Hey everyone! I'm putting together my first PC in years and would love a sanity check on its compatibility and overall value, especially considering the current RAM situation in Europe.
**My Main Goals:**
1. Coding (like using Cursor or IDEs), and I might do some streaming too.
2. Gaming at 1080p/144Hz for starters, with plans to upgrade my monitor later.
3. Running some AI/compute workloads, but nothing crazy at a data center level.
### Here's What I'm Planning to Use and Their Prices (in Italy/EU):
- **CPU:** AMD Ryzen 7 9700X — €300
- **GPU:** Palit GeForce RTX 5070 Infinity 3 12GB — €545.90
- **Motherboard:** MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi — €174.99
- **RAM:** Kingston Fury Beast RGB 32GB (1x32GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 (EXPO) — €303 (going with a single stick for now due to the crazy DDR5 prices—planning to add another identical stick later)
- **Storage:** Samsung 990 PRO 1TB NVMe — €119.99
- **PSU:** Corsair RM850x (2024) ATX 3.1 / PCIe 5.1 — €129.40
- **Case:** Phanteks Eclipse G370A (high airflow) — €59.90
- **CPU Cooler:** be quiet! Pure Rock 2 Black — €44.99
**Total Cost:** ~€1,690
### My Questions:
1. Are there any compatibility issues I might have overlooked?
2. Is using 1x32GB DDR5 okay temporarily on AM5?
3. Does the Pure Rock 2 cool the 9700X well enough, or do I need a better cooler?
4. For competitive gaming at 1080p/144Hz, is this setup overkill or just right?
I'd appreciate any feedback, especially from others who are dealing with the current RAM market madness!
2 Answers
The Pure Rock 2 isn't the best cooler out there, especially for the price. I had to replace mine on my 5800X because it was quite loud under load. I'd recommend checking out options like the Thermalright Phantom Spirit or Peerless Assassin; they offer much better value.
As for the 1x32GB RAM, it’s perfectly fine to start with that. Just be aware that DDR5 prices can fluctuate, and manufacturers might change the specs of the RAM stick you get later, which could lead to some compatibility concerns down the line.
For 1080p gaming, your build seems to be on the higher side, but it should serve you well. Personally, I would push for 1440p in the long run. By the way, a 5060ti with 16GB might suit your gaming and AI needs better than the 5070, depending on how much VRAM you’ll need for your AI tasks.
For your AI tasks, 12GB of VRAM could be adequate if you're working with smaller models that don't require much memory. However, if you plan to run larger models, you might want to ensure you have more VRAM available. Also, check reviews on the Pure Rock 2 cooler because that may impact your CPU's performance as well.
Overall, your parts look solid, but I'd suggest considering at least 64GB of RAM in the long term for AI workloads. 32GB is really the bare minimum, and going for more might save you from potential stability issues if you upgrade later.
Totally hear you. Ideally, you'd want more RAM for running AI stuff efficiently, plus adding later down the line can lead to issues. Definitely better to think ahead with your setup.