I'm gearing up to build my own PC from scratch, which I haven't done alone before. I'm a bit confused about the sequence of choosing components. Should I start with the motherboard, considering I know I want an AM5 socket? What should be my next steps? And is it reliable to just use PCPartPicker for picking parts? Thanks in advance for your help!
3 Answers
First off, you really need to establish your budget, then decide on the case form factor. From there, you can choose components that fit both your budget and case. Knowing you want an AM5 socket helps narrow down your motherboard and CPU options, but don't forget that you need the case and form factor sorted before picking those other parts.
I wouldn't rely solely on PCPartPicker. It’s best to choose your CPU and GPU first. Given the current RAM situation, keep an eye on RAM prices. If cheap DDR5 isn't available, DDR4 is a solid fallback. Just make sure whatever you get fits your budget, especially since you want a GPU with at least 12GB of VRAM for gaming.
Absolutely, start with the CPU since the generation and memory type (DDR4 or DDR5) are super important right now. Once you've picked your CPU, you can find a compatible motherboard. If you're looking for deals, it might be a good strategy to grab a discounted CPU first and then complete the rest of your build later.
I'm looking at a Ryzen 5 9600x and an XFX 6700 XT 12 GB since they're discounted right now. Do you think that's a solid choice?