Hey everyone! I'm finally ready to upgrade my ancient 6-year-old PC and I'm set on using a budget of $3000. This upgrade is mainly for gaming, and I want to prioritize quality components that can last me at least another 5 years without needing another upgrade. I've created a preliminary parts list on PCPartPicker and I'd love your insights since I've fallen behind on the best budget-to-performance choices. I'm not into flashy RGB stuff; I just want a build that stays cool and quiet while performing well. Any advice or critiques would be super helpful!
4 Answers
A 1000W power supply should be more than enough for the 5080. Also, you shouldn’t spend too much on Windows; prices can drop significantly elsewhere.
If you can, try to grab the CPU in a bundle from Micro Center for potential savings. Overall, your build looks solid and should serve you well!
You don’t have to shell out $120 for Windows. You can find a key for around $30. Additionally, you might want to consider a $40 air cooler instead of a liquid one, and use those savings to upgrade to a 9800X3D with more RAM.
You might want to check a slightly upgraded model instead of the 5080 for the same price; it typically comes with a better CPU, motherboard, and faster RAM. Also consider a better airflow case to keep things cool and running efficiently.
Just a heads up—if you go that route, make sure to get the Retail version, not the OEM.