New PC Build check

[Epburpee]

Hello. Please comment on this parts list.
I am making a build for plugging in two 1440p monitors.
I will primarily use this system for graphic design (Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, Blender).
Also for having 50 web browser tabs open.
I am adding a GPU later.

My main query, that I am aware of, is about the RAM. I am thinking of adding 64GB instead. When would adding the extra RAM make a difference?

I have gone for a 4TB SSD because I don't know how much I will fill it up, and I know that when the HD gets nearly full, the system will slow down.

I'm pretty much set on the Fractal Era 2, so I am prepared to pay extra for this. But performance-wise, perhaps I can get more bang for my buck if I made that compromise.
Having a small case is not an absolute must, but I would really prefer something on the smaller side, and it looks nice.

The priority is that when I set this up, I can plug in the monitors and work on graphic design.
So the two parts that concern me the most are the RAM and CPU.


My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x WD Black SN850X 4TB SSD M.2 2280 NVME PCI-E Gen4 Solid State Drive (WDS400T2X0E) (SKU: HD-592-WD) = £269.99
• 1 x AMD Ryzen 7 9700X Eight Core 5.50GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: PRO-AMD-02676) = £269.99
• 1 x Noctua NH-L9a-AM5 Chromax Black Low Profile CPU Cooler - 92mm (SKU: HS-042-NC) = £49.99
• 1 x Asus ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WIFI (Socket AM5) DDR5 Mini ITX Motherboard (SKU: MB-6JZ-AS) = £209.99
• 1 x CORSAIR SF Series SF750 Fully Modular 80 PLUS Platinum SFX Power Supply (SKU: POW-CRS-02468) = £154.99
• 1 x B Grade Fractal Design Era Mini-ITX Case - Champagne Tempered Glass (SKU: BG-02D-FD) = £100.64
• 1 x Crucial Pro OC 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C36 6000MHz Dual Channel Kit (SKU: MEM-CRU-02219) = £89.99

Total: £1,145.58 (includes delivery: £0.00)​

 

[tamzzy]

My main query, that I am aware of, is about the RAM. I am thinking of adding 64GB instead. When would adding the extra RAM make a difference?

When you run out of RAM.
For your expected use scenario, 64 GB is wise

 

[tamzzy]

I'm pretty much set on the Fractal Era 2, so I am prepared to pay extra for this. But performance-wise, perhaps I can get more bang for my buck if I made that compromise.
Having a small case is not an absolute must, but I would really prefer something on the smaller side, and it looks nice.

Honestly I would get a microATX build, they are still reasonably small, and you avoid the need to pay the ITX tax (the majority of ITX builds are comparably more expensive than matx/atx builds).

 

[tamzzy]

The priority is that when I set this up, I can plug in the monitors and work on graphic design.
So the two parts that concern me the most are the RAM and CPU.

It sounds like your use case needs a lot of CPU cores, does time = money? If it does then I would opt for a 9900x or even a 9950x

 

[Epburpee]

This seems to be a better scenario with a mATX case :

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x AMD Ryzen 9 9900X Twelve Core 5.60GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: PRO-AMD-02675) = £349.99
• 1 x Noctua NH-U12A High Performance CPU Cooler - 120mm (SKU: HS-03K-NC) = £109.99
• 1 x Asus ROG Strix B850-G Gaming WIFI (AM5) DDR5 Micro-ATX Motherboard (SKU: MOT-ASU-05999) = £250.00
• 1 x Corsair Vengeance EXPO 64GB (2X32GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C30 6000MHz Dual Channel (SKU: MEM-CRS-02841) = £209.99
• 1 x Samsung 990 Evo PLUS 4TB M.2 2280 PCI-e 4.0 / 5.0 Hybrid NVMe Solid State Drive (SKU: STO-SAM-03392) = £364.99
• 1 x Lian Li A3 mATX Wood Edition - White (SKU: CAS-LIA-03651) = £69.95
• 1 x CORSAIR RM850e Modular Cybenetics Gold ATX 3.1 PCIe 5.1 Power Supply - White (SKU: POW-CRS-04879) = £104.99

Total: £1,471.88 (includes delivery: £11.98)​

 

[Epburpee]

Honestly I would get a microATX build, they are still reasonably small, and you avoid the need to pay the ITX tax (the majority of ITX builds are comparably more expensive than matx/atx builds).

Thanks. I will consider the options. Looks like mATX will be better.

 

[mickyflinn]

Thanks. I will consider the options. Looks like mATX will be better.

YOur paying £100 extra for the 990plus , save yourself and get the 850x although I would be tempted to get 2 x 2tb m2 drives one for apps and working programs and the other for scratch/ and storage.
CPU cooler alternative.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/thermalright-peerless-assassin-140-white-cpu-air-cooler-coo-tlr-03289.html

Grab yourself a 1000w PSU to cover all GPU upgrades so your will be able to to handle the biggest of gpus upgrades in the future.

 

[pastymuncher]

Ditch the overpriced Noctua cooler as well and buy a Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 or Phantom Spirit 120 both of which will outperform that Noctua cooler by some margin for a third of the price.