I've just snagged an i7 12700 OptiPlex for $300, and I'm aiming to put together a budget-friendly PC gaming machine. I'm planning to recycle an old GPU and a SATA SSD since the machine doesn't come with any storage, and I'll also need to re-board and re-case everything for it to work properly. Could you take a look at my build and let me know if it seems solid? Here's the breakdown of my components:
- **CPU**: Intel Core i7-12700 2.1 GHz 12-Core Processor - $300 (includes 16GB RAM)
- **CPU Cooler**: Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE 66.17 CFM - $17.89
- **Motherboard**: Asus PRIME B760M-A AX D4 Micro ATX LGA1700 - $70.00 (Ebay)
- **Storage**: Crucial MX500 1 TB 2.5" SSD - $0.00 (already have)
- **Video Card**: Asus TUF GAMING GeForce RTX 3080 10GB - $0.00 (already have)
- **Case**: Lian Li A3-mATX MicroATX Mini Tower - $72.98
- **Power Supply**: Corsair CX750M (2021) 750 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular - $59.99
**Total**: $520.86. Does everything look good?
2 Answers
The overall build looks decent, but I'd definitely recommend looking into getting an NVMe SSD for your main drive. The SATA SSD can be a bottleneck when it comes to loading times, especially for games. You might regret not upgrading that later on!
$300 for the CPU and 16GB RAM might seem steep depending on where you are. Make sure you check local prices for used components. I know prices can vary a lot! Did you research beforehand?
I did some digging around, but you’re right; prices do change based on location. Just trying to see if my choices stack up!
Yeah, the NVMe drive would really speed things up! If you can swing it, it's worth considering for sure.