Need assistance with setting up my first PC. Thanks :)
Need assistance with setting up my first PC. Thanks :)
Hi there,
I'm setting up my first PC for both gaming and work tasks.
I already have a large 1440p 120Hz monitor and would like to improve it.
Should I choose AMD or Nvidia? Is liquid cooling more effective?
Since I'm not very familiar with PC building, any advice would be greatly appreciated.
My budget is about 2000 pounds.
Feel free to ask if you have any questions.
Thank you.
Liquid cooling offers a slight improvement, yet it’s usually unnecessary for regular gaming. CPUs perform adequately and resolutions remain high, so the main workload shifts to the GPU. Investing in a higher-end graphics card is more advantageous than opting for liquid cooling or purchasing pre-cooled GPUs. The best results are achieved with premium hardware.
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: Intel Core i7-13700K 3.4 GHz 16-Core Processor
(£376.99 @ Amazon UK)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE 66.17 CFM
(£38.90 @ Amazon UK)
Motherboard: MSI PRO Z790-S WIFI ATX LGA1700
(£204.97 @ Ebuyer)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36
(£89.99 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Crucial P5 Plus 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD
(£103.99 @ Amazon UK)
Video Card: MSI VENTUS 3X E OC GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12 GB
(£769.99 @ Amazon UK)
Case: Deepcool MATREXX 55 MESH ATX Mid Tower
(£42.98 @ Scan.co.uk)
Power Supply: Corsair RM850x (2021) 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Modular ATX
(£129.99 @ Amazon UK)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Home Retail - Download 64-bit
(£108.42 @ Ebuyer)
Case Fan: Phanteks M25-120 PWM 84.26 CFM 120 mm Fans 3-Pack
(£26.00 @ Computer Orbit)
Custom: Type 4 12VHPWR Cable (£19.99)
Total: £1912.21
Prices encompass shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2023-10-06 19:35 BST+0100
I'm not very experienced in PC building, so I really value any assistance you can offer.
The details matter, but the assembly process is equally important.
I recommend thoroughly reviewing the documentation for every component you install.
Start with the Motherboard's User Guide or Manual.
Go through it step by step beforehand. Take notes on what fits your build and what’s needed.
Emphasize unclear parts and underline them. Look for helpful tips or warnings.
Address any confusion before proceeding.
Pay close attention to all small details and conditions.
Visit the manufacturer's website for any recent updates.
Organize the assembly process carefully.
Work in a clean, well-lit space.
Ensure you have the right tools—especially screwdrivers that fit securely.
Avoid forcing screws; this can damage the motherboard.
Do not connect external cables, particularly power, until the case is fully assembled.
Double-check everything before proceeding.
Carefully pre-thread all screw holes first. This reduces the need for extra force later.
Test connectors by plugging and unplugging them a few times to loosen things.
Gently seat and remove cards, RAM, and case parts. Expect some tightness—work slowly and carefully.
Assemble each part individually as much as possible.
Stop if you feel tired, confused, or unsure. Never push anything.
No YouTube fixes or quick solutions—those can be risky.
Take your time; rushing leads to more mistakes.
Once the system starts up, resist the urge to immediately launch games or apps.
Let Windows update itself first.
Keep other tasks on hold for a few days if needed.
This way, troubleshooting becomes easier later.
These are just my recommendations.
The 120mm fan goes inside the back of that case for a rear exhaust fan.
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
*
Intel Core i7-13700F 2.1 GHz 16-Core Processor
(£354.95 @ Ebuyer)
CPU Cooler:
*
Deepcool AG620 BK ARGB 67.88 CFM CPU Cooler
(£57.99 @ Amazon UK)
Motherboard:
*
MSI B760 GAMING PLUS WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
(£145.00 @ Computer Orbit)
Memory:
*
Corsair Vengeance 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory
(£118.58 @ Amazon UK)
Storage:
*
Crucial P5 Plus 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive
(£103.99 @ Amazon UK)
Video Card:
*
MSI VENTUS 3X E OC GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12 GB Video Card
(£769.99 @ Amazon UK)
Case:
*
Fractal Design Focus 2 RGB ATX Mid Tower Case
(£74.99 @ Scan.co.uk)
Power Supply:
*
Corsair RM850e (2023) 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
(£104.99 @ AWD-IT)
Operating System:
*
Microsoft Windows 11 Home Retail - Download 64-bit
(£108.42 @ Ebuyer)
Case Fan:
*
ARCTIC P12 56.3 CFM 120 mm Fan
(£8.50 @ AWD-IT)
Total:
£1847.40
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2023-10-06 20:21 BST+0100
A better look at those components.
MSI B760 GAMING PLUS WIFI, ATX - Intel 13th/12th Gen - 12 Phases, DDR5, PCIe 4.0, 2.5G LAN, Wi-Fi 6E
B760 GAMING PLUS WIFI is designed with tons of connectivity, flexible tools, and convenient Wi-Fi solution with DDR5 memory version for gamers who want all.
www.msi.com
https://www.intel.com/content/www/u...-3...tions.html
https://www.deepcool.com/products/C...al...6082.shtml
https://www.corsair.com/us/en/p/mem...0m...m2b6000c30
https://www.crucial.com/products/ssd/cru...5-plus-ssd
https://www.msi.com/Graphics-Card/GeForc...-3X-12G-OC
https://www.corsair.com/us/en/p/psu...ul...9020263-na
https://www.fractal-design.com/products/...lear-tint/
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIG4vFQbDn4
AMD is better for rasterization but Nvidia is better for RT. It all depends upon what games you play and if you care about RT or not. here's an AMD build for you
https://pcpartpicker.com/user/jaydenmill...iew=NYJckL
The primary goal of this PC is clearly gaming, though performance remains consistent across AMD and Intel processors at any price range. Following various forums, it appears Ryzen users often encounter more problems, especially with RAM. In terms of graphics, overall price-to-performance is likely similar. You can refer to Tom's GPU hierarchy chart for a clear understanding of relative performance. GPU Benchmarks and Hierarchy 2023: Graphics Cards Ranked We have conducted numerous GPU benchmarks on Nvidia, AMD, and Intel graphics cards, organizing them in our detailed ranking system. Cooling methods differ significantly; air cooling is generally preferred over liquid systems. The key distinction lies in the radiator placement. AIO coolers tend to fail over time due to mechanical issues or clogging, often requiring replacement after about five years. Modern processors are engineered to handle higher temperatures reliably. Ralston18 shared useful advice. Here’s a summary of my setup process: Before receiving parts, download and thoroughly read the manual for your case and motherboard. Gather a long #2 magnetic tip Phillips screwdriver and a small LED flashlight. A power switch like the one from Newegg can be handy for testing. [Link to product] I assemble essential components outside the case for easy functionality checks. A wooden table or cardboard works well. Start with only the necessary parts—ram, CPU, cooler, PSU. Avoid forcing anything; parts fit only in one orientation. If available, connect a monitor to the integrated motherboard adapter, otherwise to the graphics card. If your motherboard lacks a PWR button, briefly touch the front panel power pins with a flat blade screwdriver. Repeatedly press F2 or DEL to access the BIOS display. Boot from a CD or USB stick using memtest86, which tests RAM and CPU without Windows. You can download it from: MemTest86 - Official Site of the x86 Memory Testing Tool MemTest86 is the original self-booting memory testing software for x86 and ARM systems, supporting both BIOS and UEFI with USB boot options. www.memtest86.com Memtest86+ offers an advanced, free, open-source tool for 32- and 64-bit computers (supports both UEFI and BIOS) and is ideal for thorough testing. www.memtest.org Updating the BIOS is generally unnecessary unless a critical fix is needed. I update it immediately upon receiving a new build to ensure currency. Prefer the USB installation method over Windows setup. If issues persist, a minor problem may not require immediate action. Opinions differ on whether to update the BIOS; typically, it’s only done when necessary. I choose to update right away for reliability. Use the USB option rather than the Windows one. For serious concerns, the impact remains minimal. Installing Windows is the next step. Install the motherboard CD drivers, especially the LAN drivers for internet access. Avoid the easy install option to prevent unwanted utilities. Drive to the internet and install an antivirus, such as Microsoft Defender, which is free and straightforward. Install your graphics card and driver if you tested with integrated graphics. You’ll need to remove the card later when mounting the motherboard in the case. When securing the motherboard, turn the screw counterclockwise until it clicks—this confirms proper engagement. Note how the graphics card fits into the PCIe slot; the mechanism is concealed under the card and may be tricky if you’re unfamiliar with its placement. Update Windows to the latest version. Only then do I disassemble and install the required components inside the case. Now is the moment to reinstall your graphics card.
The device includes a compact display at the front to monitor CPU/GPU speeds or power consumption, with a Type C front panel. For airflow, consider integrating the cooler’s front fan and the included case fan into the intake. Swap the cooler’s front fan for RGB fans—rear, argb, and top models—as exhaust units. The unit also features a CPU temperature display. It supports ATX 3.0 PSU with a 16-pin power connector for future upgrades, backed by a 10-year warranty.
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz 8-Core Processor (£359.99 @ Scan.co.uk)
CPU Cooler: Deepcool AK620 DIGITAL 68.99 CFM (£74.99 @ AWD-IT)
Motherboard: ASRock B650E PG RIPTIDE WIFI ATX AM5 (£222.99 @ NeoComputers)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6400 CL32 (£115.00 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Crucial P5 Plus 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD (£103.99 @ Amazon UK)
Video Card: XFX Speedster MERC 310 Radeon RX 7900 XT 20 GB (£777.46 @ Amazon UK)
Case: Deepcool CH510 MESH DIGITAL ATX Mid Tower (£69.98 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 - TT Premium Edition 1050 W (£147.97 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Case Fan: ID-COOLING XF-12025-ARGB-TRIO 62 CFM 120 mm (£24.99 @ Amazon UK)
Total cost: £1897.36
Includes shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts.
Generated by PCPartPicker
2023-10-09 11:57 BST+0100