Mid spec gaming pc

[handyandy24]

Hi

Ive been out the "active research" game for a number of years. Ive just started to look again as i want to upgrade my i5 4560. Ive picked up a VR headset and and hoping to bag a 3070 level GPU at some point (yeah right)

So really im aiming for mid range, which cpu/mobo combos would you recommend?

Also, m2 still not really worth it over sata ssd for most users?

 

[handyandy24]

Say £500, but to be honest if for my use case what you have listed is sufficient i dont need to spend 500.

Ive got a gtx970 which ill keep until i xan get a FE 3000 series card. Im not desperate in that regard and realise ill need to be very lucky or wait 2 years!

Id assumed the amd route would be best bang for buck but looking at that cpu seems tl be a value option.

Whilst ive got you haha is there much benefit to having a seperate wifi card as opposed tongetting a mobo with wifi built in

 

[handyandy24]

Agree with this. 11400 (or even 10400 if you can bag one cheap) on B560 is the value king atm. Just be careful what B560 board you buy.

Is there a certain brand to avoid?

 

[handyandy24]

What VR headset did you get and what games do you play on it?

Rift s - id have gone for the quest 2 if i had a better spec pc.

Planned to play ACC - no chance after trying to configure it

The only other game i have so far is pavlov which seems to work fine even on mid settings

That motion sickness tho

 

[handyandy24]

If you did want to go with AMD you wouldn't necessarily have to spend a great deal more, eg:

My basket at Overclockers UK:

• 1 x AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Six Core 4.6GHz (Socket AM4) Processor - Retail= £248.99
• 1 x Corsair Vengeance LPX Black 16GB (2x8GB) 3600 MHz AMD Ryzen Tuned DDR4 Memory Dual Kit= £79.99
• 1 x MSI B550M PRO-VDH WiFi (AMD AM4) B550 Micro-ATX Motherboard= £109.99

Total: £438.97 (includes shipping: £0.00)
​

The motherboard doesn't have that many features but the VRM is solid and will handle a stock 5950X based on the HWU review. Alternatively for £30 more there are plenty of good ATX size offerings (elsewhere at least).

The 5600X is definitely faster and although you'd be hard pressed to notice the difference right now if you're planning to keep it longer term it may be

I definately plan to keep this for gears to come. I suppose id always have the 5900 upgrade path at that point as well.

I heard this is the last that will use AM4, ideally id wait for aomething that will have AM4 longevity but i cant wait

 

[handyandy24]

Is there a thread on how to flash the bios for simpletons ?

 

[handyandy24]

Is there any benefit to a board with WIFI built in? Are the dongles just as good. Im limiting my choices at the moment based on if it has wifi which does exclude a lot of boards.

https://www.**********/products/msi...e-40-dual-m2-crossfire-25gbe-ax-bt51-micro-at
MSI B550M PRO-VDH WIFI, AMD B550, S AM4, DDR4, SATA3, PCIe 4.0, GbE, ac WiFi/BT 4.2, USB 3.2 Gen1 A+C, Micro-ATX

Looking at these two at the moment. The cheaper one states ac wifi, does that mean it can connect via 5ghz not just 2.4 channel?

 

[handyandy24]

Also ive just bought a corsair 4000d airflow. Worried that a micro atx board might look silly in the case as it wont fill it the same. Looking at 50 quid more tho for a atx with wifi. Am i worrying over nothing