I found a reasonably priced prebuilt with a Radeon RX 9070 XT and Ryzen 5 9600X, which are the main specifications I want. However, instead of buying it, I tried designing a clean, all-black, no-RGB build in a HYTE X50 Air. I know the case adds to the cost, but I really like its rounded edges and mesh design, so I would prefer to keep it unless there is a similar but cheaper option.
My current parts list is based on research rather than hands-on building experience, so I would appreciate advice about bottlenecks, unnecessary parts, compatibility, and areas where I can save money. I am open to used components, bundles, a cheaper case, a lower-cost power supply if it is still safe, and fewer or less expensive case fans. I would prefer to keep the RX 9070 XT so the system can handle demanding games at 1440p for several years, ideally around 120 FPS when possible. I am also considering 2TB of storage and possibly an OLED monitor.
Including peripherals, I would like to stay well below $2,000, or around $1,800 if I can find substantial savings. I am shopping in the United States and expect to buy mostly online, unless there is an exceptional local deal. I would also like a monitor recommendation; I am not a competitive esports player, so I do not need an extreme refresh rate. I am upgrading from an M1 MacBook Air and want a system that lets me play a much wider range of games without worrying about macOS compatibility.
1 Answer
That prebuilt is difficult to beat on raw price, but prebuilts often reduce costs on parts that are less visible, especially the power supply, SSD, and sometimes the motherboard. I would be cautious about downgrading the PSU or storage too far; those are not ideal places to cut corners. Your custom build is generally sensible, though it is not especially optimized for the budget.
To reduce the total cost, look for a less expensive case with a similar airflow-focused design and consider reputable component bundles. The RX 9070 XT and 9600X combination should be strong for 1440p, so I would keep those if that is your target. If the budget allows, 32GB of memory and a 2TB SSD would make the build more comfortable long term. Memory and storage pricing can fluctuate, so watch for sales rather than assuming the upgrade will always be cheap.
The revised motherboard looks better, although the total rises once the case fans are included. I am also unsure about the memory upgrade—32GB kits seem unusually expensive right now, sometimes around $200 or more. Is it better to start with 16GB and upgrade later if prices stay high?