I'm building my first computer in Italy and would like it to last for several years, mainly for gaming. My original budget was around €2,000–€3,000, but I'm willing to spend up to about €4,000 if the extra cost genuinely improves longevity. This budget does not include the OLED monitor I plan to buy, probably at 240 Hz.
I prefer a clean, mostly black build without RGB. I really like the Fractal Design North case and want to use the standard ATX version rather than a larger case. Since the case will sit on the floor, the top-mounted power button is convenient.
I chose a Radeon graphics card because it seemed to offer better performance for the money, and I paired it with an AMD processor because I heard the two work well together. I selected a 240 mm AIO cooler for the top of the case instead of a front-mounted 360 mm cooler, while planning to use the included front fans and add a rear fan.
For memory, I chose 64 GB because I would rather buy enough now than upgrade later. I also want plenty of SSD storage for games and personal files. I selected an 850 W power supply even though a calculator suggested 650 W, mainly to leave room for a future graphics card upgrade.
Could someone review the parts, point out compatibility or value problems, and suggest ways to reduce the price without sacrificing useful performance? I'm deaf, so fan noise is not important to me; I mainly care about reliable, durable black components.
2 Answers
The original build appears significantly more expensive than necessary for gaming. A Ryzen 7 9800X3D paired with an RX 9070 XT would provide excellent gaming performance without needing an expensive liquid cooler. A good air cooler is sufficient for that processor, and a less expensive motherboard should perform just as well.
For most current games, 32 GB of DDR5 is still enough, and DDR5-6000 is generally a better target than slower memory. Choose 64 GB only if you also do work such as video editing, virtual machines, large creative projects, or other memory-heavy tasks. Multiple SSDs do not automatically make games faster, and premium drives from brands such as Samsung often cost more without a noticeable gaming benefit. One reasonably priced 4 TB NVMe drive can be simpler and cheaper.
The RX 9070 XT should be a strong choice for high-refresh gaming. A quality 750 W power supply is likely sufficient, while 850 W is also fine if the price is similar and the unit is from a reputable line. Extra wattage does not guarantee future-proofing, though; a future major GPU upgrade could require a different connector or power rating regardless.
You can also save money on case fans. Noctua fans are well made, but less expensive models such as Endorfy Fluctus fans are perfectly suitable, especially since acoustics are not a concern. Overall, a carefully selected version of this build could land closer to €2,500 while retaining excellent long-term gaming performance.
Make sure you do not buy a physical Windows installation disc if your computer has no optical drive. You can create an installation USB using a flash drive instead. Also double-check regional pricing, since prices and availability in Italy can differ substantially from listings in other countries. Before ordering, verify the exact power supply model, memory speed, cooler clearance, and graphics-card length rather than relying only on general wattage estimates.
Thanks, this is very helpful. Could you explain why a processor with two CCDs can be worse for gaming, and roughly how long a build like this should remain good for modern games? Since noise does not matter to me, I’m happy to use a strong, durable black fan instead of a quiet one. If the 750 W and 850 W power supplies cost about the same, would choosing the 850 W model be reasonable?