I'm looking to make sure my PC build can run the 2025 Game of the Year nominees at 1440p and maintain an average of 60 FPS. My budget is $1200. I'm also planning to use this PC for podcast editing and recording at 1080p for episodes that last about 1 to 1.5 hours. Since this is my first build, I'm specifically worried about whether my case and power supply will fit well, along with ensuring that there's good airflow. I have carpet, so I was thinking about placing the PC on my desk to help with airflow. I intend to get assistance from a Microcenter for the build. Here's the PCPartPicker list I have:
- **CPU:** Intel Core i5-12400F 2.5 GHz 6-Core ($158.69)
- **Motherboard:** Gigabyte B760M GAMING PLUS WIFI DDR4 Micro ATX ($139.99)
- **Memory:** Corsair Vengeance LPX 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 ($170.99)
- **Storage:** TEAMGROUP MP44L 1 TB M.2 NVME ($152.99)
- **Video Card:** Gigabyte GAMING OC Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB ($379.99)
- **Case:** Lian Li A3-mATX Mini Tower ($72.98)
- **Power Supply:** Thermaltake Smart BM3 750 W 80+ Bronze ($64.98)
Total: $1140.61
2 Answers
Honestly, I'd suggest upgrading to the i5-12600KF if your budget allows. That said, your current setup should run most modern games pretty well at 1080p and 1440p. Just keep an eye on airflow—placing it on the desk will definitely help! Check out my build here for some inspiration: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/K4GQ8Q
You should definitely check out some benchmark videos that showcase your CPU and GPU together. From what I've seen, the RX 9060 XT should handle any 2025 game at 1440p with 60 FPS, but just keep in mind that ray tracing could drop your performance a bit.
Thanks for the tip! I'll make sure to look for those videos.
Great suggestion! I’ll look into the 12600KF. I noticed you included a CPU cooler; was that necessary or just a preference?