[Please help] First gaming PC build - am I missing something?

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arvatalex_1191

Jun 16, 2018
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Hi,

Please can anyone advise if:

(1) I am missing something (like fans or coolers that are necessary for the build);

(2) any potential future upgrades (apart from DDR4 which I will get next month); and

(3) what ATX case and keyboard/mouse combo should I go for (hopefully around £110 for all three)?

Please note that I have ordered the parts listed below already so cannot replace them.

1. Motherboard: MSI Z370-A PRO LGA 1151 DDR4 ATX
2. CPU: Intel Core i5 8400 - 2.80GHz Hex Core (Coffee Lake)
3. GPU: GTX 1070 TI
4. Memory: (2x4GB) Corsair Vengeance LPX 2666MHz DDR4 Mem
5. SSD: 500GB Samsung 860 EVO 2.5" SATA SSD (also have a 2TB portable hard drive which I will use)
6. PSU: EVGA 550 B3 80 550W
7. Optical drive: 24x LiteOn Internal DVD Re-Writer

Many thanks for your help.
 
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sizzling

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Oct 18, 2006
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My only advice is don’t buy 2x4gb now and 2x4gb next month, it’s not guaranteed to work. Usually it’s ok if you get the same make and model but there is a risk you can run into problems, RAM is best bought as a matched kit which are tested to be stable when used together.
 
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arvatalex_1191

Jun 16, 2018
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Many thanks for your reply sizzling. Can I please ask whether you would expect any issues with upgrading with a 1 x 8gb DDR4 stick of the same model. Future proof to be 2 x 4 gb + 2 x 8 gb.
 
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junii

junii

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Feb 17, 2018
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I think you should go with the 2x4, better performance is to be expected that way!
 
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arvatalex_1191

Jun 16, 2018
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Apologies Junii - I meant that I will keep the 2 x 4 GB and expect to upgrade with 1 x 8gb next month. Would having 2 x 4 GB and 1 x 8 GB be considered inefficient or not advisable?

 
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sizzling

Titan
Oct 18, 2006
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Any time you mix RAM not bought as a kit there is a risk of issues. Personally I’d get 2x8gb as 16gb is more than enough for gaming. Many people still only use 8gb without issue but there are a handful of games that benefit from more than 8gb. 16gb have plenty of headroom for the future.
 
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arvatalex_1191

Jun 16, 2018
6
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Hi King Drazer. Well, the parts have been ordered and paid for already so my remaining budget is £110 for case and keyboard and mouse.

If you are referring to future upgrades, the budget just depends on what I want to do with it - I will try to use it with a 4k monitor so that will be a factor in the future.
 
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junii

junii

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Feb 17, 2018
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Its inefficient, but doable. just buy a 1x8 now and a 1x8 next month
 
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junii

junii

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Feb 17, 2018
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Not really, you could have 2x4 1x8 or vice-versa. Not advisable but do-able. I have done it and had problems, The thing that I experienced is that the motherboard BIOS or uefi is going to make the ram slower so all is the same speed, so you get slower speeds than you paid for
 
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junii

junii

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Feb 17, 2018
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You don't need to buy it from a kit? I have no idea where you got this from, I've bought Imicron ram 4gb and then I bought the same exact kind next month and it works just fine... Theres no risk
 
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arvatalex_1191

Jun 16, 2018
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So peeps, what do you think about 2 x 4 and 2 x 8 gb from the same manufacturer and same model for each set of two? Will both sets use dual channel independently?

Also,

(1) for putting it together do I need thermal paste separately or does that come with the CPU processor and fan?

(2) do I need any fans or cooling for this rig?
 
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junii

junii

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Feb 17, 2018
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Thermal paste is pre applied to the stock fan, I'd buy my own though.2x4 and 2x8 as long as they are the same speed it would be fine, put the ram in, in this order, 8 gig, 4 gig, 8 gig, 4 gig. for the best results
 
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arvatalex_1191

Jun 16, 2018
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Thank you very much Junii. Why isn't the pre applied one enough? How much should I put? Apologies, first PC I am building...
 
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junii

junii

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Feb 17, 2018
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Oh I'm sorry I meant I'd buy my own CPU fan, the stock fan is weak.
 
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