Can you review this $2,600 gaming PC build for modern games and flight sims?
Asked by
MellowCedar42
My last PC build was back in 2017, so I'm out of touch with current hardware and put this parts list together mostly from scratch. I'm planning to use the system for a variety of games, including simulation titles with a HOTAS setup. Nothing has been purchased yet. The proposed build includes a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, 32GB of DDR5-6000 memory, an RTX 2080 Ti, a 500GB NVMe SSD, a 5TB 5400RPM hard drive, an 850W power supply, and a large airflow-focused case, with a total cost around $2,600. I'd appreciate advice on compatibility, value, storage choices, and whether there are better modern alternatives for the graphics card and other components.
Answers
If the 2080 Ti is already sitting around unused, it could serve as a temporary card, but buying one new at nearly $800 makes no sense. If you’re targeting high-resolution gaming, demanding simulators, or a high-refresh display, spend the GPU budget on a current-generation card instead. If you really wanted to keep the 2080 Ti, the rest of the system could be scaled back substantially rather than pairing it with a top-end new gaming CPU.
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Since you haven’t bought anything yet, I’d rebuild the list around current pricing rather than trying to make this exact selection work. A 9800X3D is an excellent choice for gaming and simulation titles, but the $795 2080 Ti is a major mismatch. You can keep the general white-themed case and motherboard if you like them, while choosing a current GPU, a cheaper cooler, and reasonably priced memory. Also double-check the RAM price—the listed kit appears wildly overpriced for 32GB of DDR5-6000.
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The CPU and platform are strong, but the graphics card and storage don’t fit the rest of the budget. An RTX 2080 Ti at that price is far too old and expensive, especially when newer cards such as the RX 9070 XT offer much better performance and more VRAM. I’d also replace the small 500GB SSD and mechanical game drive with a modern 2TB NVMe SSD, then add more solid-state storage later if needed. You may also be able to transfer an existing Windows license instead of buying another one.
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A 5400RPM hard drive is fine for bulk files, backups, or rarely used games, but modern games load much more slowly from one. Put Windows and your frequently played games on a 1TB or 2TB NVMe SSD. You don’t specifically need a separate M.2 drive just for the operating system; one sufficiently large NVMe drive can handle Windows and games perfectly well. A second SSD is only useful for extra capacity or organization.
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