Hey everyone! I'm new to building PCs, and this will be my first one. I'm looking for some advice on my proposed black-themed 4K gaming setup before I start buying the parts. The pricing reflects what's currently available in my area. Here's what I'm thinking:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D - $500
- CPU Cooler: Lian Li Galahad II Trinity SL-INFINITY 360 mm AIO - $291
- Motherboard: ASRock X670E PG Lightning (AM5, DDR5, ATX) - $307
- Memory: G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB 32 GB (2x16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 - $328
- Storage: Samsung 990 PRO 2 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD - $200
- GPU: Galax GeForce RTX 5080 16 GB GDDR7 - $1400
- Power Supply: Corsair RM1200e Gen5.1 1200 W 80+ Gold PSU - $236
- Case: Lian Li O11 Dynamic Evo XL (E-ATX) - $285
- Case Fans: Lian Li Uni Fan SL-Infinity Reverse x6 + SL Infinity x3 - $300
- Monitor: Gameon 28" IPS 4K UHD 144 Hz (HDMI 2.1) - $330
I aim for a smooth 4K gaming experience with a sleek look. Do you think this build is well-balanced? Any suggestions for better value or parts to change before I commit to this $4000 budget?
2 Answers
I see you’re going for a powerful setup, but I'd be cautious with the ASRock motherboard. They tend to have issues with the AMD 9000X3D CPUs. Go for a B850 or B650E board instead. The combo of the 9800X3D and the 5080 is solid, but the rest of the build could use some budget cuts without sacrificing too much performance. You could save about $1000 by going with less expensive case fans and a cooler. For your PSU, 850W is plenty for this setup—1200W is overkill. Similar story with the RAM; $328 is steep. If I were you, I’d invest in a better monitor instead of all the pricey extras.
With that budget, you could actually opt for a 5090 build instead of the 5080. Change your cooler to an Arctic Freezer 36; there's no real need for a $300 AIO. A B850 motherboard is a better choice since ASRock has a bad rep with the X3Ds. Your RAM is fine, albeit a bit overpriced—consider Teamgroup's expert black for half the price. While the 990 PRO is good, the 990 EVO could save you some cash. I also wouldn't splurge on a $300 case; there are solid cheaper options available. And those $300 case fans? You can definitely find better deals without losing quality.
Thanks for your help! I’m just starting to learn about these parts and making sense of the prices, so I really appreciate the input.
Is there room to upgrade to a 5090? I found one for $2888 here, but it’s still pricey.