Long-term build configuration ideas

Hey,

I could use some help putting a build together.
I don't have a strict budget, but I want to hit that sweet spot of a current market "best buy."

Requirements:
- An Intel processor (Core i5 or Core i7)—not sure if I should go with 9th or 10th gen, so please advise.

- An NVIDIA graphics card—I'm not an AMD fan. I'm not a heavy gamer, but I need something decent (like a GTX 1660 Super or similar). Buying an RTX 20xx right now feels like a waste since I don't play much, but still...

- Case—just nothing that looks like a Christmas tree. Something understated, like a Fortron CMT260 or a Gigabyte C200.

- Motherboard—no clue here. I currently use a Gigabyte and I've been happy with it; it's lasted 10 years without any issues.

- Power Supply—just anything BUT Corsair. I've already swapped two of theirs, and both died right after the warranty expired. (A Fortron 700W Hyper K seems okay, but I'm no expert, so help me out.)

- RAM—16GB (no idea which brand... recommendations welcome).

- SSD—512 GB. Looking for something reliable from a proven manufacturer, like Samsung or WD.

Note: I have zero intention of overclocking anything.☕

UPDATE: I use this computer every single day with Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Visual Studio, 3-4 Excel sheets, 2-3 Word docs, two browsers with about 10 tabs each, Skype, and Aris all running simultaneously.

Thanks.🙂

If you're looking at the long game, I’d honestly suggest holding off until the Zen 3 architecture drops (it's slated for October 8th).
It's also a tricky time to buy a GPU since we're right on the edge of a new generation. We might see an RTX 3060 hit the shelves this fall, but expect that to cost upwards of $1000. Anything lower than that probably won't show up this year.

EDIT

To be blunt, Intel isn't exactly the powerhouse it used to be, even in Photoshop—a field where they used to rule supreme. For instance, a much pricier Core i5 10600K isn't significantly better than a Ryzen 5 3600, and the next generation is expected to absolutely crush them both given the rumored 15% IPC jump. And Photoshop is one of those rare programs that still gives Intel a bit of an edge.

https://static.techspot.com/articles...otoshop-p.webp

I have to be honest, AMD just isn't on my radar right now—not even worth the wait. I'm looking to pull the trigger on a new build by the end of the month, so any advice or recommendations would be appreciated.
Thanks

I’m also looking for some recommendations on a gaming motherboard and CPU combo.
I was thinking about going with a 10th Gen Core i5 and a Z390 motherboard.
When it comes to gaming, Intel just feels like my number one choice...

10th gen won't fit in a Z390 because that uses the LGA1200 socket, not this one.

From there, you really only have one CPU option that makes sense for your build: the Core i5 10600K. If you decide to go with a Z490 motherboard, I’d suggest skipping the cheaper AsRock models—they've really gone downhill lately.




At the end of the day, it all just comes down to your budget.

Kimberly Gomez34 said:10th gen won't fit in a Z390 because that uses the LGA1200 socket, not this one.

From there, you really only have one CPU option that makes sense for your build: the Core i5 10600K. If you decide to go with a Z490 motherboard, I’d suggest skipping the cheaper AsRock models—they've really gone downhill lately.

At the end of the day, it all just comes down to your budget.

Thanks.
One more thing...
If I went with a Z390 board using a Core i5 9600K, how much future-proofing am I actually getting?
Also, do you have any experience buying from Best Buy?

Honestly, I think that’s a crazy move. Unless someone is handing you a used one for dirt cheap, it just doesn't make sense. Even right now, we all know the current LGA1200 socket won't stay relevant for much longer—one more generation comes out in a few months and it's basically dead. And don't even get me started on the older 1151v2 socket.

The Core i5 9600K might still be a decent gaming CPU, but it isn't exactly future-proof, nor is it worth the money at these price points. Plus, your upgrade paths are limited and overpriced compared to what you could get with something brand new. There's also the issue that old sockets vanish from store shelves pretty quickly; if your motherboard dies, for example, you'll be hunting for used parts, which is rare and expensive.

http://forum.pcekspert.com/showthread.php?t=272026

Kimberly Gomez34 said:Honestly, I think that’s a crazy move. Unless someone is handing you a used one for dirt cheap, it just doesn't make sense. Even right now, we all know the current LGA1200 socket won't stay relevant for much longer—one more generation comes out in a few months and it's basically dead. And don't even get me started on the older 1151v2 socket.

The Core i5 9600K might still be a decent gaming CPU, but it isn't exactly future-proof, nor is it worth the money at these price points. Plus, your upgrade paths are limited and overpriced compared to what you could get with something brand new. There's also the issue that old sockets vanish from store shelves pretty quickly; if your motherboard dies, for example, you'll be hunting for used parts, which is rare and expensive.

http://forum.pcekspert.com/showthread.php?t=272026

Thanks,
which motherboard would you suggest for a Ryzen 5 3600?

Carl Bennett8 said:Thanks,
which motherboard would you suggest for a Ryzen 5 3600?

Check out this thread

Sure, you could always go more expensive. If you're dropping more than $333 on a motherboard, the options change completely.

Kenneth Ortiz4 said:Hey,

I could use some help putting a build together.
I don't have a strict budget, but I want to hit that sweet spot of a current market "best buy."

Requirements:
- An Intel processor (Core i5 or Core i7)—not sure if I should go with 9th or 10th gen, so please advise.

- An NVIDIA graphics card—I'm not an AMD fan. I'm not a heavy gamer, but I need something decent (like a GTX 1660 Super or similar). Buying an RTX 20xx right now feels like a waste since I don't play much, but still...

- Case—just nothing that looks like a Christmas tree. Something understated, like a Fortron CMT260 or a Gigabyte C200.

- Motherboard—no clue here. I currently use a Gigabyte and I've been happy with it; it's lasted 10 years without any issues.

- Power Supply—just anything BUT Corsair. I've already swapped two of theirs, and both died right after the warranty expired. (A Fortron 700W Hyper K seems okay, but I'm no expert, so help me out.)

- RAM—16GB (no idea which brand... recommendations welcome).

- SSD—512 GB. Looking for something reliable from a proven manufacturer, like Samsung or WD.

Note: I have zero intention of overclocking anything.☕

UPDATE: I use this computer every single day with Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Visual Studio, 3-4 Excel sheets, 2-3 Word docs, two browsers with about 10 tabs each, Skype, and Aris all running simultaneously.

Thanks.🙂

Nobody?

Kenneth Ortiz4 said:Nobody?

It's hard to give an answer when calling an i5 a "best buy" for what you need is basically an oxymoron.
Kimberly Gomez34 already gave you some input regarding your CPU choice.

Kenneth Ortiz4 said:Nobody?

If I were in your shoes, I’d go with the Core i5 9600K paired with a Z390 A-Pro model.
You can handle the rest of the build yourself...

wiredotter14 said:It's hard to give an answer when calling an i5 a "best buy" for what you need is basically an oxymoron.
Kimberly Gomez34 already gave you some input regarding your CPU choice.

I don't see why I would be...
I provided guidelines (the i5 tier) and used the term "best buy" in that context...
If someone tells me, "Look, you absolutely have to go with 10th gen because of X and Y," then fine—I'll listen.
I'm reading through here that I should avoid ASRock motherboards—fine, so which brand actually makes good ones? (I'm not interested in paying extra for RGB lights or overclocking capabilities since I don't do that, but I still don't want junk)
I'm not exactly up to speed on power supplies either, so I'm looking for recommendations there too... (just nothing from Corsair, I've had three bad experiences with them)
What about RAM and SSDs?

Kenneth Ortiz4 said:I don't see why I would be...
I provided guidelines (the i5 tier) and used the term "best buy" in that context...
If someone tells me, "Look, you absolutely have to go with 10th gen because of X and Y," then fine—I'll listen.
I'm reading through here that I should avoid ASRock motherboards—fine, so which brand actually makes good ones? (I'm not interested in paying extra for RGB lights or overclocking capabilities since I don't do that, but I still don't want junk)
I'm not exactly up to speed on power supplies either, so I'm looking for recommendations there too... (just nothing from Corsair, I've had three bad experiences with them)
What about RAM and SSDs?

It's just that the Core i5 10600K, especially without OC, isn't a best buy.
But fine....
Tell me if memory speed actually matters to you.
The only way to avoid paying for overclocking features you won't even use is to grab a B460 chipset motherboard. But on the LGA1200 platform, only the Z490 chipset supports Memory OC, so with an i5 processor, you're stuck with 2666MHz memory.

wiredotter14 said:Check out this thread

Sure, you could always go more expensive. If you're dropping more than $333 on a motherboard, the options change completely.

When it comes down to power delivery,😁 for today's market, the absolute workhorse Ryzen 5 3600 is best paired with either a budget-friendly new A520 or a slightly older, solid B450 motherboard.

As they say,😁 let's just see how they handle it—even a cheap Gigabyte board running 16 threads is plenty. You won't run into any real trouble even with those specs, and honestly, the added bonus is that you can't really push the motherboard past its limits. A Gigabyte board has built-in limitations on power, so there’s a set amount of juice provided, and that’s that.



https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/A520M-H-rev-10#kf

So, a budget Gigabyte board works fine, even if it feels a bit stripped down because it lacks a passive heatsink for the VRMs. At least it features HDMI 2.1, making it ready for all those modern HDMI 2.1 gadgets.

As for my own setup, I'm using this lower-end B450 model (with HDMI 2.0 supporting 4K at 60Hz) which actually includes a passive heatsink for the voltage regulation. Like most other B450 boards, this one should eventually support Zen 3 processors. It'll likely support Renoir Desktop (Zen 2) processors too, though that isn't 100% certain yet. The power delivery is basically identical to the Gigabyte A520, which has its own "clever" power limitations.

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard...-S2H-rev-10#kf

https://www.nabava.net/search.php?q=Gigabyte+B450M+S2H

Buying an Intel 6/6 or 8/8 processor these days is like intentionally stepping in something gross. If a buyer doesn't know any better, they really ought to do some decent research before pulling the trigger.😉

Andrew Miller102, why does the motherboard's HDMI version even matter if you're planning on using a dedicated GPU anyway?

Sure, an A520 can handle a Ryzen 5 3600, but if they want something actually decent—you know, better VRM cooling, superior I/O, four RAM slots...—they'd be better off stepping up to a solid B450 or at least a B550 like the DS3H or that Prime model I linked.
Of course, that's assuming it fits the budget....
If it doesn't, then you just buy whatever you can afford and call it a day. It'll work.

wiredotter14 said:Andrew Miller102, why does the motherboard's HDMI version even matter if you're planning on using a dedicated GPU anyway?

Sure, an A520 can handle a Ryzen 5 3600, but if they want something actually decent—you know, better VRM cooling, superior I/O, four RAM slots...—they'd be better off stepping up to a solid B450 or at least a B550 like the DS3H or that Prime model I linked.
Of course, that's assuming it fits the budget....
If it doesn't, then you just buy whatever you can afford and call it a day. It'll work.

Consider this a bit of unsolicited but useful advice, just because it might save you some trouble down the road.😁 Most budget-friendly B450 motherboards don't even bother with HDMI 2.0, and you'll find that's especially true for those cheaper Micro ATX models.I'm wondering why I settled on this specific Gigabyte model. When you look at the actual value for the money, it’s easily the best budget-friendly B450 Micro ATX motherboard on the market. I honestly see no practical benefit in going with a standard ATX board, especially since I have absolutely no use for four memory slots.

If you agree. Building an APU-based HTPC.No special graphics needed.At the very least, you've got HDMI 2.0 here, which is pretty crucial. These days, plenty of people are using a 4K TV as a dual-purpose setup—basically treating that big screen as their primary PC monitor. I’m definitely part of that crowd, though I'm not exactly a gamer, so there's never going to be a high-end dedicated graphics card sitting in my rig. But regardless, seeing 30Hz on any monitor or TV is just a total nightmare; it's enough to give anyone a massive headache.

With HDMI 1.4, you’re looking at 4K capped at 30Hz.

With HDMI 2.0, you're looking at 4K resolution running at 60Hz.

In practice, we see plenty of customers running into issues simply because they don't bother checking which HDMI version is actually soldered onto their motherboard. You see the exact same pattern with those budget-friendly laptops; manufacturers pull these cheap cost-cutting stunts where you end up stuck with nothing better than HDMI 1.4. For instance, you might pick up a newer Renoir laptop only to realize it’s equipped with HDMI 1.4, so much for that. If you ever have the ambition of hooking that thing up to a 4K monitor, prepare for a lot of frustration and hair-pulling. That specific laptop in the States goes for... $1533Well, it turns out they skipped the HDMI 2.0, because apparently that’s just too expensive for the geniuses over at Lenovo.

Check out this Lenovo laptop on their site.

Any AMD Ryzen APU will handle 4K at 60Hz without breaking a sweat. It doesn't really matter if you're looking at Mobile or Desktop models; they're essentially the same story, much like this Athlon 3000G of mine, which is basically just a Mobile processor sitting in a Desktop socket.☕

Most people buying a motherboard for a Ryzen build (not an OEM PC) are going to be slapping a dedicated GPU in there anyway—since the Ryzen 5 3600 doesn't have integrated graphics—so the HDMI version is completely irrelevant. Especially in this case, since the OP specifically mentioned they already have, or are definitely getting, a graphics card.

wiredotter14 said:Most people buying a motherboard for a Ryzen build (not an OEM PC) are going to be slapping a dedicated GPU in there anyway—since the Ryzen 5 3600 doesn't have integrated graphics—so the HDMI version is completely irrelevant. Especially in this case, since the OP specifically mentioned they already have, or are definitely getting, a graphics card.

Unfortunately, the OP hasn't received a single helpful suggestion here, just people complaining about what isn't an option... plus, apparently, AMD isn't even on their radar.🙂

Kenneth Ortiz4 said:Unfortunately, the OP hasn't received a single helpful suggestion here, just people complaining about what isn't an option... plus, apparently, AMD isn't even on their radar.🙂

My bad, I mixed you up with that other guy (Ninzo...). Thought you were the one asking about a motherboard for the Ryzen 5 3600.