AMD Zen Build?!

[jappypack]

Hello people of the linustechtips forum. I'm a teen who's planning to build a computer, and this is my first time. I'm highly interested in computing etc, but currently I'm using a laptop which has an Ivy-bridge i5 mobile processor (Intel HD Potato Graphics) and 4GB of DDR3 RAM; I really don't like laptops as they overheat and I generally prefer using desktops. It was running Windows 10 but the upgrade has been giving me issues and instead of reinstalling Windows, I installed Ubuntu in dual-boot, as I find it more-optimized for the hardware. I still prefer Windows though, due to the fact that it's the mainstream OS and so gets more compatibility; not that I dislike Linux by any means.

but it's time to get to the point. I'm planning to go AMD, as they are going to come out with the Zen architecture next year. I have, sort of, created a draft for the build.

CPU: AMD Zen 4 core 8 threads (Summit Ridge)

Motherboard: AM4 B350

RAM: 8GB DDR4

GPU: RX 470

Storage: 1TB WD Blue + 120GB SSD

PSU: Thermaltake 530W Modular PSU

Case: CiT Neptune

The 4-core Summit-Ridge processor should fulfill my needs. I wouldn't classify myself as a "hardcore gamer", and I'm probably going to practice software development on the machine. Zen has boasted an improvement on the IPC, and with 4 cores and 8 threads, the processor shouldn't be too different from say, an i5. Either way, it shouldn't be a bottleneck for the RX 470 (I don't need the RX 480 as I don't plan on VR or 1440p gaming), and the Simultaneous Multi-threading is one reason why I'd buy it over intel considering it's going to be an i5-equivalent. I'd guess this rig is a "mainstream" build as AMD quoted in the slideshow of their motherboards. I'm not too bothered on having only 120GB of SSD storage, although I would (obviously) appreciate more SSD storage/faster (NVMe) storage, that's just out of my budget and I don't really need it in the first place; I've had an SSD before (unless you count flash-storage) so this should be quite interesting for me. As for the case, I don't need a tempered-glass, RGB lighted case, so the one I generally listed should do the job.

AMD Zen (and Intel Kaby Lake) won't support Windows 7 unfortunately, so it looks like I'll have to get a Windows 10 key but it shouldn't be as bad considering I'm doing a clean install (I could reinstall it on my current laptop, but I'm fine using Ubuntu on that machine.)

Oh, and I'm hoping that AMD's processors will cost similar, or lower than intel's as they need to stop the monopoly.

So, I'd like to hear some tips since as I said, this is my first PC build and I can't wait to upgrade from my potato laptop/ascend from the potato ps4 graphics!

Edited November 6, 2016 by jappypack
Forgot to add PSU

[Legolessed]

2 minutes ago, jappypack said:

Hello people of the linustechtips forum. I'm a teen who's planning to build a computer, and this is my first time. I'm highly interested in computing etc, but currently I'm using a laptop which has an Ivy-bridge i5 mobile processor (Intel HD Potato Graphics) and 4GB of DDR3 RAM; I really don't like laptops as they overheat and I generally prefer using desktops. It was running Windows 10 but the upgrade has been giving me issues and instead of reinstalling Windows, I installed Ubuntu in dual-boot, as I find it more-optimized for the hardware. I still prefer Windows though, due to the fact that it's the mainstream OS and so gets more compatibility; not that I dislike Linux by any means.

but it's time to get to the point. I'm planning to go AMD, as they are going to come out with the Zen architecture next year. I have, sort of, created a draft for the build.

CPU: AMD Zen 4 core 8 threads (Summit Ridge)

Motherboard: AM4 B350

RAM: 8GB DDR4

GPU: RX 470

Storage: 1TB WD Blue + 120GB SSD

Case: CiT Neptune

The 4-core Summit-Ridge processor should fulfill my needs. I wouldn't classify myself as a "hardcore gamer", and I'm probably going to practice software development on the machine. Zen has boasted an improvement on the IPC, and with 4 cores and 8 threads, the processor shouldn't be too different from say, an i5. Either way, it shouldn't be a bottleneck for the RX 470 (I don't need the RX 480 as I don't plan on VR or 1440p gaming), and the Simultaneous Multi-threading is one reason why I'd buy it over intel considering it's going to be an i5-equivalent. I'd guess this rig is a "mainstream" build as AMD quoted in the slideshow of their motherboards. I'm not too bothered on having only 120GB of SSD storage, although I would (obviously) appreciate more SSD storage/faster (NVMe) storage, that's just out of my budget and I don't really need it in the first place; I've had an SSD before (unless you count flash-storage) so this should be quite interesting for me. As for the case, I don't need a tempered-glass, RGB lighted case, so the one I generally listed should do the job.

AMD Zen (and Intel Kaby Lake) won't support Windows 7 unfortunately, so it looks like I'll have to get a Windows 10 key but it shouldn't be as bad considering I'm doing a clean install (I could reinstall it on my current laptop, but I'm fine using Ubuntu on that machine.)

Oh, and I'm hoping that AMD's processors will cost similar, or lower than intel's as they need to stop the monopoly.

So, I'd like to hear some tips since as I said, this is my first PC build and I can't wait to upgrade from my potato laptop/ascend from the potato ps4 graphics!

seems pretty solid. im really escited for zen myself, but probably for a different reason. Right now intel is the dominate company in cpu's which allows them to sell their cpu's for as high as $1700 us which is insane. when amd releases zen, which will hopefully compete with intel, then intel will be forced to drive their prices down making system builds more affordable to the community.

[Guest]

7 minutes ago, jappypack said:

AMD Zen (and Intel Kaby Lake) won't support Windows 7 unfortunately,

Wait, what?!?

[jappypack]

Just now, Dutch-stoner said:

Wait, what?!?

Search it on google to see for yourself, but apparently the new processors simply won't support operating systems older than Windows 10. I'm not sure how this is, but I'm guessing it's driver-wise.

[Guest]

"Also note, that tying Kaby Lake and Zen to Windows 10 doesn’t preclude users from installing other operating systems, obviously. Older versions of Windows and alternative operating systems will still install and run on Kaby Lake and Zen – they are X86 processors, after all. Older versions of Windows won’t be optimized for the platforms and won’t receive future updates, however. It's no different than running Windows XP on a Skylake-based CPU today."

 

http://hothardware.com/news/microsoft-to-optimize-windows-10-for-kaby-lake-and-zen

 

So it should work, just not optimized within windows 7 (for example).

[jappypack]

Just now, Dutch-stoner said:

"Also note, that tying Kaby Lake and Zen to Windows 10 doesn’t preclude users from installing other operating systems, obviously. Older versions of Windows and alternative operating systems will still install and run on Kaby Lake and Zen – they are X86 processors, after all. Older versions of Windows won’t be optimized for the platforms and won’t receive future updates, however. It's no different than running Windows XP on a Skylake-based CPU today."

 

http://hothardware.com/news/microsoft-to-optimize-windows-10-for-kaby-lake-and-zen

 

So it should work, just not optimized within windows 7 (for example).

That's what I thought was the case, if drivers count lol

[Guest]

I would just try to run your favorite OS first. If it does not work properly, you might want to try windows 10, and try to "fix" it. (take out all the bloatware, privacy compromizing crap and install classicshell)

[jappypack]

4 minutes ago, Dutch-stoner said:

I would just try to run your favorite OS first. If it does not work properly, you might want to try windows 10, and try to "fix" it. (take out all the bloatware, privacy compromizing crap and install classicshell)

I have tried fixing it, to be specific, repairing the OS (which has improved the startup time) but I keep getting blue screens of death when doing something heavy on the resources - and on the blue screen it does say a kernel error, which is why I have concluded that reinstallation would fix it.

However, as I said, I'm fine using Ubuntu on this laptop as it fulfills the basic needs of the system, as it can't really do much. It's not for gaming; it can barely run TF2 at low settings, which may be playable, but that's why an upgrade would be welcome.

Windows may be my favourite OS, but the OS isn't the case here.

Well, I'm going to list why I'm going to build a PC in the first place:

1) For improved performance

2) For improved performance

3) Because I prefer to use desktop in general

4) To use mechanical keyboards

5) Because I'm a computer nerd and want to build a PC for the experience

6) For improved performance

Yes, most of these points can be achieved on a laptop, but desktop simply does it better, and cheaper most of the time.