I'm building my first PC for gaming and schoolwork with a budget of about $2,200. My current parts list includes a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, Radeon RX 9070 GRE, 16GB of DDR5-5200 memory, a 1TB Samsung 990 Pro SSD, a 750W power supply, and a 1080p 144Hz monitor. The complete build comes to roughly $2,219 after taxes and shipping. Are there places where I can reduce the cost, or should I spend the money differently for better gaming performance and longevity? I'm also located in the US and have access to a Micro Center.
3 Answers
For a roughly $2,200 total budget, this build is spending too much on the processor while pairing it with a 1080p 144Hz monitor. A Ryzen 5 7600X3D-class system would still be excellent for gaming, and the savings could go toward a stronger graphics card such as an RX 9070 XT or toward a 1440p high-refresh monitor. If you’re staying at 1080p, you could also choose a less expensive GPU and still get excellent performance.
The biggest issue is the memory. 16GB is getting limiting, and that kit is extremely expensive for slow DDR5. Aim for 32GB, ideally 2x16GB DDR5-6000 CL30 or CL36. Also, the 9800X3D is overkill for a 1080p 144Hz display unless you specifically play competitive games at very high frame rates. A less expensive X3D processor would leave more room for the graphics card or other upgrades.
That SSD is a premium model and doesn’t offer much real-world benefit for gaming or schoolwork. A good 1TB or 2TB PCIe 4.0 drive from a reputable brand should cost much less. You can also save on the case and motherboard without losing meaningful performance. I’d put those savings toward 32GB of RAM, more storage, or a faster monitor if you actually want to take advantage of a high-end CPU.
I do have access to a Micro Center, so I’ll check their CPU, motherboard, and memory bundles before buying everything separately.