Hey everyone! It's been quite a while since I last built a PC (the last one I had was an i7 4790k, which was the best back then!). I'm currently using a computer I purchased from a friend while relocating, but it's starting to fail me. I'm looking to build a new rig for gaming and programming, specifically capable of 1440p at 144Hz. I currently have a pair of 1440p monitors and have no plans to move to 4K anytime soon. I'm interested in games like Cities: Skylines II, The Last of Us, Ghost of Tsushima, PUBG, and Mount & Blade Bannerlord, and I want to ensure I can run these smoothly at around 60+ FPS with potential for streaming in the future.
I have a new Thermaltake Core P1 mini ITX case and have a build in mind that comes to nearly 2000€. However, I have a few questions:
a) Would a Ryzen 7 9800X3D and a 5070 Ti be overkill for 1440p gaming? I'm considering a 7800x3D instead because it's a bit cheaper.
b) Is it okay to go for the cheapest 5070 Ti I can find, or should I consider brand reliability since I've found slightly pricier options?
c) Is a 650W PSU sufficient for this build, or should I stick with an 850W unit that might just be a better deal?
d) I noticed the cheaper motherboards are mostly mITX; what are the downsides if I don't need many additional features? Can I utilize a larger ATX case with an mITX motherboard?
e) If I mount my GPU vertically, is a Gen 4 riser cable fine, or do I need a Gen 5 one?
f) Lastly, I read that some m.2 slots may need a BIOS update for the 9800X3D. Can I update the BIOS without having the CPU and RAM installed first? And how should I assign drives between the CPU and chipset lanes?
Thanks for any insight!
3 Answers
The 650W PSU might be cutting it close, especially with a 5070 Ti. I'd recommend going for an 850W just to be safe, plus it might be cheaper right now.
For the motherboard, many cheaper ITX boards have fewer features, but if you don't need extra ports or lanes, that’s usually fine. Just keep in mind that if you switch to a bigger case later, you'll still be able to use the mITX board.
Regarding the vertical GPU mount, a Gen 4 cable should do the trick. Gen 5 is a nice upgrade, but that extra speed isn't necessary for most cards right now.
Lastly, try to check for BIOS compatibility as it’s easy to update it from a USB drive using Flashback without needing anything else, but be sure the board supports the CPU you want right out of the box!
Hey there! Your build sounds exciting! For 1440p at 60 FPS, you actually don’t need a 9800X3D. A Ryzen 7 7800X3D would be more than enough and will save you some cash. Benchmarks for GPUs like the 5070 Ti suggest that any of them will handle your needs just fine, so going with a budget option should be perfect as long as it’s from a reputable brand.
Definitely consider keeping the 9800X3D for longevity! It’s an amazing investment and will serve you well for years. Just ensure to check reviews for the specific 5070 Ti variant you choose. In terms of m2 drives, it’s best practice to keep your OS drive on the CPU lanes for the best speeds and use the chipset lanes for your gaming libraries; helps keep everything running smoothly.
That's super helpful! Thanks! Just what I needed to hear.
I appreciate the tip! I really want to future-proof my setup, so I'll keep that in mind.