I'm new to building PCs and would love some help with my current setup. I've done a bit of research, but I find a lot of it overwhelming. Here's my proposed build:
- **Case**: Montech Air 903 Max or Base (I like both)
- **Motherboard**: Gigabyte Z890 EAGLE WIFI7 Intel LGA 1851 ATX
- **CPU**: Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF Arrow Lake 20-Core (no heatsink included)
- **Power Supply**: Lian Li EDGE GOLD 850 Watt 80 Plus Gold Fully Modular
- **RAM**: G.Skill 64GB (2 x 32GB) DDR5-5600
- **GPU**: Gigabyte NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 GAMING 8GB
I haven't chosen cooling, storage, or drives yet, and my budget is under a thousand dollars. I'm looking for any suggestions to improve my build, especially components I might consider switching out. Also, I'm building this for personal projects like digital art and video editing, as well as gaming (Sims, Horizon, Baldur's Gate, etc.). Any help would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
Honestly, your build looks a bit overkill for what you need. Unless you’re doing really heavy tasks like music production, you might want to downgrade your CPU. If you have a Micro Center nearby, check there; it could save you some cash! For around $1,200, you could get a Ryzen 9 9600X paired with a 9070 GPU, which would be a strong combo without breaking the bank. Here’s a link for reference: [PCPartPicker build](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/YKXQJn). Also, consider getting a better PSU for future upgrades; reliability is key!
Definitely use pcpartpicker.com to create your list and share it! For your goals, having a powerful CPU and 64GB of RAM seems excessive unless you’re focused on graphic design. Your current specs lean more toward a high-end gaming rig. If you're aiming for dual-purpose (editing and gaming), you might be better off with a setup that balances both without overspending. It might be a good idea to consult with someone at Micro Center in person for tailored advice!
Haha, I get it! I'm still learning the ropes, and it feels like I'm stumbling through it blindfolded. I really want to find the right balance for editing and gaming. I guess a chat with an expert might be my best bet for clarity.