What case, motherboard, PSU, and cooler should I choose for an RX 9070 XT build?

The Corsair 3500X is one option that comes with three case fans and is fairly easy to build in. It also has convenient RGB integration. In general, look for a case with included front and rear fans, then choose the motherboard and power supply independently.

Cases commonly include fans, but they almost never include a motherboard. Some cases include a power supply, especially compact models, but the included units are often low quality. It’s safer to purchase the case, motherboard, and PSU separately. For cooling, neither the 7800X3D nor 9800X3D requires an AIO. A good dual-tower air cooler, such as a Phantom Spirit, will perform similarly to a 240mm AIO for much less money.

For this budget, I’d strongly consider 32GB of DDR5-6000 with low latency rather than 16GB. A Ryzen 7 9800X3D, 32GB DDR5-6000 CL30, an RX 9070 XT, a suitable B650/B850 motherboard, and an 850W 80+ Gold PSU should fit within the budget. You don’t need an expensive PCIe 5.0 SSD or other premium parts unless you specifically want them; prioritize the GPU, CPU, memory, and reliable power supply.

The RX 9070 XT is especially well suited to 1440p gaming, so make sure your monitor resolution matches the level of performance you’re paying for. At 1080p, a less expensive GPU could be enough, although the 9070 XT can still provide a significant performance boost in some games. An AIO isn’t automatically better in a hot climate—the room temperature affects both cooling types. A quality air cooler is simpler, cheaper, and less likely to fail.