Parting out a PC build

[cube]

Overclocking AMD motherboards can normally also deal with XMP memory.

Ryzen likes certain characteristics of RAM more.

It is better to buy RAM after you have chosen a motherboard.

If you go to the motherboard support page, you will find lists of supported processors and validated memory.

If a CPU is not supported since the first BIOS for a motherboard hardware revision you might need another processor to update it.

Online sellers might not state the hardware revision, much less the BIOS version installed.

The package should normally indicate the hardware revision, but maybe not the BIOS version.

New BIOS versions can add or improve RAM support.

It seems the GPU shortages are localized.

 

[slitherjef]

Here is the board I've been waiting for (i7 build I initially started) that's pretty much put my whole idea on hold and has me looking at alternatives like ryzen.

Most of the parts in my list reference the i7 7700 build.


ASUS ROG STRIX Z270E GAMING LGA1151 DDR4 DP HDMI DVI M.2 ATX Motherboard with onboard AC Wifi and USB 3.1


So... For the i7 build I need a plan b for a motherboard. I'm not really concerned with over clocking.

I would do ryzen 7 1700x but need help picking a motherboard and ram and hope it doesn't need a bios update right out of the box. And find a suitable nice GPU to toss in the cart with things.

Another option is to back burner the build for a bit?

 

[cube]

Ryzen 7 is the platform launch chip, so normally all are supported since the first revision.

I think there was only one motherboard at launch whose BIOS was so broken that they had to be RMA'd.

Even if the channel now has motherboards with acceptable later revisions (there was very little stock at launch in general), you probably want to install the latest improvements.

 

[slitherjef]

Ok, I *think* I may have found a motherboard that is in stock on Newegg. It is a ryzen board. It's a little late in the day to pop parts in the basket and order but that gives me a bit of time to research ram and other parts. Probably need to toss a copy of windows 10pro in the cart as well...

ASRock X370 Taichi AM4 AMD Promontory X370 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.1 USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

 

[cube]

Really, I don't know how you can have trouble finding parts beside certain GPUs.

 

[slitherjef]

EDIT:

I erased most of this post from this morning as it was a bit irrelevant. Everything went through with the order and my new Ryzen motherboard is due in on the 11th I think from new egg.

Now comes the expensive stuff

 

[slitherjef]

Any suggestions on a mid range video card? Maybe in the 500$ range? Want something that will hold me over until the next gen cards (Vega) come out but will do a decent job with GTA and my work flow. 1080p gaming is fine until higher resolution becomes more mainstream and a bit easier on the wallet.

I'm leaning towards Nvidia

 

[cube]

Follow up to the previous video:

 

[576316]

You might struggle to get hold of a GPU at this time, due to a spike in the market because mining has just come back into demand. Though I think the only card that's properly difficult to find at the minute is the GTX 1070 and 1080, there's been some shortages of 1060s but I think they're still quite available..

Dunno much about AMD cards, or if they're typically used for mining. I just know that I'm glad I did my build in March and not right now!

Also, congrats on your new build - when it's finished. I wish more people would stop forgiving Apple for their crappy output and price gouging, and realise you can build a much better, much better value machine. Provided you don't really need macOS - which some do. My build came out of me being unhappy with my slowing mid-2012 rMBP 15" and I wasn't prepared to fork out for another Mac because I needed something for game development, and I'm using a few Windows-only programs at the minute (for university).

 

[cube]

I have seen shortages only of R9;RX 460(4GiB),470,480; RX 550(4GiB),560(4GiB),570,580; GTX 1060,1070.

GTX 900 series can be found fairly priced used because they are not good at mining.

 

[slitherjef]

Just checked out some gpus on Amazon. It's a long wait on some...

My motherboard is due in tomorrow. I haven't ordered the CPU or ram yet. Since I need a GPU to run the build, I may want to aquire one first before the rest of the parts.

May have to resort to a plan b for a working PC build or draw this one out for a while and hope all the current parts work by the time I get everything.

I kind of picked a bad time to start a build

 

[cube]

You say you want to spend $500 on a GPU. I think it is shopping as usual for GTX 1080. They are not good buys for mining.

 

[slitherjef]

Okay things are starting to piece together, my motherboard just came in, now just a few more things needed before I can start the actual build.

CPU and Ram ordered this afternoon, I opted for a Ryzen 7 1700x since Amazon offered it to me for 299. Ram I only did 16gb, Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 DRAM 3200MHz C16 Desktop Memory Kit - Black (CMK16GX4M2B3200C16)

This leaves just the video card and I am thinking on:
EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 GAMING, 8GB GDDRX, DX12 OSD Support (PXOC) Graphics Card 08G-P4-5180-KR

other suggestions are welcome also, even AMD cards

A CPU cooler (fan) and I am still looking into my options and suggestions are welcome.

Windows 10 64bit retail box (200 bucks?). Barring that, I may find a live linux ISO to boot from a thumbdrive with for now to make sure the thing will work

Mouse and keyboard. Probably a blu-ray drive / burner.

I think that is pretty much it. Then I can start the build

 

[cube]

I like this cooler to blow towards the VRM. You need also the free NM-AM4 mounting kit.

But I haven't seen how well it works with Ryzen.

http://noctua.at/en/products/cpu-cooler-retail/nh-c14s/comp

Pre-AM4 review:

 

[cube]

Some good news about the X299 saga:

 

[slitherjef]

The build is still in progress, the last of the major components have finally been ordered and should be in next week.

I do have a few other add ons in mind like a 2tb SSD for a main storage device and use the 3tb HDD I already have as a back up storage.

The other question is windows 10

Should I do home or pro? I'll want to be able to play Blu Ray movies and DVDs.

 

[slitherjef]

So the last of the major hardware came in yesterday, now I just need to get my hands on windows (and mouse and keyboard) find some time and start the build and hope all my components are good and I can remember how to put a PC together.

I am still thinking on adding a 2tb SSD to the build as my main storage drive but that can come a bit down the line

 

[cube]

You could also get a 2TB 7200RPM 3.5" FireCuda hybrid drive.

 

[cube]

It is very difficult to find PC cases with USB 3.1 and two 5.25" external bays.

Not to mention USB-C and 3 of those bays.

 

[Rockadile]

I would get Nvidia cards if you're just using Adobe software. That 1080 card is pretty much top of the line. I'd get a 1060/1070 unless you are gaming at 1440p / 4k. 1070 is in the $500 range.

Capture One uses OpenCL which would work better on AMD cards. If you don't use any programs with OpenCL than no point in AMD cards right now.
Vega cards will only be sold in bundles when it first come out to deter currency miners.

 

[cube]

AMD cards are usually cheaper than a comparable NVIDIA alternative. When they are at normal price. I think that still means RX 560 and lower right now.

You may have to pay quite a bit more to get an NVIDIA card with enough VRAM for all your use cases.

 

[cube]

I find only five 3D monitors higher than 1080p and they are all G-Sync.

 

[cube]

I found no USB-C/Gen 2 front panels with card reader (and hopefully eSATA, FireWire, ...).

I will look for a case with at least 4x 5.25" external bays in case I want to also add a 2U fan controller instead of 1U.

 

[slitherjef]

Got the thing built! Took a little longer then I was hoping but it's built.

And it posted right up first go! Never had that happen before. Detected my ram, CPU wireless keyboard etc.

The only thing it will not do is install Windows 10 off the USB drive I bought this afternoon, evidently my m.2 nvme SSD don't exist, or is toast or something.

Uefi version on the board is p2.20

I don't see the SSD listed in the uefi settings.

Figured something was up when it posted first press.

 

[cube]

Some motherboards don't support NVMe, or it is added in a later BIOS revision. I imagine that would be rare on a modern board.