I'm building my first PC and would like feedback on this parts list. The current build includes a Ryzen 7 7800X3D, ASUS B650E MAX GAMING WIFI motherboard, 32GB of G.Skill Flare DDR5, a PowerColor Radeon RX 9070 XT Reaper, a 2TB Lexar NQ780 SSD, MSI MAG A750GL power supply, Cooler Master Elite 360mm liquid cooler, Windows 11 Home, and a Montech TG3 case. After tax, the total is about $2,220.63. I'm considering spending a little more on the Lexar NM790 because I've heard concerns about QLC storage, but I'm not sure it's worthwhile. I'm also nervous about using liquid cooling and would appreciate recommendations for a good air cooler instead. The CPU, motherboard, and RAM are part of a bundle, and there's another bundle with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D and MSI X870E-P Pro WiFi motherboard for about $200 more. Is that upgrade worthwhile, and is the MSI board better than the ASUS board? I'm hoping to pair the system with a 27-inch 1440p 180Hz monitor, but I still need to budget for a keyboard, mouse, and headset.
4 Answers
Before choosing the motherboard, check its expansion-slot specifications carefully. The B650E model should provide at least one PCIe 5.0 slot, so it may already cover your needs; the newer X870E board isn’t automatically better unless you specifically need its extra connectivity or features.
The 9800X3D bundle is worth considering if you can comfortably afford the extra cost. It offers a meaningful gaming improvement over the 7800X3D, although the 7800X3D is still a very capable choice and may leave more room for your monitor and peripherals.
If you decide to stay with liquid cooling, look at Thermalright AIO models. They generally offer strong performance and reliability for the price. That said, a quality tower air cooler would also be a simpler and less worrying option for this CPU.
You can avoid spending nearly $140 on a Windows license if you already have a transferable key or are comfortable activating it later. That money could instead go toward the monitor, peripherals, or the CPU upgrade.
I checked the specifications, and the B650E board does include one PCIe 5.0 slot.