Hey everyone! I'm building a new PC primarily for gaming and some work-related tasks, like coding and RDP. I've decided to go with the AMD Ryzen 9 9800X3D instead of the 9950X3D because I've heard it runs cooler. Currently, I have an i9-9900K, RTX 2080 Super, and 32GB of DDR4 RAM. Here's what I plan to get:
- **CPU**: AMD Ryzen 9 9800X3D
- **GPU**: Reusing my 2080 Super while waiting for the 50 series to release (ideally the 5080 Super)
- **Cooler**: Noctua NH-D15 G2 LBC
- **Motherboard**: Asus ROG CROSSHAIR X870E HERO ATX AM5
- **RAM**: G.Skill DDR5-6000 65536MB (2x32GB) Flare X5 White CL28
- **SSD**: Samsung 990 Pro 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 (possibly 2)
- **PSU**: SeaSonic PRIME TX-1300 1300W 80+
- **Case**: Fractal Meshify 3 XL
I'm feeling like the motherboard and PSU may be a bit excessive for my setup. Could anyone suggest some alternatives to help me save a bit of cash without losing reliability or performance?
1 Answer
You might want to consider a more budget-friendly motherboard that fits your needs. A $200 B850 board should work well for typical gaming, and you won't see much difference in performance with the higher-end X870E board. For the PSU, a Montech Century II 850W for around $90 would be a solid choice, or you could grab the 1050W for just a bit more if you want some extra power.
Thanks for the tip on the PSU! What can you tell me about the differences between chipsets, especially regarding PCIe standards and RAM specs? Also, how crucial are the VRM lanes and amperage for someone who doesn't plan to overclock much?