I'm looking to build a gaming PC focused on competitive gaming, especially for titles like CS:GO, Valorant, and Overwatch, and I'd like to keep my total budget around $2000, which includes everything from the monitor to gaming peripherals. Currently, I've selected the following components: for the GPU, I'm considering the XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT (16GB, 256-bit) priced at $740, and for the CPU, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Processor for $480. This leaves me with about $780 for the rest of the build.
For the motherboard, I'm thinking of something like the MSI Mag B650 Tomahawk WiFi. I want a power supply that's Gold-rated, ideally between 750W to 1000W.
Regarding the monitor, would the Alienware 360Hz AW2523HF be too much, or would a 240Hz monitor be sufficient? I've also noted I want 32GB of DDR5-6000 RAM, prioritizing quality while staying within budget. Additionally, I'm looking for a wireless gaming mouse and a keyboard that are built for competitive play.
I'm not particular about aesthetics, so a basic black full tower case will do me just fine. For cooling, I'm considering the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO CPU Air Cooler but I'm open to suggestions. I'm set on the CPU and GPU I've chosen, but if you have recommendations for anything cheaper that doesn't sacrifice quality, I'd love to hear them. Lastly, I'm located in California, so please let me know if there's anything I should be aware of regarding my build, like thermal paste or specific screws.
2 Answers
Have you thought about checking out a local Microcenter? They usually have great deals on components and sometimes bundle offers that could save you money on the whole setup. Plus, being close might allow you to pick everything up, avoiding shipping costs and wait times.
For competitive gaming, I’d recommend considering a downgrade to the Nvidia 5070. It’s a solid card and could save you funds to invest in a higher-quality monitor like the Pulsar. Also, just to clarify, the Pulsar monitor can work with both AMD and Nvidia GPUs, so you're set there!
I see your point, but the 5070 is actually priced a bit higher than my chosen GPU. Is it really worth it, or did I misread? I’m new to this, so any advice helps!
I live about 2 hours away, so it's a bit of a trek. What kind of deals have you seen there?