A friend of mine sent over a list of parts for his gaming PC build, and I'm looking for some feedback. Here's what he's considering: Ryzen 7 9800x3d, Asus Tuf 5070 12GB, Asus B650e Max Gaming motherboard, Corsair Vengeance 32GB DDR5 6000 CL30, MSI MAG A850GL Gold PSU, a Thermaltake tower cooler, 2TB Samsung 990 EVO M.2 SSD, and a Phanteks ATX PRO case. I've suggested that maybe he could consider getting two drives—a smaller one for Windows and another for games. Also, I mentioned looking into an AIO cooler. It's been a while since I built a PC, so I'm hoping to get some reassurance that this list looks okay!
5 Answers
Honestly, you don't really need two drives anymore. It was a bigger deal back when SSDs and HDDs were more common. These days, most people just use one NVMe drive and it's generally just fine. About the AIO cooler, tower coolers are usually more efficient and cost-effective, so stick to that unless you're set on an AIO for looks or specific cooling needs.
You might not need such an expensive SSD. A more cost-effective option like the WD SN5000 gives you more bang for your buck without losing performance. Also, consider switching to the RX 9070XT; it provides better performance and more VRAM at a similar cost. As for the CPU, the 9800x3d is a solid choice even if some suggest otherwise.
Agreed! If you go with the 7800x3d, that would pair really well with a single NVMe SSD and a 5070ti.
It’s perfectly fine to have two drives, especially if you prefer clean OS installs and want to manage your data separately. I do this for my servers too. However, a single NVMe drive should handle everything for gaming as well, so it's mainly about your personal preference.
The setup looks great for 1440p gaming! The CPU might be a bit much for the 5070 right now, but it leaves you in a good position for future upgrades, especially if you later decide to push for 4K. As for the drives—don’t stress it right now, as you can easily expand storage later. Just a tip: considering a beefier PSU could be wise for headroom during future upgrades!
I’d suggest spending less on the CPU and allocate more budget to the GPU. The 5070 is a solid card, but you might want to invest in something like a 5070 ti or even consider an RX 9070XT for better performance with similar pricing. As for the drives, one SSD is plenty these days. For cooling, a good tower cooler will usually outperform an AIO.
Haha, I would've said the same! My buddy bought a 5070, so he had to find a balance between components.
I've done a similar thing—got a 9700X and 5070ti instead of splurging on the 9800x3d, and honestly, I think it was the right call.
That's good to know! Do you really think an AIO wouldn't offer a significant improvement over a tower cooler?