Shockers87

Are you gaming or video editing? Photo editing really does not benefit from a gpu after a certain point, ram will affect the performance more than a 560x vs 1660ti.

I would check the programs, a lot of programmers use/love MacOS.

If you are will to go MacOS your describing a macbook pro almost to a tee. If you are going to get mac I would wait until after the apple event on Sept 10.

I would create a new thread. Does jbl have a set of home speakers? I have only heard them in regards to cars. Dont just get audiophile stuff just because you want audiophile stuff go with what you like hearing not what people say you should like. Unless you are planning on making music in the near future on these speakers you dont need audiophile or your room treated. Every person is different, because you like jbl I would avoid audiophile type stuff, go with pioneer or jbl if there is any. Bose has a more flat sound so you hear every detail but doesn't make any details pop, so jbl sounds better to most as the bass and highs pop but mids are muddled from my experience. I would get an amp as because its upgradable/modular so say you want a new subwoofer you dont have to buy a whole new set of speakers. If you have room for an external DAC get one but again speaker ports on your pc are good enough for consumer grade stuff if you do go audiophile.

I would spend around 400-500 USD if you are looking for a speakers plus receiver bundle. I have a pioneer set for my record player. Every brand has their own upsides but for entry level I would look at sony or pioneer, I love bose but the are crazy expensive (My fathers bose set still has great sound quality and works like its new 30 years later). I have had great experience with my pioneer but reading the reviews on my set it really varies.

You'd easily be able to run freenas and plex it is just idk how much power you would have leftover with all that running. I am a bit biased with the audio interface vs sound card as I produce music in my free time and ai usually produce flatter sounds which is need to get the right mix (and have more mic inputs). It really depends on the person though, if you like bass and more consumer based stuff id get a sound card but if you are going for sound quality or are getting high end/bookshelf speakers, get the interface imo.

You are asking a lot of one server. It is almost overkill as a nas as it will take a lot of electricity compared to a regular nas. I would look into freenas and plex (for media). If you are getting a sound card get an audio interface not a sound card, a lot better quality of sound for the money. I don't have too much experience with servers but I fix the ones at my job from time to time and you are asking a lot of one server. Hopefully someone else will reply as well who has more experience of actually setting up a server/nas then fixing one.

What are you trying to ask? You want a monitor but then you say you don't have the budget to get one? A standard 1080p display would be best if your gaming as the low end graphics card isn't able to push out a lot of frames. If your not gaming then it really depends on your budget.

If you already have a laptop to use in class, why wouldn't you get a desktop? You would get a lot better value for your money/better performance. Something like this, I included a 144hz monitor as I assumed you didn't have one. PCPartPicker Part List Type Item Price CPU AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 3.6 GHz 8-Core Processor $459.99 @ Memory Express Motherboard MSI B450 TOMAHAWK ATX AM4 Motherboard $149.99 @ Memory Express Memory Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory $105.99 @ Newegg Canada Storage Samsung 860 Evo 500 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive $99.99 @ Amazon Canada Storage Western Digital Caviar Blue 1 TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive $53.50 @ Vuugo Video Card Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8 GB WINDFORCE OC Video Card $669.00 @ Powertop Case Phanteks P300 ATX Mid Tower Case $74.99 @ Powertop Power Supply Corsair RMx (2018) 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply $124.99 @ Amazon Canada Monitor Acer GN246HL 24.0" 1920x1080 144 Hz Monitor $249.99 @ Memory Express Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts Total $1988.43 Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-08-16 10:16 EDT-0400

At that budget I would replace the battery. Your MBP would probably perform better or the same for laptops in that range. Check if your laptops is one of the 2015s being recalled for battery issues.

I haven't played in a while but do you still have to allocate ram to it? if so I would increase the allocation and see what happens.

If buying used yes, but if you are buying new, you can get a lot better and save money. Don't buy a sound card. If its for gaming it will make no difference. If you are editing audio get something like the focusrite scarlett. PCPartPicker Part List Type Item Price CPU AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 3.6 GHz 8-Core Processor $329.00 @ B&H CPU Cooler Noctua NH-U12S 55 CFM CPU Cooler $57.99 @ Amazon Motherboard MSI MPG X570 GAMING EDGE WIFI ATX AM4 Motherboard $199.89 @ OutletPC Memory Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory $84.99 @ Amazon Storage Samsung 860 Evo 1 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive $139.99 @ Amazon Video Card Asus GeForce GTX 1070 Ti 8 GB CERBERUS Video Card Case Fractal Design Define S ATX Mid Tower Case Power Supply EVGA SuperNOVA G3 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply $105.98 @ Newegg Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts Total (before mail-in rebates) $967.84 Mail-in rebates -$50.00 Total $917.84 Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-08-09 08:15 EDT-0400

Watch a couple how to build a pc from people like linus and austin evans and you'll be fine with building it. I had good luck with cyberpower with my old desktop. I would build something similar to this PCPartPicker Part List Type Item Price CPU AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor $199.00 @ B&H Motherboard Asus TUF B450M-PLUS GAMING Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard $79.99 @ Newegg Memory G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory $67.99 @ Newegg Storage Crucial MX500 1 TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive $109.89 @ OutletPC Video Card Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER 8 GB WINDFORCE OC Video Card $399.99 @ SuperBiiz Case NZXT H500 ATX Mid Tower Case $69.99 @ Best Buy Power Supply EVGA SuperNOVA G3 550 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply $89.89 @ OutletPC Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts Total (before mail-in rebates) $1056.74 Mail-in rebates -$40.00 Total $1016.74 Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-08-07 08:33 EDT-0400

What is your budget?

Look at lenovo website they have a decent back to school sale that matches those prices or less and you can customize the specs to your liking