I'm diving into my first PC build and using PC Part Picker to help me out. As someone who tends to be a perfectionist, I want to make sure I have the top-tier parts, even if I don't necessarily need them for my gaming, which includes 1440p single-player games with modding. My budget's around £1500 to £1800, and so far, here's what I'm considering (none of these parts have been purchased yet):
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz 8-Core Processor
- Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit EVO 69 CFM CPU Cooler
- Memory: Corsair Vengeance 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory
- Storage: Western Digital WD_Black SN850X 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive
- GPU: Torn between Palit GamingPro OC GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (costing £749) or Sapphire NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 XT (priced at £679). I'm particularly concerned about future-proofing for GTA 6, especially since I've heard NVIDIA is better for ray tracing.
I'm still on the fence regarding the motherboard, case, power supply, and operating system. Any tips would really help!
5 Answers
Your parts are solid! Just a heads up, GTA 6 isn’t likely to drop for PC until at least 2027 or 2028, so planning for it now might be premature.
For the PSU, aim for 750W or more, and definitely go for a fully modular one. I suggest looking at reliable PSU tier lists for recommendations. Giving yourself a bit of headroom in wattage is a good idea for stability, especially since components can draw more power over time. A solid choice would be getting an 850W or 1000W PSU to ensure you won't have to replace it later on.
For the motherboard, I'd recommend the B850 Tomahawk, and for the PSU, the Superflower Leadex VII 850W is a great choice. For the operating system, you can score Windows 11 with a $10 key online.
I just grabbed my key from Groupon for about $12 and it worked like a charm. Definitely recommend it!
Overall, looks like you’re on the right track! If ray tracing is a big deal for you, the NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti would likely be the better option. But don’t overlook AMD; they're getting more competitive lately. If you choose AMD, just note that they usually come with a shorter warranty compared to some NVIDIA cards, like Zotac which offers a 5-year warranty.
Just make sure you get the AMD version of that RAM. There are two that look nearly identical, and not all sites highlight this clearly. Check those part numbers before you buy!
You're right, those versions usually come down to Expo and XMP, which shouldn't cause too much hassle.
That's exactly right. I went with a Corsair 850W Gold modular PSU recently, and for just a little extra, you can have peace of mind about stability in the long run.