I'm new to building PCs and am currently planning my first desktop. My gaming laptop showed me how much better PC gaming can be, and I put together this parts list to get feedback before buying.
I mainly want to play older games with mods and online games such as Fallout 76 and Black Ops 2. I'm not expecting to run every new release at maximum settings, but I do want a noticeable improvement over my laptop and performance comparable to or better than a Series X or PS5. I may also explore animation and video editing later.
The current parts list is:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
- CPU cooler: Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE
- Motherboard: Gigabyte B850M Gaming X WiFi6E
- Memory: Kingston Fury Beast RGB 16GB (2x8GB) DDR5-6000 CL36
- Storage: WD Black SN7100 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
- Graphics card: MSI Gaming OC GeForce RTX 5060 8GB
- Case: Thermaltake The Tower 300 MicroATX
- Power supply: MSI MAG A750GL PCIe5 750W 80+ Gold
The build is approaching $2,000, so I'd like to reduce the cost where possible without sacrificing too much performance or making the system feel outdated quickly. I expect to keep the PC for at least five years, possibly adding another 16GB of RAM and around 2TB of storage after a year or two.
I especially like the unusual Tower 300 case because it looks distinctive and fits my limited desk space, so I'd appreciate feedback from anyone who has used one. I'll also keep my Series X for its existing game library and plan to play GTA 6 on it.
3 Answers
The 7800X3D is excellent for gaming, but it may be more CPU than you need when paired with an RTX 5060. For the same general budget, you might get better gaming performance by using a less expensive processor and putting the savings toward a stronger graphics card. A build with a midrange CPU and a card around the RTX 9070 XT class would be substantially faster in games, though you should compare current prices and make sure the case and power supply support the card.
The overall platform is solid, but 16GB of RAM is a little light for a new gaming and editing build. I’d start with 32GB as a 2x16GB kit rather than planning to add two more 8GB sticks later. DDR5-6000 CL36 is usable, although CL30 is worth considering if the price difference is small. A 2x16GB kit also gives you a better upgrade path and avoids mixing memory kits.
The cooler is the weakest part of the list. The 7800X3D is efficient, but I’d still use a larger tower cooler with a 120mm or 140mm fan, such as a Thermalright Peerless Assassin or Phantom Spirit, assuming it fits the case. That will give you lower temperatures and less noise for not much extra money.
That makes sense. I originally considered a Ryzen 5, but a friend recommended jumping straight to the Ryzen 7. I’ll look into a larger cooler that fits the Tower 300.