Allen
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Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,839
Ohio USA
For what its worth, I'll give some details on my new AMD Ryzen build -- as it comes together. This build is not expected to be the best or fastest at SimHQ -- its just my build.
Since Ryzen and the motherboard have not been written up in independent test reports, I'm taking a slight risk -- okay with me
At this point, all the major items are in-hand, in-transit, or pre-ordered.
Hard Drives: Seagate Barracuda Pro 6TB (for games) + 4 x Barracuda 3TB = 18TB total $0**
DVD/BluRay Burner: ASUS $0**
Power Supply: Rosewill Quark-1000 watt, 80 Plus Platinum Certified $120*
Cooling: Swiftech water with 3x120mm fan radiator $0**
Case: Rosewill R5 - Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Case $70*
Miscellaneous: Arctic Silver 12gm $15*, Swiftech cooling block adapter $10*, 2x Rosewill 140mm Long Life $22*, 3x120mm Red-LED fans $15*, extra fans $0**
Notes: * Delivered prices are shown that include shipping and taxes.
** No new cost -- moved from another in-house system
3200MHz DDR4 is expected to have little to no effect on gaming versus DDR4 2133MHz. 3200MHz is for other applications.
M.2 SSD of type shown is 400 percent to 600 percent faster than Standard SSD.
RX480 plays my games smoothly to my eyes at "ultra" settings 2560x1440p (2K) -- with minor exceptions in a small number of heavily-modded games. However, depending on Vega price, I may replace with Vega when it is released in May/June 2017.
Last edited by Allen; 03/30/1701:27 PM. Reason: Changed Motherboard Again
Allen
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Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,839
Ohio USA
I based it on the Intel version of the ASUS motherboard and on an article I came across that indicated GSkill very similar to mine might work better than average with AM4 motherboard chipset. Also, since AMD "takes a back seat" to Intel, they have to design their stuff to work with Intel-proven peripheral hardware, I speculate.
However, this is one of the chances I am taking with this build (key items pre-ordered or ordered before independent testing is published).
EDIT: By the way, the memory just "came in the door" a few minutes ago. No new information on or in the box. Looks good though
Last edited by Allen; 02/22/1708:11 PM. Reason: New Info
Allen
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Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,839
Ohio USA
Originally Posted by Jedi Master
..I care what it does, not what it looks like..That said, if you run out of USB ports with this thing you are crazy...
Agree.
I sometimes wonder if all the "shields" will get in the way. This is my first such MB. Even I wondered why all the USB ports. According to ASUS site, its to support the myriad of gaming devices some folks attach. And, apparently, there is some small value (for those looking for that last 0.25FPS) in attaching USB2 to USB2, USB3 to USB3, etc, they say.
But, I did get it for the performance. Apparently, in limited leaked tests so far, it's the most overclockable motherboard. I was just lucky. I did not know that when I ordered it (but, being a top brand, I hoped it would overclock well).
EDIT: To be clear, I do like the look of it. However, I did not buy it for looks as it goes into a closed case.
Last edited by Allen; 02/24/1704:10 PM. Reason: Clarification
Allen
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Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,839
Ohio USA
Originally Posted by SkateZilla
Im still in love w/ the Black and White ASRock Board...
I almost "pulled the trigger" on the "ASRock Fatal1ty X370 Professional Gaming AM4" (put it in the cart, momentarily). But, ultimately went with the more familiar to me ASUS brand. I do have one or two ASROCK MBs in the house.
By the way, the price on the ASRock dropped $40 since it first went up at Newegg on Feb 22. Its now $220 with rebate. Perhaps the best "bang per buck" overall at the high end.
Im still in love w/ the Black and White ASRock Board...
I almost "pulled the trigger" on the "ASRock Fatal1ty X370 Professional Gaming AM4" (put it in the cart, momentarily). But, ultimately went with the more familiar to me ASUS brand. I do have one or two ASROCK MBs in the house.
By the way, the price on the ASRock dropped $40 since it first went up at Newegg on Feb 22. Its now $220 with rebate. Perhaps the best "bang per buck" overall at the high end.
Number of USB ports is the primary reason I chose Crosshair instead of Prime. With all the flight sim controllers, racing controllers, Oculus gear and of course, keyboard and mouse, I don't want to be left without a single free USB port.
$100+ extra is a lot of money for more USB ports, but I'll probably appreciate all the other extra features with time.
Allen
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Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,839
Ohio USA
A picture of one of my G.Skill DDR4 memory sticks, Samsung 840EVO, and Samsung 960EVO M.2 SSD.
This is the first M.2 SSD I've had. They've been around for a while. I just never had a way to use them.
The 960EVO is a relatively new item released last Fall. The notable thing is its VERY small size. Not obvious in the picture is how very thin it is. Its merely the integrated circuits (small thin ones) on a thin printed circuit board.
Supposedly, the standard SSD is similar inside. The larger size of the standard SSD is simply to make it fit where it goes.
I was a bit annoyed when Intel stopped making the retail w/cooler SKUs. As someone who stopped aggressive OC'ing before the SW prequel trilogy ended, I was perfectly content with the one in the box.
But no, Intel dropped it (without dropping the price of the CPU, in other words raising the price $20+ for each) unceremoniously, forcing me to start researching coolers when I did my last upgrade.
I'll be honest, the only thing less sexy in PC hardware than a fan is...no, never mind, NOTHING is less sexy. I can get more enthusiasm for PSUs and keyboards and even SATA cables with 90 degree connectors. I HATED having to look into what was good but cheap.
The Jedi Master
The anteater is wearing the bagel because he's a reindeer princess. -- my 4 yr old daughter
Allen
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Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,839
Ohio USA
Waiting for the motherboard is costing me money. I'm monetarily "in so deep" on this build that I can rationalize a couple hundred more -- just for fun (no "bang for buck" here).
So, I added an unneeded, but nice, 1000w 80 Plus Platinum PSU for $120 (on sale). And, some new fans that are "perfect for my PC case" for $37 (cheap). The foregoing replace the items I was going to "move" from older PCs for $0. I updated the description in the first post.
But the expenditure record was set many years ago. Back in the 1980s, when many work days extended well beyond the 8 hours in the office, I bought a work-at-home desktop PC system for $4500 (single core CPU, zero-shader 2D GPU). After accounting for "cost of living", that's my all-time record expenditure for a home PC. It turned out to be well worth it.