I'm in the planning phase for building a gaming PC and I've found some components at decent prices. Here's what I'm looking at:
- MSI PRO H610M E Motherboard
- Intel Core i5-14400F CPU
- MSI AERO RTX 2080 GPU
- 650W Power Supply
- 2x16GB 3200MHz CL16 DDR4 RAM
- 1TB NVMe 'NV3' SSD
I'm mainly worried about whether the motherboard can handle the CPU and GPU combo without throttling. I've heard mixed things about its power limits and how it might affect performance. Any tips or alternatives you'd suggest?
4 Answers
Also, regarding the NV3 SSD, it uses QLC flash. You might want to consider upgrading to a WD Blue SN580 or SN5000, which could offer better performance for a similar price.
The H610M is on the weaker side, but it should suffice for the i5-14400F at stock levels. Just make sure it's a good deal. As for the RTX 2080, if it’s used, you should be okay for this build.
If you can stretch your budget a bit, consider going for a B660 or B760 motherboard instead. They’ll provide better support for your CPU and GPU. The H610M might hold you back especially if you want to upgrade in the future.
You don't need to worry too much about throttling with your GPU on a cheaper motherboard. However, the CPU could be limited under heavy loads due to hot VRM temps. If your case has decent airflow, it should manage just fine. But if you can, keep an eye out for AMD options too—they're efficient and can perform just as well at similar prices.
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