Time to build a new PC

[Mathmos2]

Hello Overclockers!

I am looking for some advice for a new build and hoped the fine people here could help me out.

So my original PC I built waaaay back in 2008, then I did a mobo, memory, gfx card, CPU and hard disk upgrade in about 2018...but it's really needs some love.

current set up is -
- Antec 900 gaming case
- Corsair HX 620W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU
- Team Group Dark Pro 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 PC4-25600C16 3200MHz Dual Channel Kit. (since upgraded to 32gb)
- AMD Ryzen 5 Six Core 1600X 4.00GHz (Socket AM4) Processor - Retail
- Gigabyte GA-AB350M-Gaming 3 AMD B350 (Socket AM4) DDR4 Micro ATX Motherboard
- AMD Wraith Spire Ryzen Non RGB AM4 Cooler
- Radeon RX470 gfx card

And it still runs ok-ish...I can play stuff like Baldurs Gate 3 with the odd lag but no real issues.

But I think it's time for a refresh...appreciate some of the components are way old so I am thinking about replacing the lot. Budget would be about £1000 but I am so out of touch I have no real idea where to start on picking components...I would guess getting an off teh shelf PC would be easier but I fancy doing another build.

Can you suggest a good set up?

 

[Gray2233]

What games and resolution/refresh rate do you play at?

You have a few options, but right now is a bit of an iffy time as new GPU's are launching from Nvidia and AMD has more due out next month.

A 5700X3D for around £120-200 would probably be your best option, it's supported by your motherboard (with a bios update) and would leave a healthy amount for the GPU.

The 5070ti launches tomorrow, if you could get one for close to MSRP it would probably be worth it, I'm not sure if you'd need a new PSU or not but you might be alright. That said it might also be massive overkill for your needs, coming from a RX470 you'd see healthy uplift with most entry level gaming cards for under the £400 range.

If opting for a platform upgrade you'd be looking at around £350-400 for entry level AM5, which obviously eats into your GPU budget and tbh they're about on par with the 5700X3D where gaming is concerned.

 

[Tetras]

Budget would be about £1000 but I am so out of touch I have no real idea where to start on picking components...I would guess getting an off teh shelf PC would be easier but I fancy doing another build.

Can you suggest a good set up?

I'd recommend going with the 5700X3D suggested above, a lot more cost effective than a new PC, but if you did want to jump onto AM5.

Note that you can swap out the 7700 for a 7600/7600X or 7500F and get a better graphics card (advisable, especially if you play/plan to play at 1440p or higher), it is just that availability is terrible right now.

CPU cooler is in the 7700's box.

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x AMD Ryzen 7 7700 Eight Core 5.30GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3DV-AM) = £278.99
• 1 x Gigabyte B650 EAGLE AX (Socket AM5) DDR5 ATX Motherboard (SKU: MOT-GIG-03573) = £139.99
• 1 x TeamGroup Vulcan EXPO 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-44800C40 5600MHz Dual Channel Kit - Black (FLABD532G5600HC40BDC01) (SKU: MY-0B3-TG) = £74.99
• 1 x Sparkle Intel ARC B580 GUARDIAN 12GB GDDR6 Graphics Card (SKU: GRA-SPK-03945) = £274.00
• 1 x Team Group MP33 PRO 2TB SSD M.2 2280 NVME PCI-E Gen3 Solid State Drive (SKU: STO-TMG-02682) = £92.98
• 1 x Montech AIR 903 Base Midi-Tower Tempered Glass - Black (SKU: CAS-MON-01227) = £50.00
• 1 x Asus TUF Gaming 850W 80 Plus Gold Power Supply (SKU: CA-060-AS) = £89.98

Total: £1,012.92 (includes delivery: £11.98)​

 

[Mathmos2]

Thanks for the swift replies!

Gaming wise I dip in and out a bit as I have a PS5 I use too, but Baldurs gate has had most time in it recently, but also looking at the new Civ coming out...I don't play any twitch gaming or anything like that. Resolution wise I run 3440 x1440

I am in no rush, so happy to wait if some newer components are coming out...as you can see I don't upgrade often so anything that'll make it last is fine by me

 

[Gray2233]

Thanks for the swift replies!

Gaming wise I dip in and out a bit as I have a PS5 I use too, but Baldurs gate has had most time in it recently, but also looking at the new Civ coming out...I don't play any twitch gaming or anything like that. Resolution wise I run 3440 x1440

I am in no rush, so happy to wait if some newer components are coming out...as you can see I don't upgrade often so anything that'll make it last is fine by me

Games such as Civ (I'm not sure about Civ specifically so it might be worth checking into, but games with 4X elements in general) often really like the X3D chips from AMD, I'd advise grabbing a 5700X3D even if you do wait on a GPU upgrade.

It's not usually so much about the FPS, rather the turn time late game where AI decisions are being calculated.

 

[Mathmos2]

Was playing around with part picker and I can maybe get away with keeping the power supply for now, so this is what I've put together...I thought I would go for the AM5 cpu -

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x AMD Ryzen 7 7700 Eight Core 5.30GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3DV-AM) = £278.99
• 1 x Gigabyte B650 EAGLE AX (Socket AM5) DDR5 ATX Motherboard (SKU: MOT-GIG-03573) = £139.99
• 1 x TeamGroup Vulcan EXPO 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C38 6000MHz Dual Channel Kit - Black (FLABD532G6000HC38ADC01) (SKU: MY-0B2-TG) = £79.99
• 1 x Team Group G50 2TB SSD M.2 2280 NVME PCI-E Gen4 Solid State Drive (SKU: STO-TMG-03132) = £109.99
• 1 x PowerColor Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB GDDR6 PCI-Express Graphics Card (SKU: GRA-PWC-04339) = £449.99
• 1 x Montech X3 Mesh Midi-Tower RGB Tempered Glass - Black (SKU: CA-003-MO) = £49.99

Total: £1,120.93 (includes delivery: £11.98)​

What do you think? Am I missing anything? Any really stupid things I've picked and really shouldn't?!

 

[Craig_d1]

I'd just get a 7600 or 7600x(7600 comes with stock cooler, 7600x you'll need to get one but tad faster(roughly 4%)..7600x about £10 more but looking at £180-£200 (a 7600x is slightly faster than a 5800x3d on a 45 game test..so an excellent cpu in it's own right and best value gaming)
I'd go for 6000C30 ram rather than c38..better timings do help, esp as not a x3d cpu, and is £10 more

put the cpu's below but check elsewhere... just had a check....7600X can be had for £195 elsewhere and the 7600 for £190(for £5 I'd get the 7600x and buy a decent air cooler myself, but you will save going other way)...9600x is £215 same place....only checked 1 place but £210 for 7600x is too much
I think the 7700/7700x/9700x are too expensive in UK..you can import them for a lot less if you look

put freezer 36 in as more than capable, with the dual rgb fan(as you have an rgb case...non rgb fans the cooler is £23)




My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x Corsair Vengeance 32GB EXPO (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C30 6000MHz Dual Channel (SKU: MEM-CRS-02786) = £89.99
• 1 x AMD Ryzen 5 7600 Six Core 5.10GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3DW-AM) = £199.99
• 1 x AMD Ryzen 5 7600X Six Core 5.30GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3DG-AM) = £209.99
• 1 x Arctic Freezer 36 A-RGB 120m Black CPU Cooler - 2x 120mm (SKU: COO-ARC-02418) = £29.99

Total: £529.96 (includes delivery: £0.00)​

 

[Tetras]

1 x Montech X3 Mesh Midi-Tower RGB Tempered Glass - Black (SKU: CA-003-MO) = £49.99

Note that the 903 in my spec has a much bigger GPU length allowance than this case. There's a 903 MAX if you prefer ARGB.