Hey everyone! I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to building PCs—just two days ago, I learned what a CPU is! I'm studying economics and need a setup that can handle loading, storing, and analyzing sizable datasets (around 5GB on average with millions of entries) using statistical software like R. I'm also interested in creating animations in Python with a package that uses the Cairo renderer, which I hear is quite CPU-intensive. Additionally, I might dabble in some basic photo and video editing for fun.
I'm not into gaming, so I'm not concerned about gaming performance. With these needs in mind, I'd love your thoughts on how I can enhance my current build! Here's what I have:
PCPartPicker List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/FX8qXR
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz 8-Core Processor ($385.38 @ Amazon)
- CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.90 @ Amazon)
- Motherboard: Asus PRIME B650-PLUS WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard ($149.99 @ Amazon)
- Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory ($94.99 @ Amazon)
- Storage: Crucial P3 Plus 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD ($119.00 @ Amazon)
- Video Card: ASRock Challenger D Radeon RX 6600 8 GB Video Card ($219.97 @ Newegg)
- Power Supply: MSI MAG A650BN 650 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1069.22
3 Answers
Since you're not into gaming, you might want to skip the 7800X3D. A CPU like the 9700X could be a better fit as it's more geared towards productivity. Also, consider using the integrated GPU unless your software benefits significantly from a dedicated graphics card. That said, if you’re looking to do some video editing, it could still help to invest in a GPU like an RTX 3060, especially for rendering. Just make sure to assess your RAM needs—32GB should be sufficient, but monitor your usage!
I agree with others here—avoid the X3D variant since it's more optimized for gaming. Instead, I recommend aiming for the 9700X or 9800X. For video editing, Nvidia cards tend to perform better for productivity over AMD cards. A solid choice is an RTX 3060 as it has more VRAM, which is beneficial for video tasks. Plus, it's relatively budget-friendly compared to other options.
This is super helpful, thank you! Exactly what I needed to hear.
You could also check out some alternative builds that may suit your needs better. For example, consider this setup I found: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/hjrFyW. It features a better GPU and leverages Intel's tools for video editing, which AMD doesn't support fully. This could enhance your editing experience.
Thanks for the suggestions! I was thinking a GPU might help with video editing. How do I figure out how much RAM is right for me?