System Spec Check, Please.

[arc@css]

Hi,

I'd appreciate any feedback on the following system. I use it for Adobe CC - editing/encoding, graphic design work, some gaming related content creation, recording gameplay, and general day to day usage. I'm looking to get a very good CPU with plenty of memory as I don't upgrade very often at all. I don't have a set budget but if I can save money somewhere then all the better. Thanks in advance!

I don't need a PSU as I've only recently bought a Seasonic 750w unit. I'm not sure if it's worth me going to an NVMe drive for the OS, and I'm open to new case suggestions.

My basket at Overclockers UK:

• 1 x Gigabyte X570 AORUS MASTER (AMD AM4) DDR4 X570 Chipset ATX Motherboard= £389.99
• 1 x AMD Ryzen 9 3900X Twelve Core 4.6GHz (Socket AM4) Processor - Retail= £559.99
• 2 x Corsair Vengeance LPX Black 16GB (2*8GB) 3600 MHz AMD Ryzen Tuned DDR4 Memory Kit= £128.99
• 1 x Corsair Force MP600 series 1TB NVMe PCIe Gen4 M.2 Solid State Drive (CSSD-F1000GBMP600)= £259.99
• 1 x Samsung 2TB 860 EVO SSD 2.5" SATA 6Gbps 64 Layer 3D V-NAND Solid State Drive (MZ-76E2T0B/EU)= £281.99
• 1 x Corsair Obsidian 750D Airflow Full Tower Case - Black (CC-9011078-WW)= £144.95
• 1 x Steelseries Rival 710 RGB Optical USB Gaming Mouse (62334)= £79.99

Total: £1,974.88 (includes shipping: £0.00)​

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[arc@css]

I'll look at some others.

Spec possibly changing a bit in other aspects as well.

 

[arc@css]

Bloody phone... I hate touchscreens.

 

[arc@css]

Will you be re-using a GPU from another build?

Yeah, for now at least I'm going to stick with the 980Ti. It will be interesting to see how much it benefits from a faster CPU. I reckon my 6600k holds it back a touch.

 

[arc@css]

do you need full tower? what you propose will go in a mid tower

I suppose it's simply because I like to have plenty of room when building/performing maintenance. In the past, I've found some mid-towers to be a little too small for comfort.

Having said that I am a bit tempted by this case since eventually, I'd like to make this an AMD build:

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/nzxt-h700i-midi-tower-gaming-case-black-red-ca-18q-nx.html

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Currently, the updated spec looks like this. I'm not sure whether to go for the Asus mobo instead of the Gigabyte one, both look to be excellent according to the HUb review. I'm still not sure about the case and I've now managed to source the memory and part of my additional storage from somewhere else.

As far as the CPU cooler goes, I might be able to reuse my Noctua though it looks like I'll need to contact them for the bracket. Alternatively, I suppose there's an updated version of the same cooler or something like the be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 to add to the mix.

What's the go-to for quality paste these days, Thermal Grizzly?

My basket at Overclockers UK:

• 1 x Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (AMD AM4) DDR4 X570 Chipset ATX Motherboard= £389.99
• 1 x Gigabyte X570 AORUS MASTER (AMD AM4) DDR4 X570 Chipset ATX Motherboard= £389.99
• 1 x Asus External Slimline DVD Re-Writer, USB, 8x, Black, Cyberlink Power2Go 7 - Black (SDRW-08D2S-U LIT= £26.99
• 1 x Intel 660P 1TB M.2-2280 PCI-e 3.0 x 4 NVMe QLC 3D NAND Solid State Drive (SSDPEKNW010T8X1)= £119.99
• 1 x AMD Ryzen 9 3900X Twelve Core 4.6GHz (Socket AM4) Processor - Retail= £559.99

Total: £1,498.05 (includes shipping: £11.10)


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[arc@css]

what do you specifically need (besides epeen) from such expensive boards? the asus x570 tuf wifi will run a 3950x easily...

Lower VRM thermals/overall cooling? I'm more than happy to get something cheaper but I didn't think running a 'lower-end' board with something like a 3900/3950X would be ideal.

sabrent rocket 1tb is cheaper and faster and has better rated drive endurance

I didn't know that, I'll take a look. Ta.

holy bloody markup lolprice...hope you're scouring through the net to get a better price

I sure am. I may even drop in a 3700X (since they are at least in stock) and wait until prices/stock alter.

if you really really have nothing better to waste your money on, then yes. good thermal pastes are within a couple of degrees of each other
(heck even toothpaste does a decent job lol)

I didn't know that was even an option. Seeing as paste, for the most part, is cheap anyway I thought I may as well choose a good one.

 

[arc@css]

no kidding. skip to 4:10

Cheers, I'll take a look.

i'm guessing you seen this already skip to 14:20
£150 extra worth for 18c difference with zero airflow? in reality in a well ventilated case with good airflow, the difference isn't going to be as dramatic

Yeah, I've seen that video.

What sort of board would you be looking at for the Ryzen 9?

 

[arc@css]

Ok, thanks. I'll check out some reviews of it. I seem to recall Buildzoid praising it.

 

[arc@css]

Cheers.

 

[arc@css]

Interesting. Like the Asus TUF Gaming X570-Plus, the Prime X570-P also looks pretty good. Quite impressed by those.

I suppose features like clear CMOS or flashback are reserved for the higher-end boards, which is understandable.

 

[arc@css]

Note there are WiFi and non-WiFi versions.

The one with WiFi seems better value in my opinion.
Asus TUF Gaming X570-Plus WiFi (AMD AM4) DDR4 X570 Chipset ATX Motherboard
Pity it doesn't have flashback button though.

Yeah, I guess I originally specced a higher-end board due to the additional features but the Prime and TUF are both tempting. I suppose another aspect to my reasoning was that if I got a board like the Gigabyte Aoros Master, then I could, if need be, temporarily drop in any Ryzen CPU (due to shortages) with the capacity to upgrade to anything later on. I'll probably end up saving money and going for one of the mid-range Asus models instead, though.

 

[arc@css]

I'd prefer the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite over the Asus Prime X570-P at that price range because the Elite has Q-Flash Plus. The Elite can be found for under £190 right now as well.

I was considering that one too, despite its slightly disappointing temps under load.