I'm putting together my first proper desktop after years of using a laptop with integrated graphics. The total budget is roughly €2,300–€2,400 including a 32-inch 1440p 180Hz monitor, and I'm planning to order the parts from a German retailer.
Current parts list:
- Ryzen 7 9800X3D — €369
- Gigabyte Radeon RX 9070 16GB — €659
- Gigabyte B850 Eagle WiFi 6E motherboard — €126
- Crucial Pro 32GB DDR5-6000 CL36 — €400
- Crucial P310 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD — €226
- Corsair RM850e 850W Gold PSU — €92
- FOIFKIN F300 ATX case — €56
- Enermax Liqmax IV 360mm AIO — €63
- Gigabyte GS32QA 32-inch 1440p 180Hz monitor — €194
I'm mainly unsure whether the RX 9070 is the right choice compared with the RX 9070 XT, which costs around €760, or the much more expensive RTX 5070 Ti. I chose the regular 9070 for its value and because it seems sufficient for my needs, but I'm wondering if the XT is worth stretching the budget for.
I'd also appreciate opinions on the FOIFKIN F300 case since I'm unfamiliar with the brand, and I'd like to know whether there are any compatibility issues, bottlenecks, or parts that are particularly overpriced. RAM prices seem unusually high, so I'm also wondering whether faster CL30 memory is worth considering over the current CL36 kit.
3 Answers
At this budget, I’d step up to the RX 9070 XT. The regular 9070 has the better price-to-performance ratio, but spending roughly another €100 makes more sense for a high-end 1440p build. I wouldn’t prioritize DDR5-6000 CL30 right now, though—the price premium is too large for the relatively small gain, especially with an X3D processor.
I’d also consider replacing the case with the DarkFlash DS900 4F. It’s a more established-looking option for the money and includes RGB fans, which should help with airflow and save you from buying extra fans later. The Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 would be another cooler worth considering if it fits the case.
I looked up the DS900 and really like it. The included fans are a nice bonus since I was already planning on adding red lighting accents.
The main change I’d make is definitely the RX 9070 XT. The rest of the build is aimed at high-end 1440p gaming, so the faster card fits the system better and should give you more headroom for demanding games and high refresh rates. The RTX 5070 Ti doesn’t seem worth paying that much more unless you specifically need Nvidia features.
I wasn’t sure the extra €100 over the standard 9070 would be worthwhile, but several people have recommended the XT, so I’m going with it.
That makes sense. I checked the CL30 kits and they’re about €100 more because of the current memory prices, so I’ll stick with CL36 and put the money toward the XT.