Haven't built in a decade - clueless where to start. Advice greatly appreciated!

[Violet_Shift]

Hey everyone!

I recently moved to Germany from New Zealand, and I wasn't able to take my PC with me, in spite of wanting to. It would just cost too much to move my titanic Silverstone Raven RV01 case with me.

So I came with nothing but my hard drives, mouse, and keyboard. Since then I've been clearing my gaming backlog of older games that my laptop can handle, but really I want to get back into gaming.

I have a few requirements that I'm not sure if I can still fit. So here we go.

I need a motherboard/CPU that's compatible with Intel's motherboard RAID solution. I have a 4-platter RAID that was built using Intel RST on ICH10R. My old PC was an X58 i7 920 (ancient I know) but people say forwards compatibility for this standard still exists. In any case, I'd be satisfied just by getting my data off those disks (I have backups but they're in multiple pieces and not all of those drives are with me. All mission-critical stuff is with me already).

I'm looking to build a gaming machine in between mid and high end. I'm already using a 3840x1600 monitor so I imagine I will need powerful graphics card for that.

I'd still be using the first-gen i7 if I didn't have to move, so I am utterly clueless when it comes to motherboards/CPUs/RAM. Recommendations or advice here would be helpful!

Oh, I'm also looking for a case (though probably not as ridiculous as the RV01). I'd prefer to go cheap here, since I'd rather burn my budget on components than cosmetics, at least for now.

Budget is in the neighbourhood of 1000 - 1300 euro. I could go over, as I'm totally willing to build this over a period of time.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

personally I would check out the buy sell trade forum section here since a lot of capable stuff see's it's way there and people with heatware tend to want to keep it nice ,both the deal and their tech, I dont really see you having to go crazy on the cpu an i7 6 series or above ,and all to leave plenty for the Gpu which you may as well buy new in the , 5700 or 2060 and above category, nothing second hand beats that proposition to me but there is money to be saved on the platform.

 

[TheMadDutchDude]

I hate to tell you, but I’m 99% sure that the RAID array will not survive a transplant. It’s likely as good as gone.

Given your overall budget, you’ll never be able to game “properly” at that resolution. That needs a 2080 Super or 2080 Ti at the least, which is your entire budget on a GPU.

I would probably sway towards the second hand market too. I would lean in a Ryzen direction, though. If you were to go new, grab a 3600 and compatible motherboard. A solid state drive is a must at this price point, so consider that too.

 

[eidairaman1]

Pcpartpicker.com, start there

 

[thesmokingman]

I hate to tell you, but I’m 99% sure that the RAID array will not survive a transplant. It’s likely as good as gone.

Yea, and I hope the array is backed up!

 

[Static~Charge]

I need a motherboard/CPU that's compatible with Intel's motherboard RAID solution. I have a 4-platter RAID that was built using Intel RST on ICH10R. My old PC was an X58 i7 920 (ancient I know) but people say forwards compatibility for this standard still exists. In any case, I'd be satisfied just by getting my data off those disks (I have backups but they're in multiple pieces and not all of those drives are with me. All mission-critical stuff is with me already).

Intel says it may be possible:

Moving a RAID Volume to a Different System

Information on what is needed to move a RAID volume to another system and still access the data.

www.intel.com

Your best bet is to get another motherboard with an ICH10R southbridge.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Intel says it may be possible:

Moving a RAID Volume to a Different System

Information on what is needed to move a RAID volume to another system and still access the data.

www.intel.com

Your best bet is to get another motherboard with an ICH10R southbridge.

This it is possible, but requires careful work.

 

[Ripcord]

ICH10R i dont think Intel make win 10 drivers for that chip set anymore

 

[lexluthermiester]

ICH10R i dont think Intel make win 10 drivers for that chip set anymore

Windows 7 drivers will work in Windows 10 fine.

 

[ne6togadno]

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in case there is no chance to remake the raid

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i'd pick thermaltake case over cooltek

 

[FinneousPJ]

If it's not mission critical I would forget about the RAID. The build by @ne6togadno looks great, +1. (Although the PSU is overkill, you could add a 2nd 5700 XT no problem.)

 

[ne6togadno]

later he will need to upgrade to better gpu. 5700xt will have hard time in current titles @3840x1600. no point to change psu every time he change some other component.
650w gold psu will serve him for 7-10 years with any grade parts unless he want sli/cf with flagship cards

I've missed the part with build over period
same builds with proper vga for 3840x1600

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amd cpu

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[HenrySomeone]

Given your overall budget, you’ll never be able to game “properly” at that resolution. That needs a 2080 Super or 2080 Ti at the least, which is your entire budget on a GPU.

I would probably sway towards the second hand market too. I would lean in a Ryzen direction, though. If you were to go new, grab a 3600 and compatible motherboard. A solid state drive is a must at this price point, so consider that too.

Well, if it's a 60Hz panel, a 2070super would do for now, but definitely nothing less than that though; the other option is a used 1080Ti if you can get it for a good price. Also considering the OP mentioned that they are willing to build over time, it might be prudent to buy at least ram now (since it's unlikely to get any cheaper and quite likely to go up in price), then maybe wait towards black friday for the rest while also keeping an eye out for good deals on the used market.

 

[potato580+]

if you were looking for decent intel product, i sugest i3 9100f nor i5 8400f as cpu, not only both have best value in price&performance, also for gpu you might pick famous amd model, rx570-590 for 1080p gaming alr good

 

[Violet_Shift]

Thanks for all the tips, everyone!

As for the RAID - I know it may be unrecoverable, but I think it's worth a try. I've been in the Intel ecosystem for 10 years anyway so I'd rather stay there. From what I know, I have to first boot from a non-RAID volume and then plug the RAID in later. Since the RAID isn't bootable, it shouldn't try, and, touch wood, should remain intact. The only thing that's on there that I don't have backups of is my game and video library which I can reacquire if necessary. So yeah, no big loss if I can't.

Fortunately, I have backups. Honestly, the RAID's given me so much trouble over the years that I'm likely to just go to a monolithic solution eventually.

Correct about me building over time - I've got enough of a backlog of old games to keep myself entertained while I build this thing. Been enjoying the original Deus Ex right now. I'd be happy to get the base built and think about a graphics card later down the line.

Does anyone have any advice for price indexes in Germany/Europe?

 

[FinneousPJ]

Thanks for all the tips, everyone!

As for the RAID - I know it may be unrecoverable, but I think it's worth a try. I've been in the Intel ecosystem for 10 years anyway so I'd rather stay there. From what I know, I have to first boot from a non-RAID volume and then plug the RAID in later. Since the RAID isn't bootable, it shouldn't try, and, touch wood, should remain intact. The only thing that's on there that I don't have backups of is my game and video library which I can reacquire if necessary. So yeah, no big loss if I can't.

Fortunately, I have backups. Honestly, the RAID's given me so much trouble over the years that I'm likely to just go to a monolithic solution eventually.

Correct about me building over time - I've got enough of a backlog of old games to keep myself entertained while I build this thing. Been enjoying the original Deus Ex right now. I'd be happy to get the base built and think about a graphics card later down the line.

Does anyone have any advice for price indexes in Germany/Europe?

Geizhals.eu is pretty great.

 

[HenrySomeone]

Thanks for all the tips, everyone!

As for the RAID - I know it may be unrecoverable, but I think it's worth a try. I've been in the Intel ecosystem for 10 years anyway so I'd rather stay there.

That's honestly a good idea - I know a lot of people who were (or still are) pretty disappointed by the AM4 platform in general after moving from Intel where they had been mostly or completely trouble free for like a decade or more. Ryzens are better suited to poor sods who were until recently putting up with Bulldozers and are therefore used to all kinds of issues. Although that said, if you end up buying the cpu around black friday or so and you come upon a 3600 for 150€ or 3700X for 250 or something similar, it might be worth considering as they are likely to iron out most of the issues by then and they aren't THAT far behind Intels at least until desktop Ice Lake comes out and also, you'll be heavily limited by your resolution anyway...

 

[Lorec]

Ryzens are better suited to poor sods who were until recently putting up with Bulldozers and are therefore used to all kinds of issues.

Totally unecessary and inappropriate.

Those i5 8400 cpus became so crazy cheap recently.
There is plenty of good and cheap options in 8th and 9th gen with 14+++++++ on the way

Not sure what about germany but in my area ppl letting go of their 2600k and 4790k systems cheap!
like someone mentioned earlier, maybe thats the way to go?

 

[FinneousPJ]

That's honestly a good idea - I know a lot of people who were (or still are) pretty disappointed by the AM4 platform in general after moving from Intel where they had been mostly or completely trouble free for like a decade or more. Ryzens are better suited to poor sods who were until recently putting up with Bulldozers and are therefore used to all kinds of issues. Although that said, if you end up buying the cpu around black friday or so and you come upon a 3600 for 150€ or 3700X for 250 or something similar, it might be worth considering as they are likely to iron out most of the issues by then and they aren't THAT far behind Intels at least until desktop Ice Lake comes out and also, you'll be heavily limited by your resolution anyway...

It's a good thing Intel never had issues... oh wait.

 

[killster1]

he said mid to high end with 1000-1300 why are people mentioning 8400 / 2600k? wild!! just get 9700 cpu 16gb ram and what ever board you can find for cheap, a 1080ti (is what i use and would choose) but really have no idea about Germany part prices. 5700xt are loaded with issues and people say the 2000 series nvidia have loads of issues too ;( i think you could build the whole thing for 900 excluding psu (i always over do my psu but im a sucker for titanium over wattage) I guess it depends what the refresh on the monitor is for how much he should worry about the cpu.

 

[robot zombie]

Ryzens are better suited to poor sods who were until recently putting up with Bulldozers and are therefore used to all kinds of issues.

I'm thinking of compiling a book titled "Things Happy People Don't Say" and filling it with lines like this. Most of what you say is pretty decent advice but man, what an attitude to have! Kind of undercutting yourself there.

 

[lexluthermiester]

That's honestly a good idea - I know a lot of people who were (or still are) pretty disappointed by the AM4 platform in general after moving from Intel where they had been mostly or completely trouble free for like a decade or more.

That's alot of people who are technology snob's or not paying attention.

Ryzens are better suited to poor sods who were until recently putting up with Bulldozers and are therefore used to all kinds of issues.

Totally unnecessary and inappropriate.

Agreed.

 

[HammerON]

Let's not get caught up with questioning someone's opinion and keep moving forward with offering advice.
Carry on!

 

[Violet_Shift]

I've had my share of problematic hardware from early adoption of fads, so I'd rather stick to the tried and true - I hate to come down on the side of the tech snobs, but I just want to stick with what I'm happy with. After all, I was an early adopter of the GeForce 8800GTX with its 6 months of bad drivers, I also used a Radeon 5970 and found that onboard Crossfire cards just weren't all they were made out to be.

As for my monitor - it's an LG 38WK95C. Picked one up on sale since I wanted to go 21:9 anyway and at the moment my laptop is looking ridiculous hooked up to it. It's 75Hz if I recall correctly? That said, I'm more than happy gaming at 60.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I've had my share of problematic hardware from early adoption of fads, so I'd rather stick to the tried and true

Then if I may make a suggestion? First gen Ryzen has become a rock solid platform. A 1700, 1700X or 1800X would serve you well if you are doing more than just gaming. All of the glitches and bugs have been worked out, what few of them there were. In the GPU dept, an RX580 8GB would serve you well.