I'm gearing up to build my first gaming PC and I'm excited about it! My goal is to create a system that can handle any game at 2K or 4K resolution smoothly. I've got a budget between $2500 and $3000. From my research, it looks like pairing a 5080 GPU with a 9800X3D CPU would be a solid choice, but I'd love to hear if anyone thinks there's a better option. Aesthetics matter to me, so I want it to look sleek and black. Also, I'm interested in an AIO cooler with an LCD screen – not sure why, but that really appeals to me! Lastly, I'll need to buy Windows 11 on a USB, as I can't download it directly to a laptop. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
It sounds like you're on the right track with the 5080 and 9800X3D! Just make sure to choose a motherboard that fits your needs – do you prefer ATX, mATX, or mITX? And how about RGB lighting? If you’re aiming for 120fps as your definition of smooth gameplay, you might want to focus on QHD rather than going all out for 4K, especially since it’s easier to run games at that resolution.
Absolutely! Larger motherboards tend to have more features like extra M.2 slots, which is great for faster SSDs and future upgrades.
Great choice looking at PCPartPicker! For your build, make sure to look for an AM5 socket motherboard that supports DDR5 and PCIe 4.0 or 5.0. It’s handy for checking compatibility and prices online! Don't worry too much about the power supply; a 1000W should be enough, but if there’s room in your budget, a 1200W could give you some extra headroom for future upgrades.
Awesome, I’ll check that out! I’m also considering some case fans to keep airflow good. Do you think it’s necessary to swap out the AIO cooler's fans?
Definitely a good idea! Upgrading those fans can improve cooling efficiency and reduce noise, which is a plus.
Thanks for the tips! I'm not entirely sure about the motherboard yet. Would a larger one save me some money and give me more options for RAM and SSDs?