Could the discrepancies stem from mismatched system requirements or compatibility issues?
Could the discrepancies stem from mismatched system requirements or compatibility issues?
Afternoon, I'm looking to spec some PCs for where I work (small retail firm). We mainly use the machines for Sales software, Chrome for emails and Facebook, then our biggest 'demand' is a CAD software called Virtual Worlds for KBB design and rendering (not 4D/VR)
We've a number of machines that are well beyond their expected lifetime and a few 'cheap' prebuilds bought from a large retailer which turned out completely useless which were bought at my disgust.
Anyhow, I'm now planning entirely new PCs, Midi/full tower as space isn't an issue.
Approximate Purchase Date:
e.g.: Hopefully Friday (8th Sept) after my day off.
Budget Range:
£
600 -650 (inc VAT) is kind of a self-imposed limit as I'm liable to see value 'creep' when doing anything with technology.
System Usage from Most to Least Important:
Light CAD design, Chrome, other low power software (business based) **Storage not required as data all kept on other machines
Are you buying a monitor:
No
Parts to Upgrade:
Full new tower, no monitor, peripherals etc to count in budget.
Do you need to buy OS:
Have existing Win 10 Pro licenses I can transfer (actually unsure how licensing works now if it's mandatory?)
Preferred Website(s) for Parts:
Used Ebuyer/Scan/Overclockers so far in my parts serach but anywhere that is quick delivery to UK
Location:
Manchester, UK. Ideally online order & delivery only.
Parts Preferences:
Intel CPU, Nvidia GFX unless there's a very good reason to use alternative.
Overclocking:
Doubtful, UEFI? standardised if anything but likely just wasted electricity bills
SLI or Crossfire:
No
Your Monitor Resolution:
1920x1080, use doesn't really have required any FPS criteria etc
Additional Comments:
Quiet would be good, but not mandatory, power consumption a small consideration as business use and on 24hr/day
And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading:
Garbage / outdated computers struggling with newer OS and Chrome / CAD spec demands
Current parts list (kinda top end of my budget)
i5-12400F
£147
ASUS Prime B660-PLUS
£110
RTX3050 8GB GDDR6
£205
16GB memory Kit DDR4 3200mhz
£47
Samsung 970 evo 500gb pcie 3.0x4lane
£42
Case / PSU / Fans PC sum £100 can be ugly just no LEDs so as long as I get suitable GPU cables with PSU I should be fine?
Current total £651
If there's any massive fails in my parts choice warning would be appreciated, similarly if there's an imbalance and something will cause a massive bottleneck or make them redundant / outdated much sooner I'd be open to thoughts. I've thrown some notes on my process / parts consideration below.
CPU - I looked at i3-12100 but told it's underspecced for the CAD software (which I'm not sure I believe but w/e), then also i5-10400 but as much as I'd likely never upgrade and cost of MB increase it just seemed worth the notes.
MB - Looked at MSI B660M-A WIFI, as it came recommended in some reviews but I don't need Wifi and 2.5gb LAN isn't a priority. 1x M.2 drive is enough and USB speeds again not something I'd fret about.
GFX card - Originally considered going without a GPU and going with intel integrated gfx and throwing in more RMA to compensate but was advised against it even though it obviously increases the budget having a card. Then swung between 1650 and 3050 and that 'creep' started
😛
SSD - Read speeds are nice but not critical to our use I think and we're upgrading from mechanical drives in most of the PCs so will be noticable increase. Just want something reliable.
**I did just remember that one of computers will likely be running mirrored RAID and adding a few mechanical drives for our sales database which is a tiny amount of data but will need Raid capable MB. (I could just change specfor 1 as required).
Any help appreciated, I've built and played with computers a lot in my childhood but feel extra pressure not to
<Mod Edit>
when it's for work and it's going to be several systems
😉
Many thanks
Rob
Mod Edit for Language
If I were you, I'd choose a processor without the F SKU because the iGPU is essential for fixing display problems, which are common across any system, regardless of cost.
Our primary use is for Sales software, Chrome for emails and Facebook, with the main CAD need being Virtual Worlds for KBB design and rendering (not 4D/VR).
You can handle all those tasks using the iGPU. If you require more power for CAD later, you can upgrade then.
Could you clarify which CAD software you're planning to use?
I wouldn't consider a case that includes a PSU because it could damage other parts of your build.
If you're comfortable sharing, what are the specifications or typical range for the devices being replaced? Do they already have dedicated graphics setups? Will the same software be used after the hardware upgrade?
Also, regarding your question about storage: you noted each PC has its own onboard storage, but it's connected through a different machine. Does this imply that all data is transferred via mapped network drives? If so, what type of storage solution are we talking about—another PC or a NAS—and how does it connect to the LAN?
Computer Specifications – Virtual Worlds
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700G 3.8 GHz 8-Core Processor (£153.00 @ Amazon UK)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B550 GAMING X V2 ATX AM4 Motherboard (£104.95 @ AWD-IT)
Memory: TEAMGROUP T-Force Zeus 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory (£58.91 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Western Digital Black SN770 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD (£44.07 @ Amazon UK)
Video Card: MSI AERO ITX Radeon RX 6400 4 GB Video Card (£99.99 @ Amazon UK)
Case: Cooler Master MasterBox 540 ATX Mid Tower Case (£48.94 @ Box Limited)
Power Supply: Cooler Master MWE Bronze V2 650 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (£74.59 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £584.45
Prices cover shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts
Hi,
Your previous answers helped clarify how to frame your questions. I'll respond step by step as requested.
The CAD system we use is Virtual Worlds, and calling it CAD doesn't quite fit since it's not similar to AutoCAD or other complex software I'd expect. It's mostly a visual sales tool.
I didn't mention the budgeting or list in detail, but I wouldn't purchase a case with an included PSU. My mistake for not noting that—it's generally unreliable and could cause problems if it fails or damages your PC.
Current machine specifications are within a typical range; they're mid-range.
My system specs include:
i3-4150 CPU
4 or 8 GB RAM
GeForce 210 (device manager shows this, but I'm not sure)
Early 2015 build, so it's beyond its expected lifespan.
Storage concerns: Our sales software runs from a database, so everything is centralized on one PC for concurrency. This is mostly minor in data volume, though it likely handles a lot of traffic—unclear how often it rewrites data or caches it.
CAD software relies on network catalogues for products and items. This can be problematic with frequent updates due to inconsistent naming conventions.
Design files and rendered images are stored on NAS for convenience and backup.
Thanks, Lucky_SLS, for the parts list—I appreciate it but I'm cautious about AMD since I haven't used them since my Athlon 64 PC as a child. Do you see any significant performance or price differences?
Price difference only. Performance nearly identical. 6 core vs 8 core.