I'm in a bit of a bind with my PC build thanks to rising prices on GPUs and RAM. I've been using my old rig (Ryzen 3 2200G, A320 motherboard, GTX 1050 Ti, and 32GB of Kingston Fury DDR4 3200MHz RAM) for over seven years. I'm considering a new setup with an Intel i5-14600KF CPU and a KFA2 5070 Ti GPU, but I'm trying to stick to my current DDR4 RAM to save costs. Here's what I'm looking at:
- Intel i5-14600KF - ~$220
- KFA2 5070 Ti - ~$1100
- Continuing with my 32GB DDR4 RAM - $0
- GIGABYTE Z790 Aorus Elite AX D4 motherboard (DDR4) - ~$250
- Lian Li V100R case - ~$80
- 850W PSU from 1st Player - ~$110
- Reusing my two 1TB SSDs - $0
Prices, especially for GPUs, are quite high where I live, partly due to local taxes. A DDR5 RAM kit here costs around $500, which I'd rather put towards my GPU. I'm also looking to get a new 2K monitor. I've already ordered the parts but can still cancel. Is it a smart move to build around the DDR4 RAM I already have, or is it a mistake? I'm curious about your thoughts on this build and whether I picked the right CPU for DDR4. I've found that the A320 motherboard isn't compatible with the new RTX 50-series, so I had to switch to a new motherboard. The prices are steep, especially as most other options here are PCIE4.0 without Wi-Fi. This is my first time investing this much into a PC, and I want to make sure I'm not making a regretful choice!
2 Answers
I checked on your GPU choice, and it’s a smaller form factor type. You might want to consider something with a better cooler since that card can pull over 300W of heat. A bigger thermal solution could help, especially with a hot CPU in the mix.
Your build looks solid! Sticking with DDR4 seems reasonable given RAM prices elsewhere. Plus, the CPU you’ve chosen is a great match for a DDR4 setup.
Thank you! I’m really anxious about this stuff 🙂
For about $120 more, I could go for the GIGABYTE 5070 Ti Aero. But I’m hesitant because I've seen reviews mention some leaking issues with it. Other 5070 Ti options are either $200 pricier or also small form factor.