PC for Gaming and Software Development

ABBDVD · November 8, 2020

Budget (including currency): USD 3500 (doesn't have to be used all)

Country: Switzerland (no need to compare prices specifically for my country - generally everything available that's around in Europe)

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: Software Development, Anno 1800, COD MW, want to try out Shadow of the Tomb Raider with Ray Tracing

Other details: Ideally want to keep it a small midi tower (or smaller) that fits my suitcase for LAN parties. Due to working from home I intend to setup Win10 dual boot with Linux for work, instead of swapping between work laptop and my current tower for after work. Due to working in a small company we're allowed to do BYOD and we get a budget for it.

Current Build (only private use):

Monitor: LG 34GN850-B (intending to add a second vertical 1440p screen sometime soon for productivity)

CPU: i7-6700k

CPU Cooler: Corsair H110i GT

Motherboard: Gigabyte Z170MX-Gaming 5

RAM: 2x8GB 3200MHz CL16

GPU: GTX 970

Case: Corsair 350D

HDD: 3TB 7200RPM

SSD: Samsung SM951 512GB NVMe

PSU: BeQuiet Straight Power E7 700W (from 2010)

Currently proposed build

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 3.7 GHz 12-Core Processor	$600.00
CPU Cooler	Noctua NH-D15S 82.52 CFM CPU Cooler	$79.90 @ Amazon
Motherboard	MSI MAG B550M MORTAR WIFI Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard	$169.99 @ B&H
Memory	Crucial Ballistix 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL16 Memory	$149.99 @ B&H
Memory	Crucial Ballistix 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL16 Memory	$149.99 @ B&H
Storage	Corsair MP600 Force Series Gen4 2 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive	$359.99 @ Amazon
Video Card	Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 10 GB EAGLE OC Video Card	$890.00
Case	Corsair 350D Window MicroATX Mid Tower Case	Purchased For $0.00
Power Supply	SeaSonic FOCUS 750 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply	$144.99 @ Amazon
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total	$2544.85
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-11-08 06:27 EST-0500

Reasoning on some of the things and some notes:

Case: Planning to take over the Corsair 350D atm. I unfortunately missed the release of the meshed front (which I just discovered today) and can't find any for sale anywhere. I'm considering just to DYI drill holes to create a mesh, leave it as it is or also to get a new case.

CPU & CPU Cooler: I ordered the 5900X directly at release and current delivery is estimated to be end of December. Can still cancel of course. I'm not happy with the performance and loudness of the H110i GT. I think the mount doesn't have good contact, but I redid it twice and never got it to work better. Would be open to give another AIO ashot, but the NH-D15S should be a pretty good fit in size and performance as well and from what I read the performance of AIO's vs large air coolers is similar of air cooled even slightly better.

GPU: Regarding the RTX 3080 Eagle, a retailer got confirmation on incoming stock of that one and I by chance saw it quickyl and thus ordered, so that should arrive in ~1 week. The eagle was not necessarily the one model I really wanted but it's one of the less expensive ones and difference between models is apparently not large anyway. I'll probably wait for AMD 6800xt release, try to order one directly, look at reviews and then return/cancel the one I don't want.

Motherboard: I discovered that X570 mATX motherboards basically don't exist and I would think the B550M Mortar does the job as well. ITX boards seem to be a bit limiting and quite a bit more expensive.

PSU: After ~10 years I think a new PSU might not be a bad idea, especially given the 3080 would be pushing it hard. Also modular cables...

RAM: I'm maxing out the 32GB on my work laptop occasionally, so that's why going for 64GB.

I'm definitely intending to tinker a bit with a small OC on the memory timings and also CPU if there turn out to be reasonable options - probably going to try out the Clock Tuner for Ryzen once there's an update for Zen 3.

Edited November 8, 2020 by ABBBDVD

boggy77 · November 8, 2020

Sounds like a good plan. Are you sure you need 64gb ram? I would have though 32gb are enough. If you need 64, go for a 2x32gb kit.

As for motherboard, look at the asus b550 tuf as well

ABBDVD · November 8, 2020

30 minutes ago, boggy77 said:

Sounds like a good plan. Are you sure you need 64gb ram? I would have though 32gb are enough. If you need 64, go for a 2x32gb kit.

As for motherboard, look at the asus b550 tuf as well

I compared the B550M TUF and Mortar when I made my list and while the TUF has more IO (USB ports really) the Mortar has enough for my uses and apparently better VRM, one more fan header and the second x16 PCIe is actually usable and won't be completely covered by the GPU (although I don't have need for it atm, so a bit of a moot point). Do you know of any reasons why I should go for the TUF instead? I think I recall the BIOS being a bit nicer to use? I'm hoping to get some of the parts on Black Friday / Cyber Monday, so for the motherboard I might for either if it's on a discount.

Also apparently 4 RAM sticks is the way to go with Zen 3. Steve did a video on this because that appears to be the reason why many reviews reported quite different performance stats.

ABBDVD · November 8, 2020

Just saw this post on MSI B550 and X570 motherboards not working well with higher cocked RAM in combination with Zen 3. Guess I'll tend to the Asus board unless MSI can fix it with a BIOS update.

boggy77 · November 8, 2020

Wasn't aware of all of these, looks like you're better informed then me. In that case go with 4 sticks and an asus board. The b550 strix is also a good option

ABBDVD · November 8, 2020

Apparently as I learned in the following thread it looks like for performance it's less the 4 sticks that matter, but having 2 ranks per RAM channel. I think I'll also start off with 2x 16GB ram sticks and can still add more later.

PS: Interested on thoughts regarding the case, airflow, cooling, etc