Hey everyone! I'm finally building a new PC after sticking with my old one for a decade. My last setup had a hardline water cooling loop for the CPU and GPU, but I've just moved to the West Coast and want to simplify things by going with air cooling this time around, especially since I may have to move again in a few years.
I'm mainly using this PC for Photoshop, Lightroom, and some gaming like Civ and Age of Empires, but I also do astrophotography, so I need something that can handle those programs without a hitch. I'd really appreciate any advice, especially on choosing the graphics card! I've put my build together here: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/MQXMNz. Thanks!
5 Answers
I suggest going for more cores instead of just focusing on cache. The 7900x is a solid choice for the kind of work you do.
I made some tweaks to your build: upgraded the CPU and matched the aesthetic with a different GPU while finding better value overall. Check it out here: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/77WKmC. Let me know what you think!
You might want to skip the Windows key purchase; there are other ways to activate it. Instead, consider investing that money into 64GB of RAM and a 9800X3D GPU for a real boost in productivity. Also, keep an eye out for a PNY or Zotac 5070 Ti at MSRP—especially at places like Micro Center—they're generally solid options!
You've got a good system for the most part, but if you're open to suggestions, I recommend changing the CPU to a 9900x for more cores—that'll really help with your workload and gaming, especially when things get busy late game. Here's my version: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/RgYfBq. Hope this helps!
Appreciate the advice! Will consider that upgrade.
Your GPU choice looks good for what you're planning to do! I just built a workstation with air cooling, and my high-watt CPU never went above 70C under full load, so you'll be fine with air cooling. The trend of water cooling was big in the past, but air coolers are now just as efficient and way easier to maintain long-term. Definitely a solid choice!
For sure! I had fun with water cooling, but it can be a lot of work and quite risky if something goes wrong. I've learned that sometimes simplicity is key!
Thanks for the suggestions! I'll definitely take a look at that.