Hey everyone! I'm stepping back into building PCs after a break and I'm putting together a new setup. My budget is around $2500, and I'm looking to upgrade from a GTX 1080 because it's struggling with newer AAA games. Aside from gaming, I also do a lot of work with Adobe Creative Cloud—specifically Photoshop, After Effects, and Premiere—and some 3D rendering in Blender, so I need something that excels at both gaming and creative tasks. I've opted for 64 GB of RAM to handle the Adobe workload better.
I've picked my case already, but I'm open to suggestions for the other components to get the best balance and value. Any feedback would be awesome! Here's my current part list: [PCPartPicker Part List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/9Mn4TM)
3 Answers
You might want to consider upgrading to the 9950X3D. It gives you excellent performance for both gaming and productivity. Also, check out the Thermalright Royal Pretor cooler; it's highly rated right now. For your storage, a standard 5070 Ti will work just as well at a lower price, and a solid B850 motherboard could save you some bucks while still giving you good connectivity options. Here's a list I've compiled with my suggestions: [PCPartPicker Part List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/mcct2x)
Thanks for your input! I’m definitely leaning towards the 9950X3D now after seeing how it performs in benchmarks!
I'd recommend switching to a CPU like the 9900X or 7900X for better performance in your workloads. A cheaper air cooler like the Peerless Assassin could save you some cash without sacrificing too much cooling. If you want top-notch performance, definitely look into 12-16 core processors for your creative work. They’ll offer much better multitasking capabilities!
Seems like I need to reassess my CPU choice. Appreciate the heads-up!
To really maximize your performance for both gaming and creative work, aim for a 12 to 16-core processor like the 9950X3D. Intel’s 14900K is another solid option with great hyperthreading. My recommendation would be a balanced setup focusing on airflow and thermal management to keep your components cool. Also, here’s a list that balances cost and performance: [PCPartPicker Part List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/RRKKTM)
Thanks for the thorough breakdown! I'll definitely consider your advice. It really helps me think things through!
I think your setup looks fantastic! Just keep an eye on CPU temperatures—might want to consider a 360 AIO cooler for better efficiency.