Showcase Cleo's AMD College PC 2023

Purchase / Last upgraded
Mar 23, 2023
Form factor
Custom PC
Estimated $
$600
Targeted use
  1. University
  2. Gaming
  3. 1080p
  4. Home
OS installed
Windows 11 Pro
Motherboard
ASRock B550M-ITX/ac Mini ITX
CPU
Ryzen 9 3900 (OEM)
GPU
Vastarmor RX 6650 XT
RAM
Klevv CRAS X RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory
Storage
Crucial P5 Plus 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive
PSU
Silverstone SX750-PT 750 W 80+ Platinum SFX
Case
Cooler Master MasterBox NR200P Mini ITX
Monitor
none
Keyboard and Mouse
none
Accessories
Deepcool LS320 85.85 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
My computer protection
Avast Premium Security, AdGuard, Google One VPN, Win 11 advanced hardware security enabled, periodic scans with Defender.
removed:Lexar Professional NM800PRO 1 TB M.2-2280
removed:2x8GB Lexar Ares CL18 4000Mhz sticks
removed:Bitdefender Total Security

Cleo

Level 6
Thread author
Verified
Well-known
May 25, 2020
274
A little AMD box that I put together. Initially I tried my Ryzen 9 3900 (OEM) chip but it didn't POST
so I bought the cheapest Ryzen that I could find that supports PCIe Gen 4.0 for the GPU. I didn't want
to spend much on this and the Sapphire mobo was the cheapest ITX around at the time (~$USD80 shipped)
that was in stock with a B550 chipset. I had to spend a little more on the PSU as wasted heat is my mortal
enemy in my little college room w/o air con or ceiling fans and a single window that only opens 10 cm.
edit: removed Sapphire B550i Ultra titanium mobo and Ryzen 5 3600.
edit: removed KIOXIA EXCERIA PLUS G2 1 TB M.2-2280
edit: removed be quiet! Pure Rock LP CPU Cooler
 
Last edited:

Cleo

Level 6
Thread author
Verified
Well-known
May 25, 2020
274
I think the mobo has died. "A critical process has died" blue screen during Win 11 install. Tried different NVME sticks, different USB sticks, different CPU's, different riser cables, different M.2 slot. Going to call it (time of death) if it doesn't respond to different RAM and BIOS this weekend. Can't even install linux - kernel panic mode errors about PCIe lanes....
 

Cleo

Level 6
Thread author
Verified
Well-known
May 25, 2020
274
Back up and running with my Ryzen 9 3900 (OEM) chip. I ordered a Lexar NM800PRO 1TB NVME but it's delayed in international shipping. Using an old Intel H10 1/2 TB for now.
The Sapphire board was unrecoverable. Idle CPU temp is 55 and it boosts to about 82 under full load. I'm getting Windows warnings when I go into some games that I don't have enough memory and that my settings have been turned down. Is that normal now with 16GB of RAM?
3900OEM.jpg
 

Cleo

Level 6
Thread author
Verified
Well-known
May 25, 2020
274
Swapped out the "be quiet! Pure Rock LP" for a Deepcool LS320 85.85 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler. Idle CPU temps now 45C and 62C under full load and looks much better.
Lexar NM800PRO arrived. Cloned the old Intel nvme stick w/o any issue and swapped them over. System running very well.
 

Xciting

Level 2
Jun 14, 2023
77
Good system just would remove bitdefender and replace with something else if you want max performance on your pc (bd is quite heavy and full of bloat)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cleo

Cleo

Level 6
Thread author
Verified
Well-known
May 25, 2020
274
Good system just would remove bitdefender and replace with something else if you want max performance on your pc (bd is quite heavy and full of bloat)
Thanks for the tip. I use it since we have a NetGear Armor sub. Its not my favourite AV. I might have managed to disable most of it anyway by doing an offline install. All the other things like optimizer, cleaner, password manager,vpn etc are greyed out.
 

Cleo

Level 6
Thread author
Verified
Well-known
May 25, 2020
274
also how much does netgear armour cost
IIRC its about $140AUD but we noticed that if we let the sub lapse they send a desperation 50% off code after a month. I've found its reasonable for non-tech-savvy homes with lots of IoT devices and my family had a lot, from fish tank accessories and night lights to sprinklers, solar panels, and at least 10 unidentified things my brother has found on AliExpress.
If it was my choice I'd go with a FireWalla or make a simple pfsense box. At this point I tell the family to assume China and the police have everything they put on their computers. I don't live there anymore so its out of my hands. Okay, I just check and my brother has disabled the NetGear router for blocking his gadgets so I'll just let the Armor sub expire I think..
 

Cleo

Level 6
Thread author
Verified
Well-known
May 25, 2020
274
Update: turfed the 2x8GB Lexar Ares CL18 4000Mhz sticks and put the Klevv CRAS X RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory sticks from my weird MaxSun PC in it.
I bought a couple of Timetec PINNACLE Konduit 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 sticks for the MaxSun machine. I had been getting at least one BSoD per day - all memory faults - on this AMD system after removing the baby Lexar sticks and installing the Timetec sticks in this machine first. I can't think of any reason why swapping the sticks around solved the BSOD problem. Both systems have been rock solid now for a couple of months.
 
Last edited:

Bot

AI-powered Bot
Verified
Apr 21, 2016
3,320
A little AMD box that I put together. Initially I tried my Ryzen 9 3900 (OEM) chip but it didn't POST
so I bought the cheapest Ryzen that I could find that supports PCIe Gen 4.0 for the GPU. I didn't want
to spend much on this and the Sapphire mobo was the cheapest ITX around at the time (~$USD80 shipped)
that was in stock with a B550 chipset. I had to spend a little more on the PSU as wasted heat is my mortal
enemy in my little college room w/o air con or ceiling fans and a single window that only opens 10 cm.
edit: removed Sapphire B550i Ultra titanium mobo and Ryzen 5 3600.
edit: removed KIOXIA EXCERIA PLUS G2 1 TB M.2-2280
edit: removed be quiet! Pure Rock LP CPU Cooler

Hello,

Based on the components listed for your custom PC build with a budget of approximately $600, you've put together a system that is well-suited for university work, gaming at 1080p resolution, and general home use. Let's review the configuration and discuss its suitability for your needs:

Motherboard: The ASRock B550M-ITX/ac Mini ITX is a compact motherboard with built-in Wi-Fi, which is great for a small form factor build and should offer good connectivity options for a university setting.

CPU: The Ryzen 9 3900 (OEM) is a powerful processor with 12 cores and 24 threads, offering excellent multitasking capabilities that can handle demanding applications and workloads, suitable for both university tasks and gaming.

GPU: The Vastarmor RX 6650 XT is a capable mid-range graphics card that should perform well at 1080p resolution, providing good frame rates in most modern games on high settings.

RAM: 32 GB of Klevv CRAS X RGB DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory is more than enough for gaming and will be beneficial for memory-intensive tasks or heavy multitasking, which might be common in a university context.

Storage: The Crucial P5 Plus 1 TB NVMe SSD with PCIe 4.0 support offers fast storage speeds and ample space for software, documents, games, and media.

PSU: The Silverstone SX750-PT 750 W 80+ Platinum SFX is a high-quality power supply unit that provides more than enough power for your components and is efficient, which can help with electricity bills over time.

Case: The Cooler Master MasterBox NR200P Mini ITX case is a popular choice for small form factor builds, providing good airflow and the flexibility to use high-end components.

Accessories: The Deepcool LS320 liquid CPU cooler should provide excellent cooling for the Ryzen 9 3900, maintaining performance even under load.

Additional Considerations:

  • Monitor: You will need a monitor to use this PC. For 1080p gaming, consider a monitor with a refresh rate of at least 75Hz, though 144Hz is ideal for a smoother experience. Look for one with an IPS panel for better color accuracy and viewing angles, which can be beneficial for both work and gaming.
  • Keyboard and Mouse: These are essential peripherals. For university work, any comfortable, reliable keyboard and mouse should suffice. For gaming, you might want to look at gaming-specific products for better responsiveness and durability.
  • Operating System: Windows 11 Pro is a good choice, offering extra features over the Home edition that might be beneficial for advanced users or specific university requirements.
  • Budget: The budget of $600 seems quite tight for the components listed, as the CPU and GPU alone could consume a significant portion of this budget, not to mention the other high-quality components. Ensure to check current prices and look for deals or consider adjusting your budget if necessary.
This build should serve you well for both your university and gaming needs. It's a powerful system that can handle a wide range of tasks and should last several years before needing any significant upgrades.
 
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Cleo

Level 6
Thread author
Verified
Well-known
May 25, 2020
274
Hello,

Based on the components listed for your custom PC build with a budget of approximately $600, you've put together a system that is well-suited for university work, gaming at 1080p resolution, and general home use. Let's review the configuration and discuss its suitability for your needs:

Motherboard: The ASRock B550M-ITX/ac Mini ITX is a compact motherboard with built-in Wi-Fi, which is great for a small form factor build and should offer good connectivity options for a university setting.

CPU: The Ryzen 9 3900 (OEM) is a powerful processor with 12 cores and 24 threads, offering excellent multitasking capabilities that can handle demanding applications and workloads, suitable for both university tasks and gaming.

GPU: The Vastarmor RX 6650 XT is a capable mid-range graphics card that should perform well at 1080p resolution, providing good frame rates in most modern games on high settings.

RAM: 32 GB of Klevv CRAS X RGB DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory is more than enough for gaming and will be beneficial for memory-intensive tasks or heavy multitasking, which might be common in a university context.

Storage: The Crucial P5 Plus 1 TB NVMe SSD with PCIe 4.0 support offers fast storage speeds and ample space for software, documents, games, and media.

PSU: The Silverstone SX750-PT 750 W 80+ Platinum SFX is a high-quality power supply unit that provides more than enough power for your components and is efficient, which can help with electricity bills over time.

Case: The Cooler Master MasterBox NR200P Mini ITX case is a popular choice for small form factor builds, providing good airflow and the flexibility to use high-end components.

Accessories: The Deepcool LS320 liquid CPU cooler should provide excellent cooling for the Ryzen 9 3900, maintaining performance even under load.

Additional Considerations:

  • Monitor: You will need a monitor to use this PC. For 1080p gaming, consider a monitor with a refresh rate of at least 75Hz, though 144Hz is ideal for a smoother experience. Look for one with an IPS panel for better color accuracy and viewing angles, which can be beneficial for both work and gaming.
  • Keyboard and Mouse: These are essential peripherals. For university work, any comfortable, reliable keyboard and mouse should suffice. For gaming, you might want to look at gaming-specific products for better responsiveness and durability.
  • Operating System: Windows 11 Pro is a good choice, offering extra features over the Home edition that might be beneficial for advanced users or specific university requirements.
  • Budget: The budget of $600 seems quite tight for the components listed, as the CPU and GPU alone could consume a significant portion of this budget, not to mention the other high-quality components. Ensure to check current prices and look for deals or consider adjusting your budget if necessary.
This build should serve you well for both your university and gaming needs. It's a powerful system that can handle a wide range of tasks and should last several years before needing any significant upgrades.
The system has been running beautifully, thanks.
 

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