Build feedback request: 5600X + GT 1030 until I can get a RTX 3060?
Summary
I want to build a new rig for gaming and web dev. My primary goal is longterm value; I'm happy to spend more now if it's cheaper in the long run.
Budget is malleable at about $1,000 now, with a plan of getting a 3060 or 3070 for another $300-500 when I can find one relatively near MSRP. I can postpone the whole build if that's likely to happen in the next couple of months, but that seems too unpredictable to rely on.
Workloads
- AA games like Civ VI, Mount & Blade Bannerlord, Ori and the Will o' the Wisp, etc.
- Yuzu, Citra, and other Nintendo emulators
- VS Code dealing with enough complexity that Intellisense sometimes hangs for >60s on my 2015 Macbook
- Way too many Firefox/Chrome tabs, including 50 col x 10k row Google Sheets that make my Macbook cry
Questions
- Every B550 motherboard I looked at had a warning that it might need a BIOS update to work with the 5600X CPU. I don't have another processor to use for the update; how do I find a mobo that will support the 5600X out of box?
- I impulse-bought a SATA 6GB/s SSD when it was cheap on Prime Day. Would it make a big difference to get an M.2 SSD?
- Is there any reason I shouldn't get a GT 1030 for $130 now and get a 3060/3070 or next gen GPU later when I can find one at MSRP? I don't have a real need for 2 GPUs, but the possibility of having 6 monitors is fun 😁
- Is a 650W PSU appropriate for a 410W build (this estimate includes both GPUs)?
- Would a CPU cooler make a big difference in noise levels with the LANCOOL 215?
PCPartPicker Part List
| Type | Item | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor | $289.99 @ Walmart |
| Motherboard | *ASRock B550M Pro4 Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard | $89.99 @ Amazon |
| Memory | *G.Skill Ripjaws V 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 CL16 Memory | $91.99 @ Newegg |
| Memory | *G.Skill Ripjaws V 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 CL16 Memory | $91.99 @ Newegg |
| Storage (already purchased) | Crucial BX500 1 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive | $97.72 @ Amazon |
| Temporary/Secondary Video Card | Asus GeForce GT 1030 2 GB Phoenix Fan OC Video Card | $128.63 @ Amazon |
| Future Primary Video Card | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8 GB Founders Edition Video Card | - |
| Case | Lian Li LANCOOL 215 ATX Mid Tower Case | $117.99 @ Amazon |
| Power Supply | EVGA 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply | $44.99 @ Amazon |
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts | ||
| Total | $953.29 | |
| *Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria | ||
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-07-01 03:59 EDT-0400 |
Thanks for reading!
Posted Jul 1, 2021, 8:46 AM UTC
18
> Every B550 motherboard I looked at had a warning that it might need a BIOS update to work with the 5600X CPU. I don't have another processor to use for the update; how do I find a mobo that will support the 5600X out of box?
Some have a bios-flash capability that does not need a low-gen CPU in place. They self flash without (usually a button on the mobo and a dedicated USB socket). Just look in the feature list.
> I impulse-bought a SATA 6GB/s SSD when it was cheap on Prime Day. Would it make a big difference to get an M.2 SSD?
Not really.
> Is there any reason I shouldn't get a GT 1030 for $130 now
If this is for gaming, I would go slightly better for playing at 1080p; RTX 690, 780ti, 980, 980ti, 1060, 1050s, 1660; R9 Fury, Fury X; RX 390x, 480, 580, 590, 5500 XT.
Alternatively just follow stock informers (discord, twitter etc.) and queue at your local store for the GPU you really want.
> Is a 650W PSU appropriate for a 410W build (this estimate includes both GPUs)?
Yes, I would even go 750w and give yourself more headroom for a future card and upgrades.
> Would a CPU cooler make a big difference in noise levels with the LANCOOL 215?
?
you will need a CPU cooler. The noise level just comes down to how much your fans and/or pump spin, that comes down to how effective your cooling is. Just set your cooling up to be as efficient as possible (big radiators, good airflow exhausting hot air, big heat-sinks)
Thanks for the tip on self-flashing BIOS.
I'm doubtful that queueing for a GPU will work out well, but I might try it until the 5600g is released.
750W sounds reasonable.
I should have been more clear about the CPU cooler. I'm trying to decide whether to use the stock cooler included with the 5600x or to get a different one. Since the LANCOOL 215 is fairly quiet but also fairly open, I'm trying to figure out if the stock CPU cooler will make a big relative difference in overall noise levels. I can always try the stock cooler and upgrade if it's too loud.
Thanks for your detailed response!
Re the cooler, it is worth remembering that there is no magic heat loss, it is just a transfer. The better the heat sink (bigger and better materials) the better the transfer. The fan is just helping pass the cooler air over it and hot air away. A better cooler, is just buying a bigger and better heat sink - the fans really all are the same. "It is all in the metal, not the spinning thing strapped to it...."
If it was me, I would pay for a better heat sink - they are not expensive in relative scale to your system. I would get as bigger air cooler as I could fit efficiently in the case (and note too big can sometimes be a hindrance). Bigger does not mean more noise, it usually means less noise (if the fan is a quality one). Is it worth getting that big beQuiet , Cooler Master or Noctua ? - IMO, absolutely.
Very helpful, thank you!