I'm planning a US-based gaming PC primarily for No Man's Sky VR and Into the Radius 2 at medium settings, with modded Minecraft being the most CPU-demanding non-VR game I expect to play. I'd like to stay below $2,000 and prefer a very compact Mini-ITX system, although I'm willing to pay somewhat more for the smaller form factor. My current parts list includes a Ryzen 5 9600X, Thermalright AXP90-X36 cooler, ASRock B650I motherboard, 32GB of DDR5-5600 memory, a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, an RTX 4070 Super with approximately 12GB of VRAM, a Fractal Design Terra case, and a 750W SFX power supply, for roughly $1,840 total. Are there any compatibility, cooling, performance, or value problems I should address? I may also increase the SSD capacity.
4 Answers
An RTX 4070 Ti around $600 could be a reasonable alternative if it is in good condition and includes a reliable return option. Nvidia cards are often preferred for VR compatibility and features, and a 4070 Ti can perform around the same general level as a newer 16GB Radeon card depending on the game. Just remember that used-market pricing and warranty coverage matter, and the 12GB VRAM limit remains a consideration for long-term use.
The parts should work together, but I’d consider a stronger 850W power supply with the newer ATX 3.1 standard for additional upgrade headroom. The 750W unit is probably adequate for a 4070 Super, but an 850W model can be a sensible choice in a compact build where replacing the PSU later is inconvenient.
For an AM5 system, DDR5-6000 CL30 is generally a better target than DDR5-5600 CL36, assuming the price is similar. Thirty-two gigabytes is enough for these games, though the unusually high memory price in this list is worth checking. I’d also strongly consider a 2TB SSD because VR games can take a lot of space. The AXP90-X36 may be usable, but a slightly taller cooler such as the X47 would provide more thermal headroom if it fits with the Terra’s riser and side-panel layout. A 16GB graphics card would age better than a 12GB model, especially for future VR titles.
The main tradeoff is the very small case. Mini-ITX parts and SFX power supplies cost more, while the Terra also gives you less room for airflow and cooling. A slightly larger small-form-factor case, such as a roughly 20-liter Micro-ATX model, could let you use a cheaper motherboard, a larger air cooler, standard ATX power supply, and more case fans while putting more of the budget toward the GPU. A Ryzen 5 7600X3D-class processor would also be attractive for VR because its extra cache can help frame-time consistency and 1% lows. If you keep the Terra, carefully verify GPU length, thickness, cooler height, and power-cable clearance.
That seems like a sensible option if VR stability is your top priority. I’d compare the exact model’s cooler size and power connector requirements with the Terra before buying, and make sure the used card has not been heavily mined on or modified.