I'm putting together a new gaming PC through Alternate because I had a good experience with my previous system from there. I play a wide range of games, including newer, demanding titles, and I'd like a build that will last for several years. The compatibility checker approves the parts, but I'd appreciate a second opinion before spending around €2,300.
My current parts list is:
- AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, tray version
- ASUS TUF GAMING B850-PLUS WIFI motherboard
- be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3 Black CPU cooler
- Patriot 32 GB DDR5-6000 (2×16 GB) memory
- ASUS GeForce RTX 5060 Ti DUAL OC 16 GB graphics card
- Kioxia Exceria Basic 2 TB SSD
- ENDORFY ARX 700 ARGB case
- be quiet! Power Zone 2 1000 W power supply
I currently play at 1080p and don't plan to replace my monitors soon. Are there any obvious weaknesses or compatibility concerns? Could I improve the gaming performance or balance of the build without raising the price much?
4 Answers
The overall platform is solid, but the RTX 5060 Ti is a fairly modest match for a Ryzen 7 7800X3D, especially in a build costing around €2,300. Since you’re gaming at 1080p, it will perform well, but the CPU is powerful enough that a stronger graphics card would make the system more balanced and give you better longevity. A Radeon RX 9070 or RX 9070 XT could be a much better use of the budget if you can find one at a reasonable price.
You may be able to reduce the cost by comparing the complete parts list across retailers instead of buying every component from one store. A cheaper dual-tower cooler such as a Thermalright Phantom Spirit should handle the 7800X3D well. Also check the memory timings rather than choosing only by DDR5-6000 speed; a low-latency kit is preferable. A 2 TB NVMe SSD is a sensible capacity, though make sure the model has decent reviews for sustained performance.
The 1,000 W power supply is far more than this system needs. A good-quality 750 W unit should be sufficient, and possibly 850 W if you want extra headroom for a future graphics card upgrade. The money saved would be better spent on the GPU, since that has the biggest effect on gaming performance. If your budget allows, look at a Radeon RX 9070 or a similar higher-tier card rather than putting so much of the budget into the power supply.
A build using the 7800X3D, a Radeon RX 9070 XT, 32 GB of DDR5-6000 memory, a 2 TB NVMe SSD, and an 850 W Gold-rated power supply can sometimes come in close to the same price, depending on current discounts. That would provide substantially more graphics performance than the RTX 5060 Ti. Just remember to account for the operating system if it isn’t included in the quoted total.
I swapped the power supply for a Thermaltake Berlin 750 W ATX 3.1 model and upgraded the graphics card to a Radeon RX 9070 Nitro+ Gaming OC. The total is now a little over €2,400, so I’m still deciding whether the extra cost is worthwhile.