I'm putting together a gaming-only PC with a budget of about $1,350, though I could stretch to roughly $1,450 if it's really worthwhile. I'm located in the US but don't live near a Micro Center. I'm deciding between 1080p and 1440p gaming, and I play a wide variety of games, including plenty of esports titles, so strong CPU performance matters to me. The main part I'd like to keep is the case, or something with a similar design, since I like its appearance and it seems reasonably priced. Does this parts list look balanced, and is there anything I should change before ordering?
4 Answers
The build looks solid overall, especially if you’re targeting 1080p gaming. The parts should work well together without obvious problems.
The graphics card is perfectly capable of 1440p gaming. Some people may label the 9060 XT as mainly a 1080p card, but it can handle 1440p well, especially with sensible settings and upscaling when needed.
I’d consider using a single 16GB memory stick if you expect to upgrade later. Two sticks will usually give you better performance right away, though, so it depends on whether you want the extra upgrade flexibility. I’d also look at a different motherboard: some of the MSI 6E models are weaker value, while the MSI B850M PRO-P offers better features for about the same price.
It looks good, but I’d check a few detailed reviews of the case before buying. Make sure its airflow, fan setup, and build quality are actually decent rather than choosing it only for the appearance and price.
That’s fair. I mainly picked it because I like the look and the price, but I’ll look more closely at its airflow and reviews.
Thanks, I’ll compare that motherboard and think about whether the easier future upgrade is worth giving up some immediate memory performance.