Hey everyone! I'm looking to upgrade my current PC, which is over 11 years old. I mainly use it for video editing and some gaming, with about 60-70% of my time spent on editing and the rest on gaming, watching streams, etc. My budget is around $2500.
I work a lot on a Mac Pro at my job, so I've gotten used to a certain level of performance. With a side gig coming in, I need to boost my setup since my work computer is pretty locked down. I mainly work with Premiere, After Effects, and Photoshop, often handling 4K videos, motion graphics, and multi-camera sequences.
I'd love your feedback on my proposed parts list and any suggestions to upgrade or downgrade components to stay within budget while keeping it future-proof. My aim is to have a smooth workflow and fast rendering, but also get into gaming when I can.
Here's the list I came up with: [PCPartPicker Part List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/mNJjkf)
4 Answers
I think 96 GB of RAM plus the 9950X is a bit much for your needs. If you plan on using local AI tasks for video editing in the future, consider downgrading to 64 GB of RAM and the 9900X. Also, keep an eye out for the 5070 Ti Super with 24 GB VRAM—it could be beneficial down the line!
Also, you might want to consider downgrading to the B650M motherboard. It supports AM5 but is cheaper! Just make sure it has enough power phases, ideally at least 12+2+1.
You could save quite a bit by cutting costs on the cooler, motherboard, RAM, and storage. Making these adjustments might allow you to switch to a 9950X3D instead. Check this build suggestion: [Cooler & Parts List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/pJ7kKq)
Is there a major performance difference between the 9950X and the 9950X3D for video editing? I've heard some conflicting opinions on this.
Everything you have looks good! You might save cash by going for a Thermalright Phantom Spirit cooler, which works well for most workloads, only getting noisy during heavy rendering. Just a heads up, this PC won’t be super future-proof—even if you upgrade to a 11950X later, the gains might not be significant. If you do a lot of 4K exports, though, those extra cores can be handy! One last tip: when buying Windows 11, go for the retail version—you can easily transfer it between builds.
With the 9900X, you could use a dual-tower air cooler like the PA 140, which would save you some money without sacrificing performance.