Hi looking for advice/help on my first build.

sinkorswim

sinkorswim

sinkorswim

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6 Sep 2020
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Hi new to the forum and will be trying to do my first build. Already have all the peripherals plus 2 x HDD's and was wondering if people could give comments and suggestions on what I am thinking for my build. Not build a PC before, would welcome comments/advice, on a budget but also like it to be future proof to last so I can upgrade in the future.

Would ideally like to get the price around £800, however need to add 3 more aRGB fans for the case (preferably white).

Looking at the Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 V2 ARGB Black 3N1 Pack (£39.95). Also, possibly a different CPU cooler. All opinions appreciated.

Unsure how to daisy chain the fans to run them off the motherboard software. In fact it is the fan installation that has me confused. Would like recommendations for 3 argb case fans (2 top fans and one exhaust). Also, a little unsure about the clearance for the CPU cooler with the RGB ram?

Went a little OTT on the PSU as I want it to be future proof when changing out components later.

AMD Ryzen 3 3300X 3.8 GHz Quad-Core Processor

Scythe Mugen 5 PCGH Edition 43.03 CFM CPU Cooler

Thermal Compound Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver or Artic MX4

MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK ATX AM4 Motherboard or the ASUS Prime X570-P ATX

Crucial Ballistix RGB 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 CL16 Memory

Western Digital Blue SN550 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive

MSI Radeon RX 570 8 GB ARMOR OC Video Card or the Asus ROG RX 570 8gb GPU.

Case Cooler Master MasterBox TD500 Mesh White w/ Controller ATX

Corsair TXM Gold 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply


thanks in advance. :)
 
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Hi and welcome :)

If you're planning on upgrading the GPU at a later date to either Ampere or Big Navi then I'd suggest waiting for reviews to see the actual power draw before buying. I've heard estimates from 650w to 850w will be needed so I'd be wary of only ordering a 650w. Also you won't need the thermal paste, the cooler comes with it, besides, arctic silver isn't actually that good. Have a look here if you really want to replace the included paste - https://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/guru3d-thermal-paste-roundup-2019,1.html
 
Do you intend to keep your CPU for any length of time, or is it a stand in until the 4000 series chips launch?

If you do intend to keep it I'd spend the extra on at least a 3600.
 
Gray2233 said:
Do you intend to keep your CPU for any length of time, or is it a stand in until the 4000 series chips launch?

If you do intend to keep it I'd spend the extra on at least a 3600.
Click to expand...

Hi I intend to keep it for at least a year or 2 also want to keep my budget to around £800 which I am currently at but still need to add 3 case fans.
 
Looking over your spec - i'd drop 3rd party cooler for now and put the saving towards the 3600 and use the stock cooler until your flush again (or a £20 tower cooler will do the job).

I'd also try and stretch to 1Tb drive and look closely at the second hand market for a 2070 as better value and lots of choice will be coming up thanks to 30-series release.
 
Yeah, it looks like a fair chunk of your budget is focused on aesthetics at the expense of actual performance.

Aesthetics are fine when you've the budget for them, in your situation I'd consider a different/cheaper case option that comes with some RGB fans pre-fitted. Look at non-rgb memory as you're likely to save a fair bit in that area too. The Mugen 5 is an excellent HSF but when it could mean the difference between a 3300X and a 3600, I'd go towards the 3600, it's easy enough to switch the stock HSF out down the line.

Edit: The case you're looking at comes with 3 RGB fans prefitted, why do you need another pack of 3?
 
Gray2233 said:
Yeah, it looks like a fair chunk of your budget is focused on aesthetics at the expense of actual performance.

Aesthetics are fine when you've the budget for them, in your situation I'd consider a different/cheaper case option that comes with some RGB fans pre-fitted. Look at non-rgb memory as you're likely to save a fair bit in that area too. The Mugen 5 is an excellent HSF but when it could mean the difference between a 3300X and a 3600, I'd go towards the 3600, it's easy enough to switch the stock HSF out down the line.

Edit: The case you're looking at comes with 3 RGB fans prefitted, why do you need another pack of 3?
Click to expand...

Hi totally understand, the case comes with 3 decent aRGB fans preinstalled but I could change to non RGB ram no problem. Choose that ram for the clearance on my cooler. Open to any recommendations. Thanks

edit

I want two fans for the top of the case and one for the back to make sure I have maximum airflow. Also the fans I am looking at have a MMF of 160,000 hours. Would rather have the fans installed at the beginning so not harder to do them later without removing the motherboard. The fans I am looking at are £39.95 for 3.

Just checked and the non rgb RAM costs more, unsure why
 
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I'd be looking at something like this for £800 - 900 with the intent of upgrading the GPU in a year or so:

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £868.84 (includes shipping: £0.00)
​

I'd never normally recommend the 3600XT, but it's only £10 difference from the 3600 at the moment on the OCUK store.

That memory is a cracking price though.

You're looking at going a bit overkill with airflow, 3 front and 1 rear will be absolutely fine.

The RX580 is b-grade and only comes with a 3 month warranty, I'd consider what @Plec suggested and look at the second hand market for a bargain. That said, OCUK are open to negotiation with b-grade items, so you might be able to get them to drop the price closer to £100.
 
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Gray2233 said:
You're looking at going a bit overkill with airflow, 3 front and 1 rear will be absolutely fine.
Click to expand...
This - you'll just be generating more noise.

Psst @Gray2233 - he needs a SSD :) (edit: knew you would spot it!) - but @sinkorswim if you downgraded your case (black aesthetic), lose a fan or two - you could almost have it all - and only need a simple GPU upgrade in a few months time when wanted...
 
Plec said:
This - you'll just be generating more noise.

Psst @Gray2233 - he needs a SSD :) (edit: knew you would spot it!) - but @sinkorswim if you downgraded your case (black aesthetic), lose a fan or two - you could almost have it all - and only need a simple GPU upgrade in a few months time when wanted...
Click to expand...

Hah! Thought I'd edited the post before getting caught. :D
 
Something like this case would be a nice alternative.

RAIJINTEK SILENOS PRO ARGB MID-TOWER GAMING CASE - BLACK TEMPERED GLASS

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/raij...ming-case-black-tempered-glass-ca-04d-rt.html

arctic-freezer-34-esports-duo-white-cpu-cooler-2-x-120mm-hs-074-ar.html
 
ExRayTed said:
Hi and welcome :)

If you're planning on upgrading the GPU at a later date to either Ampere or Big Navi then I'd suggest waiting for reviews to see the actual power draw before buying. I've heard estimates from 650w to 850w will be needed so I'd be wary of only ordering a 650w. Also you won't need the thermal paste, the cooler comes with it, besides, arctic silver isn't actually that good. Have a look here if you really want to replace the included paste - https://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/guru3d-thermal-paste-roundup-2019,1.html
Click to expand...

Gray2233 said:
I'd be looking at something like this for £800 - 900 with the intent of upgrading the GPU in a year or so:

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £868.84 (includes shipping: £0.00)
​

I'd never normally recommend the 3600XT, but it's only £10 difference from the 3600 at the moment on the OCUK store.

That memory is a cracking price though.

You're looking at going a bit overkill with airflow, 3 front and 1 rear will be absolutely fine.

The RX580 is b-grade and only comes with a 3 month warranty, I'd consider what @Plec suggested and look at the second hand market for a bargain. That said, OCUK are open to negotiation with b-grade items, so you might be able to get them to drop the price closer to £100.
Click to expand...

Hi thanks for that I will check it out.

Plec said:
This - you'll just be generating more noise.

Psst @Gray2233 - he needs a SSD :) (edit: knew you would spot it!) - but @sinkorswim if you downgraded your case (black aesthetic), lose a fan or two - you could almost have it all - and only need a simple GPU upgrade in a few months time when wanted...
Click to expand...

I will have the NVMe for my OS and programs and I already have 2 x 3tb HDD's. Will look at SDD's later thanks.
 
Plec said:
This - you'll just be generating more noise.

Psst @Gray2233 - he needs a SSD :) (edit: knew you would spot it!) - but @sinkorswim if you downgraded your case (black aesthetic), lose a fan or two - you could almost have it all - and only need a simple GPU upgrade in a few months time when wanted...
Click to expand...

Any recommendations for a case with front fans pre installed then I just need to buy one rear exhaust fan?
 
Cases really are a subjective choice. If it were me I'd buy a case I liked the look of and offers the opportunity for decent airflow (no solid front panels without decent intakes once fans are installed) and install my own 3rd party fans to my liking. Some people install more fans than needed for the aesthetic and don't care about the noise. Some prefer to buy a case with fans preinstalled for ease of use and to avoid the extra cost of buying more fans. In my opinion you're limiting your choice of case if you're looking for one with perfect preinstalled fans that you like the look of - you might get lucky and find one that fits the bill and if so, good for you :)
 
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Plec said:
Fits your RGB brief, all the fans you need and can be had for £60 - and OcUK sometimes price match on large builds orders:

My basket at Overclockers UK:
​
Click to expand...

That looks like it could fit the bill and plenty of dust covers. How are the fans in that case regarding performance and noise?

Just checked and other reviews are not that great. I need a case easy to build in as its my first build.
 
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Plec said:
Fits your RGB brief, all the fans you need and can be had for £60 - and OcUK sometimes price match on large builds orders:

My basket at Overclockers UK:
​
Click to expand...

There's a white version of that case too actually:

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £69.95 (includes shipping: £0.00)
​

If M-ATX was alright there would be a lot more options.

These for example:

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £119.98 (includes shipping: £0.00)

​
Review of the Aerocool cases:

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/aerocool-aero-one-eclipse-atx-case/
 
sinkorswim said:
That looks like it could fit the bill and plenty of dust covers. How are the fans in that case regarding performance and noise?

Just checked and other reviews are not that great. I need a case easy to build in as its my first build.
Click to expand...
For £60 it's a lot of case, cooling and RGB for the money - what are your main concerns from reviews?

But, as @ExRayTed rightly stated - case taste is subjective so pick what best suits you - but budget will usually limit your choice with your added criteria.

Gray2233 said:
If M-ATX was alright there would be a lot more options.

These for example:

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £119.98 (includes shipping: £0.00)

​
Review of the Aerocool cases:

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/aerocool-aero-one-eclipse-atx-case/
Click to expand...

Above is always an option - and would cut costs again - motherboard and case.

Another case for choice - *note it's mATX:

My basket at Overclockers UK:
​
 
Plec said:
For £60 it's a lot of case, cooling and RGB for the money - what are your main concerns from reviews?

But, as @ExRayTed rightly stated - case taste is subjective so pick what best suits you - but budget will usually limit your choice with your added criteria.



Above is always an option - and would cut costs again - motherboard and case.

Another case for choice - *note it's mATX:

My basket at Overclockers UK:
​
Click to expand...

Many people say the fans are not great and the build quality is bad? Really dont know just did a quick search. Reading the review above, says it can hold up to 5xHDD's? I can see one on the bottom and maybe attach on to the top of the housing.

To be honest, want to get the hardware parts of my build correct first as that is the most expensive, will definitely just get one rear fan now to cut down on costs.

edit

was talking about the aerocool case. ;)
 
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