New PC advice

[MallusWallus]

I'm looking into building a new pc, unless I can find a decent priced used system, but even those seemed priced quite high. I could go for a 12k used system, but for a few k more, you have a comparable new system. That would make me go for a completely new system with warranty etc. I used to be a more active gamer, but I'm quite alright now with just an occassional game when I have time. So I won't be needing a bleeding edge gaming pc. However, I want it to go the distance; I won't be buying a new pc in 3 years time, but I'll upgrade when needed and will be fine playing games on lower settings for a long time. Always have done so. With that in mind, going for AM5 seems to be the wiser choice, especially considering the reselling prices right? If at some point, I don't use it enough, an AM5 will keep its reselling value better than an AM4 system I reckon.

I'm puzzling together a system but I run into the problem of: 'for just a little bit more, I can have a better ...' A nicer case, a proper CPU fan, a modular PSU etc etc. and it is starting to add up. Main culprit however is the mobo, as I don't want to cheap out too much and go for an A620, and I will probably need a wifi. A wifi card is an option, but pricewise, it gets close to just having it onboard. But that means a 4.5k mobo, which feels a bit steep. All in all, I'm approaching a 20k system, quite a bit more than I was originally planning with budget of 15k.

This is making me quite indecisive and I'm just looking for some input. I can't keep building and reading, at some point I have to make a choice and 20k seems steep for something that I might not use enough, but going for a used system at 12k or new AM4 at 15k just feels a bit of a waste right now, or am I just talking nonsense? I'd go for a cheap 8k used system with some life left in it, as long as there is room for upgrades, but those aren't out there. Running on circles with this one.

 

[limadelta26]

Hi @MallusWallus

On the side of building a new pc vs buying a used pc you have to weigh the cost of the used system with most likely no warranty which you must also account for replacement parts if something bombs out) vs a new machine with warranty.

To give an example i have a parts list on wootware at the moment that comes to around 14K everything new using a Ryzen 5600G and a Gigabyte B550I (it is a mini-ITX as I want this particular form factor but does also include wifi) 32GB DDR4 3200 and a 512GB nvme for boot (i have other drives I will add in) I have also included a fractal 550w Ion Gold PSU and the Fractal Torrent Nano. The reasoning for thr 5600G is that compared to my current system, the built in GPU will do all that I need it to and later I can add in a GPU keeping the initial cost down. Same with extra cooling in the system as well (I'm planning on going for a Scythe setup on it)

You need to know what you will do the pc and when on a tight budget, understand that its not going to run everything at full tilt at 120fps. If you are ok with this, the you can build a pretty good machine brand new for not much more than a used higher-spec machine that might have hidden issues that the seller does not even know about.

You can see the specs of my current system in my sig below. Its not a massively spec'ed machine, but for what it is, right now it does what I need it to and it will still give me a another two years or so out of it before I will change it out to a file server for home use.

I would say start with your board and CPU combo. This will determine everything else on the system from RAM to RGB. If you want a board that can take wifi or has it installed already, you are most likely going to be using something alone the lines of an m.2 A+E key which can be used for other cool things such as a Coral TPU for ai development or an add on card to give more SATA / USB ports or even 2.5G LAN if the board dosen't have it or you want to add another NIC to the system.

Don't get overwhelmed by the list of options. Go to a site like pcgamebenchmark.com to test what specs can play what games (the list is not 100% complete but it will give you a good starting point) and another site like outervision.com/power-supply-calculator to build the pc up and see what size PSU you will need (The above Ryzen machine with the GPU I will put in it later plus some extras only comes up to around 400W on a 550W PSU)

If you get lost or need some more help you are more than welcome to send me a message and I will help out as best as I can.

 

[MallusWallus]

Thanks for the reply.

Yah, it basically comes down to cost. I'd prefer a new system, especially because prices here seem to be not all that different for new honestly. I am wondering if these systems get sold or they're just up here forever. 15k when I can buy it all new for 16-17 is not worth the hassle and loss of warranty, as you say.

I'm currently kinda stuck in the AM4 or AM5 choice. I'm usually one that uses a pc for a long time and rather downgrade the games that I play than upgrade a new pc. I used to run the same system for 5 years at least. With that in mind, an AM5 would seem to be the best option. For a few k more of initial investment, I will be able to run it for much longer. I can go full budget, which would be fast enough for me, but the difference in price that I come out to isn't all that big, especially since I can't seem to find a cheap mobo with wifi in board. I could downgrade my cpu to a 5500, but in the end, I still end up with a system of about 13k (no harddrives as I already have those) and for that I had to cut down quite a bit. My initial AM4 choices came down to 16k. For 18k, I can get a AM5 system that I really like. Budget, but still a supersolid (and expensive) mobo with wifi that will last me 5 years easily.

Honestly, if I would use my pc like I would back in the day, it would be a no-brainer, just get a nice am5 system, but I'm not playing as much as I used to. Perhaps that is why I find it hard to justify it right now.

 

[limadelta26]

Hey bud, yea I agree with what you are saying.

One thing I can mention, if you can hold out wait for the 8xxx series AM5's to be launched and try rather go for one of those. AMD has made a of improvements over the 7xxx series on the AM5 platform ( AMD Confirms Ryzen 8000 AM5 Processors With Zen 5 CPU and Navi 3.5 Graphics and Ryzen 8000: Unveiling Impressive Zen 5 Performance )

Overall the more you spend now means the less you will spend in the future (we all know this and we all hate this XD ) but again, even with mine like I mentioned previously for the work / gaming I'm going to be doing, the AM4 set up will be fine for the next few years until I inevitable go back over to a mobile platform with an actual home lab for the more intensive work.