I'm planning my first PC build and would appreciate feedback on the parts list, especially whether there are better-value alternatives available in the current market. The build includes a Ryzen 7 9800X3D (£359.99), Thermalright Phantom Spirit cooler (£32.90), Gigabyte AORUS Elite WiFi 7 motherboard (£187.99), Corsair Vengeance 32GB DDR5 memory (£378.99), an ASUS PRIME RTX 5080 16GB (£1,199), a 2TB HDD (£114.95), a 2TB NVMe SSD (£223), an MSI MAG A850GL PCIe 5 850W 80+ Gold power supply, and an NZXT H5 Flow case (£49.99). Since this is my first build, I'm particularly interested in possible price savings and whether any components should be changed for better compatibility or long-term reliability.
2 Answers
Your location may affect which memory and other parts are cheapest. Someone mentioned having spare RAM available in Wales, but you said you’re based in Northern Ireland, so make sure any used or local deal is practical to collect and comes with the right DDR5 specifications. The memory price in the list also looks unusually high, so that would be one of the first components I’d shop around for.
The overall build looks strong, and the Phantom Spirit should be perfectly capable of cooling the 9800X3D. An AIO could be considered, but it isn’t necessary and an air cooler avoids pump failure or leakage concerns over time. I’d also look at a 1000W power supply if the extra cost is reasonable, since the RTX 5080 can draw a lot of power, although a good-quality 850W unit may still be enough depending on the rest of the system.
I’ll probably stick with the air cooler because I’m building this PC for the long term and would rather avoid potential AIO issues. I’ll compare some 1000W power supplies as well.