would need to be able to fit current GPU sizes).

Doable for couple of hundred?

 

[Tetras]

b. Most likely would require new MB depending on case?
...
Doable for couple of hundred?

If you need a motherboard it isn't, that'll likely cost £100+ for MATX and ITX has availability problems, though I can see a few available.

A PSU is going to be £100+ too.

 

[Spacedeck]

If you need a motherboard it isn't, that'll likely cost £100+ for MATX and ITX has availability problems, though I can see a few available.

A PSU is going to be £100+ too.

How much realistically would you say? When I say couple of hundred, I can go over that, just wasn't sure how much it could be done for.

So disregarding cost, I would be interested in some specs of different cost levels. If I had to put a limit, let's call it £700. Again, that doesn't mean I couldn't go higher, just didn't imagine it costing that kind of money.

 

[Tetras]

How much realistically would you say? When I say couple of hundred, I can go over that, just wasn't sure how much it could be done for.

If you set aside £100 each for the case, motherboard and PSU then that should cover it fairly comfortably.

If I had to put a limit, let's call it £700. Again, that doesn't mean I couldn't go higher, just didn't imagine it costing that kind of money.

A complete upgrade/overhaul:

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Eight Core 5.00GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3DT-AM) = £329.99
• 1 x AMD Ryzen - Space Marine & Unknown 9 Awakening Games Bundle (SKU: DIG-AMD-02908) = £0.00
• 1 x Gigabyte B650M Aorus Elite AX (Socket AM5) DDR5 Micro ATX Motherboard (SKU: MB-5BE-GI) = £164.95
• 1 x TeamGroup Vulcan EXPO 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C38 6000MHz Dual Channel Kit - Black (FLABD532G6000HC38ADC01) (SKU: MY-0B2-TG) = £89.99
• 1 x Fractal Design Pop Mini Silent Black Solid Mini Tower Case - Black (SKU: CA-0AJ-FD) = £80.00
• 1 x Asus TUF Gaming 750W 80 Plus Gold Power Supply (SKU: CA-061-AS) = £89.99

• 1 x Arctic Freezer 36 120m Black CPU Cooler - 2x 120mm (SKU: COO-ARC-02420) = £24.94

Total: £779.86 (includes delivery: £0.00)​

Just the motherboard, case and PSU:

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x Asus TUF Gaming B550M-Plus WIFI II (AMD AM4) B550 Micro-ATX Motherboard (SKU: MB-6J1-AS) = £130.00
• 1 x Fractal Design Pop Mini Silent Black Solid Mini Tower Case - Black (SKU: CA-0AJ-FD) = £79.99
• 1 x Phanteks AMP GH 750W 80PLUS Gold ATX Power Supply Modular - Black (SKU: POW-PHK-02517) = £84.95

Total: £306.92 (includes delivery: £11.98)​

 

[mickyflinn]

You don't need a new PSU unless it's old as long as the case takes an atx PSU then you fine just upgrade when necessary.

You can get Gigabyte B550I AORUS PRO AX Motherboard for £130 and a suitable case for around your budget.

 

[Spacedeck]

You don't need a new PSU unless it's old as long as the case takes an atx PSU then you fine just upgrade when necessary.

You can get Gigabyte B550I AORUS PRO AX Motherboard for £130 and a suitable case for around your budget.

Originally PC was built in 2018, so how old would be too old?

 

[Spacedeck]

A complete upgrade/overhaul:

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Eight Core 5.00GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3DT-AM) = £329.99
• 1 x AMD Ryzen - Space Marine & Unknown 9 Awakening Games Bundle (SKU: DIG-AMD-02908) = £0.00
• 1 x Gigabyte B650M Aorus Elite AX (Socket AM5) DDR5 Micro ATX Motherboard (SKU: MB-5BE-GI) = £164.95
• 1 x TeamGroup Vulcan EXPO 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C38 6000MHz Dual Channel Kit - Black (FLABD532G6000HC38ADC01) (SKU: MY-0B2-TG) = £89.99
• 1 x Fractal Design Pop Mini Silent Black Solid Mini Tower Case - Black (SKU: CA-0AJ-FD) = £80.00
• 1 x Asus TUF Gaming 750W 80 Plus Gold Power Supply (SKU: CA-061-AS) = £89.99
• 1 x Arctic Freezer 36 120m Black CPU Cooler - 2x 120mm (SKU: COO-ARC-02420) = £24.94

Total: £779.86 (includes delivery: £0.00)​

While I contemplate going down this route, is there an alternative to the case and Artic Freezer 36 that is in stock you'd recommend?

Alternatively can you spec a new PC for around £1000, give or take up to £200 either side with things in stock? And as a third option, a decent laptop around that price range?

 

[Tetras]

Alternatively can you spec a new PC for around £1000, give or take up to £200 either side with things in stock?

Argh, cases without meshes are hard to find.

A full build, remove the bits you don't need:

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Eight Core 5.00GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3DT-AM) = £329.99
• 1 x AMD Ryzen - Space Marine & Unknown 9 Awakening Games Bundle (SKU: DIG-AMD-02908) = £0.00
• 1 x Gigabyte B650M Aorus Elite AX (Socket AM5) DDR5 Micro ATX Motherboard (SKU: MB-5BE-GI) = £164.95
• 1 x TeamGroup Vulcan EXPO 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C38 6000MHz Dual Channel Kit - Black (FLABD532G6000HC38ADC01) (SKU: MY-0B2-TG) = £89.99
• 1 x MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ventus 2X E OC 12GB GDDR6X PCI-Express Graphics Card (SKU: GRA-MSI-02561) = £469.99
• 1 x NVIDIA - Star Wars: Outlaws Game Bundle (SKU: DIG-NVI-03030) = £0.00
• 1 x Team Group MP33 PRO 1TB SSD M.2 2280 NVME PCI-E Gen3 Solid State Drive (SKU: STO-TMG-02681) = £50.00
• 1 x Jonsbo C5 - Black/window Midi Tower Case (SKU: CA-00A-JB) = £65.99
• 1 x Asus TUF Gaming 750W 80 Plus Gold Power Supply (SKU: CA-061-AS) = £89.99
• 1 x Arctic Freezer 36 A-RGB 120m Black CPU Cooler - 2x 120mm (SKU: COO-ARC-02418) = £29.98

Total: £1,290.88 (includes delivery: £0.00)​

While I contemplate going down this route, is there an alternative to the case and Artic Freezer 36 that is in stock you'd recommend?

The RGB version is in stock and I've suggested a case above.

There are some cases that have a removable top panel, but I've avoided those because I assume the seal would not be that great (i.e. not water tight).

And as a third option, a decent laptop around that price range?

I don't look at laptops hardly ever.

 

[Spacedeck]

@Tetras Thanks for that, pretty happy with the way that looks. You mention about the none mesh cases, doesn't have to be completely none mesh, preferably just not on the top of the case or just a smaller area on the top as I might look at an alternative location to put the new PC anyway. So if there is a better option for a case with mesh and better airflow, please do let me know.

 

[Quartz]

Smaller, more compact case (preferably no vents in the top)

Take a look at the Fractal Torrent line. The original is large but there are Compact and Nano versions. OCUK sell the former but not the latter.

 

[Spacedeck]

My main concern with the Jonsbo is the tempts it would produce during gaming. Any thoughts on if they would create an actual problem?

Torrent looks nice but seems the Compact size is even larger than the Jonsbo.

Only thing I've left out is the the M.2. Would the M2's I currently have be compatible with the new system? Also would the data need to be reformatted to work with the new PC?

 

[Tetras]

Only thing I've left out is the the M.2. Would the M2's I currently have be compatible with the new system? Also would the data need to be reformatted to work with the new PC?

They would be fine. The only issue is with old SATA M.2 drives and yours are both PCI-E (that assumes you have enough M.2 slots in the new build).

Reformat: no, if you don't have bitlocker enabled then it should be plug and play, but obviously Windows installs are not 100% guaranteed and you may have activation issues.

My main concern with the Jonsbo is the tempts it would produce during gaming. Any thoughts on if they would create an actual problem?

Compact solid panel cases will always be a hotter than an airflow optimised case with big fans like Lian Li's 216 or Phanteks XT Ultra, but it should be fine with the parts listed.

A 4070 is relatively low power consumption and so is the 7800X3D, so you shouldn't be overloading what it can comfortably dump out of the rear.

 

[Spacedeck]

Excellent thanks, going to purchase now. Get myself back up and running. Eventually, I'll see if I can repurpose any of the previous system to build something small for my daughter.