Spec me a system?

Meddling-Monk · 7 Apr 2017 at 08:08

Unsure if this is the right forum to ask or if it should be in another.

I'm looking for a system for one of my kids for general use and work, but I'm looking for something that fulfills the following technical key areas if possible, and I'm not certain which system or build is the one I should be aiming towards.

1. Has an AIO Water Cooling or custom with minimal maintenance (as I won't necessarily be there to sort things out for them) but can keep the system cool and most importantly, quiet (family has very sensitive ears). Heatsink and Fan is fine, but needs to be easily cleanable (My knowledge of suitable HSF setups is at least 6 years out of date, so any recommendations would be good).

2. Can fit in at least 16GB, but I'm more looking at 32GB RAM. As interim upgrades aren't in the plan, it's a one time grab to last a few years before the next one. The extra RAM is for when they eventually add more software and run more simultaneously. Capacity over speed or timing.

3. SSD Boot. 512GB. Preferred.

4. Discrete GPU desired but not requirement. (Just want something that can be used in case it's ever wanted, so something really cheap like a RX 460 or something)

5. mATX or ATX is fine.

6. Don't need Monitor, Speakers, Mice, etc.

Budget? £800-1100.

Thanks all. Let me know if I should provide more info to help narrow a setup down. Or whether I should go and build this myself (can do that no prob too, just prefer a pre-fab so I don't have to go and put things together and forget something that I need to re-order. Kids aren't exactly close by).

Gibliotech · 11 Apr 2017 at 10:55

Maybe something along these lines as an initial idea? our audio systems are designed for silent operation, you can customise the options however you would prefer or if there's something you want to change that isn't an option you can call the customer service team and discuss the change with them

My basket at Overclockers UK:

1 x OcUK Symphonia Silent Audio Workstation - Intel Core i5 6600 3.3GHz (3.0GHz Turbo) = £961.45
- Monitor Outputs:Unwanted
- Optical Drive (Please Check Case Support):OcUK 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM
- Additional Connectivity:Unwanted
- Case:NZXT H230 Classic Silent Midtower Case Black
- Memory:Team Group Vulcan T-Force 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 PC4-19200C14 2400MHz Dual Channel Kit - Grey (TLGD432G2
- WIFI:Unwanted
- Primary Solid State / Hard Drive:Kingston 480GB SSDNow UV400 Drive SATA 6Gb/s 2.5" (7mm height) Solid State Hard Drive - (SUV400S37/4
- Secondary Storage Drive:Unwanted
- Operating System:Microsoft Windows 10 64-Bit DVD - OEM (MS-KW9-00139)

Total: £975.55
(includes shipping: £14.10)

mistersprinkles · 12 Apr 2017 at 17:13

I'm looking for a system for one of my kids for general use and work, but I'm looking for something that fulfills the following technical key areas if possible, and I'm not certain which system or build is the one I should be aiming towards.

1. Has an AIO Water Cooling or custom with minimal maintenance (as I won't necessarily be there to sort things out for them) but can keep the system cool and most importantly, quiet (family has very sensitive ears). Heatsink and Fan is fine, but needs to be easily cleanable (My knowledge of suitable HSF setups is at least 6 years out of date, so any recommendations would be good).

Just run the machine under the sink for a few minutes once a month

2. Can fit in at least 16GB, but I'm more looking at 32GB RAM. As interim upgrades aren't in the plan, it's a one time grab to last a few years before the next one. The extra RAM is for when they eventually add more software and run more simultaneously. Capacity over speed or timing.

3. SSD Boot. 512GB. Preferred.

4. Discrete GPU desired but not requirement. (Just want something that can be used in case it's ever wanted, so something really cheap like a RX 460 or something)

5. mATX or ATX is fine.

6. Don't need Monitor, Speakers, Mice, etc.

Yes but do you need rats?

No but seriously though, get these people a few cans of canned air and explain how to use it properly and it'll be fine. I would suggest an air cooler as a dead fan is easy to swap but a dead pump means a huge expense for a new AIO. The rest of your choices look good. I suggest you look at some OCUK prebuilds. Honestly "general Use" PCs dont need 16GB let alone 32GB and they won't for quite some time. There are still sheisty business machines being leased out with 4GB of RAM at the low end.

Meddling-Monk · 12 Apr 2017 at 21:35

@Gibliotech

Thanks, that sounds exactly what we're after. I'll prob need to make a few more detailed enquiries on a few things but sounds like the one we're after.

@mistersprinkles

Hmmm, you do have a point regarding if something goes wrong. Also would make it difficult to even start up without possibly frying the CPU if the pump does go. I'll see how everything goes with the kids being given a system to take apart and clean out and see how they handle it. Will take it from there on what to go with.

Thanks again both of you.

mistersprinkles · 13 Apr 2017 at 19:49

Well you shouldn't ever really take anything apart unless you have a component failure. You can clean a computer thoroughly without disassembly using a leaf blower or air compressor with water trap (must have water trap!).
If you use the canned air that can take a little longer but it can still be done. There is also a product called a "DataVac" which OCUK probably sell. The price fluctuates but you should be able to find it for 60 pounds or less. This is like compressed air but you plug it into mains and it has much more kick to it.

The only time you would remove an air heatsink would be if it was in a smoker's home where the dust inside the machine congealed and you had a situation where the power delivery components that are obscured from view by the heatsink were totally caked in congealed dust and tar and/or if this was happening in the fins of the heatsink and no amount of compressed air could dislodge it.

In that kind of situation you want to remove the heatsink, physically clean the gunk from the board with a brush designed for cleaning sensitive electronics (OCUK sells this) and as far as the heatsink, use a brush, or in the case of very stubborn gunk, use the pressure wash setting on your showerhead in your bathroom to blast the gunk out, then blow dry the heatsink thoroughly and make sure it is 110% dry before reassembly.

I have used all these methods myself with good results. I had to blast my NHD14 back in summer of 2016 under the showerhead because the gunk had gotten out of control (I smoke).