Need help picking psu for my build and upgrades

RiceMerchant · Jul 5, 2017

Hello, this is my current pc build idea - https://pcpartpicker.com/list/gHMGFd
I'm looking to upgrade the cpu and gpu to an i7 and a gtx 1070 some time later in the future.
Is it okay if i buy a 500w psu for this build because I'm going to upgrade with those parts later?
I just want to avoid rewiring and purchasing another psu in the future.
Currently the 430w and 500w psu cost the same - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H33SFJU/ref=ox_sc_act_image_5?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1
Not really sure what I should do. I don't know if the 500w is too much for the current build an I don't know if the 500w is too little for the later build. Please help!

raisonjohn · Jul 5, 2017

I'd suggest these modifications if you are willing to spend ~$580 based on your build idea:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Pentium G4560 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($74.89 @ B&H)
Motherboard: ASRock - B250M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($60.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair - Vengeance LPX 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($73.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial - MX300 275GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($99.88 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.44 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Mini Video Card ($138.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: DIYPC - Cuboid-R MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($49.89 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($41.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $589.04
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-07-05 23:16 EDT-0400

You can also get the Z270M version of the motherboard (for ~$114) if you intend to overclock with an i7-7700K in the future. If not, then the B250M mobo suggested above (w/ 4 RAM slots), is best paired with an i7-7700 (non-K) should you decide to do so in the future.

Changed also your RAM to 2x4GB, to take advantage of faster dual-channel memory speeds. Increased it to 2400MHz (instead of 2133MHz) as that is the max. speed the B250M and your G4560 CPU can support. Unless you consider the Z270M suggestion above (for future OC), you can get much faster RAM such as 2666MHz and higher. Else, the 2x4GB 2400MHz is better than the 1x8GB 2133MHz. Note that this mobo has 4 RAM slots (instead of 2 in your initial selected mobo).

Increased your SSD to 275GB. Those ~120GB SSDs are slower compared to their ~240-250GB counterparts. It also allows you to have more SSD storage space.

Change GPU to the most affordable but equally-performing GTX 1050 Ti (since you will upgrade this to a GTX 1070 in the future anyway).

Changed case to a more affordable, cleaner looking one (with dedicated interior compartment for PSU/HDD).

The PSU recommended is somewhere in the ~500W to ~550W area. This accounts for your future i7 and GTX 1070 (or even more powerful components). A good-quality fully-modular PSU in Seasonic M12II-520 EVO was selected to balance costs and performance/quality (compared to the low-tiered EVGA white.

All in all, the price difference from your initial build is only ~$17 more - but you get better performance/quality.

RiceMerchant · Jul 6, 2017

Thanks for the help! Honestly there is so much info here that surprised me, so yea, much appreciated. I'm looking to do 16 gb ram in the future, that's why I opted to start out with one stick of 8gb ram. Should I instead do 2x4gb ram and then upgrade with another 2x4gb ram or should I just start out with 16gb of ram? Again, thank you so much! I'll probably go with the Z270M version of the motherboard. Are there any cases you would recommend for a build like this? I'm not too keen on the cube look on pc cases.

raisonjohn · Jul 7, 2017

You're welcome! If your budget does allow 2 x 8GB at the onset, then, that would be the most ideal purchase (for future-proofing). However, note that 8GB will suffice if your budget is limited.

Getting a 2 x 4GB kit takes advantage of dual-channel memory speeds at the start, instead of just getting 1 x 8GB. Since the suggested motherboard has 4x RAM slots, you can add another 2 x 4GB kit in the future if 8GB will be insufficient at that point in time. Note that populating all RAM slots does put more stress in the memory controller when OC'ing (as you are running 2 sticks per channel, when all 4 slots are plugged in). This is the advantage of just getting 1 x 8GB, wherein you can buy another 1 x 8GB stick later on to get to 16GB without filling up all RAM slots. Though, the longer you are using just a single stick, the longer you are not exploiting the dual-channel memory speeds of your motherboard.

Also, since you have decided to go for a Z270M motherboard (with the intent of upgrading your CPU to an overclockable i7-7700K in the far future), consider also getting a faster RAM speed to start out your build (instead of the regular 2400MHz).

Here's a suggested/modified build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Pentium G4560 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($74.89 @ B&H)
Motherboard: ASRock - Fatal1ty Z270 Gaming K4 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($128.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($83.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial - MX300 275GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($99.88 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Mini Video Card ($138.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair - Carbide SPEC-04 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($41.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $656.68
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-07-07 03:15 EDT-0400

RiceMerchant · Jul 9, 2017

Alrighty! Again, thank you so much for the help

Here is the finalized build.
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/m4qhpb

raisonjohn · Jul 9, 2017

RiceMerchant :

Looks great!

That ~$700 PC will give you a good upgrade path to an i7-7700K (+ aftermarket CPU cooler) and a GTX 1070 in the future.

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Need help picking psu for my build and upgrades

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