Assembling a PC for serious work and undemanding games

AMD Ryzen 2400G is a class of so-called APUs, that is, it combines both processor and video cores. This is the second of the Raven Ridge generation APUs, and you can find the first one here — AMD Ryzen 3 Raven Ridge 2200G BOX Price from 2 699 up to 4 042 ₴. On the market, this model has replaced AMD Ryzen 5 Summit Ridge 1400 BOX , and for a reason.

The processor has four cores and SMT support, which means two threads per core. Compared to the replaced Ryzen 5 1400, the novelty is equipped with a cache cut in half (4 MB L3), but greatly increased frequencies. Namely, 3.6 GHz according to the standard and 3.9 GHz in boost. The multiplier is also unlocked, which means that manual overclocking is possible on motherboards, starting with the B350 chipset. However, for old motherboards on AM4, you will need a BIOS update.

Thanks to the 65W heat pack, the Ryzen 5 2400G APU will allow you to assemble the system on an AM4 socket in a small case, for example, for a compact gaming computer — even with a Wraith Stealth cooler, quiet enough and very efficient. A graphics card is also not needed, since the built-in Vega 11 video core, operating at frequencies up to 1250 MHz with overclocking capability, closely approaches the discrete GT 1030 graphics card. This means that you will be able to play not only esports games, but also AAA projects like Far Cry 5.

It is important to remember that the performance of the APU video core directly depends on RAM, its frequency and, especially, the dual-channel mode of operation. Follow the link here to select ready-made kits. Also note that the processor has only 8 PCI Express lines for all expansion possibilities, which is enough even for the most modern discrete graphics card, but not enough for NVME drives or expansion cards. Therefore, AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is an perfect processor for a low-cost gaming system, but a more serious gamer should look at more powerful models.

Enermax ETS-N31 is one of the most compact tower coolers with a 9 cm fan on the market. Its height is only 12.5 cm, whereas most other coolers with a fan of a similar diameter are higher by a centimeter or even one and a half. This "turret" weighs a little less than 400 grams.

Three copper heat pipes in direct contact with the processor without an intermediary plate and penetrating several dozen aluminium ribs are capable of "absorbing" up to 130 watts of heat. On the sides, the ribs are bent down for a better direction of the air flow. Heating is also removed by means of a 9-cm fan with transparent blades, but without illumination. The rotation speed varies from 800 to 2000 rpm.

It is unlikely to break the overclocking records of flagship processors with Enermax ETS-N31, but it handles with moderate overclocking of medium-level prots without problems. Perhaps the main area of its application are APU chips AMD Ryzen 3 Raven Ridge 2200G BOX Price from 2 699 up to 4 042 ₴ and Ryzen 5 2400G, which can overclock not only processor cores, but also integrated graphics, which in total increases the TDP by one and a half times. AMD's free box cooler does not cope with such a task even at a maximum rotation speed of 2600 rpm.

As a result, the Enermax ETS-N31 is a good low-cost tower cooler that can fit into any computer case, will not interfere with the installation of high—radiator RAM and will cope with cooling most processors even with moderate overclocking. You can also praise it for the extremely simple attachment to the "clothespin". And for extreme acceleration of the hottest "stones", it is better to choose a larger cooler, for example, a 200-watt Enermax ETS-T40F-RF with a 14-cm turntable.

Biostar Racing B450GT3 is a medium—sized micro-ATX motherboard for the AMD AM4 platform with a fairly rich functionality and at the same time a reasonable price. By the way, the big plus of the B450 chipset is the support of Ryzen 2000-series processors by default, without having to search for the first-generation percentage and flash the BIOS with it, as on many old motherboards on the B350 chipset. By the way, there are two BIOS chips: the backup one is loaded in case, for example, an unsuccessful overclocking.

The power supply of the processor is 8-pin, and the power subsystem is 4+2-phase: four mosfets for CPU cores and two more for the RAM controller and integrated graphics (if there is one). The mosfets are only partially covered by the radiator, but exactly where it is most needed. There are four slots for DDR4 RAM with a total volume of up to 64 GB and a frequency of up to 3200 + MHz. The actual supported RAM frequency depends on the success of a particular instance of the motherboard and processor.

We will cut PCI-E x16 reinforced with metal so that it is not accidentally broken by the weight of a video card with a heavy cooler and a backup. The second long graphics card slot is designed for only four PCI-E lines, which is enough to create a CrossFire bundle, but not SLI. Another couple of short PCI-E x1 are designed to connect sound, network and video capture cards, but with a high probability they will be blocked by a thick graphics card.

The disk subsystem can be represented by six SATA3 disks with speeds up to 600 Mbit/s and one Ultra M.2 up to 32 Gbit/s. There is no cooling M.2-casing, this is the prerogative of more expensive mothers, such as Biostar X470GT8 Ver. 5.x . But by analogy with the flagship models, there are two 5050_V12 connectors for connecting and synchronizing LED devices, be it separate LED strips or, for example, an SSD with built-in RGB backlight.

T-Force Delta TUF Gaming RGB DDR4 — RAM of a Taiwanese companyTeam Group. It is painted in black and yellow colours of the gaming series of computer components and accessories ASUS The Ultimate Force (abbreviated TUF). And also synchronizes its RGB backlight only with ASUS Aura motherboards (unofficially also compatible with the traditionally "omnivorous" ASRock motherboards).

However, the standard "rainbow" glow mode pleases the eye even without synchronization: it shines softly, and the colour changes smoothly (not like many other RGB devices that resemble light music from the disco of the 80s). Memory radiators are metal, thick—walled and with a moderate height of 5 cm, so they should not interfere with the installation of most large processor coolers.

The volume of individual modules and paired sets of memory varies from 8 to 32 GB, and the frequency ranges from 2400 to 3200 MHz. Moreover, even the older model has the potential for manual acceleration. Hiding under the radiators, Hynix chips of the latest generation M-die accelerate even better than the popular Samsung B-die — from 3200 with timings 16-18-18-38 to 3600 MHz with timings 16-18-18-42. At the same time, memory delays decreased from 75 to 69 ns.

In general, the T-Force Delta TUF Gaming RGB DDR4 is a perfectly accelerating RAM with a rare black and yellow colour of radiators and customizable (though not on all motherboards) backlight. We recommend it first of all for assembling PCs based on AMD Ryzen 2000-series processors, which, thanks to high-frequency memory, receive a noticeable increase in performance. The first generation Ryzen rarely conquers the RAM frequency above 2933 MHz.

T-Force Delta S TUF Gaming RGB SSD is one of the first solid—state drives on the market with the now fashionable RGB backlight. Neither the SATA bus nor the PCI-E backlight from the motherboard can synchronize yet, so for this task we have to use an additional 5050_12V wiring. Be sure to check the availability of the appropriate connector on your motherboard (some models are equipped with only a 5-volt RGB connector).

If you do not take into account RGB, then Delta S TUF Gaming is a classic 2.5-inch SSD with a SATA3 interface. Inside, in addition to a small printed circuit board with LEDs, there is another large one: with a Silicon Motion SMI2258 controller, chips3D TLC of Micron flash memory and a separate RAM cache chip (it is absent in the cheapest SSDs). However, the two-board design negatively affects the temperature of the disk, which is 10 degrees higher than single-board analogues (even the metal case does not save), although the temperature still cannot be called high.

All this taken together results in 560 Mbps (the practical maximum bandwidth of the SATA3 bus) of sequential reading and 515 Mbps of writing. However, after the overflow of the virtual SLC cache, equal to about a third of the free disk space (typical for all TLC SSDs on the SMI controller), the write speed drops by about half — 220 Mbps. But this is anyway better than the SSD on Toshiba's planar TLC memory, which sink to 50 – 100 Mbps.

As a result, the T-Force Delta S TUF Gaming RGB SSD is a successful attempt to introduce something new (if not internal functionality, then at least a spectacular appearance) into the 2.5—inch SSDs that have not changed in any way for several years. But the real revolution in this field will begin very soon with the introduction of QLC memory (four bits per cell), which should reduce the cost of SSD by a third.

Seagate IronWolf is a series of de jure hard drives for NAS storage. But de facto it is perfectly suited for the role of a second quiet and roomy disk, complementing a fast but small SSD. Unlike the series Seagate BarraCuda Compute ST2000DM008 2 TB 256/7200 Price from 2 466 up to 3 520 ₴, exists only in a 3.5-inch dextopic form factor.

At a low rotation speed of 5900 rpm, the 4-terabyte IronWolf, due to the high density of magnetic plates (popularly called "pancakes"), demonstrates a sequential read and write speed of 180 Mbps. And this is already the level of 1 or 2 terabyte disks at 7200 rpm, which are noisier and hotter, which is why they are less suitable for round-the-clock work and long-term storage of important data.

The RAM-cache volume of the 4 TB version of IronWolf is 64 MB. It is used for accelerated processing of small files (although 64 MB is not such small files, for example, a typical MP3 song weighs up to 10 MB). The largest buffer among Seagate disks is the Seagate FireCuda ST2000DX002 2 TB — as much as 8 GB of SSD cache, and based on wear-resistant MLC memory (two bits per cell).

As a result, Seagate IronWolf is a quiet and surprisingly fast hard drive that is suitable for almost any task (NAS server, second disk of a desktop or gaming PC), except for installing the operating system (for this purpose it is better to choose Barracuda or FireCuda). The volume of IronWolf can vary from 1 to 14 TB, the warranty is strictly 3 years. There is also a sub-series Seagate IronWolf Pro ST4000NE0025 4 TB NE0025 with an extended warranty of up to 5 years.

For a modern low-cost and even mid-price gaming PC, theoretically, a power supply with an honest 350-400 watts is sufficient, of which at least 300 watts should be issued along the +12V line (see the article"How to choose a power supply for a computer?"). But so that the circuitry does not wear out too quickly, it is better not to load the PSU to full and take a model with a reserve of 500 watts. And if you also want the BP fan to rotate quietly, then the first candidate for purchase is Chieftec Eco GPE–500S.

In idle mode, the 12-centimeter Chieftec Eco GPE-500S fan rotates very quietly (650 rpm). The noise of the motor is not audible, but a slight whistle of air passing through the openings of the ventilation grate in the form of honeycombs is discernible (not the best solution for blowing, as it is quickly clogged with dust). However, there are no absolutely silent PSUs in this price category – this is already a privilege of the older segment models.

On the +12V line, the Chieftec Eco GPE-500S outputs as much as 450 of the total 500 watts, but at the same time it is equipped with only one 8-pin power connector for the graphics card (models up to 175 watts are supported). Fortunately, with the help of a special adapter (purchased separately), an additional 6-pin connector can be made from two Molex and in this way power a graphics card with an energy consumption of up to 250 watts. The Eco GPE-500S has not been officially certified for energy efficiency, but according to the manufacturer's statements, which is confirmed by tests on reputable hardcore sites, its efficiency is a solid 85 percent (comparable to the 80 PLUS Bronze certificate). Conclusion: the power of the Chieftec Eco GPE-500S is enough for a gaming PC with one, even a flagship graphics card, with the exception of the outdated energy-hungry Radeon R9 390, 390X, Fury and Fury X.

Inexpensive gaming computers are most often assembled on the basis of medium-sized microATX motherboards (see the article"How to choose a motherboard for a computer?"), therefore, it is not worth overpaying for a full-size ATX case, because it will not fit under every table yet. The main thing is that the cooling of the microATX case should be well thought out, as it is done with Deepcool Smarter LED.

At a low price, the Smarter LED is equipped with as many as two 12-cm fans glowing blue – front for blowing, rear for blowing. There is room on the side panel for a third 12-cm propeller, but this is, perhaps, an excess. For comparison, most other low-cost enclosures are equipped with only one 8 or 9 cm fan (more noise, less air flow) or are supplied without it at all.

Among other things, Deepcool Smarter LED has a mount for a 2.5-inch SSD and a USB 3.0 port on the interface panel (both are rare in low-cost cases). The only drawback is that the power supply is mounted on top, which is why it draws in some of the hot air from the processor and graphics card. So it's not worth collecting top-end gaming PCs in such a case, but otherwise a good-quality, and even a nice-looking solution.

Motospeed CK888 is a ready—made wired kit consisting of a mechanical keyboard and an optical mouse, which costs less than the keyboard of most other brands alone. It is positioned primarily as a gaming solution, but it will also be useful for work tasks, especially for printing large volumes of text.

The keyboard is built on Outemu Blue switches: they click with gusto, the tactile response is clear, the pressing force is average. At the moment, these are probably the most common, and therefore well-debugged, switches on the market. There are no modifications of the same keyboard with switches of other colours (Red or Brown) that differ in sound and tactile sensations. The substrate of the clave is made of aluminium. The F1 – F12 keys, when Fn is pressed simultaneously, perform various useful actions, such as controlling music or video playback and adjusting the volume. You can also lock the Win key, so as not to accidentally collapse the game in the midst of a multiplayer battle.

The complete mouse looks like a Motospeed V30: the same grasping soft-touch plastic, sidewalls imitating the texture of the skin and wear-resistant Teflon legs. But the optical sensor is used more simply — with a DPI from 800 to 2400, whereas the separately sold V30 has as much as 3500 DPI. The mouse has three additional buttons, and under a couple of the main ones there are Huano microswitches that can withstand at least 20 million clicks (which is about 10K clicks every day for five years). I liked the wheel the most: it rotates smoothly with barely noticeable cut-offs.

The cherry on the cake of the Motospeed CK888 keyboard and mouse kit is a customizable RGB backlight. You can choose the colour, brightness, intensity and style of glow. And if you are not a fan of the mottled glow, then perhaps you will like the mode of short—term ignition of the just-pressed key by random light — it looks cute and does not distract from work. You can scold Motospeed CK888 except for cables without fabric braid. However, for some it's even a plus — the wires will straighten faster.

The representative of the Philips V Line line is one of the leaders in sales, and not only in its price category. Externally, it is distinguished by the so-called frameless design: a thin frame covers the screen on three sides, which adds external attractiveness to the device, increases the viewing area, and also increases convenience when working with multiple displays at the same time.

Philips 243V7QDAB is equipped with a 23.8-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. The IPS display is based on a matrix with excellent viewing angles, acceptable brightness (250 cd/m2) and contrast (1,000:1). The monitor shows a rich, juicy picture. However, there are questions about the naturalness of the image. The default colour accuracy leaves much to be desired, which is decided by the choice of modes and their personal settings in the menu (users also recommend disabling SmartContrast technology).

The monitor supports Flicker-Free technology. It eliminates flickering and reduces the strain on vision. For safety and comfort, the model also uses LowBlue technology, which minimizes the intensity of potentially harmful blue glow to the eyes. And for fans of reading, a specialized EasyRead mode is offered.

Philips 243V7QDAB is equipped with two 2W stereo speakers. Their total volume is quite enough, for example, to watch videos on YouTube. In addition, thanks to the built-in acoustics, you can save money on buying a separate audio system, not cluttering up the desktop and avoiding confusion with wires.

To connect the model to a PC, three connectors are offered to choose from: HDMI, VGA or DVI-D. There is also a mini-Jack for headphones, it is possible to fix the monitor on the wall using a VESA 100x100 mm mount.

The model is suitable for office work or home use for all those who are looking for an inexpensive solution with an attractive design. Among analogues with similar parameters and additional options, it is worth highlighting AOC I2481Fxh 24 " black , but it costs more.