My friend is looking to build a new gaming PC, and I've been asked to help pick out the parts. He has a budget of $1800 to $2000, and I put together this build:
- **CPU**: Intel Core i7-12700KF 3.6 GHz 12-core processor
- **CPU Cooler**: Thermalright Phantom Spirit EVO 69 CFM
- **Motherboard**: MSI PRO Z790-A Max WiFi ATX LGA1700
- **Storage**: I'm considering adding a Crucial P310 1 TB M.2 NVMe SSD since he has a plug-in hard drive but it's always good to have an extra.
- **Video Card**: Gigabyte Windforce OC GeForce RTX 4070 Super 12 GB
- **Case**: Phanteks XT PRO ATX Mid Tower Case
- **Power Supply**: MSI MAG A750GL PCIe 5 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX PSU
- **OS**: Microsoft Windows 11 Home OEM - DVD 64-bit
He plans to reuse DDR5 RAM from his old build, so this setup is currently at $1885. I'm looking for any suggestions to improve it or to see if there's anything that wouldn't work well together. Thanks for your help!
6 Answers
$1885 without RAM? That’s pretty rough! I found a different build that might serve him better. You might want to check it out for some alternatives.
What kind of RAM does he have? If it's DDR4, that motherboard won't work. If it's DDR5, then you're good to go! But honestly, this build feels a bit pricey if you're just considering USD. If you're in Canada, that could explain it more.
Just a heads up, you might not get the best bang for your buck with that current setup. Consider all your options before jumping in!
Thanks for the advice! I want to make sure I don't overspend.
Honestly, for that budget, he could look into an AM5 setup with something like a 9700X and a 5070 Ti. It seems like this build might be overpriced to me!
I built it on PCPartPicker. Are there other similar sites I could check?
Quick tip: Be cautious of ASUS and MSI AM5 boards, they have had some issues. You might want to consider a Gigabyte board. And if you really want to stick with NVIDIA, look for a 5070 instead. Also, check what speed that DDR5 RAM is—6000 or under should be fine.
Is the GPU you're getting new or used? The RTX 40 series saw a production halt, and prices are kinda inflated right now.
It's brand new.
He has DDR5 and it's in USD.