Spec Check for Build for my Dad

Lee · 21 Apr 2025 at 12:38

Hi, any feedback on the build spec below ? Probably overkill, but want it to last a while (5 years plus). Replacing an old i5 6th Gen machine before Win 10 goes end of support. Use case is web browsing, spreadsheets, Youtube (no gaming). He wanted a smaller case, hence the choice, but never done a smaller build before.

My basket at OcUK:

1 x Kolink KLM-003 Micro-ATX Case - Black (SKU: CA-054-KK) = £27.95
1 x be quiet! Pure Rock Slim 2 CPU Cooler - 92mm (SKU: HS-01S-BQ) = £24.95
1 x AMD Ryzen 5 9600X Six Core 5.40GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: PRO-AMD-02677) = £239.98
1 x AMD Ryzen - Monster Hunter Wilds Game Bundle (SKU: DIG-AMD-04648) = £0.00
1 x Asrock B850M-X WiFi(Socket AM5) DDR5 mATX Motherboard (SKU: MOT-ASR-04012) = £125.00
1 x Kolink Enclave 500W 80 Plus Gold Modular Power Supply (SKU: CA-049-KK) = £59.98
1 x Kolink AT/ATX "Kettle Plug" 1.2 5A Fuse Meter Mains Cable (SKU: CB-002-KK) = £0.00
1 x Crucial Pro OC 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C38 6400MHz UDIMM Dual Channel Kit - White (SKU: MEM-CRU-03386) = £98.00
1 x KIOXIA EXCERIA PLUS G3 1TB SSD NVME M.2 2280 Solid State Drive (SKU: STO-TSH-01120) = £48.94

Total: £624.80 (includes delivery: £0.00)

Tetras · 21 Apr 2025 at 13:28

An alternative build:

My basket at OcUK:

1 x AMD Ryzen 5 8500G Six Core 3.5GHz (Socket AM5) APU with Radeon 740M Graphics (SKU: PRO-AMD-01798) = £128.99
1 x Gigabyte B850M DS3H (Socket AM5) DDR5 Micro ATX Motherboard (SKU: MOT-GIG-03862) = £139.99
1 x Crucial Pro 48GB (2x24GB) DDR5 PC5-44800C46 5600MHz Dual Channel Kit (SKU: MEM-CRU-01086) = £110.99
1 x (unchanged) KIOXIA EXCERIA PLUS G3 1TB SSD NVME M.2 2280 Solid State Drive (SKU: STO-TSH-01120) = £48.95
1 x (unchanged) Kolink KLM-003 Micro-ATX Case - Black (SKU: CA-054-KK) = £27.94
1 x Phanteks AMP GH 750W 80PLUS Gold ATX Power Supply Modular - Black (SKU: POW-PHK-02517) = £84.95

1 x (unchanged) be quiet! Pure Rock Slim 2 CPU Cooler - 92mm (SKU: HS-01S-BQ) = £24.95

Total: £574.75 (includes delivery: £7.99)

Reasons:
CPU: is fairly powerful for what it is and very efficient, especially at idle and light load in comparison to "full-fat" CPUs.

There's a review here:

AMD Ryzen 5 8500G Review - Zen 4 + Zen 4c Tested

The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G is a highly affordable Socket AM5 processor. It features the Phoenix 2 core, which combines the Zen 4 and Zen 4c architecture, for improved energy efficiency. In our review we test gaming performance with both integrated graphics and a discrete graphics card.

www.techpowerup.com

The 9600X in your spec is much more powerful if there's any serious work on the PC.

PSU: this is expensive for the budget, but it has an 8 year warranty, an extended passive mode and can support the latest graphics cards (..you never know).

Motherboard: it has PCI-E 5.0 (not that important in this case, especially since the 8500G doesn't support it) and 2x DP and 1x HDMI (not sure if multiple screens is an issue here).

Memory: for this kind of usage I'd expect the memory speed won't matter at all, so I went for capacity instead. These sticks are also JEDEC spec, so don't even need to set XMP/EXPO in the BIOS.

You might want to consider a better case, it shouldn't be an issue for the build in your spec, but 150mm CPU cooler height is quite restrictive and the fan mounts are rather dated.

Lee · 21 Apr 2025 at 15:17

Thanks Tetras, will take a look at that CPU. For the case, was just looking for something cheap, open to suggestions

tamzzy · 21 Apr 2025 at 15:21

Lee said:
Replacing an old i5 6th Gen machine before Win 10 goes end of support. Use case is web browsing, spreadsheets, Youtube (no gaming).

honestly, i wouldn't bother with a new machine if the current PC is up to the task
You can install Win 11 on the PC by downloading the Win 11 ISO and using Rufus to bypass the checks.

Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

Rufus: Create bootable USB drives the easy way

rufus.ie

nlel1975 · 21 Apr 2025 at 19:10

Could get a nice and very small Mac mini M4 for £539 with a 10 core CPU performs roughly the same as the 9600x. It only has USB-C Thunderbolt ports, three at the back are up to 40 Gbps and the front two 10 Gbps. Only top end PC motherboards have 40 Gbps USB 4 type C ports.

Only thing is it comes with 16GB RAM instead of 32GB you were looking at, but then most basic laptops only have 16GB RAM so it's sufficent. Also only has a 256GB internal NVME but easy to add external storage. I boot mine off a 1.92TB NVMe in an external enclosure.

Saves you the cost of a Windows 11 key as it comes with macOS pre installed. Way smaller than a PC built into a microATX case.

Lee · 22 Apr 2025 at 22:19

tamzzy said:
honestly, i wouldn't bother with a new machine if the current PC is up to the task
You can install Win 11 on the PC by downloading the Win 11 ISO and using Rufus to bypass the checks.

Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

Rufus: Create bootable USB drives the easy way

rufus.ie

Thanks Tamzzy, his current PC is starting to show it's age and is quite sluggish. Win 11 will make that worse.

Lee · 22 Apr 2025 at 22:20

nlel1975 said:
Could get a nice and very small Mac mini M4 for £539 with a 10 core CPU performs roughly the same as the 9600x. It only has USB-C Thunderbolt ports, three at the back are up to 40 Gbps and the front two 10 Gbps. Only top end PC motherboards have 40 Gbps USB 4 type C ports.

Only thing is it comes with 16GB RAM instead of 32GB you were looking at, but then most basic laptops only have 16GB RAM so it's sufficent. Also only has a 256GB internal NVME but easy to add external storage. I boot mine off a 1.92TB NVMe in an external enclosure.

Saves you the cost of a Windows 11 key as it comes with macOS pre installed. Way smaller than a PC built into a microATX case.

Thanks nlel1975, at 72 he's got no chance of picking up macOS and I can't support him with it either.

tamzzy · 22 Apr 2025 at 22:25

Lee said:
Thanks Tamzzy, his current PC is starting to show it's age and is quite sluggish. Win 11 will make that worse.

does it have a ssd?
would you consider a preowned ex-corporate pc?

Quartz · 22 Apr 2025 at 22:59

Lee said:
Use case is web browsing, spreadsheets, Youtube (no gaming).

Take a look at the NUC boxes.

nlel1975 · 23 Apr 2025 at 12:28

Lee said:
Thanks nlel1975, at 72 he's got no chance of picking up macOS and I can't support him with it either.

Doesn’t take a genius to operate a Mac. What’s he use browser and email? You can get Microsoft Edge for Mac if he doesn’t want to use safari, then it’s just a case of setting up his mail in the mail app or log in with edge like I do.

You could probably order one from the rain forrest and return it if he can’t get along with it.

Edit: Another option would be to visit an Apple store where he can try one first hand. You also get 90 days of complimentary support with purchase which might come in handy for your dad if he’s not very tech savvy.

See here for more info…

https://support.apple.com/complimentary