I'm putting together my first gaming PC and would appreciate feedback on the parts list. I'm planning to use a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 16GB, an MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi motherboard, 32GB of DDR5-6000 CL30 memory, a 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, a Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE CPU cooler, an 850–1000W 80+ Gold ATX 3.1 power supply, and a Lian Li Lancool 216 case with Windows 11. Are there any components I should upgrade or change for better cooling, compatibility, or overall value?
2 Answers
This is already a strong build. The main part I’d reconsider is the CPU cooler. A decent 360mm liquid cooler would give the 9800X3D plenty of thermal headroom, though it isn’t strictly necessary if you prefer air cooling. The Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 is a reasonable option.
The Assassin X 120 is a bit undersized for this processor, so I’d replace it with a high-quality dual-tower air cooler such as the Thermalright Phantom Spirit. It should provide strong cooling without the extra cost and complexity of liquid cooling.
Thanks for the suggestion—I’ll take a look at the Phantom Spirit.