Hey everyone! I'm venturing into the world of PC building for the first time and I've curated a list of parts for a budget build around $2500. My main uses will be gaming, programming, and 3D modeling with Blender and Fusion 360. I've checked compatibility on PCPartPicker and everything looks good, but I'm open to suggestions or changes if you have any. I currently have peripherals and just want to upgrade from my old Alienware Aurora R9 which has seen better days!
Here's my part list: [PCPartPicker Part List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/KK2n4p)
- **CPU**: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz 8-Core Processor - $350.00
- **CPU Cooler**: NZXT Kraken Elite 360 RGB - $279.99
- **Motherboard**: Gigabyte X870E AORUS ELITE WIFI7 - $299.47
- **Memory**: G.Skill Flare X5 32 GB DDR5-6000 - $81.99
- **Storage**: Samsung 990 Pro 2 TB NVME - $149.99
- **Video Card**: ASRock Taichi OC Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB - $849.99
- **Case**: Lian Li O11 VISION COMPACT - $124.99
- **Power Supply**: be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 850 W - $129.90
- **Operating System**: Microsoft Windows 11 Home Retail - $129.99
Total: $2396.31. Any thoughts or recommendations?
3 Answers
That cooler seems overpriced. You might want to check out the Phantom Spirit Evo instead. Also, consider going with a B850 motherboard—avoid Asrock models for the Ryzen X3D. And CL30 RAM would be a better bet too!
Good suggestion! I actually switched to a B850 AORUS motherboard and changed to CL30 RAM. I hope it works better!
You can definitely get better value for your money! If you're working with Blender, I'd strongly recommend NVIDIA GPUs—they outperform AMD in rendering tasks. The 9070 XT might be too pricey compared to the 5070 Ti which offers better performance overall. Also, your cooler is not giving you any cooling edge over cheaper alternatives.
Honestly, there's a lot more you can do for the same budget! The case lacks fans, which means airflow might be an issue. I suggest upgrading to a 9800X3D for gaming and also doubling your RAM to 64GB. Plus, consider switching to a less expensive NVMe drive that's still fast. Trust me, you'll get a better overall setup! Someone even posted an alternative build that stayed under budget but outperformed yours.
Definitely check out that post! There are some great alternatives to your current selection.
Or try Aqua Elite V3 or Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro for cheaper alternatives. They perform just as well, if not better! And I agree, the X870E motherboard might be overkill for your needs unless you’re planning some heavy expansion.