Hey folks! I'm trying to decide between two builds for my gaming rig. Currently, I have an RTX 3090 and a 2K monitor with a 180Hz refresh rate.
**Build 1:**
- Gigabyte B850 GAMING WF6 motherboard
- AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor
- Kingston Fury Beast Black 16GB x2, 6000MHz RAM
**Build 2:**
- MSI B850 MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI motherboard
- AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor
- Kingston Fury Beast Black 16GB x2, 6000MHz RAM
I want to play games like Battlefield 2 and Counter-Strike 2 with high FPS. I was leaning towards Build 2 because of the nicer motherboard, thinking I could upgrade the CPU down the line, but now I see that I could spend almost the same on Build 1 with the 9800X3D and a cheaper mobo. Is this a smart move? What am I missing?
I plan to use a Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE cooler, and I believe my Fractal Design Torrent case has good airflow. I'm also not looking to upgrade my GPU anytime soon—maybe later I'll look at the 6000 or 7000 series cards.
I've ruled out a cheaper mobo with the 7800X3D option since I want to stick to my budget without any unused funds. What do you guys think? Which build would you go for and why?
3 Answers
The MSI Tomahawk B650 is an excellent choice; it's high quality without breaking the bank. Plus, you'll enjoy great performance with the 9800X3D. Have fun building your rig!
I agree! For most gamers, a decent B650 or B850 mobo is all you need. The 9800X3D will give you top FPS right now, while the 7800X3D is a bit slower but offers great value. Either way, you'll be in good shape; it just comes down to preference!
If you're looking to save some cash by going with a cheaper motherboard, definitely go for the 9800X3D! The motherboard won't really impact performance unless you're looking for specific features or ports. Just focus on that CPU since it's the real powerhouse for gaming.
Thanks! I’ll definitely check it out. It fits my non-RGB black build theme too. Just a quick question: I'll need to update the BIOS first, right?