The PC Build Thread

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spit said:
Why did you get a 1200W power supply?
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It was on special on Evetech on Black Friday last year. It was R2500 and the Corsair 850W was the same price, I decided to get the 1200W, you will never know what the future holds, lol
 
UrBaN963 said:
First suggestion, drop Windows 10 and get a license off carbonite.co.za from LetumKeys for R99. They are legit keys.

With the money you've saved, upgrade your GPU if you can. 1660 Super would be better, not sure current pricing though.
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Regarding Windows, I have a windows key on my current HDD. This is probably going to be a stupid question, but if I use the current HDD on my new build, shouldn't that then load?

And if the above is possible, will it be possible to transfer it to the SSD?
 
CL-West said:
Regarding Windows, I have a windows key on my current HDD. This is probably going to be a stupid question, but if I use the current HDD on my new build, shouldn't that then load?

And if the above is possible, will it be possible to transfer it to the SSD?
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It might go into repair mode with the hardware change. I stand to be corrected here, but I have my windows license linked to my Microsoft account. And when I did a clean install with new mb and cpu it activated on sign in with my Microsoft account.

I'm not fundi on windows so...

Alternatively get a cheap key from one of the guys on carb or bountybox
 
CL-West said:
Regarding Windows, I have a windows key on my current HDD. This is probably going to be a stupid question, but if I use the current HDD on my new build, shouldn't that then load?

And if the above is possible, will it be possible to transfer it to the SSD?
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If the current disk is in a working Windows system, go into Settings, Update and Security, Activation. Make sure that your licence is saved as a digital licence in the Microsoft server.

When you start the new system, the licence should activate from the Cloud, if you have a normal (not oem) licence.
 
My system has served me reasonably well for the past 4 years, but it's time for a refresh.

Given the current issue with GPU (un)availability, the only way I'm going to get my hands on one is to go for a prebuilt system (builders are given a separate allocation by AIB partners to what's made available to the public/bots, so stock isn't really an issue for them - usually). Of course, as someone who has built my own systems for 20 years now, it feels a bit dirty having to go this route, and having to pay someone else to do something that I can do with my eyes closed, but I really don't have much choice. I could, of course, get the majority of the below parts, and then just wait for the mining bubble to burst again, and pick up the GPU later... along with hundreds of thousands of others who've been waiting.

My options are as follows:

Mobo: Auros X570
CPU: Ryzen 5 3600 vs 5600x (the latter is being scalped to no end, even under prebuilt systems, and can be up to 100% more expensive, with not much improvement in performance over Gen3. My only concern would be potential bottlenecking)
GPU: RTX 3070/3080 (latter usually out of stock) vs Radeon 6800/6800XT (do AIBs even have stock?) - the Radeons look like the way forward with the increased VRAM, and I can't really be arsed with the Ray Tracing nonsense. I just want grunt.
PSU: Corsair RMx850
Case: May update my Corsair 400Q to something a bit more modern/shiny. Maybe...
 
deesef said:
If the current disk is in a working Windows system, go into Settings, Update and Security, Activation. Make sure that your licence is saved as a digital licence in the Microsoft server.

When you start the new system, the licence should activate from the Cloud, if you have a normal (not oem) licence.
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I took the HDD's to Computer Mania today to test this, and it posted immediately. So that's the windows problem sorted. The will also clone it to my SSD once I get it.
 
Lekker deal on 570 from wootware lol
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Hey guys, hoping this is a suitable thread for the following query...

I'm looking to build a budget desktop for work/personal. My only requirements at the moment are SSD, 16gb RAM and whichever CPU won't throttle if I throw in an average (up to 8gb?) GPU in it, in the future.

My idea right now is to build a desktop with integrated gfx which I'll add a GPU to at a later stage.

I'm thinking along the lines of:
- Ryzen 5 3400G
- B450 MB
- 256/512gb NVME
- 16gb RAM
- 500W PSU

I'm pretty clueless with what's what. I'm mostly in a browse and/or text editor; I think the above specs would be fine. Would love to get feedback on whether or not this is a good idea, if there's better, and then how I might look at building it: meaning are individual components still the cheapest way to build? Might I have more luck with an upgrade-kit + the rest? Or just purchase a full build from somewhere like Evetech (links to sites would be great too!)

I'm running Linux, in case that sways your suggestion.

Any and all advice welcomed!
 
MC_raw said:
Hey guys, hoping this is a suitable thread for the following query...

I'm looking to build a budget desktop for work/personal. My only requirements at the moment are SSD, 16gb RAM and whichever CPU won't throttle if I throw in an average (up to 8gb?) GPU in it, in the future.

My idea right now is to build a desktop with integrated gfx which I'll add a GPU to at a later stage.

I'm thinking along the lines of:
- Ryzen 5 3400G
- B450 MB
- 256/512gb NVME
- 16gb RAM
- 500W PSU

I'm pretty clueless with what's what. I'm mostly in a browse and/or text editor; I think the above specs would be fine. Would love to get feedback on whether or not this is a good idea, if there's better, and then how I might look at building it: meaning are individual components still the cheapest way to build? Might I have more luck with an upgrade-kit + the rest? Or just purchase a full build from somewhere like Evetech (links to sites would be great too!)

I'm running Linux, in case that sways your suggestion.

Any and all advice welcomed!
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Never ever buy from Evetech ever. Your wife will divorce you and you will be mightily unhappy for 7+ years.

Rather use www.wootware.co.za, www.dreamwaretech.co.za, www.progenix.co.za, www.techfox.co.za

Your build will be fine for a work PC. If you do want to add a GPU in future, you might want to go for something like a 650W GPU though, to give yourself a little headroom.

Also, the stock Ryzen cooler is okay, but if you can, adding a decent CPU cooler would be good. What case is this all going in?

Something like this would be fine. https://www.wootware.co.za/phanteks...per-dual-fan-premium-high-end-cpu-cooler.html
 
Never ever buy from Evetech ever. Your wife will divorce you and you will be mightily unhappy for 7+ years.
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Haha. So I keep hearing! Thanks for the sites, I had no idea where to be looking.

Because of a really tight budget, I'm wondering if I should get a bare-minimum build to use over the next year or so, and then start looking at satisfying some of my wants.

As an example I'd imagine this would suit me just fine for the time being (let's pretend the link isn't Evetech, this is about the specs): https://www.evetech.co.za/ryzen-5-3400g-vega-11-graphics-power-pc/best-pc-deal/8442.aspx

I'm assuming the biggest downside is I'd have to replace a lot of the components if I wanted to upgrade eventually, but again, I'd be happy using it for +- a year and then taking another look at the situation.

As for the case, anything that fits (?) I'm really not bothered right now. I'm just looking for peace of mind because I'm an old-ass desktop that could be on its way out.

That cooler looks great. It's a component I could move to a new build easily, so I'll definitely be looking into one of those too
 
MC_raw said:
Haha. So I keep hearing! Thanks for the sites, I had no idea where to be looking.

Because of a really tight budget, I'm wondering if I should get a bare-minimum build to use over the next year or so, and then start looking at satisfying some of my wants.

As an example I'd imagine this would suit me just fine for the time being (let's pretend the link isn't Evetech, this is about the specs): https://www.evetech.co.za/ryzen-5-3400g-vega-11-graphics-power-pc/best-pc-deal/8442.aspx

I'm assuming the biggest downside is I'd have to replace a lot of the components if I wanted to upgrade eventually, but again, I'd be happy using it for +- a year and then taking another look at the situation.

As for the case, anything that fits (?) I'm really not bothered right now. I'm just looking for peace of mind because I'm an old-ass desktop that could be on its way out.

That cooler looks great. It's a component I could move to a new build easily, so I'll definitely be looking into one of those too
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Crap power supply.

Slow RAM running (most likely) in single channel - there is a performance hit to doing it this way. Always get 2x8GB rather than 1x16GB so you do get dual channel mode.

Barebones, bottom of the barrel motherboard. it will work fine, but won't give you any upgrade path really.

B450 motherboard and 2x8GB DDR4-3200 would be ideal if you do ever want to game or anything like that. If this is strictly office work you could go for lower spec parts and be just fine, but if gaming or heavy workloads are in your future, then it's better to spring for better parts now.

What is your budget?
 
Had no idea about the dual-channel memory. Thanks for that.

Yeah, it's really a balance between urgency and upgradability right now.

As it stands, the most stress my PC handles is VSCode, Slack and a few browser tabs. Because of the low requirements I was considering a `throw-away pc` like the one I linked above. Something that'll just do its job for a year.

With the above in mind, I was hoping to build something for R6/7k. I know it'd cost more with the initial build I mentioned with a B450.
 
eddybsb4u said:
Guys here is the update on my PC build

View attachment 1041653

The items in yellow, I have already purchased them hence I have put R0.00 on the price.

Please guys donate me so that I can get my PC completed :)
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This pc is so unbalanced. a overkill motherboard with a last gen ryzen chip. Rather go 5600x and a bit cheaper motherboard.
 
Hi Guys

Hoping I could get an opinion on this thread, I need to sell my PC, we are moving and I don't really want to take it through the moving process.

Any idea what I could get for it and the best place to sell it?

Would it be better to sell piece by piece or as a complete PC?

Specs below:

All products still under warranty and I have the original boxes.

Phanteks Eclipse P400A White
AMD Ryzen 5 3600
MSI B450 Tomahawk Max
Mushkin Helix 500Gb M.2 Nvme
Teamgroup 512Gb 2.5" SSD
WD 1TB SATA HDD
Palit GeForce RTX 3070 GamingPro OC
Gskill 3200 16Gb RGB
Deepcool Gammaxx CPU Cooler ( have the original AMD cooler as well)
Super Flower SF-650 Gold Modular PSU
 
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