This is my first time building a PC, and I'd appreciate feedback on whether these parts work well together. The build includes a Ryzen 7 9700X, Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE cooler, ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi motherboard, 32GB of DDR5-5600 memory, 1TB and 2TB Lexar NVMe SSDs, a Gigabyte Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB, a Deepcool CG530 case, and an MSI MAG A750GL 750W Gold power supply. My budget is roughly €1500–1800, I'm shopping mainly in Greece but can also buy from Germany or nearby countries, and I'll be gaming at 2560×1080. I'm unsure whether the Ryzen 7 9700X is worth paying about €50 more than the 7700X, whether the case is a good choice, and whether Lexar is a reliable storage manufacturer. I could reduce storage capacity if that would make room for a stronger graphics card.
3 Answers
The 9700X is the newer and more efficient option, so €50 extra can be reasonable if you want the newer platform performance and plan to keep the system for several years. The 7700X is still capable, though, and choosing it could free money for the graphics card, which usually matters more for gaming. At 2560×1080, putting more of the budget toward the GPU may give you a more noticeable improvement.
The parts should be compatible. An ATX case can house a micro-ATX motherboard, although it will leave more empty space than a smaller case. Check the case’s airflow, included fans, GPU clearance, and CPU-cooler clearance before buying. For a build in this price range, a better-quality case can also make assembly and cooling easier.
Lexar is a legitimate storage brand, but check the exact SSD model’s reviews and warranty rather than judging only by the name. You probably do not need both a 1TB and a 2TB drive immediately unless you have a large game library or other storage needs. Starting with one good 2TB PCIe 4.0 drive could simplify the build and leave more money for the GPU. Also compare the power supply against similarly priced units with strong independent reviews; 750W is generally enough for this class of system, but build quality matters more than simply choosing a higher wattage.
That makes sense. My total budget is €1500–1800, so I may compare the price difference between keeping the 9700X and upgrading the graphics card.