I'm new to PC building and have never owned a desktop before. I want to build a system for story-driven gaming, programming, data analysis, and beginner-level cybersecurity work, including running virtual machines and handling reasonably large datasets. I live in Saudi Arabia, where component availability is limited and prices are high, so I'm trying to stay within a budget of roughly $2,000–$2,200.
I mainly play games such as Red Dead Redemption 1 and 2, The Witcher, and Tomb Raider rather than competitive titles. I'd like a reliable starter PC with good image quality and performance, but I don't need the absolute fastest hardware. Ideally, I'll upgrade some components in two or three years.
My current parts list is:
- Case: Lian Li LANCOOL 216
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- Motherboard: MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi AM5 DDR5 ATX
- GPU: ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5070 12GB GDDR7
- Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB 32GB (2×16GB) DDR5-6000 CL30
- CPU cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
- Storage: WD Black SN770M 2TB M.2-2230 SSD
- Power supply: Corsair RM750e 750W 80+ Gold
Which parts could I downgrade to more budget-friendly options without creating bottlenecks, reliability problems, crashes, or poor gaming performance?
3 Answers
One possible alternative is an RX 9700 if it is substantially cheaper in your market. It offers strong gaming performance and more VRAM than the RTX 5070, which can help with demanding story games and future titles. Just compare the actual local prices and check whether you need Nvidia-specific features or software support for your work.
For the SSD, look for a normal full-size Gen 4 model such as a Kioxia drive rather than the compact 2230 version. The RM750e is adequate, but if a higher-quality unit is reasonably priced, a Corsair RMx or be quiet! Pure Power 13M would be worth considering.
The system is already fairly well balanced, so the biggest savings should come from choosing less expensive versions of the motherboard and SSD. A cheaper B650 board with the features you actually need should perform almost identically. You may also be able to save on the power supply, but make sure it is a reputable model with strong reliability ratings and enough capacity for the graphics card. Comparing local prices across several stores is especially important in Saudi Arabia.
The graphics card, memory, and storage are likely to account for much of the cost. Since you’re not chasing maximum frame rates, you could consider a less expensive GPU if the savings are significant. Your current 32GB of RAM is a good starting point for gaming, programming, and virtual machines, although 64GB could be useful later if you regularly run several VMs or work with large datasets.
Also double-check the SSD model. The SN770M is a compact M.2-2230 drive intended for small devices and isn’t the best-value choice for a normal desktop. A standard 2TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 drive from a reputable manufacturer would be a better fit and may cost less.
I’m comfortable spending less because I was already planning to upgrade in two or three years. I mainly want dependable parts, smooth gaming without major bottlenecks, and enough capacity for virtual machines and data work.
I changed the graphics card and SSD to options like these, and the revised choices are saving me a noticeable amount without compromising the parts I care about.