I'm planning to start ordering the parts for my first PC build by Monday and would appreciate a second opinion on the configuration in my parts list. My absolute budget is £2,200, although I'd prefer to stay closer to £2,100. The system needs to handle SolidWorks and Fusion 360 as well as gaming at 1440p, including Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, GTA 6, and Call of Duty. Are there any major compatibility issues, weak points, or parts I should change before ordering?
3 Answers
You could consider using one 1 TB SSD instead of two if the total capacity and layout make sense for your needs. Memory and storage prices can fluctuate, so consolidating the drives might help keep the budget under control without affecting performance much.
The configuration looks solid overall. I’d consider replacing the 240 mm AIO with a 360 mm model if it fits your case, and moving to a 950–1000 W power supply. A larger PSU gives you more headroom for future upgrades and keeps the unit operating around its more efficient mid-load range.
Thanks, I’ll check whether a 360 mm cooler fits and compare some larger PSU options.
Another approach would be to start with a more affordable AM5 processor, such as a Ryzen 5 7600X, then upgrade to a newer X3D processor later. That could free up some money now, though it only makes sense if you’re comfortable waiting for future hardware and upgrading fairly soon.
I’d rather buy the best setup I can afford now instead of planning around upcoming releases, then consider upgrades several years down the line. I appreciate the suggestion, though.
What would be the advantage of choosing less storage? Since this is my first build, I assumed having more storage was always preferable.