New Build Advice
New Build Advice
Hello everyone! I constructed my present machine more than five years ago and thought it was time to start fresh because some games are lagging or not working properly. I’m not very familiar with technology and mostly learned from forums and tutorial sites when I first began. I would really appreciate any advice or suggestions on which components to focus on for my next build!
Approximate Purchase Date:
In the next 3 to 6 weeks (hope there are still good deals)
Budget Range:
Around $1600 at most
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Video games, though storage is crucial for saving files
Are you buying a monitor:
My current display is 1920 x 1080, so upgrading might be wise.
Parts to Upgrade:
To be honest, I’m not sure. I’m uncertain about the state of my existing setup.
Mother board – Gigabyte H170-HD3-CF
Processor – i5 -6500 3.2 Ghz
RAM – Cossair Vengenance- 16Gb DDR4
Graphics card – Radeon AMD R9380
PSU – Seasonic G550 PSU
Case – Phanteks Enthoo Pro Glass
Do you need to buy an operating system:
Yes
Please remember that if you’re purchasing a new motherboard with an OEM Windows license, you’ll need a different one.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts:
I’m based in Australia, so I’ve used MSY before for my components
Location:
Melbourne, Victoria
Parts Preferences:
No specific preference, just looking for cost-effective options that offer good value
Overclocking:
Not applicable
SLI or Crossfire:
Unclear, so likely the more affordable choice
Your Monitor Resolution:
1920 x 1080 Samsung C24RG50FQE
Additional Comments:
I’m aiming for a quiet, reliable system that can handle high-end games without breaking the bank. I don’t play online, so it doesn’t need to be optimized for that. Having storage space with an SSD would also be beneficial.
And most importantly, why am I upgrading?
My current machine is functional but I want to improve it for gaming.
Thank you for your input.
Kind regards,
Aaron
For clarity, the ideas shared in this discussion remain valid;
the advice given still holds value.
I built my previous system around 6-7 years ago and realized it’s time for a fresh setup because certain games are lagging.
Not much technical experience has kept me updated, so I relied heavily on forum discussions and tutorial videos during my first build.
For your reference:
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7600 3.8 GHz 6-Core Processor ($285.00 @ Centre Com)
Motherboard: MSI B650M GAMING WIFI Micro ATX AM5 ($169.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Memory: Crucial Pro Overclocking 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 ($130.76 @ Amazon Australia)
Storage: Crucial P3 Plus 500 GB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME ($55.00 @ JW Computers)
Storage: Crucial P3 Plus 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME ($162.66 @ JW Computers)
Video Card: XFX Speedster SWFT 210 Radeon RX 7600 XT 16 GB ($539.00 @ Scorptec)
Case: Fractal Design Meshify 2 Mini MicroATX Mid Tower ($129.00 @ Centre Com)
Power Supply: MSI MAG A750GL PCIE5 750 W (80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX) ($128.00 @ BPC Technology)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Home Retail - USB 64-bit ($199.00 @ Centre Com)
Total: $1797.42
Includes shipping, taxes, and available discounts
Created by
PCPartPicker
2024-12-09 21:43 AEDT+1100
Two SSDs—one for the operating system, apps, and launchers; the second for your game collection. You can add more storage later.
Remember, if you want to protect essential data, keep it on an HDD rather than an SSD.
I would maintain this case and modify the rest. I would also activate Windows without a license to allocate funds for hardware, and obtain a key later. This approach will restrict certain customization features, introduce a somewhat bothersome watermark, but it should function properly and receive updates.
PCPartPicker List of Components CPU: * Intel Core i5-12400F 2.5 GHz 6-Core Processor ($145.00 at Amazon Australia) CPU Cooler: * ID-COOLING FROZN A410 BLACK 78.25 CFM CPU Cooler ($35.00 at PLE Computers) Motherboard: * MSI PRO B760M-A WIFI DDR4 Micro ATX LGA1700 Board ($169.00 at Centre Com) Memory: * Corsair Vengeance LPX 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 RAM ($84.00 at Amazon Australia) Storage: * Silicon Power UD90 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD ($156.00 at MSY Technology) Video Card: * Gigabyte GAMING OC Radeon RX 7700 XT 12 GB Graphics Card ($618.77 at JW Computers) Power Supply: * MSI MAG A750GL PCIE5 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Unit ($128.00 at BPC Technology) Operating System: * Microsoft Windows 11 Home OEM - DVD 64-bit ($179.00 at MSY Technology) Overall Cost: $1514.77 Includes shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts *Selected lowest-priced items based on criteria* Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-12-10 19:03 AEDT+1100
Start by playing your games at reduced settings to ease the load on your graphics card. This adjustment can help improve performance. If your frame rate remains stable, it suggests your CPU might be sufficient for better graphics options. If your FPS doesn’t change much, you likely have more CPU constraints. There aren’t particularly effective CPU upgrades for your motherboard at the moment. For a CPU upgrade, you’ll also need a new motherboard. Game performance mainly relies on strong single-thread capabilities to handle the master thread. Try running the cpu-Z benchmark on your I5-6500; expect a single-thread score near 383.
You might consider an i5-13400 for around $200, and a LGA 1700 DDR4 motherboard for about $110. You can keep using your existing DDR4 RAM, case, power supply, and GPU. Test your setup.
Before investing in a graphics card, enhance your monitor. Allocate more of your budget to a high-quality display—it will remain valuable for a long time. A larger size or higher resolution, such as 4K, can help you better assess the necessary graphics card. Most users here prefer AMD options, but their advice is generally acceptable. However, coming from an Intel background, you’ll feel more at ease with those choices.
If you decide to upgrade your GPU, ensure you pair it with a reliable PSU in the 850W range. Don’t stress about power capacity; the PSU will only draw what it needs, no matter its maximum rating. Look for a unit that comes with a 10-year warranty.
There are additional versions of the 7700xt available in inventory. An RX 6800 serves as another viable choice with comparable performance. A 7600xt operates much more slowly compared to a 7700xt, while a 6700xt/6750xt offers better speed. A 7800xt is also listed for reference.