I'm putting together a PC build mainly for gaming and I also want to run virtual machines and store important files. I don't need 4K gaming—1080p is fine, especially for newer titles. I usually play older games but want the flexibility to handle newer ones as well. Here's the link to my planned build: [Parts List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/8Hp4Kq).
4 Answers
Just a thought—since you're gaming at 1080p, there's no need to go overboard with a high-end GPU. You could save money by choosing a more mid-range graphics card and spending that extra cash on upgrading your storage or RAM.
You might want to consider upgrading to AM5 and DDR5 components. They cost a bit more, but they'll give you better performance and future upgrade options. If you can swing it, maybe swap out the HDD for a larger SSD instead. You’ll notice a big difference in speed and reliability! Here’s an example build I modified: [Updated Build](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/bNN7kf).
I noticed you have a couple of 4GB laptop RAM sticks. Just curious, why not go for something like a 16GB kit for better performance? If you need to run many VMs, having more RAM can really help.
That’s a good point! I’m just trying to make the most of what I have since I run VMs a lot.
If you're primarily gaming, I’d recommend a 10-core CPU for better multitasking with your VMs. Try to aim for a 2TB SSD which can hold much more than a traditional HDD. Plus, consider a newer graphics card; the ones available now are much stronger for gaming compared to older models. Here’s a decent build example: [Suggested Build](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/9xGMqH).
Thanks for the suggestion! I thought the HDD would be okay for my important files, but I’ll check out the SSD options.