Components compatibility

[teddyboy]

I am going to build a hobbyist photo-editing computer. No gaming, occasional slide show, rarely video. I use mainly Capture One, some Lightroom Classic and Photoshop, editing one file at a time and render/export in small batches. Are the following reasonable components and compatible:

- Ryzen 5600G: may add GPU (something like a 1600) in the future when prices come down

- MSI B450 Tomahawk MAX II: don’t need WIFI

- Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 2x8GB: Official support is 3200 but can I use a 3400 or 3600 instead? Should I worry about timing?

- Asus ProArt PA278QV: it has HDMI and DVI port to match the MSI B450, but it is an 8-bit panel. Does it make much difference in color compared to true 10-bit panel as far as still photos are concerned? Or is it more of a video thing?

- Seasonic Focus GX750 PSU

Comments and suggestions welcome.

 

[Rambow]

You can buy a tiny wifi usb adapter for 8-10 dollars, not an issue. Mine works great, no reception issues despite the tiny size.

I recommend getting a 4 tb wd black hdd(or a cheaper one) for storage while you're at it. Some people would buy a 2 tb ssd and be done with it, but i strongly believe a 500gb ssd+ a 4 tb hdd is a safer option, also you get more storage for less money without actually making your computer slower.

Like they say, don't keep all your images in one basket.

 

[NickZ2016]

What I don't like about that MB is it's limited to one NVME. You won't be able to later add a second. Get a bigger one for that slot now. Even if you don't fill it the way NVME lifespan is figured the bigger drive should last that much longer.

 

[BobKnDP]

Why the B450 motherboard? Its compatible with the 5600G, with BIOS 7C02vH4 or later, but you may be able to get a B550 board for about the same price.

As for the RAM, going above 3200Mhz gives diminishing returns. That's probably the price/performance sweet spot.

I don't know about the Asus monitor. Its specs seem a little dated, but one review site claims it's the best available for its price. Petapixel

(My monitor is ana Asus PA329c. 32" true 10 bit, no FRC. I wouldn't have bought it, but it was available "used" at Amazon with a substantial discount. It appeared to be new. Open Box? I'm happy with it.)

 

[The Point and Shoot Pro]

What I don't like about that MB is it's limited to one NVME. You won't be able to later add a second. Get a bigger one for that slot now. Even if you don't fill it the way NVME lifespan is figured the bigger drive should last that much longer.

agreed, get at least a 2tb NVME in the beginning.

 

[teddyboy]

The router is near by my desktop so I always connect to it via cable instead of WIFI.

Currently I have two 1TB and one 3TB HDD in use, acquired over a period of time, and a lot of space left. I may go for a 4TB in the future though.

 

[teddyboy]

I thought about NVME as the OS and app drive in place of a regular SSD, plus use it as scratch disk. Data on other drives. My current 1TB boot SSD is only 1/3 filled so maybe I should just stick with 1TB for now.

 

[teddyboy]

Why the B450 motherboard? Its compatible with the 5600G, with BIOS 7C02vH4 or later, but you may be able to get a B550 board for about the same price.

B450 has DVI connection which I need for my currently in use NEC EA231wmi monitor. It will also be compatible with the Asus ProArt I am looking at getting later on. If I go for another monitor it has HDMI and USB-C as well. B550 basically rule out DVI connection and I have to get a new monitor right away. B550 is tempting I admit.

As for the RAM, going above 3200Mhz gives diminishing returns. That's probably the price/performance sweet spot.

I read somewhere people use higher than recommended speed RAM without doing any overclocking adjustments and the computer still runs fine. I've never done any OC so I don't know if there is any benefit in so doing.

I don't know about the Asus monitor. Its specs seem a little dated, but one review site claims it's the best available for its price. Petapixel

(My monitor is ana Asus PA329c. 32" true 10 bit, no FRC. I wouldn't have bought it, but it was available "used" at Amazon with a substantial discount. It appeared to be new. Open Box? I'm happy with it.)

I saw a PA329c in warehouse deals but even then it is 3 time as expensive as a new PA278QV here in Canada. The latter is an older model, though.

 

[Pictus]

I am going to build a hobbyist photo-editing computer. No gaming, occasional slide show, rarely video. I use mainly Capture One, some Lightroom Classic and Photoshop, editing one file at a time and render/export in small batches. Are the following reasonable components and compatible:

- Ryzen 5600G: may add GPU (something like a 1600) in the future when prices come down

- MSI B450 Tomahawk MAX II: don’t need WIFI

For +- the same price you can get the Asus TUF GAMING B550-PLUS
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/pn...plus-atx-am4-motherboard-tuf-gaming-b550-plus
Or the Asus TUF GAMING B550M-PLUS Micro ATX
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/hr...cro-atx-am4-motherboard-tuf-gaming-b550m-plus
They both have HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort ports.

- Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 2x8GB: Official support is 3200 but can I use a 3400 or 3600 instead? Should I worry about timing?

Some applications prefer faster RAM
https://hardwarecanucks.com/memory/choosing-the-best-amd-ryzen-5000-memory-a-beginners-guide/

- Asus ProArt PA278QV: it has HDMI and DVI port to match the MSI B450, but it is an 8-bit panel. Does it make much difference in color compared to true 10-bit panel as far as still photos are concerned? Or is it more of a video thing?

I prefer a monitor that not use PWM
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Why-Pulse-Width-Modulation-PWM-is-such-a-headache.270240.0.html

The ProArt PA278QV uses PWM, but fast PWM
https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/asus/proart-display-pa278qv

- Seasonic Focus GX750 PSU

I prefer the Corsair RM750x (2021)
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/corsair-rm750x-2021-power-supply-review
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/6N...-fully-modular-atx-power-supply-cp-9020199-na

But you can go with the 650 version
https://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/corsair-rm650x-(2021)-power-supply-review,7.html
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/WJ...-fully-modular-atx-power-supply-cp-9020198-na

If you are looking for a case



If you find the default cooler not silent enough
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/dZ3H99/scythe-ninja-5-4303-cfm-cpu-cooler-scnj-5000



BTW, make sure to update the BIOS and install the latest chipset driver.

Some BIOS tweaks you may like:
SB Clock Spread Spectrum [Disabled]
ASUS Performance Enhancement [Disabled]
Performance Bias [None]
VDDCR CPU Switching Frequency [350] (if the default is higher, keep the default)
VDDCR CPU Power Phase Control [Extreme]
VDDCR SOC Switching Frequency [350] (if the default is higher, keep the default)
VDDCR SOC Power Phase Control [Extreme]
ErP Ready [Enable(S5)]
Energy Star Ready [Disabled]
Download & Install ARMOURY CRATE app [Disabled]
ECO Mode [Disable]
Power Supply Idle Control [Typical Current Idle]

 

[teddyboy]

Wow! That's a lot of information to digest. I will take a good look at all these. Thank you.

 

[BobKnDP]

Why the B450 motherboard? Its compatible with the 5600G, with BIOS 7C02vH4 or later, but you may be able to get a B550 board for about the same price.

B450 has DVI connection which I need for my currently in use NEC EA231wmi monitor. It will also be compatible with the Asus ProArt I am looking at getting later on. If I go for another monitor it has HDMI and USB-C as well. B550 basically rule out DVI connection and I have to get a new monitor right away. B550 is tempting I admit.

As for the RAM, going above 3200Mhz gives diminishing returns. That's probably the price/performance sweet spot.

I read somewhere people use higher than recommended speed RAM without doing any overclocking adjustments and the computer still runs fine. I've never done any OC so I don't know if there is any benefit in so doing.

I don't know about the Asus monitor. Its specs seem a little dated, but one review site claims it's the best available for its price. Petapixel

(My monitor is ana Asus PA329c. 32" true 10 bit, no FRC. I wouldn't have bought it, but it was available "used" at Amazon with a substantial discount. It appeared to be new. Open Box? I'm happy with it.)

I saw a PA329c in warehouse deals but even then it is 3 time as expensive as a new PA278QV here in Canada. The latter is an older model, though.

You can probably use faster ARM. Some people overclock their RAM, but I've never had good luck with that.

If you wish to play it safe, get RAM for MSI's list. https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B450-TOMAHAWK-MAX-II/support#support-mem-22

The fastest RAM on the list is 3200MHz. I also checked Gskill, which does their own testing. Also 3200 MHz. You may need to choose DOCP in the board's BIOS to get that speed; it probably isn't the default.

 

[PupOnTech]

PC Part Picker is your friend. 500 watt psu is more than enough for that build even with a gpu.

--
www.Aygross.com
www.aygrossphotography.com
www.pupontech.com

 

[The Point and Shoot Pro]

For the cooler I would go Noctua. I replaced my stock intel unit with the notcua heatpipe cooler and fan combo, and my temps are much cooler and the fan is silent even on max.

 

[teddyboy]

I was thinking to start with stock cooler, the if things get too hot I'll go for the CoolerMaster Hyper 212 EVO v.2. I like its offset heatpipes that clear the RAM sticks.

Which Noctua do you use? My case will be a mid-tower so I hope it is not too big to fit inside.

 

[The Point and Shoot Pro]

I was thinking to start with stock cooler, the if things get too hot I'll go for the CoolerMaster Hyper 212 EVO v.2. I like its offset heatpipes that clear the RAM sticks.

Which Noctua do you use? My case will be a mid-tower so I hope it is not too big to fit inside.

No, my case is the dell xps 8940. search it up. It's not a large box by any means. The cooler number is NH-U9S. It clears ram sticks with no issue and the fans have been tested time and time again to be the quietest fans out there. I have a 120mm in the front, a 90mm in the back, the N9 cooler fan which is a 92mm as well. I have a 40mm nocuta sitting on my desk shelf waiting to be installed in the PSU to keep that cool and running efficently.