Ryzen Daily Driver

Gaming_Groove · April 12, 2017

Hello everyone! This will be my first build in a very long time. I'm looking to replace an old laptop I've been using as my daily driver that just isn't up to the task anymore. I'm finding I don't really need something portable anymore because my phone handles most things well enough.

This setup will be used as an all-rounder. I plan to do some gaming and video/audio/image work. There are some odd choices here that I'll explain, but first, the part list:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1500X 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($188.98 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock AB350M-HDV Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($69.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($118.95 @ Amazon)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow UV400 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($50.49 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon RX 480 4GB RS Video Card ($224.95 @ Amazon)
Case: Thermaltake Core V21 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($57.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($56.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case Fan: Corsair CO-9050017-WLED 66.4 CFM 140mm Fan ($13.30 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VP228H 21.5" 1920x1080 60Hz Monitor ($109.00 @ Jet)
Keyboard: Logitech K270 Wireless Gaming Keyboard ($30.98 @ Newegg)
Other: XFX Hard Swap Fan Kit - White Model MA-AP01-WLED ($19.99 @ Best Buy)
Other: MonMount Single LCD Monitor VESA Desk Stand - Height Adjustable, Black (LCD-6410B) ($45.98 @ Amazon)
Total: $1070.36
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-04-12 07:47 EDT-0400

First let's talk about my setup. I've chosen a cube case, the smallest 1080p monitor with speakers I could find, and a wireless keyboard because this PC will be set up on a large side table next to my living room sofa. The monitor will be set up on my coffee table, so I've added a vesa stand to lower it as much as possible so I can still see over it. I want as few cables going to the table as possible. I have studio monitor headphones for audio work, so I'm fine using built-in speakers for casual use and switching to headphones as needed.

For performance I'm going with Ryzen because it should give me decent gaming performance while not sacrificing workstation performance. The RX 480 with a white fan kit for looks should perform well at 1080p and do OK for openCL accelerated tasks. The CPU cooler is there for some decent overclocking if I decide I want to squeeze a bit more out of the rig. I've got a wireless card to throw in for ac WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.

For overall appearance, I'm going with a black and white theme because it is easy and won't look too gaudy in my living room. Maybe I'll call it the tuxedo build.

So with all that said (sorry for the wordy post) I'm open to suggestions. I don't want to spend more than $1100 US if possible for the setup Pre-OS. I've struggled with choosing the right CPU between the i5 7500, Ryzen 5 1400, and the Ryzen 5 1500x. Thoughts and comments are welcome and appreciated. Thanks for reading my overly specific and long post. =)