I have no experience building a PC, so I'd appreciate an honest review of this parts list. I want a dual-boot system with Windows and Linux installed on separate drives, mainly using Linux while keeping Windows for software that doesn't work well on Linux. My primary uses will be gaming and digital art, with some 3D modeling and possibly video editing later. I don't need 4K gaming, but I'd like to play games such as Baldur's Gate 3 comfortably.
My target budget is around $2,000, though spending less would be ideal. I don't care about RGB or appearance, and I'm more interested in good cooling and practical parts than looks. I'm close enough to shop at Micro Center, although I forgot to include any bundle pricing in this list.
The current build includes a Ryzen 7 9700X, an ASUS B650E motherboard, 32GB of DDR5-6000 memory, a Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB, two 1TB SATA SSDs, an ASUS ProArt case, a 750W power supply, and a Thermalright Peerless Assassin cooler. The listed total is about $2,078.
Are any of these parts poor choices or badly balanced for my needs? I'm especially interested in whether I should reduce spending on the case or processor to fit a stronger graphics card, and whether there are any compatibility or dual-boot concerns I've overlooked.
4 Answers
You can likely fit a much stronger system under $2,000 by using Micro Center bundle pricing. One possible direction is an X3D gaming CPU bundle, a cheaper airflow-focused case, and an RX 9070-class card. Your 750W power supply may be sufficient depending on the exact graphics card, but check the card manufacturer’s recommendation and use the proper native power cable rather than relying on questionable adapters.
The biggest issue is the allocation of your budget. That case is extremely expensive for what you need, especially since you don’t care about aesthetics. A solid airflow case with included fans can cost around $90–$110, freeing more than $100 for a faster graphics card. For gaming, I’d prioritize moving up to a Radeon RX 9070 or 9070 XT over keeping such an expensive case.
The processor is more than you need for a gaming-focused build at this budget. You could choose a less expensive CPU and put the savings toward an RX 9070 XT, which would make a much more noticeable difference in games. If you’re buying from Micro Center, check the CPU, motherboard, and memory bundles before purchasing separately.
Since Micro Center often has bundle discounts, you may be able to keep the stronger CPU by choosing a less expensive DDR5-6000 kit. The listed memory price looks unusually high for 32GB, so that’s another place to check for savings.
The overall parts are compatible in principle, but the build is badly balanced as listed. Spending nearly $400 on 32GB of RAM and around $240 on the case leaves too much of the budget tied up outside the GPU. Look for a reasonably priced 32GB DDR5-6000 kit, or consider 64GB if your art and future video work need it, while keeping the case practical and well ventilated. Also verify that both SSDs are mounted securely and install each operating system in UEFI mode on its intended drive.
That makes sense. I’m definitely willing to use a cheaper case if it lets me improve the graphics card.