PC Components: Difference between revisions

(10 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)

Line 4:

==Monitors==

Go IPS ~~or VA~~ every time. If you're really rich, you can go OLED.

Go IPS every time. If you're really rich, you can go OLED.

I prefer 4K over 120 Hz but if you can find a good deal on QHD 120 Hz that's good too.

Note that some lower-end GPUS and adapters won't be able to output 4k60.

Line 16:

===Heatsinks===

Noctua NH-D15 is ~~ideal~~.~~ ~~

The Noctua NH-D15 is one of the best air coolers available.

However, there are now several cheaper dual-tower options like the Scythe Fuma 2.

Noctual often sells mounts for new sockets so you should be able to reuse it for several builds.

However Noctua coolers are quite expensive.

These days, there are now several cheaper dual-tower options like the Scythe Fuma 2 and Thermalright FC140/FS140.

===Fans===

Typically go with Arctic P12/P14 or Noctua fans.

~~With most motherboards, you~~ can buy ~2000 RPM fans and tune down ~~to 800-1000 rpm~~ in the UEFI/BIOS.

You can buy 1500-2000 RPM PWM fans and tune down in the UEFI/BIOS.

Typically, several slower fans (~800 rpm) is quieter than fewer faster fans.

Typically, several slower fans (600-800 rpm) is quieter than fewer faster fans.

For 3-pin fans, the range of fan speeds is typically much smaller. So try to get fans closer to 1000 rpm if you're going with DC fans.

===Motherboards===

Line 29:

Line 33:

There are VRM tier lists for most motherboard chipsets.

[https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/1137619-motherboard-vrm-tier-list-v2-currently-amd-only/ Here] is one for AMD.

~~The primary difference between expensive and moderately priced boards are the number of x8 PCIe slots. ~~

~~Both Ryzen and Intel consumer CPUs only have x16 dedicated for PCIe and x4 for M.2. Other lanes are shared with the chipset.~~

~~Sometimes, you can tell which boards support 8x/8x by seeing if they two 16x slots with metal shields (for GPUs).~~

~~Other boards will only support 4x on the secondary 16x slots going through the chipset.~~

===Power Supplies===

Line 40:

Line 39:

Corsair AX/HX/RMx, EVGA Plat/Gold, and Seasonic PSUs tend to be good choices.

In general, these will come with a 10 year warranty and 80+ Gold ~~efficiencyor~~ better.

In general, these will come with a 10 year warranty and 80+ Gold or better efficiency.

If you can find a sale, 80+ Platinum power supplies are even better (e.g. Corsair HX ~~or AX~~).

If you can find a sale, 80+ Platinum power supplies are even better (e.g. Corsair HX).

Most expensive PSUs will keep the fan off when load is under 40% so try to aim for a high-wattage PSU.

Furthermore, higher wattage will be better against GPU spikes.

Line 62:

Line 61:

Sometimes, XMP speeds can be good with a small amount of ram but will fail with more ram due to a week memory controller, particularly on earlier Ryzen CPUs.

For XMP overclocked ram, it's best not to mix ram models~~. Otherwise, downclock to the lowest common specs~~.

For XMP overclocked ram, it's best not to mix ram models.

For JEDEC stock ram, it's usually okay to mix models as long as both have the same specs.

In general, you want the highest MHz and the smallest CAS latency.

For Ryzen 3000/5000 and Intel 8~~/9th~~ gen, '''only up to DDR4-3200 is officially supported'''.

For Ryzen 3000/5000 and Intel 8-12th gen, '''only up to DDR4-3200 is officially supported'''.

For most applications, DDR4 memory speeds have diminishing returns above 3000 MHz so don't spend too much extra.

Line 76:

Line 75:

Things I prefer to buy new:

* Cases

* Cases - to make sure you get all the screws

* Motherboards

* Motherboards - to make sure you get accessories like the IO shield

* SSDs and HDDs

* PSUs

If it's part of an entire build, the above used parts are fine to leave in.

Used motherboards are okay if part of a bundle, i.e. with CPU and cooler. Just make sure there are no broken pins.

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 ==Monitors==
-Go IPS or VA every time. If you're really rich, you can go OLED.
+Go IPS every time. If you're really rich, you can go OLED.
 I prefer 4K over 120 Hz but if you can find a good deal on QHD 120 Hz that's good too.
 Note that some lower-end GPUS and adapters won't be able to output 4k60.
@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 ===Heatsinks===
-Noctua NH-D15 is ideal.<br>
+The Noctua NH-D15 is one of the best air coolers available.
-However, there are now several cheaper dual-tower options like the Scythe Fuma 2.
+Noctual often sells mounts for new sockets so you should be able to reuse it for several builds.
+However Noctua coolers are quite expensive.
+These days, there are now several cheaper dual-tower options like the Scythe Fuma 2 and Thermalright FC140/FS140.
 ===Fans===
 Typically go with Arctic P12/P14 or Noctua fans.
-With most motherboards, you can buy ~2000 RPM fans and tune down to 800-1000 rpm in the UEFI/BIOS.<br>
+You can buy 1500-2000 RPM PWM fans and tune down in the UEFI/BIOS.<br>
-Typically, several slower fans (~800 rpm) is quieter than fewer faster fans.
+Typically, several slower fans (600-800 rpm) is quieter than fewer faster fans.
+For 3-pin fans, the range of fan speeds is typically much smaller. So try to get fans closer to 1000 rpm if you're going with DC fans.
 ===Motherboards===
@@ Line 29: / Line 33: @@
 There are VRM tier lists for most motherboard chipsets.
 [https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/1137619-motherboard-vrm-tier-list-v2-currently-amd-only/ Here] is one for AMD.
-The primary difference between expensive and moderately priced boards are the number of x8 PCIe slots.<br>
-Both Ryzen and Intel consumer CPUs only have x16 dedicated for PCIe and x4 for M.2. Other lanes are shared with the chipset.
-Sometimes, you can tell which boards support 8x/8x by seeing if they two 16x slots with metal shields (for GPUs).
-Other boards will only support 4x on the secondary 16x slots going through the chipset.
 ===Power Supplies===
@@ Line 40: / Line 39: @@
 Corsair AX/HX/RMx, EVGA Plat/Gold, and Seasonic PSUs tend to be good choices.
-In general, these will come with a 10 year warranty and 80+ Gold efficiencyor better.
+In general, these will come with a 10 year warranty and 80+ Gold or better efficiency.
-If you can find a sale, 80+ Platinum power supplies are even better (e.g. Corsair HX or AX).
+If you can find a sale, 80+ Platinum power supplies are even better (e.g. Corsair HX).
 Most expensive PSUs will keep the fan off when load is under 40% so try to aim for a high-wattage PSU.
 Furthermore, higher wattage will be better against GPU spikes.
@@ Line 62: / Line 61: @@
 Sometimes, XMP speeds can be good with a small amount of ram but will fail with more ram due to a week memory controller, particularly on earlier Ryzen CPUs.
-For XMP overclocked ram, it's best not to mix ram models. Otherwise, downclock to the lowest common specs.<br>
+For XMP overclocked ram, it's best not to mix ram models.<br>
 For JEDEC stock ram, it's usually okay to mix models as long as both have the same specs.
 In general, you want the highest MHz and the smallest CAS latency.<br>
-For Ryzen 3000/5000 and Intel 8/9th gen, '''only up to DDR4-3200 is officially supported'''.<br>
+For Ryzen 3000/5000 and Intel 8-12th gen, '''only up to DDR4-3200 is officially supported'''.<br>
 For most applications, DDR4 memory speeds have diminishing returns above 3000 MHz so don't spend too much extra.
@@ Line 76: / Line 75: @@
 Things I prefer to buy new:
-* Cases
+* Cases - to make sure you get all the screws
-* Motherboards
+* Motherboards - to make sure you get accessories like the IO shield
 * SSDs and HDDs
-* PSUs
 If it's part of an entire build, the above used parts are fine to leave in.
 Used motherboards are okay if part of a bundle, i.e. with CPU and cooler. Just make sure there are no broken pins.