Question New Build ~ $1000

[PrinceXizor]

Well,
I just waxed nostalgic over a bunch of my previous threads (found the whole thread from my current build from 2013...wow!)
That build is reaching the end of the road (3750K, Z77, 16GB DDR3, 256GB SSD) as far as my uses for it, so my wife will be taking it over and using it in her new home office.

So I'm back in the market for building a new computer. My target price is $1000ish. Unlike my last build I'll need extras like case/psu/monitor to consider as well. Here are the bullet points:

1. Mainly office productivity, some CAD work, some lighter/medium gaming (not really into AAA titles anymore, latest game I played was Guild Wars 2).
2. $750-1000 Budget (But I'm in a position financially to hit the price/value target on most items).
3. USA
4. No brand preferences. Only price/value with an eye towards future upgradability (you see how long I keep things)
6. I don't think I have anything of use as far as old parts except perhaps an SSD to repurpose in the short term or an old video card to get by.
7. Stock speeds (or dirt simple overclock like in the old FSB ratio days where changing the multiplier was easy and stable because of my chip)
8. 4K - but only because that's necessary for large screen usage. I'd like to get two 27" 4K screens.
9. Not tomorrow, but soon. The 2nd office will be backstopped by an old laptop while I cherry pick looking for awesome deals.
10. I will need a copy of Windows, although I have access to a Win 10 image and possibly some old Win 7 keys to use so maybe not.

I'm already eyeballing 3600X w/ 2 x 16GB DDR4 3200 as kind of the baseline but I'm not adamant it has to be that. The whole B450, X470, X570, B550 situation is a tad confusing especially when you start checking prices.
Thanks for your help!

P.S. Microcenter is roughly 1 hour away.

New Build Configuration - $1131 + tax
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5600X - $309
Motherboard: ASRock B550M Pro4 - $90 + tax
RAM: 2 x 16GB Silicon Power XPOWER Turbine Gaming CL16 DDR4 3200 - $99 + tax
Storage: SK Hynix 1TB PCIe NVMe Gen 3 M.2 2280 - $115 + tax
Video: Open Box XFX Radeon RX 580 GTS XXX Edition 8GB OC+ - $160
Case: Lian Li 205 White - $53 + tax
PSU: Corsair CX650-F RGB Black - $85 + tax
CPU Cooler: Included - $0
Monitor: 40" Vizio V-405H 4K TV - $220 + tax

 

[PrinceXizor]

Just to clarify, I already have the motherboard and processor installed.

 

[PrinceXizor]

Anyone? Should I have installed the HSF first before mounting the motherboard? I thought the opening in the case was so I didn't have to do that. But...I can't think of a nice way to keep the backing plate where it needs to go while I mount the HSF. Thoughts?

 

[PrinceXizor]

Well, a bit of googling indicates that since it may take a fair amount of force to get the screws to engage I think I'll take the MB out of the case and install the HSF and RAM out of the case. Bummed to redo work but best to be safe.

 

[PrinceXizor]

Time for a dinner break. Got the HSF installed w/o too much trouble after I took the mb out of the case. RAM installed and everything back in the case. Now I have to harvest the PSU and videocard from this rig and swap them over.

 

[MalVeauX]

Wow, thanks! I would have been freaking out w/o your posts. Also, I've never dealt with a backing plate for the HSF assembly. Any tricks to that? This case is nice in that it has an opening for access to the back of the motherboard.

Back plates are common for the past 10+ years. Just remove the stock brackets and back plate from your motherboard. Then new back plate will fit in its own spot and 4 screws will come through the 4 holes. Then just install the heat stink as the instructions show per your CPU socket type. It seems kind of awkward at first, but after a few times, you're less anxious and it's easy enough. Just mind your knuckles on the heat sink blades, sharp!

Very best,

 

[PrinceXizor]

It was more that I couldn't get the back plate standoffs through the motherboard when installed in the case. Took the mb out, went pretty smoothly after that. Time to swap.

 

[PrinceXizor]

Well, part 1 of the swap was successful. My ol dig is working. Now fo the real test. As an aside, I think my current rig has had a loose HSF for awhile. Yikes! Probably been moved 1 to many times and the ol intel screw ratchets came undone. Kind of surpriesed it din't overheat.

 

[PrinceXizor]

Part 2 was mostly successful. Everything works. Posts, i can get into BIOS but i can't get it to boot from my windows 10 usb stick. Since it's late. I'll let it think for awhile in case I'm jumping the gun and sleep on it.

 

[PrinceXizor]

Ok. I'm at my first wrinkle. So, I have a USB Stick with Win 10 Pro I've used in the past to install the OS (maybe one upgrade now that I think about it). Anyway. With the USB stick plugged in and recognized in the BIOS, I can't get it to boot. Doing UEFI Boot on the USB partition 1 gives me a blank screen (left on overnight just to be sure). Doing a USB boot gives me a Windows logo...and that's it. Thoughts?

 

[PrinceXizor]

Per this thread, it might be a BIOS issue.

Windows 10 installation stuck in logo

I am unable to install windows 10 in my new PC. I have tried October 2020 version, April 2018 version...

forum.asrock.com

His system is very similar to mine.

Going to try downloading the latest BIOS, flash it and see if that fixes it.

 

[PrinceXizor]

Bingo! Windows 10 installed. Now to update some drivers. Thanks all!

 

[MalVeauX]

Bingo! Windows 10 installed. Now to update some drivers. Thanks all!

For a laugh, I did a dumb thing the other day, I put an Athlon 3000G on a x570 motherboard that supported everything with BIOS update, all the 3k and 5k CPUs, etc, and supported the Ryzen APU's too. But let me emphasize it supported the Ryzen APU's. Not the Athlon APU's. I failed to read into that clearly enough and had the single CPU out of all the CPU's that the x570 board I have would not support. So my first few boots, it would hang on the CPU portion and the LED on the board would light up like no CPU was installed. The fan wouldn't even turn on, on the CPU. Just the chassis fan. Needless to say, disappointment was like a rock in my stomach.

First boot and passing post is always a mile stone!

Very best,

 

[PrinceXizor]

In reading the BIOS releases, apparently it was two times after the initial release that ryzen 5000s were officially supported. Weird for something designed to pair with those processors. I am actually surprised at how snappy it is just getting around. I wasn't expecting to much in that department but it's pretty cool. That may have the most to do with my first NVMe drive. Have a bit of a network issue to sort (the office has no ethernet, old rig used wifi card, only have one card...heh).