I'm attempting to build my first PC and I'm feeling a bit lost. I gathered a list of components with some help from my friends, but I would love to get your honest feedback on it. My goal is to maximize performance while keeping the cost between $600 and $650. If I'm overlooking anything important, please let me know! Here's the list I came up with: [Amazon Wishlist Link](https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1WD1VPQYN402E?ref_=wl_share).
3 Answers
Honestly, building a decent PC under $700 is tricky right now, especially given the current market conditions. There are some deals out there, but overall it’s tough to get good parts for that price.
I suggest you skip the 9600X, the AM5 motherboard, and the cooler. The stock cooler that comes with the 5500 should work fine unless you can spare about $20 for a better cooler after finalizing the rest of your build. Consider reducing your RAM to 16GB; that could free up some cash for better CPU or GPU options. By the way, using a site like PCPartPicker is super helpful for keeping track of prices and ensuring everything is compatible.
Are you near a Microcenter? They often have great deals on components, and you could potentially save a lot by shopping there.

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