Hey everyone! I just put together a part list for a mid-high end PC build on PC Part Picker, planning to use my current Fractal Design Define R4 case. I'm looking to do some gaming (like Battlefield 6 and Doom: The Dark Ages) and video encoding for Plex. I'm aiming for a 1440p monitor with a 165hz refresh rate. Do you see any issues with my parts list? I'm working with a $2k budget but I'd love to save some money if possible. Just for context, my current build is a 2013 model with an i7 4770k and a GTX 770, which I upgraded to a GTX 1070 a few years back. I've also updated my PSU and memory on the part list, so feel free to check that out!
4 Answers
I noticed you’re using a Noctua cooler; you might get better performance per dollar with an Arctic Freezer Pro. Also, is the motherboard you picked worth the price? You can find cheaper RAM at 6000MHz CL30, and you don't need a 1k PSU—an 850W should suffice!
If you're set on an Intel CPU, I have another build suggestion for your budget. I’m using the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K, which is about $259, and I can share a full part list if you’d like. The total for this build is around $1810.76. Just a heads-up, the RTX 5080 is $250 more, and it might be better to allocate that extra cash elsewhere!
Do you really think the 5080 is worth the extra $250? I’m not super familiar with New brands like Patriot and Montech, so I want to be cautious.
One thing to note is that the cables from the SFX PSU might be a bit short for your mid-tower case, so you might want to consider getting an ATX PSU instead. An 850W PSU in the $90-100 range, like a Montech Century II, would be a solid choice.
Thanks for pointing that out! I didn't realize I added an SFX PSU, appreciate it!
I managed to make some adjustments that saved you over $200 while still giving you one of the best gaming CPUs out there. Check out my part list!
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D for around $469, along with a Thermalright Phantom Spirit cooler for just $35. Overall, this comes out to $1746.85!
Thanks for the breakdown! I was considering AMD, but I've always used Intel for the productivity side of things. Good to see the savings!
I really like my Noctua cooler, but thanks for the suggestion! I'll look into it. I'm set on Intel for now because of the productivity features.