I'm planning my first gaming PC and want a smooth experience at 2560×1440 on my Alienware AW2725DM monitor, especially in demanding AAA games. My budget is around $1,500, although I'm comfortable buying some components used if I can find good deals. I live in the United States but don't have access to a nearby Micro Center, so I'll be purchasing parts individually.
I'd like to make sure everything is compatible and that there aren't better alternatives for performance or value before I start building. My current parts list is:
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- Thermalright Assassin X 120 R Digital ARGB CPU cooler
- Gigabyte B850 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE motherboard
- TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB 16GB (2×8GB) DDR5-6000 CL38 memory
- Kingston NV3 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
- ASRock Challenger OC Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB graphics card
- Thermaltake View 380 ARGB ATX case
- ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW 850W 80+ Gold fully modular power supply
Would this build handle high or ultra settings at 1440p, and are there any parts I should replace for a smoother or more balanced system?
3 Answers
The RX 9060 XT 16GB is a reasonable 1440p card. It can reach very high frame rates in some games, but getting around 180 FPS in demanding AAA titles will usually require lower settings, upscaling, and sometimes frame generation. For a consistently high-refresh experience at high or ultra settings, you would need to move to a stronger graphics card if your budget allows it.
The 9060 XT can provide a good 1440p experience, but you shouldn’t expect every game to run at native resolution with maximum settings and a very high frame rate. Some newer or especially demanding games may look and run better with upscaling, while others can remain at high settings without much adjustment.
When you needed upscaling, did you also have to lower the in-game settings noticeably, or did the image still look good?
This build should generally manage 60 FPS or more in AAA games at 1440p with high or ultra settings. Actual performance will depend on the game, and the most demanding titles may need a few settings reduced.
Is there a stronger graphics card you would recommend that would still pair well with the Ryzen 5 9600X?