I'm building a new PC for my husband since his old one is showing its age—some of the latest games, like Warhammer 40k, just won't run on it anymore. I'm planning a significant upgrade, shifting from AM to AM5 and DDR4 to DDR5, among other things. I've managed to snag some parts at good prices, thanks to a friend, but I'm a bit anxious about whether I've done enough research. We have a modest budget, aiming for a mid-range setup, so I'm not going all out on a top-of-the-line monster. Here's the parts list I've gathered:
- GPU: Radeon RX 7700XT (already bought)
- CPU: Ryzen 5 7600 X3D (already bought)
- CPU Cooler: Peerless Assassin 120 SE (already bought)
- PSU: 750 Watt Chieftec VEGA Series PPG-750-S Non-Modular 80+ Gold
- Motherboard: MSI PRO AMD B650 So.AM5 DDR5 mATX
- SSD: 1TB Samsung SSD 980 M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 3D-NAND TLC (MZ-V8V1T0BW)
- RAM: 32GB (2x 16GB) G.Skill Flare EXPO X5 schwarz DDR5-6000 DIMM CL36-36-36-96 Dual Kit
- Case: be quiet! Pure Base 501 DX (used)
My biggest concern is the motherboard. I hope I didn't miss anything important, and I'm a little worried that it might need a BIOS update to work with the other parts. Also, can anyone explain why SSDs are so expensive these days?
2 Answers
Your parts list looks solid! You might want to double-check compatibility on PCPartPicker—it will alert you if there are any issues. The motherboard should support your CPU, but do check the specs, especially regarding the BIOS. Also, about the SSD prices, they can be high for the latest models, especially with more speed and storage. If it's mainly for gaming, though, an SSD in a lower price range will still do the job well!
I hear you on the SSD prices, it's crazy how much they've jumped lately! Just make sure it fits your needs!
It's a bit odd you bought some parts before asking for advice, but hey, we all do it! If your motherboard is new, it should support your new CPU; just look at the packaging or manual for confirmation. If you're aiming for the best performance, consider RAM at 6000 MHz with lower latency. But honestly, if you just need an SSD for gaming, even a more affordable option would suffice. You really don’t need to go all-out on this one!
I appreciate the insights! Just for clarity, I bought those parts because they're on sale—and I didn't want to miss out! Thanks for the RAM recommendation.
Exactly! I'm looking for a functional build, so it's nice to know that I don’t have to splurge on the SSD.
Thanks for the tip! I used PCPartPicker to double-check after your suggestion, and it really helped me feel more confident in my choices.