I'm gearing up to build a new gaming PC and would love to hear your thoughts! I have a Microcenter nearby in Denver, and I'm planning to get one of their bundles with a CPU, motherboard, and RAM. My goal is to keep the overall cost around $1,500, but the price isn't exact due to the bundle.
Right now, I'm playing games at 1080p/60fps, but I want to eventually upgrade to a 1440p monitor or possibly an ultrawide for better performance. The games I play include Forza Horizon 5, Flight Simulator 2024, American Truck Simulator, and some older sports games from the early 2010s. I also do some Handbrake encoding and usual computer tasks.
I'm torn between getting a 5060 TI, 5070, or possibly a 5070 TI, but that might exceed my budget. I'm also open to AMD options and want to stick as close to MSRP as I can, hoping to find good deals at Microcenter.
I'm updating from an old HP workstation with a Xeon 1620v4 and a 1650 Super, so anything will be a significant upgrade.
You can check out my PCPartPicker list linked above and provide your critiques or suggestions. I prefer a non-windowed case with no LED lights—just a reliable workhorse that will last a long time.
Thanks in advance for your help!
2 Answers
Hey there! When considering your CPU choice, think about how much you rely on Handbrake encoding. If that isn't critical for your workflow, you could save some bucks ditching the 12-core CPU. For gaming, the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X would be a much better fit and still handle everything you need.
As for your SSD, the Samsung 990 Pro is solid but pricey. If speed isn't a must, you could get something less expensive to allocate more of your budget towards the GPU. Also, have you considered the case? Be quiet! makes some great products; they might have what you’re looking for without the glitzy stuff.
Good luck with the build!
I wouldn't go with the 9900X for gaming; it just doesn't cut it since some games won't utilize all those cores effectively. A better choice would be an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D for gaming and productivity—it performs exceptionally well in games. Also, consider a B650 motherboard to save on features you might not need with an X670.
For GPU, get at least 16GB of VRAM. The 5070 TI or 7900 XTX are great options, but if you want to stay budget-conscious, the 7800 XT or 5060 TI could do the trick for your gaming style.
That's helpful! I usually play at medium to high settings, and I'm not too picky about ultra settings since I'm mostly into Forza and some older games. I’ll might explore the 7800 XT further.
Thanks for the advice! I could probably downgrade the SSD. I do have a 2TB 970 Pro from a previous build that I can use, so that might help with costs. I want a balanced build mainly for gaming.