Hey everyone! I'm a graphic design and multimedia teacher, and I freelance as an artist. Last summer, I opted for a PS5 Pro instead of building a new PC because of the sky-high GPU prices. However, I'm really missing the experience of gaming on my PC and hanging out with friends. Plus, my attic setup gets unbearably hot in summer! My RTX 2080 has been giving me trouble with thermal paste and I'd prefer to steer clear of that hassle again.
I've got about €1500 to spend and I'm looking for a system that can handle 1080p and 1440p gaming for the next few years. I'm also considering replacing my ultrawide Alienware monitor with two regular monitors—I'm fine with 60fps, so I don't need high refresh rates. Any recommendations would be super helpful! Thanks!
5 Answers
Your 2080 is still holding up? That's decent! Although, if you're experiencing heat issues, it might be time for an upgrade sooner rather than later. If you’re planning to game a bit more this month, like with Nightreign, hopefully it holds out!
I put together a build for you using PCPartPicker: it totals around €1640, which includes a new case and shipping. I went for a 7700X instead of an expensive x3D variant since it performs better for productivity and is cheaper. This setup will definitely let you comfortably game at 1440p for a while! If you do a lot of design work, consider a more powerful CPU like the 9900X or 9950X, especially if you're working with heavy design or video editing software. What else do you plan to do with the PC besides gaming?
Honestly, now might not be the best time compared to last summer, but waiting for next summer could be worse. If you can, maybe try to keep an eye on GPU prices since they fluctuate so much. Also, since you're in Europe, prices might be a bit different compared to the US, so that could work in your favor!
That's a good point! Which country are you based in?
I'm in Belgium!
GPU prices are totally brutal now! If you're looking at options, consider a 3080ti or a 4070ti; those will serve you well. Honestly, upgrading from console to PC is usually a great investment, especially since you won’t have to pay for online play anymore! If you decide to build, check out PCPartPicker for good deals. Just a heads-up: avoid Alienware for pre-built systems since they use nonstandard parts, which can be a pain to upgrade later!
I'm not against consoles, but I've had a mixed bag with gaming on PC for the last couple decades. I'll probably go with a company I've used before for the build.
Yeah, it's working fine for now, just the heating problems are annoying.