I'm completely new to building PCs and would appreciate a sanity check on this parts list. I relied heavily on AI while choosing the components, so I've tried to verify everything myself but would like experienced opinions.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
CPU cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
GPU: Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5-6000 CL30
Motherboard: MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk WiFi (AM5)
SSD: WD Black SN850X 2TB NVMe
PSU: Corsair RM850x SHIFT 850W, ATX 3.1
Case: Fractal Design Epoch Black Solid
I'm leaning toward Linux, probably an Ubuntu-based distribution, which is why I chose AMD for both the CPU and GPU. The PC will mainly be used for gaming, but I also want to use it for game development, music production, and video editing. My current games include Hogwarts Legacy and GTA V, and I'd like enough performance for GTA VI when the PC version eventually arrives.
I've already bought the RAM because it was heavily discounted from €550 to €470, so I'd prefer to keep it. Are these components compatible and well balanced? Is anything unnecessarily powerful or poorly matched? Also, is it realistic to expect GTA VI to run smoothly at 1080p with maximum settings, even though its eventual PC requirements are unknown?
4 Answers
The parts are broadly compatible, and 32GB of DDR5-6000 CL30 is a good choice for AM5. The cooler is also capable of handling the processor. For Linux, AMD graphics are generally a sensible choice because the driver support is built into the kernel and Mesa stack, though you should still check game-specific compatibility and anti-cheat support. For development, music, and video work, 32GB is usable, but upgrading to 64GB later could be worthwhile if you work with large projects or high-resolution footage.
The build is very powerful and should handle current games extremely well at 1440p, with 4K also being realistic depending on the game and settings. The 9800X3D and RX 9070 XT are more than enough for GTA V and Hogwarts Legacy. However, nobody can promise maximum settings for GTA VI until the PC version and its requirements are known. At 1080p, you’ll likely have plenty of performance, but some settings such as ray tracing may still need adjustment.
The system is excellent, but it may be more expensive than necessary for the games you listed. The 9800X3D is a premium gaming CPU, and the RX 9070 XT is aimed more at high-refresh 1440p or 4K than basic 1080p gaming. That isn’t a problem if you want longevity and don’t mind the cost, but you could save money with a less powerful CPU or GPU and still get very high frame rates. Since the parts are already selected, there’s no obvious component that must be replaced for compatibility reasons.
The main things to double-check are physical clearance rather than raw performance. The RMx SHIFT places its modular connectors on the side, so confirm that the case has enough room for the cables and that the side panel will close. Also check the GPU length and thickness against the case specifications. A support bracket for the heavy graphics card is a sensible inexpensive precaution. The motherboard’s M.2 heatsink should be used with the SN850X, and you may need to update the BIOS depending on when the board was manufactured.
I checked the case specifications after looking into the side-mounted PSU connectors, and it appears to have about 30 mm of clearance. I’ll also verify the graphics card dimensions and install a support bracket.
That makes sense. I mainly wanted to avoid needing a major upgrade when GTA VI eventually releases, so it’s reassuring that the system has plenty of headroom.