new build for 17 Y.o.

[facetman]

Hey people - have not posted much here in this forum, but read and learn here often. Anyhow, my 17 y.o. needs a new PC. We have a $1200 budget. PC used for gaming, homework, and also some art/graphic design,etc. Do not need any peripherals - but do need an OS.

This is what I have come up with so far. Please feel free to comment.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/tNp7KZ

Thanks in advance

 

[shortylickens]

Thats a hell of a nice video card. Your kid is probably gonna play games all day long.

Good computer though.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I don't see anything wrong with that build. Looks like it's ~$1300 now, though.

My main caveat is storage - you don't really have enough of it, IMO. Game installs are big, photos can add up fast with todays 15+ MP digital cameras, DVD rips and music add up too.

If there's any fudge in the budget, a slightly larger, marginally slower SSD may not be a bad idea. (Given that you're apparently ok with old SATA drives.)

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/hptWGX/crucial-bx300-480gb-25-solid-state-drive-ct480bx300ssd1

I'd also try to find a 2-3TB HDD for the secondary storage. You can get a lot more bang for your storage buck if you spend a few bucks more.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/gkxfrH/hitachi-internal-hard-drive-hitachi0f12460

 

[facetman]

hmm... thanks , never thought about the storage needed- I am old so don't need much myself and figured 1.5 TB would be enough.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

hmm... thanks , never thought about the storage needed- I am old so don't need much myself and figured 1.5 TB would be enough.

Better to have too much than too little, I say. ;-)

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I would go with a 1080 in that price range https://www.evga.com/products/product.aspx?pn=08G-P4-6284-RX

And if the monitor is 1080p a 1060 6GB is a good pick and will let you redistribute the money to storage and a nicer case.

 

[lukart]

I would do intel with the new 6 core cpus, they clock higher compared to ryzen which makes them better at gaming / work.
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/wpkVjc

 

[facetman]

hmm.... Interesting. I have always liked Intel over AMD- but not a true fan boy. Hence thinking the Ryzen was the way to go- but not so sure now. Thanks lukart.

the only issue with the Intel chip is availability - no one has it .

 

[Markfothebeast]

An 8 year old high end used PC will do that for $200-$300 bucks as well. Hell, they get thrown out daily at recycling centers.

 

[facetman]

Not looking for used stuff.

Anybody have any experience purchasing anything like the 1080 linked above by DAPUNISHER?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Not looking for used stuff.

Anybody have any experience purchasing anything like the 1080 linked above by DAPUNISHER?

Anything like it? Sure - I've bought top-of-the-line hardware before. Generally I input my credit card info, and somebody mails it to me. Or I go to MicroCenter and pick it up. ;-)

That particular card? No. But usually what I'll do is go to pcpartpicker, select the specs for the part I want, and buy the cheapest one.

https://pcpartpicker.com/products/video-card/#c=367,390&sort=price&page=1

GPUs are a bit thin on the ground these days. Frakking miners.

 

[Muadib]

Anybody have any experience purchasing anything like the 1080 linked above by DAPUNISHER?

What's the resolution of your monitor? I have a 1080 GPU, and it does well with my 2560 x 1440 monitor.

 

[facetman]

I meant anything like it = B stock.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I meant anything like it = B stock.

Oh.

Yeah, I wouldn't have any hesitation about buying factory-refurb'd stuff from the factory. My laptop was a factory refurb, came with the standard "new product" warranty.

Also have a refurbished motherboard and a few other "open box" odds and ends from Newegg. Haven't run into problems with any of them, but I suppose it's technically riskier. But hey, if it doesn't work, you return it. Is the potential inconvenience worth saving $20-$200?

Most of my accessories and cables are off the Clearance table at Microcenter, which is about the most risky, since they "test" the stuff in the store. But it's worth a spin of the wheel, IMO. People return things for all sorts of reasons. Usually the stuff works fine, but they either reconsider their financial situations (e.g., have their financial situations reconsidered for them by a spouse or partner), decide they don't need it, or can't get it to work like they expected.

 

[facetman]

Well, have decided, I don't need a 1080, and certainly my 17 y.o. does not. So , tweeked the original build a bit toward lasting longer (overclock) by switching out the 1600 with a 1600x, and so needed an aftermarket cooler, replaced the ssd and hhd for more storage, and switched to a full tower case.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/

So, for the $100 more, is it worth it?

 

[gregoryvg]

Well, have decided, I don't need a 1080, and certainly my 17 y.o. does not. So , tweeked the original build a bit toward lasting longer (overclock) by switching out the 1600 with a 1600x, and so needed an aftermarket cooler, replaced the ssd and hhd for more storage, and switched to a full tower case.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/

So, for the $100 more, is it worth it?

I don't think you gain anything by going for the 1600x over the regular 1600 if you want to overclock - as both chips are overclockable. Buying an aftermarket cooler for the 1600 would be advisable if you want to overclock much.

 

[facetman]

Yes- I just found that out- I originally thought the X was the only one that was over-clockable.


1) Ryzen1600 with Windows 10 OEM combo https://www.newegg.com/Product/Combo...=Combo.3667558
2) Ram= Teamforse 16Gb (https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...95&ignorebbr=1)
3) Case= Full tower phanteks = https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...03&ignorebbr=1
4) GPU = 1070 EVGA = https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...59&ignorebbr=1
5) MOBO= ASRock https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...61&ignorebbr=1
6) PSU= EVGA G3 650 watt= https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...94&ignorebbr=1

Total =$1200 + $10 shipping with $60 in mail in rebates not figured in.

 

[Markfothebeast]

I'm still running the used machine I bought from some poor soul that blew over $4,000 on components. Notice that I didn't use the term "invested". It was listed on Craigslist in the "For Sale" section which is littered with computers. The competition is high and many want brand new components. Being a good barterer, I was able to save a few hundred bucks on the initial price and the seller accepted $800. At that time the GTX590 graphics card itself was well over $1,000 and the i7 2600k was expensive as well. Roughly $800 - $4,000 = $3,200 saved.

I run that same desktop till this day which is now 7 or 8 years old. I render/edit videos, create 3D textures/animations, and edit audio - all at 5760x1080 resolution. I've left it running 365 days a year while it was in use as a local media server also. There was no difference to me if it were used or new. I connected and tested the machine before I forked over the cash. I visually inspected the mainboard caps, ran memory tests, etc. I flushed a lot of money down the toilet on computers nearly 20 years ago from buying new components. It's not like that today because the hardware isn't rapidly becoming outdated as it once was.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Unless you make money with your computer, "investment" is the wrong word.

 

[facetman]

well- I figured out why this came in so cheaply- forgot SSD and HHD.

Added a Toshiba 3TB HD = $80, and a Teamgroup 240GB SSD for $80.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Want to adopt me? I come with beer!
Sorry wrong forum.

 

[facetman]

ok - fail,fail ,fail......

Have system put together - no boot , no video to bios, nothing, also one case fan does not work

- I already emailed Phanteks ( https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16811854003) as I confirmed the front case fan fail by plugging a different three post fan into the same case hub and it worked fine.

So far I have taken ram in/out - using slots 2 and 4 ( A2 and B2) per Asrock mobo directions- the ram was checked before purchase for compatibility with the mobo on the manufacturers website.

I reset the CPU ( seems fine) , Tried putting in a GPU and using those video ports- Nope. Is it possible that neither VGA or HDMI are not default, and I have to use DVI? I don't have one of those cords handy.

The USB ports on both the Mobo and the case are powered as I checked with headphone that have a volume control that lights up - all USB ports powered that led light in the volume control.

So, power is getting to the Mobo as the USB ports have power, the CPU fan spins, I am at a loss.

Anybody have any ideas??

 

[Muadib]

Try using 1 ram chip. Unseat both and then just seat one. Look at the manual to see what slot to put it in.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

quadruple-check your front panel connections. If you get the power/reset switches mixed up or backwards, you'll see a no-power situation. There are positive/negative lines.

Some motherboards come pre-confused from the factory - unplug everything and follow the CMOS reset directions also.

You should leave the GPU out of the picture until you've powered the system up and confirmed that your motherboard/CPU/RAM are good to go. The system should cycle through available video output ports until it finds a live one with a monitor attached, so I wouldn't worry about DVI. (If HDMI and VGA are broken but DVI is ok, you should RMA the motherboard anyway.)

 

[facetman]

ok- will attempt those ideas asap- at work now. I did unplug the cmos battery - but the power supply was plugged in and power to MOBO was still plugged in, so will retry without any power to mobo.l