First timer, almost ready to pull the trigger!

[Ryryess]

Hello all! This is my first build! I have been doing research for a few months now and I’m about ready to pull the trigger! I’ve also been stalking the forums for the few days so I don’t commit any faux pas! 

 

1. Budget & Location

Id like to be under $500USD but I can go over by $50-60 if there’s a really compelling reason to do so, I live in rural Illinois (US)

 

2. Aim

No gaming really, just doing research online, writing/taking notes. The most heavy-duty thing is I’ll be using handbrake to convert my dvd/blu-ray collection to back-up and store. Eventually it will also serve as a plex server to host those videos.

 

This is my starting point, I want a system that will allow me to upgrade parts as needed.
 

3. Monitors

I will use 1 1080p monitor I currently already use. Eventually I may get a graphics card with 2 hdmi ports for two monitors (both higher res than 1080)

 

4. Peripherals

I have a mouse and keyboard, also have a copy and key for windows.

 

5. Why are you upgrading?

Tried using handbrake on my laptop. Don’t want to run it’s cpu at 100% for 200 movies/tv shows. (It’s a i7 8550u) it does everything I ask of it well...except video transcoding.

 

 

 

PCPartPicker parts list:

 

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 3.4 GHz 6-Core Processor  ($119.00 @ Amazon)

 

Seems to be the best value CPU 

 

 

Motherboard: ASRock B450M PRO4 Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard  ($69.89 @ OutletPC) 

 

I don’t have any idea what I need here, this one seems to have good compatibility with better CPUs, and is a smaller size to fit a smaller case. Should I go for a x470 or 570? Or is B450 going to be ok? Definitely open to any suggestions here. 

 

 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory  ($41.99 @ Newegg) 

 

This seems like the minimum I should be starting with. Question: the mobo has 4 ram slots, Can I mix ram speeds and sizes? Would there be any negative to adding 16GB(2x8) of higher frequency ram?

 

 

Storage: PNY CS900 240 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($29.99 @ Amazon) 

 

Again, this is just a temporary drive, i will soon replace it with a Samsung m.2 drive that I can trust and depend on. 

    I also have a decent HDD laying around to get me going, I will be adding 2-3TB seagate barracuda drives to store videos. 

 

Video Card: MSI GeForce GT 710 2 GB Low Profile Video Card  ($45.99 @ Amazon) 

 

All I need is an hdmi out, nothing fancy. Eventually I may get a decent card that has 2 hdmi outputs

 

 

Case: Fractal Design Focus G Mini MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($58.99 @ Newegg) 

 

Looks ok, on the smaller side(which I like), decent reviews, comes with fans

 

 

Power Supply: Corsair CXM (2015) 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply  ($58.44 @ OutletPC) 

 

It’s a brand I know of, modularity should help a novice like me keep things tidy

 

 

Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN725N USB 2.0 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi Adapter  ($7.99 @ Amazon) 

 

Should be fine for me, my only internet source is my phone hotspot. Will use a wired connection once I’m ready to set up plex.

 

Total: $432.28

 

Thanks in advance for your help guys, any and all suggestions are appreciated!

[Firewrath9]

Get a PCIe wifi adapter, its much much faster.

use pcpartpicker.com, perhaps get a slightly better case (define C mini TG/meshify C mini TG), with glass, Perhaps start out with a 2400G or a intel CPU as they have integrated graphics so you won't have to waste 50$.

[Ryryess]

How will the lack of two cores impact video transcoding? Also will not having ‘simultaneous multithreading’ have any noticeable effect?

[Firewrath9]

also,  you can mix 2x4 and 2x8, but the speed will go at the slowest speed, so if you have 2x4 3200mhz, and 2x8 2400mhz, it will go at 2400mhz.

IMO, just spend 58$ and get 16GB of 2666mhz ram, you can always OC ram.

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD Ryzen 3 2200G 3.5 GHz Quad-Core Processor	$79.89 @ OutletPC
Motherboard	ASRock B450M PRO4 Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard	$69.89 @ OutletPC
Memory	Patriot Signature Premium 16 GB (1 x 16 GB) DDR4-2666 Memory	$57.99 @ Amazon
Storage	Team GX2 256 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive	$27.99 @ Newegg
Case	Fractal Design Define Mini C TG MicroATX Mid Tower Case	$87.99 @ Amazon
Power Supply	Corsair CXM (2015) 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply	$58.44 @ OutletPC
Wireless Network Adapter	Asus PCE-AC55BT B1 PCIe x1 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Adapter	$34.89 @ OutletPC
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total (before mail-in rebates)	$457.08
	Mail-in rebates	-$40.00
	Total	$417.08
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-10-03 21:09 EDT-0400

I'd reccommend against samsung m.2 drives as they are often much more (50% or more) for the same performance, other companies offer equally good drives with equally good reliablity for a lower price.

 

The 2200G is weaker than the 2600, but at half the price of a 2600 and a video card, its not half the performance.

 

[Ryryess]

For upgrading ram, will adding another 16GB stick In the future function the same as if I had bought them together?

I had read that if you plan on upgrading to a better graphics card then the integrated graphics would be a hindrance. (I also plan to use that cheap card in my parents older pc that only has vga. So it’s not entirely a waste)

 

also are there any inexpensive($120ish) cards that would allow me to run a 4K tv/multiple monitors ?

[Fasauceome]

12 minutes ago, Ryryess said:

For upgrading ram, will adding another 16GB stick In the future function the same as if I had bought them together?

no, as with only one stick of memory you're stuck with half the bandwidth

 

12 minutes ago, Ryryess said:

I had read that if you plan on upgrading to a better graphics card then the integrated graphics would be a hindrance.

technically you lose half the PCIe bandwidth, but that doesn't have any tangible impact on gaming performance.

 

13 minutes ago, Ryryess said:

also are there any inexpensive($120ish) cards that would allow me to run a 4K tv/multiple monitors ?

RX 570, might as well shoot for an 8GB model

 

also remember to quote us or use @Firewrath9 so we see your responses

[dizmo]

For your use, I'd probably just spend a little more now and do this:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3400G 3.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($144.85 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock B450M/AC Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard  ($89.69 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory  ($67.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: HP EX950 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive  ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($45.98 @ B&H)
Power Supply: Corsair CXM (2015) 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply  ($57.60 @ Newegg)
Total: $541.10
 

It's an extra $100, but you get better WiFi, 16GB of RAM, and a fast 1TB SSD. You could save a little money by getting a SATA drive.

 

48 minutes ago, Firewrath9 said:

also,  you can mix 2x4 and 2x8, but the speed will go at the slowest speed, so if you have 2x4 3200mhz, and 2x8 2400mhz, it will go at 2400mhz.

IMO, just spend 58$ and get 16GB of 2666mhz ram, you can always OC ram.

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD Ryzen 3 2200G 3.5 GHz Quad-Core Processor	$79.89 @ OutletPC
Motherboard	ASRock B450M PRO4 Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard	$69.89 @ OutletPC
Memory	Patriot Signature Premium 16 GB (1 x 16 GB) DDR4-2666 Memory	$57.99 @ Amazon
Storage	Team GX2 256 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive	$27.99 @ Newegg
Case	Fractal Design Define Mini C TG MicroATX Mid Tower Case	$87.99 @ Amazon
Power Supply	Corsair CXM (2015) 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply	$58.44 @ OutletPC
Wireless Network Adapter	Asus PCE-AC55BT B1 PCIe x1 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Adapter	$34.89 @ OutletPC
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total (before mail-in rebates)	$457.08
	Mail-in rebates	-$40.00
	Total	$417.08
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-10-03 21:09 EDT-0400

I'd reccommend against samsung m.2 drives as they are often much more (50% or more) for the same performance, other companies offer equally good drives with equally good reliablity for a lower price. The 2200G is weaker than the 2600, but at half the price of a 2600 and a video card, its not half the performance.

OC'ing RAM is a royal pain in the ass, and going with single channel RAM on Ryzen, let alone with integrated graphics, is going to kneecap it's performance.

[Firewrath9]

27 minutes ago, dizmo said:

For your use, I'd probably just spend a little more now and do this:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3400G 3.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($144.85 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock B450M/AC Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard  ($89.69 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory  ($67.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: HP EX950 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive  ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($45.98 @ B&H)
Power Supply: Corsair CXM (2015) 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply  ($57.60 @ Newegg)
Total: $541.10
 

It's an extra $100, but you get better WiFi, 16GB of RAM, and a fast 1TB SSD. You could save a little money by getting a SATA drive.

 

OC'ing RAM is a royal pain in the ass, and going with single channel RAM on Ryzen, let alone with integrated graphics, is going to kneecap it's performance.

oh I didn't realize it was single channel OP, get dual channel

[Ryryess]

NP @Firewrath9  

ok I updated my spec sheet and the mobo that has WiFi and Bluetooth already on there are worth the $20, adding a rx 580 8gb gives me dual monitors a bit early so that’s a plus. And it only puts me $50 over. @dizmo

 

[Ryryess]

@Firewrath9 is there a reason you changed the ssd to a ‘team gx2’ over the ‘pny’

[Ryryess]

@Firewrath9 is there a reason you changed the ssd to a ‘team gx2’ over the ‘pny’

[Firewrath9]

9 hours ago, Ryryess said:

@Firewrath9 is there a reason you changed the ssd to a ‘team gx2’ over the ‘pny’

its a little cheaper, both are fine

 

9 hours ago, Ryryess said:

NP @Firewrath9  

ok I updated my spec sheet and the mobo that has WiFi and Bluetooth already on there are worth the $20, adding a rx 580 8gb gives me dual monitors a bit early so that’s a plus. And it only puts me $50 over. @dizmo

 

I'd reccommend getting a RX 570, its ~40$ cheaper and basically as good. 

Have fun with your new build!