I'm preparing to buy my first desktop and would like some advice before ordering. I want a system that can handle 1440p gaming, including demanding AAA titles without necessarily using ultra settings, as well as plenty of indie games. Ideally, I'd like it to remain capable for at least six years, with upgrades if needed later.
The configurable prebuilt includes:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
- GPU: ASUS Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB Prime
- Motherboard: ASUS TUF Gaming B850M-Plus WiFi
- Memory: 32 GB DDR5-6000, 2 × 16 GB Corsair Vengeance
- Storage: Crucial E100 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
- CPU cooler: ASUS ROG Strix LC II 360 ARGB WE 360 mm AIO
- Case: Corsair 4000D Airflow Tempered Glass White
- Power supply: ASUS 850 W 80+ Gold ATX 3.0 modular PSU
The total price is $2,581.41 or €2,264.16. Does this seem like a worthwhile price, and are there any parts I should change before buying?
4 Answers
The main part I’d reconsider is the Crucial E100. Its QLC NAND has lower endurance and can slow down more noticeably as the drive fills and ages. A TLC-based SSD would be a better choice for the operating-system drive if the builder offers one at a reasonable price.
The build looks well balanced overall, although I’d personally choose an Arctic 360 mm liquid cooler if it’s available and competitively priced. The 9800X3D is arguably overkill for the current graphics card, but it gives you room to replace the GPU later. At 1440p, this setup should handle demanding games very comfortably.
Six years is a long target for any gaming PC, but this is a strong starting point. If performance eventually falls short, the graphics card is the most likely part to upgrade, perhaps after three or four years. The 850 W power supply should provide useful flexibility for that.
The performance should be more than enough for 1440p gaming, and it should remain capable for well over six years depending on how demanding future games become. The CPU is somewhat more powerful than necessary for this GPU today, but that gives you useful headroom for future upgrades.
That’s reassuring. I’d rather spend a little more now for extra longevity, since I’m not sure whether component prices will get worse later.
The only available upgrade is to a Crucial P310 for about €20 more. I could also replace the drive myself later, especially since SSD prices currently seem unusually high.