I'm putting together a gaming PC mainly for single-player and story-focused games on a 4K/144Hz TV, with some competitive gaming such as Apex Legends. I'd like high settings and good performance for the next several years, but I'm new to PC building and want to know whether this setup is balanced or overpriced.
Parts:
- CPU: Ryzen 7 7800X3D
- Motherboard: Asus B650E Max
- RAM: G.Skill Flare X5 32GB (2x16GB)
- GPU: Gigabyte Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB
- Storage: Klevv 1TB NVMe M.2 SSD
- PSU: Montech Century 850W 80+ Gold
- Case: Lian Li O11 Vision Compact
- Cooler: Corsair Nautilus 360 RS AIO
The total comes to about $1,899. Is this a solid value, and would you change anything to save money or improve performance? In particular, can this system deliver a worthwhile 4K experience, or would it be better suited to 1440p?
4 Answers
The 9070 XT is a strong card for the money, but don’t expect native 4K at 144 FPS in modern AAA games with high or maximum settings. Around 60–80 FPS is a more realistic range in demanding titles, depending on the game and settings. Apex should be able to get close to 144 FPS, especially with optimized settings.
The CPU is more than capable, and the GPU is a sensible choice for this budget. You might save money by replacing the 360mm AIO with a quality large air cooler; the 7800X3D doesn’t require a huge liquid cooler, and air coolers are generally simpler and more reliable. I’d also verify independent reviews of the Montech power supply, or choose a well-reviewed unit from a major PSU manufacturer. A higher-end NVIDIA card could offer stronger upscaling, but if it costs hundreds more, it probably isn’t worth exceeding your budget.
4K is extremely demanding, and a TV reporting 4K doesn’t mean a console or PC is rendering every frame natively at that resolution. Many games use lower internal resolutions and upscale the image. With the 9070 XT, expect to adjust settings and use FSR in demanding AAA games rather than targeting 144 FPS at native 4K.
This is an excellent 1440p build and should handle high-refresh-rate gaming very comfortably. For 4K, plan on using FSR, and possibly frame generation, if you want higher frame rates. FSR Quality or Balanced can make 4K gaming look good on a TV, but the exact result will vary by game.
4K upscaling has improved a lot, especially when you’re sitting several feet away from a TV. Native 4K isn’t the only way to get a good-looking image anymore.
So the parts I chose should be great for 1440p? Do you think the $1,899 total is reasonable, or am I overpaying?