Help to choose components for a Ryzen rig

[robert44444uk]

Originally Posted by robert44444uk

I'm trying to go for a decent rig to run a multi-threaded prime gap routine written in perl and I think I can afford a Ryzen 1800 series.

I think upfront cost is going to be my main concern overall. I've downgraded the processor to a 1700 and also the motherboard to a B350. I've downgraded the processor cooling. All in I'm £300 saved on my original spec.

My revised spec is looking like:

Processor AMD Ryzen 7 1700 Eight Core CPU (3.0GHz-3.7GHz/20MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard - ASUS® PRIME B350M-A (DDR4, USB 3.1, 6Gb/s)
Memory - 32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3000MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card - 1GB NVIDIA GEFORCE 710 - DVI, HDMI, VGA
Hard Disk - 250GB Samsung 860 2.5" EVO SSD, SATA 6Gb/s 
Power Supply - CORSAIR 350W VS SERIES™ VS-350 POWER SUPPLY
Processor Cooling - Super Quiet Titan DragonFly Heatpipe AMD CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste

[Mysticial]

Originally Posted by robert44444uk

I think upfront cost is going to be my main concern overall. I've downgraded the processor to a 1700 and also the motherboard to a B350. I've downgraded the processor cooling. All in I'm £300 saved on my original spec.

My revised spec is looking like:

Processor AMD Ryzen 7 1700 Eight Core CPU (3.0GHz-3.7GHz/20MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard - ASUS® PRIME B350M-A (DDR4, USB 3.1, 6Gb/s)
Memory - 32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3000MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card - 1GB NVIDIA GEFORCE 710 - DVI, HDMI, VGA
Hard Disk - 250GB Samsung 860 2.5" EVO SSD, SATA 6Gb/s 
Power Supply - CORSAIR 350W VS SERIES™ VS-350 POWER SUPPLY
Processor Cooling - Super Quiet Titan DragonFly Heatpipe AMD CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste

The 1700 comes with a cooler already. So if you don't intend to overclock, you won't need another cooler.

[mackerel]

The 1700 bundled cooler is sufficient not only for running it, but also a mild overclock if you were so brave.

Is this only ever going to be a CPU orientated compute system? For about an extra tenner you can go up to a CX450 (without M suffix) which would leave the door open to putting in a more powerful GPU in future. Note the CX450 only has a single PCIe power connector though, but from memory that'll cover you up to a 1070 on nvidia side or 580 on AMD. Also I believe the VS series are not considered great PSUs, so the CX will also get you a bit better build too.

[Mark Rose]

I didn't comment on the power supply earlier as I missed it. As you're in the UK, where electricity isn't cheap, I'd strongly recommend getting at least a 80Plus Gold rated power supply. It will pay for itself in about a year in power savings versus getting a Bronze supply or worse. You'll also have less heat in your place in the summer.

https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/products...t=price&page=1

[Prime95]

No one has commented on the memory. Is 32GB overkill for this application?

Also, a 350W power supply is a little weak. Power supplies run at peak efficiency at roughly 50% load.

[pinhodecarlos]

Originally Posted by Mark Rose

You'll also have less heat in your place in the summer.

There’s no summer here in the U.K. Also there are other ways to reduce the house heating in the “Summer” like changing the light bulbs to LED equivalent, switching the combo boilers schedules and temperatures set points, insulate hot water pipework, install external blinds to windows, replace wood or PVC window frames, have more efficient kitchen appliances, etc etc

[LaurV]

Originally Posted by pinhodecarlos

There’s no summer here in the U.K. Also there are other ways to reduce the house heating in the “Summer” like changing the light bulbs to LED equivalent, switching the combo boilers schedules and temperatures set points, insulate hot water pipework, install external blinds to windows, replace wood or PVC window frames, have more efficient kitchen appliances, eat less beans (so you fart less), reduce all kind of "frictions" with wife/hubby (they emit lots of heat!) etc etc

fixed it for you...

[masser]

Could you explain the choice of the Geforce 710? Given your electricity budget, there might be superior options.

[robert44444uk]

Originally Posted by masser

Could you explain the choice of the Geforce 710? Given your electricity budget, there might be superior options.

I don't know anything about graphics cards. Clearly I'm looking to spend as little as possible but are there better options which do not use much power?

[robert44444uk]

Originally Posted by Prime95

No one has commented on the memory. Is 32GB overkill for this application?

Also, a 350W power supply is a little weak. Power supplies run at peak efficiency at roughly 50% load.

Might upgrade the power then! I might use 32Gb on another application but your point is noted. The memory is the biggest cost component right now.

[robert44444uk]

Originally Posted by Mark Rose

I didn't comment on the power supply earlier as I missed it. As you're in the UK, where electricity isn't cheap, I'd strongly recommend getting at least a 80Plus Gold rated power supply. It will pay for itself in about a year in power savings versus getting a Bronze supply or worse. You'll also have less heat in your place in the summer.

https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/products...t=price&page=1

Thanks for this. So many things to think about!