Check Build Stability for Light/Moderate Gaming at $1,500
Check Build Stability for Light/Moderate Gaming at $1,500
Hi all,
We're refreshing our two i5 3570K systems from 2013 and just need a quick check on the list above.
Approximate Purchase Date:
ASAP (to arrive before Christmas)
Budget Range:
Around $1500 AUD per unit, totaling about $3000 (excluding operating system).
System Usage from Most to Least Important:
1080p gaming (primarily for SWTOR at the moment), browsing, and a bit of music editing. I won’t be doing video editing, but I might try some basic music apps like Cakewalk by BandLab.
Are you purchasing a monitor?
No
Parts to Upgrade:
All except cases. Our Coolermaster HAF XB Cases are still in good condition!
Do you need an operating system?
Yes
Please note: If you have an OEM Windows license, you’ll need a new one when buying a new motherboard.
Preferred Websites for Parts:
https://www.pccasegear.com
We’re open to MWave or Scorptec for good deals, but for a few extra dollars, I’d prefer to shop at PCCaseGear.
Location:
Australia (regional NSW – we usually source from Melbourne)
Parts Preferences:
Not applicable
Overclocking:
No
SLI or Crossfire:
No
Monitor Resolution:
1920 x 1080
Additional Notes:
SWTOR is our most challenging game right now, and above all, why are you upgrading?
Current builds are nearing 11 years old. They’ve served us well, but they’re starting to feel outdated. We’ll retire one to free it up for another, and pass the rest along to a family member.
Here’s my current wishlist on PCCaseGear (the two cases listed are for rebuilding old components):
https://www.pccasegear.com/wish_lists/1363674/AMD Ryzen 5 7600XNov2024
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X Processor $339
Gigabyte B650 Ultra Durable WiFi Motherboard $229
G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MHz CL30 DDR5 $165
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 Gaming OC $429
Kingston KC3000 M.2 NVMe Gen4 SSD 1TB $99
Seasonic Focus GX-750 Gold 750W Power Supply $215
Thermalright Assassin Spirit 120 EVO Dark CPU Air Cooler $39
LG GH24NSD1 24x SATA DVD-RW Drive OEM $25
Microsoft Windows 11 Home OEM DVD $189
Any compatibility concerns with these items?
Are there better alternatives available at a similar price?
We generally wait about a decade before upgrading, so we’re looking for something durable.
Thanks for your time – look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Cheers,
Anthony
The 7600 isn't significantly slower than the 7600X, yet it includes a decent cooler that should suit your needs well, making this a suitable upgrade period as you seem focused on reducing expenses.
The additional VRAM at the performance level of the 7600/3060 won't have any impact.
The motherboard you're considering is quite basic and isn't recommended. The most affordable reliable board in ATX is about $300. It appears there aren't many good, budget-friendly options available in ATX size in AU, but this situation changes if you switch to mATX.
Motherboard comparison details:
https://www.techspot.com/bestof/amd-b650-motherboards/
https://www.techspot.com/review/2861-amd...ds-part-3/
The S5 is designed for Intel systems because they include X./M.P in their design. Search for Trident Z5 Neo/Ripjaws M5 Neo/Flare X5 models or any with AMD's E.X.P.O advertised on the packaging or listing.
I suggest adding a smaller 500GB SSD for the operating system, applications, and launchers. Consider increasing the other SSD to 2TB.
You didn't mention the storage case used for the PC components. Did you plan to recycle an older case?
Thanks for your reply Lutfij,
I was originally looking at this one:
https://www.pccasegear.com/products/5953...-cl36-ddr5
But swapped it out last minute since it's on pre-order until 29/11. I'll re-think that and either wait for the Kingstons, or find another with EXPO. Good call.
I have just a 500GB HDD currently, which is less than half utilised. Plus a 128GB SSD for SWTOR, and an external HDD for bulky storage (photo's and larger files). 1TB should be heaps, but I'll ponder your suggestion anyway.
We will be reusing our Coolermaster HAF XB Cases for this build - they are still good!
https://www.pccasegear.com/products/2243...af-xb-case
Thanks again,
Anthony
The 7600 offers similar speed to the 7600X, but includes a cooler that should perform adequately in your setup. This change seems worthwhile given your focus on reducing expenses.
Additional VRAM at the same performance level as the 7600/3060 won’t provide any benefit.
The motherboard you’re considering is quite basic and isn’t recommended. The most affordable suitable board for ATX is about $300. There aren’t many good, budget-friendly options available in ATX size in AU, but this situation changes if you switch to mATX.
Motherboard comparison links:
https://www.techspot.com/bestof/amd-b650-motherboards/
https://www.techspot.com/review/2861-amd...ds-part-3/
An alternative suggestion for a longer-lasting setup would cost roughly $100 more than the components you were evaluating. The board isn’t available at PCCaseGear, and the DRAM is the most affordable DDR5-6000 CL30 on the motherboard QVL (PCCaseGear offers only the Intel variant).
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7600 3.8 GHz 6-Core Processor
($288.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Storage: Kingston KC3000 1.024 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD
($99.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Video Card: Asus DUAL OC Radeon RX 7800 XT 16 GB Video Card
($719.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Power Supply: MSI MAG A850GL PCIE5 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX
($159.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Overall: $1265.00
Includes shipping, taxes, and available discounts
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2024-11-19 19:46 AEDT+1100
PCPartPicker Part List
Motherboard: MSI PRO B650M-A WIFI Micro ATX AM5 Motherboard
($188.00 @ Scorptec)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30
($179.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Total: $367.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and available discounts
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2024-11-19 19:48 AEDT+1100
Thank you both for the feedback, greatly appreciated. We have submitted our order.