I'm building my first PC and don't know much about choosing parts yet. My budget is under $3,000 CAD, and I'd like to lower the cost or make sensible adjustments without sacrificing much performance. I'll mainly use the system for gaming, video editing, and 3D modeling. Are there any parts I should change, especially depending on whether my 3D software benefits from CUDA? I'd also appreciate a monitor recommendation.
3 Answers
Before choosing the graphics card, check whether your 3D software specifically uses CUDA. If it does, an NVIDIA card makes sense; otherwise, a similarly priced AMD card may offer better gaming performance. A Ryzen 5 7600X3D bundle with a B650 motherboard and 32GB of DDR5-6000 CL30 memory could reduce the total cost considerably while still being excellent for gaming. You may also be able to save on the mouse and other peripherals. For a monitor, a 27-inch 1440p high-refresh model such as the KTC H27E6 is a good value option. OLED will look better, but costs substantially more.
It may also be worth comparing a Core i5-14600 with 32GB of DDR4 and an RX 9070 XT. That combination can offer roughly 10% more performance for around $2,000 CAD, depending on current prices and the software you use. Just confirm whether your editing and modeling applications favor NVIDIA CUDA before choosing the AMD card.
A build with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D, RTX 5070 Ti 16GB, 32GB of DDR5-6000 memory, a 1TB Samsung 990 Pro, a B650 motherboard, a 750W Corsair power supply, and a Thermalright Peerless Assassin cooler is a strong setup. Buying some components used can bring the cost down, but make sure you verify their condition and warranty. I’d prioritize a graphics card with at least 16GB of VRAM for 3D work and better long-term usefulness.
I was confused because the Ryzen 5 option I found was actually more expensive than the Ryzen 7 in my list. The one I selected is around $400 CAD.