I'm putting together my first gaming PC with a budget of about $1,500. I already have a Dell UltraSharp 27-inch 4K 120Hz Thunderbolt Hub monitor, and I'd like to play at 4K while using FSR when necessary.
My current parts list is a Ryzen 5 7600 with the stock cooler, a Gigabyte B850M Gaming X WiFi6E motherboard, 16GB (2x8GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 memory, an RX 9070 16GB graphics card, a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, an 850W 80+ Gold Montech Century II power supply, and an NZXT H5 Flow case.
I want to upgrade gradually rather than replace the whole system. My rough plan is to move to 32GB of RAM when prices improve, add another SSD when I need more storage, upgrade the graphics card later, and eventually install a higher-end X3D processor on the AM5 platform.
Does this look like a balanced setup for 4K gaming? Is the motherboard's power delivery suitable for a future high-end AM5 CPU? Would 16GB be acceptable as a temporary starting point, and are there any parts I should change before buying?
3 Answers
Starting with 16GB is possible, but 2x8GB is generally preferable to a single 16GB stick because dual-channel memory provides better performance. If you expect to keep the system for several years, 32GB would be more comfortable for modern games and multitasking, so make sure the board has room for an easy upgrade.
You may not need an 850W power supply for this hardware. A quality 750W Gold unit should be enough and could free up money for a better CPU cooler. The stock cooler works as a temporary solution, but an inexpensive aftermarket cooler would be a worthwhile improvement.
The RX 9070 should be capable of 4K gaming, although you’ll probably need to adjust a few settings and use FSR in demanding games. If the price difference is reasonable, an RX 9070 XT would give you more headroom for 4K. You could also compare the Ryzen 5 9600X with the 7600 if the newer chip fits the budget.
That makes sense. I’m leaning toward starting with the 7600, but I’ll consider the XT if I find a good deal.
Good point. I’ll compare reliable 750W Gold models and see if I can fit an aftermarket cooler into the budget.