I'm gearing up to build my first gaming PC after years of using consoles and a gaming laptop. I've put together a mock build and I'm hoping to get some feedback on the parts I've selected. Here's what I have so far:
**Case:** Lian Li LANCOOL 217 Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case - Black
**Motherboard:** ASUS B650E-E TUF Gaming WiFi AM5
**Processor:** AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
**CPU Cooler:** Corsair NAUTILUS 360 RS ARGB 360mm All in One Liquid CPU Cooling Kit - White
**Memory Kit (RAM):** Crucial Pro Overclocking 32GB DDR5-6000 Kit
**Boot Drive (SSD):** Crucial P310 1TB 232L Micron QLC NAND PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe M.2 Internal SSD
**Power Supply:** Corsair CX750M 750 Watt 80 Plus Bronze ATX Semi-Modular Power Supply
**Graphics Card:** PowerColor AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT Red Dragon Triple-Fan 16GB GDDR6 PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card
I'm working with a budget of around $1,500. Do these parts seem reasonable, or am I overlooking something important? Would it be better for me to just buy a prebuilt gaming PC instead?
3 Answers
Overall, your parts look decent! Just make sure you don’t pair high-end hardware that doesn’t match performance-wise. A 9800X3D with a 6800 XT could lead to a bottleneck. Instead, you could consider the RX 6700 XT or the relatively new models to get a bit more punch while keeping to your budget. A good recommendation would be to watch out for combo deals on CPUs and GPUs; they can save you a lot.
It seems like you're putting together a solid start! However, considering your budget, I’d suggest dropping the Ryzen 7 9800X3D in favor of something like the Ryzen 5 7600X. It'll save you some cash that you could put towards a better GPU, which is crucial for gaming. Plus, the Corsair AIO cooler might be overkill; a standard air cooler would do just fine to save some money. Don’t forget to check if your PSU fits your final build, especially if you were thinking about upgrading your GPU later!
I agree with the others about the GPU; the 6800 XT is a bit outdated now. If possible, aim for a newer model like the RX 7700 XT for better performance. Your CPU choice is powerful, but consider that most games don't require a top-tier CPU, especially if you’re gaming at 1080p or slightly higher. You might benefit from balancing your money more towards the GPU. Also, a higher-rated PSU would give you some future-proofing as you upgrade your setup.
Thanks for the tips! I'll look into upgrading the GPU and upgrading my PSU.
Absolutely! A solid air cooler can save you a lot, and you won’t really need that AIO unless you’re planning to overclock heavily.