I've mostly been a console gamer recently, but I'm considering returning to PC gaming because of game prices and the flexibility of the platform. I currently own a PS5 Pro and already have a 27-inch 4K 160Hz HDMI 2.1 monitor, although I'm happy to play at 1440p rather than native 4K.
The build I'm considering is:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- GPU: ASRock Radeon RX 9070 Challenger 16GB
- Motherboard: Gigabyte B650 Eagle AX
- RAM: 16GB DDR5-5600 initially, upgrading to 32GB soon
- CPU cooler: Arctic Freezer 36
- PSU: Corsair RM850e 850W 80+ Gold ATX 3.1
- SSD: Kingston NV3, preferably 1TB rather than 500GB
My goal is to play new AAA games at 1440p with high or maximum settings and good frame rates. I'm not expecting native 1440p Ultra at 160 FPS for the next seven years, but I would like this to be a solid foundation that avoids a complete rebuild when the next console generation arrives.
Would the Ryzen 7 9700X, B650 motherboard, and 850W power supply remain a good platform through most of the next console generation, with the possibility of upgrading only the graphics card and RAM in a few years? Should I wait several months for newer CPUs and GPUs, or is this already a sensible build? Also, since I already own a PS5 Pro, would you personally switch to this PC now, or continue using the console for the time being?
4 Answers
I would reconsider the Kingston NV3 as the main system drive. Some versions use QLC NAND, which can have lower endurance and slower sustained performance. A decent TLC-based NVMe drive would be a better long-term choice, such as a Patriot P400 Lite or a suitable Kioxia Exceria Plus model. The SSD won’t determine gaming FPS, but choosing a better 1TB drive now avoids an unnecessary replacement later.
The 9700X should be a strong CPU for quite a while, and at higher resolutions the graphics card will usually become the limiting component first. An RX 9070 should handle 1440p very well, and the 850W PSU gives you reasonable room for a future GPU upgrade. No one can guarantee performance throughout an entire future console generation, but this is a sensible platform if you expect to replace the GPU later rather than keep the original card forever.
I’d make 32GB of RAM a priority rather than treating it as a distant upgrade. Sixteen gigabytes can already cause problems in newer AAA games, especially when multitasking. Also, 1TB should be the minimum for a gaming system—500GB fills up extremely quickly once a few large games are installed.
Your 4K monitor should work perfectly at 1440p. It may look a little softer than a native 1440p panel because of scaling, but it’s completely usable, especially with upscaling when supported. I’d probably switch from the console if I wanted adjustable settings, higher frame rates, mods, and access to a broader PC library, but there’s no urgent reason to abandon the PS5 Pro if you’re happy with its current games.
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