Office/programming PC for ~£1000 and a monitor recommendation

carmack_ · 27 Jul 2023 at 09:35

Hey folks, can you help me with a PC build, please? It will be used for office work, programming, maths (GeoGebra, SageMath) and maybe some light indie games.
I've just started my coding journey, so I don't think I'll touch any GPU programming any time soon. All I need is enough RAM and CPU power to handle VSCode, Firefox, and my maths software open at the same time. Also, I'd like to play with some virtual machines, so I think 32GB RAM is the minimum.
I'll also need a WiFi since I cannot use a cable. A small case would be nice, but it's not necessary.

And last but not least, can you recommend me a good monitor (~ 24") which won't cause a much of eye strain after hours of looking at it?
Thank you in advance!

Noughtboy · 27 Jul 2023 at 10:41

Are you using GeoGebra locally or is it web based? SageMath will use multicores but I see that web based GeoGebra uses JS and is more dependent on single core performance whilst running it local will use multicores?

Also, will the £1000 include the monitor?

mid_gen · 27 Jul 2023 at 10:43

My basket at OcUK:

1 x TeamGroup Vulcan EXPO 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C38 6000MHz Dual Channel Kit - Black (FLABD532G6000HC38ADC01) (SKU: MY-0B2-TG) = £119.99
1 x Asus Prime B650M-A II (Socket AM5) DDR5 Micro-ATX Motherboard (SKU: MB-6K5-AS) = £178.99
1 x AMD Ryzen 9 7900 Twelve Core 5.40GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3DU-AM) = £399.95
1 x AMD - Starfield Ryzen Game Bundle (SKU: DIG-AMD-00523) = £0.00
1 x Kolink Modular Power 700W 80 Plus Bronze Modular Power Supply (SKU: CA-04K-KK) = £54.95

Total: £761.87 (includes delivery: £7.99)

Add case and monitor.

I got a 7900 for dev work recently and been pretty impressed with it, 12 full fat cores and no silly power consumption/heat generation.

Noughtboy · 27 Jul 2023 at 11:49

If the included iGPU is enough for your Indie games, that is a great spec. If not, you would need to bring it back to a 7600 (saving £180) and add a RX6000 for around £180-£200.

I would add this 32" 1440p LG 165Hz VA monitor LG Monitor FOR £230 which takes you right upto £990 and then a case that tickles your fancy (£30-£50). These will usually only come with a rear cooling fan so I would add a couple of 120mm for about £4 each

All in about £1030 - £1050.

Hope that helps.

Quartz · 27 Jul 2023 at 11:58

carmack_ said:
and my maths software open at the same time.

Which software is this?

Noughtboy said:
Also, will the £1000 include the monitor?

I can recommend the Lenovo L28u-35 4k monitor. It's a 28" 4k monitor. Only 60 Hz but supports Freesync / VRR and you can play your games at 1080p.

Noughtboy said:
and add a RX6000 for around £180-£200.

I think you mean a RX 6600 - a fine choice.

carmack_ said:
A small case would be nice, but it's not necessary.

Have you looked at NUCs?

BTW you've chosen a lofty moniker. You might want to change it to something less presumptuous.

Noughtboy · 27 Jul 2023 at 12:32

Quartz said:
Which software is this?

Mentioned in the first line, GeoGebra and SageMaths

I think you mean a RX 6600 - a fine choice.

Correct. Too much Ryzen on the brain

carmack_ · 27 Jul 2023 at 14:12

Noughtboy said:
Are you using GeoGebra locally or is it web based? SageMath will use multicores but I see that web based GeoGebra uses JS and is more dependent on single core performance whilst running it local will use multicores?

Also, will the £1000 include the monitor?

I run GeoGebra locally.
Edit: I forgot to mention that the £1000 is just for the box.

Tetras · 27 Jul 2023 at 14:30

Personally, I'd go with the 7900 suggested above, but an Intel alternative:

My basket at OcUK:

1 x Intel Core i7-13700K (Raptor Lake) Socket LGA1700 Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-6AX-IN) = £399.95
1 x Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX DDR4 (LGA 1700) DDR4 Micro-ATX Motherboard (SKU: MB-5BZ-GI) = £134.99
1 x Team Group Vulcan Z T-Force 64GB (2x32GB) DDR4 PC4-28800C18 3600MHz Dual Channel Kit - Grey (SKU: MY-0B9-TG) = £149.98
1 x WD Black SN850X 2TB SSD M.2 2280 NVME PCI-E Gen4 Solid State Drive (WDS200T (SKU: HD-591-WD) = £129.95
1 x Lian Li Lancool 205M Mesh Micro-ATX PC Case Black (SKU: CA-7B2-LL) = £69.95
1 x Seasonic Focus GX-650 650W 80+ Gold Modular Power Supply (SKU: CA-06V-SS) = £94.99

Total: £991.80 (includes delivery: £11.98)

Cooler: this.

CPU: I'd switch to the non-K/non-F, but OCUK don't sell it.

Noughtboy · 27 Jul 2023 at 14:57

Sorry, forgot to add the storage and cooler. WIll brb

carmack_ · 27 Jul 2023 at 15:05

Noughtboy said:
Sorry, forgot to add the storage and cooler. WIll brb

So, something like this?

Rich (BB code):

My basket at OcUK:

1 x TeamGroup Vulcan EXPO 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C38 6000MHz Dual Channel Kit - Black (FLABD532G6000HC38ADC01) (SKU: MY-0B2-TG) = £119.99
1 x Asus Prime B650M-A II (Socket AM5) DDR5 Micro-ATX Motherboard (SKU: MB-6K5-AS) = £178.99
1 x AMD Ryzen 9 7900 Twelve Core 5.40GHz  (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3DU-AM) = £399.95
1 x AMD - Starfield Ryzen Game Bundle (SKU: DIG-AMD-00523) = £0.00
1 x Kolink Modular Power 700W 80 Plus Bronze Modular Power Supply (SKU: CA-04K-KK) = £54.95
1 x Kolink Citadel Mesh Micro-ATX Case - Black (SKU: CA-051-KK) = £52.99
1 x WD Black SN850X 2TB SSD M.2 2280 NVME PCI-E Gen4 Solid State Drive (WDS200T (SKU: HD-591-WD) = £129.95

Total: £944.81 (includes delivery: £7.99)

Am I missing something?

Noughtboy · 27 Jul 2023 at 15:19

£1190 with the monitor excluding the case of your choice (£940). The cooler @Tetras recommended is fantastic but if you want it all in one order, take the Alpenfohn.

This MB has the Wifi you wanted and I swopped in a 600w Gold Modular PSU. His PSU is much better and you do have the budget to swop out. Just select your case of choice and install the two extra fans in the basket. If you find that you want the GPU, swop out the Ryzen 7900 for a 7600 and get the Asrock RX6600 for approximately the same total

My basket at OcUK:

1 x Kolink Enclave 600W 80 Plus Gold Modular Power Supply (SKU: CA-04A-KK) = £64.99
1 x Kolink AT/ATX "Kettle Plug" 1.2 5A Fuse Meter Mains Cable (SKU: CB-002-KK) = £0.00
1 x AMD Ryzen 9 7900 Twelve Core 5.40GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3DU-AM) = £399.95
1 x AMD - Starfield Ryzen Game Bundle (SKU: DIG-AMD-00523) = £0.00
1 x TeamGroup Vulcan EXPO 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C38 6000MHz Dual Channel Kit - Black (FLABD532G6000HC38ADC01) (SKU: MY-0B2-TG) = £119.99
1 x LG 32" 32GN600-B 2560x1440 VA 165Hz 1ms MBR FreeSync HDR10 Widescreen LED Backlit Gaming Monitor (SKU: MO-161-LG) = £229.99
2 x Kolink Classic HDB PWM Case Fan - 120mm (SKU: FG-00A-KK) = £4.99
1 x MSI Pro B650M-A WIFI (Socket AM5) DDR5 Micro-ATX Motherboard (SKU: MB-378-MS) = £199.99
1 x Alpenfohn Dolomit Advanced 120mm ARGB CPU Cooler - Black (SKU: HS-05V-AL) = £35.00
1 x WD Black SN850X 2TB SSD M.2 2280 NVME PCI-E Gen4 Solid State Drive (WDS200T (SKU: HD-591-WD) = £129.94

Total: £1,189.84 (includes delivery: £0.00)

mickyflinn · 27 Jul 2023 at 15:51

Whatever your build please don't buy a Kolink power supply they only make one decent range PSU that's platinum rated.

You ideally want gold rated with a 7 to 10 year warranty.

Noughtboy · 27 Jul 2023 at 23:45

mickyflinn said:
Whatever your build please don't buy a Kolink power supply they only make one decent range PSU that's platinum rated.

You ideally want gold rated with a 7 to 10 year warranty.

I don't disagree per se but for his uses, it should work fine. It is C-Tier rated and Gold Modular. The 700w version got a "Great Value" award from Techpowerup Kolink 700 Enclave Review but I did mention the Seasonic is a much better choice.

OP just has to decide if we are including a GPU or not or a case or not as that is £260 right there.