Where am I wrong? - PC Cart advice £2000 or less Budget

Hec · 23 Oct 2024 at 23:27

Hi everyone,

I am not too confident on what I have added to the cart.

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I am a player of strategy / more CPU demanding games (Civilization, Stellaris, Cities Skylines) which I play modded and then suffer from lag due to huge maps. I rarely play online.

Graphic wise I enjoy higher settings a lot, but if having to give up some quality for better performance (loading times, larger maps with more assets etc) I would be okay doing so.

Currently the Cart sits at £1910. This is the near end of my budget. I would not want to go above £2000 but ideally reduce to £1850 or so.

Is there anything wrong or that you would change? I am a bit concerned with cooling.

I've not mounted PCs but I have assembled parts and disassembled parts in the past, so I am not very confident but I still think that I could do it. Any advice is also very appreciated, I understand that most connectors would be included in packages, but since I've never bought them I am not sure of this.

Tetras · 24 Oct 2024 at 01:21

What resolution do you play games at?

Hec said:
I am not too confident on what I have added to the cart.

Is this the spec you have created?

My basket at OcUK:

1 x AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D Sixteen Core 5.70GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3DR-AM) = £599.99
1 x TeamGroup Delta RGB 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C38 6000MHz Dual Channel Ki (SKU: MY-0AT-TG) = £97.99
1 x WD Black SN770 1TB SSD M.2 2280 NVME PCI-E Gen4 Solid State Drive (WDS100T3X0E) (SKU: HD-58F-WD) = £62.99
1 x Gigabyte Z790 Gaming X AX (LGA 1700) DDR5 ATX Motherboard (SKU: MB-5BM-GI) = £179.99
1 x Kolink Regulator 1000W 80 Plus Gold Gen5 Modular Power Supply (SKU: CA-07W-KK) = £124.99
1 x Sapphire Radeon RX 7900 XTX Pulse 24GB GDDR6 PCI-Express Graphics Card (SKU: GX-3A5-SP) = £799.99
1 x Kolink Observatory Lite ARGB Midi Tower Gaming Case - White (SKU: CA-06V-KK) = £44.99
1 x AMD Ryzen - Space Marine & Unknown 9 Awakening Games Bundle (SKU: DIG-AMD-02908) = £0.00
1 x Kolink AT/ATX "Kettle Plug" 1.2 5A Fuse Meter Mains Cable (SKU: CB-002-KK) = £0.00
1 x AMD Radeon - Space Marine & Unknown 9 Awakening Games Bundle (SKU: DIG-AMD-02939) = £0.00

Total: £1,910.93 (includes delivery: £0.00)

Hec · 24 Oct 2024 at 06:13

Hi Tetras,

I play on 4K (TV monitor) so resolution I am not sure as I don't have access to the pc anymore but I would say around 3840 x 2160

Yes I have added those Specs.

freddie64 · 24 Oct 2024 at 06:51

Few of things that stand out.

Motherboard is Intel and CPU is AMD, so that's a no go.
The WD SN770 has problems with the new Windows 24H2, so would change that to a maybe a Crucial T500.
https://community.wd.com/t/windows-24h2-wd-blue-screens/297867
Kolink PSU is not well regarded.

Will leave the respec to Tetras as i don't know what is best for 4K.

ED209 · 24 Oct 2024 at 06:52

First thing I have noticed is that you have picked an Intel motherboard (Socket LGA1700\Z790) with an AMD Processor (Socket AM5) so this would need changing.

I would also replace the PSU for a better brand than Kolink, you should also not need the £3 kettle lead as PSUs come with 1.

If you are modding Games is 32GB enough? How much ram do you currently have\use during gaming?

Hec · 24 Oct 2024 at 07:29

ED209 said:
First thing I have noticed is that you have picked an Intel motherboard (Socket LGA1700\Z790) with an AMD Processor (Socket AM5) so this would need changing.

I would also replace the PSU for a better brand than Kolink, you should also not need the £3 kettle lead as PSUs come with 1.

If you are modding Games is 32GB enough? How much ram do you currently have\use during gaming?

Thank you, I didn't realise the different CPU / motherboard socket, glad you highlighted!
I need to learn a lot so thank you.

I had 32GB DDR4 (8gb x 4 old units) so I think that I would be okay with 16gb x 2 DDR5 for now and upgrade later on if needed. I like to mod a lot but I would think that It is better for me to wait to expand my RAM if I can put that money towards other components.

Any suggestions for PSUs? My last one blew up (hence me here) but my father had done overclocking and it had +8 years plus international travel (that didn't go well) I can't remember the manufacturer but I think that It was a gold PSU, I can check once I am back home.

Ill ensure that the motherboards match.

Hec · 24 Oct 2024 at 07:47

Is this better?

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www.overclockers.co.uk

I have changed the motherboard, ssd and PSU as recommended.

I am not sure of the PSU, is this better?

Hec · 24 Oct 2024 at 07:48

My basket at OcUK:

1 x AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D Sixteen Core 5.70GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3DR-AM) = £599.99
1 x TeamGroup Delta RGB 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C38 6000MHz Dual Channel Ki (SKU: MY-0AT-TG) = £97.99
1 x Sapphire Radeon RX 7900 XTX Pulse 24GB GDDR6 PCI-Express Graphics Card (SKU: GX-3A5-SP) = £799.99
1 x Kolink Observatory Lite ARGB Midi Tower Gaming Case - White (SKU: CA-06V-KK) = £44.99
1 x AMD Ryzen - Space Marine & Unknown 9 Awakening Games Bundle (SKU: DIG-AMD-02908) = £0.00
1 x AMD Radeon - Space Marine & Unknown 9 Awakening Games Bundle (SKU: DIG-AMD-02939) = £0.00
1 x Asus TUF Gaming A620-Pro WIFI (Socket AM5) DDR5 ATX Motherboard (SKU: MOT-ASU-01162) = £139.99
1 x Samsung 980 Pro 1TB M.2 2280 PCI-e 4.0 x4 NVMe Solid State Drive (SKU: HD-248-SA) = £109.99
1 x Phanteks AMP GH 1000W 80PLUS Platinum ATX Power Supply Modular - White (SKU: POW-PHK-02522) = £138.95

Total: £1,931.89 (includes delivery: £0.
00)

mickyflinn · 24 Oct 2024 at 07:48

Hec said:
Any suggestions for PSUs? My last one blew up (hence me here) but my father had done overclocking and it had +8 years plus international travel (that didn't go well) I can't remember the manufacturer but I think that It was a gold PSU, I can check once I am back home.

Ill ensure that the motherboards match.

Not much in stock at Overclockers at the moment.

Phanteks AMP GH 1000W 80PLUS Platinum ATX Power Supply Modular - White

Order Phanteks AMP GH 1000W 80PLUS Platinum ATX Power Supply Modular - White now online and benefit from fast delivery.

www.overclockers.co.uk

You can get the 1200W NZXT C1200, PCIe 5.0 for around the same price that reviews well.

Where's you CPU cooler ?

mickyflinn · 24 Oct 2024 at 07:58

Also if you wish to post your basket use the bb code button near the bottom of the basket page and a pop up will appear .

Copy and then paste the context of the box here and post it .

Tetras · 24 Oct 2024 at 14:09

Hec said:
I had 32GB DDR4 (8gb x 4 old units) so I think that I would be okay with 16gb x 2 DDR5 for now and upgrade later on if needed. I like to mod a lot but I would think that It is better for me to wait to expand my RAM if I can put that money towards other components.

Your mileage may vary, but based on past history we've seen of running 4 sticks of DDR5, I would not do this unless you absolutely HAVE to. It is simpler to just buy 32GBx2 right now and your budget is big enough to accommodate that. Alternatively, a middle ground is to buy 2x24(48GB), though you need to check the board has support for it because those modules didn't exist widely when AM5 was released.

Hec said:
My basket at OcUK:

1 x AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D Sixteen Core 5.70GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3DR-AM) = £599.99

1 x TeamGroup Delta RGB 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C38 6000MHz Dual Channel Ki (SKU: MY-0AT-TG) = £97.99

1 x Sapphire Radeon RX 7900 XTX Pulse 24GB GDDR6 PCI-Express Graphics Card (SKU: GX-3A5-SP) = £799.99

1 x Kolink Observatory Lite ARGB Midi Tower Gaming Case - White (SKU: CA-06V-KK) = £44.99

1 x AMD Ryzen - Space Marine & Unknown 9 Awakening Games Bundle (SKU: DIG-AMD-02908) = £0.00

1 x AMD Radeon - Space Marine & Unknown 9 Awakening Games Bundle (SKU: DIG-AMD-02939) = £0.00

1 x Asus TUF Gaming A620-Pro WIFI (Socket AM5) DDR5 ATX Motherboard (SKU: MOT-ASU-01162) = £139.99

1 x Samsung 980 Pro 1TB M.2 2280 PCI-e 4.0 x4 NVMe Solid State Drive (SKU: HD-248-SA) = £109.99

1 x Phanteks AMP GH 1000W 80PLUS Platinum ATX Power Supply Modular - White (SKU: POW-PHK-02522) = £138.95

Total: £1,931.89 (includes delivery: £0.
00)

When did you intend to buy your PC? The 9800X3D is supposed to be out soon and based on what we saw with the 7000 series, you really get little benefit in the majority of games from having more than 8 cores:

mickyflinn mentioned this already, but did you forgot a CPU cooler?

This is what I'd look at:

- 2TB storage, 1TB really won't last long, especially if you like downloading mods!
- A better motherboard with PCI-E 5.0 & USB4.
- 64GB of memory from the start.
- I swapped out the case to get more GPU clearance, especially with a big card like the XTX. You could also look at Antec's C5 or Phanteks XT Ultra, which like the Lian Li 216 come with the fans you'll need.

You can swap out the 9700X for the 7800X3D (if the price drops back down) or the 9800X3D, when it is released (the latest I heard was in a few weeks).

My basket at OcUK:

1 x AMD Ryzen 7 9700X Eight Core 5.50GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: PRO-AMD-02676) = £308.99
1 x AMD Ryzen - Space Marine & Unknown 9 Awakening Games Bundle (SKU: DIG-AMD-02908) = £0.00
1 x Asrock X870 Pro RS WIFI (Socket AM5) DDR5 ATX Motherboard (SKU: MOT-ASR-03308) = £219.99
1 x Kingston FURY Beast 64GB (2x32GB) DDR5 PC5-44800C40 5600MHz Dual Channel Kit (KF556C40BBK2-64) (SKU: MY-29W-KS) = £158.99
1 x Sapphire Radeon RX 7900 XTX Pulse 24GB GDDR6 PCI-Express Graphics Card (SKU: GX-3A5-SP) = £799.99
1 x AMD Radeon - Space Marine & Unknown 9 Awakening Games Bundle (SKU: DIG-AMD-02939) = £0.00
1 x Samsung 990 Pro 2TB M.2 2280 PCI-e 4.0 x4 NVMe 1.3c Solid State Drive (SKU: HD-24R-SA) = £149.99
1 x Lian Li Lancool 216 RGB Mid-tower PC case - Black (SKU: CA-7B8-LL) = £109.99
1 x Phanteks AMP GH 1000W 80PLUS Platinum ATX Power Supply Modular - Black (SKU: POW-PHK-02521) = £128.99
1 x Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE CPU Cooler - 120mm (SKU: COO-TLR-02665) = £29.99

Total: £1,914.91 (includes delivery: £7.99)

By the way, since you play very specific games, so if you haven't I'd do a quick browse for any issues with AMD cards.

A recent X870 review/roundup:

Review of the cooler:

Review of the case:

Hec · 24 Oct 2024 at 19:45

Thank you so much for the help everyone.

I wonder, shouldn't I use an AMD cooler for the CPU?

Tetras · 24 Oct 2024 at 19:49

Hec said:
Thank you so much for the help everyone.

I wonder, shouldn't I use an AMD cooler for the CPU?

What do you mean by "an AMD cooler"? There isn't one in the box, if that's what you mean.

Hec · 24 Oct 2024 at 19:52

So Overclockers seem to categorize CPU coolers under Intel and AMD ( I thought that it wouldn't matter if they are the same size) so I am not sure of why they divide them

Here Intel

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/air-cooling/coolers/cpu-air-coolers/intel-air-coolers

And here AMD

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/air-cooling/coolers/cpu-air-coolers/amd-air-coolers

Is there any reason for this?

Tetras · 24 Oct 2024 at 19:54

Hec said:
So Overclockers seem to categorize CPU coolers under Intel and AMD ( I thought that it wouldn't matter if they are the same size) so I am not sure of why they divide them

Oh, it doesn't matter, just make sure the cooler you buy supports AM5 (the peerless assassin does, quite a few people on here have them). Most aftermarket coolers are universal (i.e. have brackets to support both Intel and AMD sockets), though a few Intel/AMD only coolers do exist.