I'm in the process of building a PC and have almost all the components ready except for the GPU. I spotted a bundle at Micro Center for $350 (which totals $377 with tax) that includes an AMD Ryzen 5 7600x CPU, a 16GB DDR5-6000 RAM stick, and an ASUS B650E Max motherboard. I've managed to get my SSD, case, and CPU from Amazon for $270 (Crucial P310 1TB SSD, Corsair 4000D case, and Thermalright Peerless Assassin cooler). I initially wanted to purchase the RX 7800 XT from Amazon, but they can't deliver it to my address. Now, I'm searching for a good alternative GPU that costs $600 or less. By the way, I've read that this CPU performs better with two RAM sticks instead of just one due to its dual channel capability.
2 Answers
You might want to consider GPUs like the RTX 4070, RTX 5060 Ti, or RX 9060 XT as solid alternatives that can match or even beat the RX 7800 XT. If you're looking at used options, a GeForce RTX 3080 could also be a good pick if you can find it.
For a budget under $600, the RTX 5070 or RX 9070 are fantastic choices. The RX 9070 typically performs better, having more VRAM and slightly better overall performance. However, if you're looking to save some cash, the RTX 5070 can often be found at a cheaper price compared to the RX 9070. Also, just a heads-up, getting two sticks of RAM is better for your setup!
I think the RX 9070 sounds good! Quick question though: Can I mix RAM types? If I can't find two 8GB DDR5 sticks, would it be okay to use a DDR4 stick?