Decision - Surface or new PC

CLAWS

CLAWS

CLAWS

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Hi,

What would you choose out of the following:

Top spec Surface Pro 4, Top spec Surface Book or the following PC -

Processor (CPU)Intel® Core™i7 Six Core Processor i7-6800K (3.4GHz)
15MB CacheMotherboardASUS® X99-A II: ATX, USB 3.1, SATA 6 GB/s, RGB ReadyMemory (RAM)32GB Kingston DUAL DDR4 2133MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card1GB NVIDIA GEFORCE 710 - DVI, HDMI, VGA
1st Hard Disk1TB Samsung 850 EVO 2.5" SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (upto 540MB/sR | 520MB/sW)
FREE WATCH DOGS 2 with select SAMSUNG SSDs!
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive16x BLU-RAY WRITER DRIVE, 16x DVD ±R/±RW & SOFTWARE
Power SupplyCORSAIR 450W VS SERIES™ VS-u450 POWER SUPPLY
Power Cable1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor CoolingPCS FrostFlow 100 Series High Performance CPU CoolerThermal PasteARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUNDExtra Case Fans1x 120mm Black Case Fan (configured to extract from rear/roof)
Sound CardONBOARD 8 CHANNEL (7.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Wireless/Wired Networking10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)

My wife will be using either to work from home quite often. I'll be doing the odd video edit, Dawn Of War 3 and some Powershell study.

I do have a laptop which I can wipe and reset, but just trying to get opinions really. Also not really sure why I would get a Surface Book the same spec as the Surface pro 4 but £500 more.

Any and help much appreciated.
 
The PC is going to be incredibly powerful and a lot faster than the Surface Book or Surface Pro.

If you don't need the portability of a laptop then get the PC. Perhaps even cut back a little on the PC and get a chromebook or something to use if you do need a machine for taking out of the house.
 
Well... the surface pro does come with a screen and keyboard so would make using it a lot easier :p

Honest answer:
I'd get the surface pro 4 but thats because I already have a pc and don't have the surface :)

In your usage scenario the pc will likely be better but one thing I will say is that geforce 710 will be pretty useless so a better gpu might be in order.
 
Ok so this is the non jargon version of your spec list, i will make some suggestions:

Processor (CPU) - Intel® Core™i7 Six Core Processor i7-6800K
£409.99
Motherboard - ASUS® X99-A II: ATX, USB 3.1, SATA 6 GB/s, RGB Ready
£269.99
Memory (RAM)32GB Kingston DUAL DDR4 2133MHz (2 x 16GB)
£199.99
Graphics Card - 1GB NVIDIA GEFORCE 710 - DVI, HDMI, VGA
£29.99
HDD - 1TB Samsung 850 EVO 2.5" SSD, SATA 6Gb/s
£398.99
DVD/BLU-RAY - Drive16x BLU-RAY WRITER DRIVER 450W VS SERIES
Processor Cooling - PCS FrostFlow 100 Series High Performance CPU Cooler

So not including the price of the case/dvd player/CPU cooler or anything else.. You are hitting close to £1,350.

The CPU you have on that spec is probably overkill for your needs, a 6700k would do fine, the motherboard is decked out and again probably overkill, the ram is reasonably priced but only 2133mhz when the motherboard supports 3333mhz, the SSD is CRAZY and not needed, a 128gb or 256gb with a 1-2tb HDD would be fine, and the GPU is absolutely pitiful, you won't be playing any games on it.

Here is my reccomendation:

Much more capable GPU, more HDD space, OS included as well as Wi-fi missing from your build.. Also faster than the most powerful surface.
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Helpful responses so far :)

@terley, thanks for the revision. The spec i knocked up was done on another website. Based on your advice and what is available on the "website" I have done the following -

Case InWIN GT1 BLACK GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™i7 Six Core Processor i7-6800K (3.4GHz) 15MB Cache (lowest spec available in drop down)

Motherboard ASUS® X99-A II: ATX, USB 3.1, SATA 6 GB/s, RGB Ready (lowest spec available in drop down)

Memory (RAM) 16GB HyperX SAVAGE DDR4 3000MHz (4 x 4GB Kit)

Graphics Card 3GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1060 - DVI, HDMI, 3 x DP

1st Hard Disk 120GB HyperX SAVAGE 2.5" SSD, SATA 6 Gb/s (upto 560MB/sR | 360MB/sW)

2nd Hard Disk 1TB SEAGATE 3.5" SSHD, SATA 6Gb/s 7200 RPM (64MB + 8GB SSD CACHE)

1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive 16x BLU-RAY WRITER DRIVE, 16x DVD ±R/±RW & SOFTWARE

Power Supply CORSAIR 650W CS SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET (the one you advised was not availble :()

Processor Cooling PCS FrostFlow 100 Series High Performance CPU Cooler

Thermal Paste ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND

Extra Case Fans 1x 120mm Black Case Fan (configured to extract from rear/roof)

Sound Card ONBOARD 8 CHANNEL (7.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)

Wireless/Wired Networking 10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED) (dont need Wifi, it will be connected straight into my router)

USB Options 2 PORT (2 x TYPE A) USB 3.0 PCI-E CARD + STANDARD USB PORTS

Operating System Genuine Windows 10 Professional 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence

Operating System Language United Kingdom - English Language

DVD Recovery Media Windows 10 (64-bit) Professional DVD with paper sleeve
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 4 to 6 working days

Price (excluding VAT) £1,298.33
Price £1,558.00

I am guessing that a lot of the above is still overkill but then im hoping that there is a little bit of future proofing in there in case I want to do some upgrades later down the line. What you think?

Also thoughts on the Surface Book vs the Surface Pro 4? Top spec SP4 comes in at £1979. For exactly the same spec in a Surface Book I'm looking at £2384 :eek:

Should be a no brainer really but the extra £500 I pay for the SB, is it only for the extra inch+ on the screen size?
 
Looks good to me, you could probably spend a bit more on the GPU but that's your prerogative, I'd say it covers you in terms of the next few years of future proofness, but you know in this game that is quite hard.
I spent £1,600 on a laptop (i7 6700hq, 16gb ram, gtx 970m) etc back in September.

I wish i just bought a computer, whilst having a laptop is lovely and all, its just not the same as having a solid desktop to work from.

With the money saved you could buy a very high quality 4k monitor for any professional needs.
 
The top end surface book will come with the extra nvidia gpu in the base, might be the recently upgraded one but can't say for certain.

Oh and if you do go for the desktop, don't get the 3GB 1060, if you can afford it get the 1060 6GB :)
 
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