I'm looking to upgrade my setup with a new motherboard, CPU, and RAM while making the switch to AM5. I'm a gamer who plays a wide variety of titles, especially AAA games, and I want something that can handle high frame rates—usually at 1440p, although I occasionally dip into 4K. I'm pairing this with an RTX 3080 and have an 850W mid-range power supply.
I don't have a strict budget, but I aim for around $750 focusing on price/performance. For CPUs, I'm considering either the 7800X3D at around $385 or the 9800X3D priced at about $475, hoping to get the best modern performance possible.
When it comes to motherboards, I want one that isn't too basic and has at least two NVME slots; I have an ATX case. I'm avoiding ASRock due to recent issues and have looked at B650 boards based mainly on aesthetics—particularly drawn to the Asus models—but I'm also contemplating a B850.
For RAM, I'm leaning towards DDR5-6000 with CL30 latency. I've found some options that cost a bit more but look better. As for cooling, I plan to stick to air cooling, specifically a Thermalright Peerless Assassin in Black for that sleek, industrial sci-fi vibe I like.
Here's my proposed build:
- **CPU**: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 4.7 GHz 8-Core Processor - $472.02
- **CPU Cooler**: Thermalright Peerless Assassin - $37.90
- **Motherboard**: Asus TUF GAMING B650-PLUS WIFI ATX - $179.99
- **Memory**: TEAMGROUP T-Create Expert 32 GB DDR5-6000 CL30 - $89.99
Total: About $779.90
How does this combination look?
3 Answers
Consider the Gigabyte B850 GAMING X WIFI6E for the same price. It's pretty comparable, but it gives you a PCIe5 graphics slot, which might be good for future upgrades. Also, for your RAM, look into the Patriot Viper Venom—it's similar but has an EXPO profile, which is preferable for AM5. Just a $10 difference, and worth it!
Totally agree! I actually found that Teamgroup RAM does have those EXPO profiles after all, so that’s a solid choice.
You’ll be fine with either the 7800 or 9800, both are solid choices. Just pick a motherboard within your budget. If you're in the USA, Newegg has a Strix white B850 with 32GB RAM for $260; also comes with free Corsair sticks and has Wi-Fi 7. Or you could grab the Gigabyte X870 for $299 with free RAM.
Ugh, no white for me, though!
You might want to check out the X670E Tomahawk. It's got that dark metal aesthetic you're after, plus it performs really well.
Yeah, I was thinking of the Tomahawk too for the same reason—it looks fantastic!
Good call! I’ve noticed some B650 boards advertised as PCIe5, but they were usually just for M.2 slots. What do you think about spending a bit more for the Gigabyte X870 over the B850?