I'm putting together my first serious gaming PC and would appreciate advice on improving the value of the parts I've chosen. I'd really like to keep the graphics card in the build, but I haven't selected RAM yet because 32GB of DDR5 seems unusually expensive and I'm not sure what price or specifications are reasonable. I also plan to reuse the 2TB Samsung SSD from my current PC.
My budget is roughly £1,600–£1,700, although I originally hoped to spend around £1,200 before seeing current component prices. The main goal is to play World of Warcraft at 1440p with maximum settings and consistently high frame rates. I'd also like the system to handle newer games at high or ultra settings while staying above 60 FPS. Are there any parts you would change to improve the price-to-performance ratio without compromising the graphics card?
2 Answers
I’d avoid cutting costs too aggressively on the motherboard. A model with a better VRM design would provide a stronger foundation and help maintain stable CPU performance under sustained loads. One way to make room for it is to use a Ryzen 7 7700X instead of the higher-end processor. You still get 8 cores and 16 threads, and at 1440p the graphics card is likely to be the limiting factor anyway. I’d also consider putting some of the savings toward a higher-quality, higher-wattage power supply.
If you already have the SSD, reusing it makes sense, and you can probably save some money on the graphics card if necessary. A slightly cheaper card such as a Radeon RX 7800 XT is still a strong match for 1440p gaming with this class of processor, including World of Warcraft.
I do have the SSD already, but I’m still comparing RAM kits. I’m surprised by how expensive DDR5 has become—what would you consider a reasonable price for 32GB?
That makes sense. I’ll compare the cost of stepping down to the 7700X against upgrading the motherboard and PSU. Do you have any suggestions for finding reasonably priced 32GB DDR5 kits?