Hey everyone! I've been a gamer since childhood but haven't played much in the last decade. I've finally decided to dive back in and put together a gaming PC, but I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed since I haven't kept up with hardware developments. I need your feedback on my build!
Here's what I'm aiming for:
1. This PC will be purely for gaming — no other use.
2. I have a flexible budget but prefer a minimalistic approach instead of just chasing high specs.
3. I'm aiming for a smaller form factor, specifically mATX, although I'm cautious about going too small.
4. I want the system to run as quietly as possible.
**GPU:**
I'm trying to decide between two GPUs that cost about the same. I'm considering going with Linux gaming using Bazzite, but I'm aware some games like Battlefield won't run on Linux. So, should I lean towards AMD for better Linux support, or is it not worth the hassle? I heard Sapphire is a solid brand for AMD, but what about NVIDIA? Is Gigabyte a good choice? Also, I found the PowerColor 9070XT for 20% less than the other options — is that worth considering?
**CPU:**
I've read that the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is a great match for both GPUs I'm looking at.
**Motherboard:**
Do you think going with the B850M is unnecessary for my build?
**Cooling:**
I think I need more intake cooling for the back of the case. What options would you recommend?
**Power Supply:**
I opted for a more expensive Platinum Corsair PSU as it's highly praised, but is there a solid Gold option that would be cheaper?
**Anything else:**
I'm open to all suggestions regarding any components. Thanks a lot! I've shared my [PCPartPicker Part List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/xXMLMC) for reference.
3 Answers
Your build looks solid! I’d suggest looking at MSI's Tomahawk or the Gigabyte Aorus lineup for your motherboard. I’m not a fan of Asrock lately due to some reliability issues. Also, prices on DDR5 and SSDs are quite high right now, and while faster RAM can help, you might find that going for a cheaper RAM kit would be more cost-effective without affecting performance significantly. Between AMD and NVIDIA, for those prices, a 5070 Ti might be the better bet.
I made some adjustments to my build after reading your feedback, and I was able to lower the price to around $250! Here’s what I came up with: [New Build List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/XDrT2x). What do you think?
You might want to consider getting a CL36 RAM kit instead of the CL30. The performance difference isn’t worth the higher price tag — you can often find CL36 for around $150. Also, I saw the Asrock Challenger on sale, and it's a good budget option for around $600. As for the PSU, since you're already looking at premium options, you could switch to a popular Gold-rated one like the Montech Century II; it’ll save you some cash without sacrificing much quality overall.
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