Tech NERD ALERT: Building My Own PC Again

[wizenheimer]

time has come I guess. Need a new desktop computer

so. I'd welcome advice from the technically savvy people here

now, keep in mind I have strong dinosaur tendencies so don't be surprised if I'm attracted to less modern options

speaking of dinosaur, I'm still working on a Windows 7 PC I built about 10-11 years ago. I actually thought it was a fun project to do the research, select components, order, and assemble the hardware. It was less fun when I had to adjust the BIOS, install the OS, and add software. That seemed more like chores even though I had no real issues once I plugged the box in. Hardware = project = fun; software = chores = where's-the-vodka

but of course, Win7 can't be updated anymore. It's a dead OS even though it's working fine after a decade

anyway, I have only made one decision so far and that that's the case. Pretty much decided on this one:

https://www.newegg.com/black-fracta...x-mid-tower/p/N82E16811352048?&quicklink=true


yeah, I know, it's a big box but I have the room and big boxes are easier to work in. I do some video and image editing which can be a little processing heavy, and some AutoCad but I'm not a gamer

but I still have a DVD writer/player that I use all the time since I have so much on CD's and DVD's and most cases don't have external 5.25" bays anymore

but I know a case like that seems so 20th century when everybody has phones and tablets and phablets and IPads and laptops

now, I should add that I don't really plan on sticking to a budget. I know that could get expensive if I'm not careful. But I've always bought tech that's 2 years old or so just because that's cheaper and bugs are worked out. So maybe this time I'll go cutting edge and hope Win10 isn't dead in 5 years

**************************

I guess my first Y in the road is a motherboard. I'm thinking I need to decide on the CPU (Intel) and other components first, then find a MoBo that fits the bill. Is that a good way to go or am I making a mistake?

****************************

for instance, I have been considering an M2 Gen 4.0 SSD for the operating system (PCEi). A lot of the newer MoBo's are compatible with 4.0, but Intel isn't coming out with a processor till the end of the month. Then I'd have to decide on I9 or I7

I was looking at this one:

https://www.newegg.com/western-digital-500gb-black-sn850-nvme/p/N82E16820250162?Description=Black 500GB SN850 NVMe&cm_re=Black_500GB SN850 NVMe-_-20-250-162-_-Product&quicklink=true

I know it's exponential overkill but so is a Corvette. If you've ever driven one you know it's fun, especially out on a straight road with no traffic

that SSD might be a bridge too far and I might drop back to Gen 3.0 M2. I'd save some money and I doubt I'd notice the milliseconds speed differnces

**********************************

I do have an area I don't know much about and that's cooling. Has anybody added a liquid cooler for eith the CPU or whole case? Is it worth it and how often do they fail? Again, for what I do I'd imagine liquid cooling is overkill. I was just interested in making the case cooling as quiet as possible

any suggestions?

 

[donkiez]

We just built a computer, I helped my step son with it. Been years since I built one myself. Few things I figured out, graphics cards are impossible to get still, you will need to overpay or wait or get a crappy card till they become more available. The NVMe is great, sata is fast enough but NVMe is cool and about the same price. Liquid cool would be a fun project but isn't needed unless you plan on over locking high end parts for 4k video gaming. DVDs are no longer a think on PC it's all download now, you can get a usb dvd/cd if you can't fit one in your case.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I got a Radeon RX 5600 XT for my computer 6 mos ago. It's been great. Runs all 3 monitors just fine and runs the games.

Liquid cooling, always wanted to. More for fun then for necessity. I wouldn't mess with it if I were you. If after a few months after your build you want to tinker with the new computer then do it then.

If you're good with your file management and don't just put stuff where Windows tells you then go with a NVMe as your boot drive and a nice 3-5 TB as your storage drive.

I run:

NVM - Boot & Windows
SSD - for software I use often
SATA - Software I don't use often, Games, Movies, Music, paperwork, files, misc
SATA - backup for the system

Don't cheap out on the motherboard!

It's been my experience that a higher end MB is better than a super fast CPU.

Your overall system is going to run faster with a $200 MB and an i7 than a $60 MB with an i9.



Buy an aftermarket fan for your CPU, the one that comes with an intel chip sucks.

 

[wizenheimer]

I got a Radeon RX 5600 XT for my computer 6 mos ago. It's been great. Runs all 3 monitors just fine and runs the games.

Liquid cooling, always wanted to. More for fun then for necessity. I wouldn't mess with it if I were you. If after a few months after your build you want to tinker with the new computer then do it then.

If you're good with your file management and don't just put stuff where Windows tells you then go with a NVMe as your boot drive and a nice 3-5 TB as your storage drive.

I run:

NVM - Boot & Windows
SSD - for software I use often
SATA - Software I don't use often, Games, Movies, Music, paperwork, files, misc
SATA - backup for the system

Don't cheap out on the motherboard!

It's been my experience that a higher end MB is better than a super fast CPU.

Your overall system is going to run faster with a $200 MB and an i7 than a $60 MB with an i9.



Buy an aftermarket fan for your CPU, the one that comes with an intel chip sucks.

thanks Sly

I'm leaning in your direction in several areas I think

I'll probably pass on the liquid cooling for now. I doubt I'll overclock, but if I do then maybe. The case I'm getting is highly rated and one of the reasons is it's very quiet, even with 3 fans running. I was only thinking about liquid cooling because of noise so I'll see how quiet the fans are. And I know there are whisper quiet after market fans available

and yeah, I think I'm using a NVM in an M2 slot as the boot. I may even go for a M2 Gen 4.0 PCEi. Plenty of Z590 MoBo's now, and Intel is coming out with 11th generation CPU's that support Gen 4.0 at the end of the month. And I have already considered getting a mid-range CPU, save 70-100 dollars and put in into the MoBo. Of course I could save more by going 3.0 all around but where's the fun in that?

I'm looking at ASUS and MSI motherboards mostly and the price range is $200-300. I kind of like the MSI because they have a dedicated heatsink for the M2 slots

also, I agree. The first time I installed the factory cooler on the CPU it failed in about 6 months and my CPU was running hot before it failed

haven't even investigated RAM yet. And I need to do some calcs to figure the size of the power supply. And, Ill have to go to school on graphics cards but since I don't plan on being a gamer, I think I can save some money there and never notice the impact

 

[THE HCP]

I got a Radeon RX 5600 XT for my computer 6 mos ago. It's been great. Runs all 3 monitors just fine and runs the games.

Liquid cooling, always wanted to. More for fun then for necessity. I wouldn't mess with it if I were you. If after a few months after your build you want to tinker with the new computer then do it then.

If you're good with your file management and don't just put stuff where Windows tells you then go with a NVMe as your boot drive and a nice 3-5 TB as your storage drive.

I run:

NVM - Boot & Windows
SSD - for software I use often
SATA - Software I don't use often, Games, Movies, Music, paperwork, files, misc
SATA - backup for the system

Don't cheap out on the motherboard!

It's been my experience that a higher end MB is better than a super fast CPU.

Your overall system is going to run faster with a $200 MB and an i7 than a $60 MB with an i9.



Buy an aftermarket fan for your CPU, the one that comes with an intel chip sucks.

......WHAT?!?