I'm looking to build a gaming PC with a budget around £2000, but I can stretch it to £2200 if necessary. My current setup includes an RTX 2080 Super, a Ryzen 3700X processor, and 16GB of RAM, and I'll be reusing my existing storage and PSU. I plan to game on a 1440p, 144Hz monitor, mainly playing Counter-Strike 2, but also diving into more demanding games. Here are my main concerns:
1. Will my 750W PSU be sufficient for this new build?
2. Is the 9900X3D processor overkill for gaming, or should I opt for a 9800X3D instead?
3. The RX 9070 XT seems to perform slightly worse than the 5070 Ti but is more budget-friendly. Should I go with the 9070 XT?
4. For RAM, would it be wise to buy a single 32GB stick now with plans to expand to 64GB later, or is that unnecessary since I don't currently use that much RAM?
4 Answers
If you can afford it, just grab 64GB of RAM now. It future-proofs your build for the next several years. And dropping that ASrock motherboard for a more reliable one is a great call. You might save money now, but you’ll save a lot more in the long run.
Totally agree. Good choice on the RAM and motherboard!
You might want to avoid ASrock motherboards with the 9000 series CPUs—they've had a bad reputation. Switching to a reputable brand could save you some headaches. A dual-channel 32GB setup is ideal for gaming at 1440p, and 64GB is overkill unless you're doing heavy multitasking.
Good point about the motherboard. Better safe than sorry!
Yeah, I’d go with the Ryzen 9800X3D. It really is plenty for gaming!
If you're primarily gaming, the 9800X3D will serve you well; there's no need to go for the 9900. As for RAM, 32GB is plenty for now and for a few years at least. And honestly, considering prices, the 9070 XT is a great deal compared to the 5070 Ti, especially since you’re not interested in NVIDIA’s special features.
Exactly! The 9070 XT is a solid pick without breaking the bank. You’ll get great performance while saving a bit.
Also, the 9800 is more than enough for gaming—no need to overspend!
I'd check if the stock cooler that comes with the AMD CPU is sufficient before jumping to a water cooler. Sometimes they do a decent job on their own, especially if you’re not overclocking.
Yeah, definitely check that out! Sometimes you don’t need the added expense.
Good call! The stock cooler should be fine unless you're pushing it hard.
Absolutely, better to invest a little more now than deal with compatibility issues later!