I'm putting together my first PC and would appreciate feedback before ordering the parts. I'll mainly use it for gaming at 3440×1440 ultrawide, with Red Dead Redemption 2 likely being one of the most demanding games I play. I'll also use the system for video editing in DaVinci Resolve and engineering work with 3D CAD software.
My goal is to build something reasonably future-proof so I can play newer games for several years without replacing major components. My budget is roughly €2,000–€2,500 including the monitor. I'm willing to spend a little extra if it provides meaningful longevity, but I'd rather avoid paying a premium for parts that won't benefit my workload.
The parts I'm currently considering are:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9700X — €288
- CPU cooler: be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3 Black — €44.90
- GPU: MSI RTX 5070 Gaming Trio OC — €799
- Motherboard: MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk WiFi — €189
- RAM: Kingston Fury Beast 32GB (2×16GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 — €529
- SSD: Kingston KC3000 2TB — €329
- PSU: MSI MAG A750GL PCIE5 II 750W — €99
- Case: MSI MAG PANO 110R PZ Black — €89
- Monitor: AOC CU34G4 34-inch 3440×1440 180Hz — €259
The biggest decision is the graphics card. I'm comparing the RTX 5070 with the RX 9070 XT, since I can find several 16GB RX 9070 XT models from ASUS, Gigabyte, and Acer for around the same price. I've also read that Nvidia may have an advantage in DaVinci Resolve and other creative applications, while the AMD card appears to offer more gaming performance and VRAM.
For the processor, I'm considering the Ryzen 7 9700X as the affordable option, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D because of its gaming performance, or possibly the more expensive Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Would you change any components or allocate the budget differently?
4 Answers
At roughly the same price, the RX 9070 XT is the stronger gaming choice for 3440×1440. It generally offers noticeably more raster performance and has 16GB of VRAM, which should age better than a card with less memory. The RTX 5070 is still worth considering if you specifically prioritize ray tracing, DLSS, or better support for particular creative-app features.
Before deciding between graphics cards, shop around for the memory and SSD. €529 for 32GB of DDR5 and €329 for a 2TB KC3000 are unusually large portions of this budget, and reducing those prices could free enough money for a better GPU or a larger memory kit. For video editing and some CAD work, 64GB may also be more useful than paying a premium for a small speed difference. The 750W power supply should be adequate if it is a good-quality model, but check the graphics card’s recommended power rating and connector requirements.
The monitor supports FreeSync, so it pairs naturally with an AMD graphics card. Nvidia’s DLSS can look better than FSR in some games, especially when using heavy upscaling or ray tracing, but at this resolution the 9070 XT’s extra performance and VRAM may be more valuable for your stated use. Check which games and effects you actually use before paying more for Nvidia features.
That makes sense. I hadn’t realized the monitor’s adaptive-sync support could influence the choice. I’ll compare the games and editing features I expect to use.
The CPU choice depends on how much of your time is spent gaming versus editing and CAD. The 7800X3D can be faster in games that benefit heavily from extra cache, but the difference varies a lot by title. The 9800X3D is the premium gaming option, while the 9700X is a sensible balanced choice if you also want good productivity performance without putting too much of the budget into the processor. Look at benchmarks for the specific games and CAD workloads you use rather than assuming the X3D model will always be faster.
Would you mainly recommend the 9070 XT for gaming, or does it also make sense for DaVinci Resolve and similar creative software?