I'm looking to build my first PC and I could use some help picking out a motherboard and RAM. I just bought an RTX 5070 (got a nice deal) and I'm thinking about pairing it with an AMD Ryzen 7 7700X since it's budget-friendly and won't bottleneck my GPU too much. I know everyone recommends the 7800X3D, but it's quite a bit pricier and I'm not sure I'd notice a major difference for my needs. I've been eyeing a few bundles from Canada Computers, and here are my options:
- Asus Tuf B650M-E with T-Force DDR5 6000MHz ($669 CAD)
- Asus Rog Strix B650-A with Corsair DDR5 6000MHz ($730 CAD)
- MSI B650 Gaming Plus with T-Force DDR5 6000MHz ($729 CAD)
I'm looking to eventually play most games at midrange 1440p. Aesthetics don't matter much to me, and anything will be an upgrade from my current 2060 and 3700X setup. I also have two monitors and a mix of peripherals (wired keyboard, wireless mouse, mic, and speakers). Any advice would be really appreciated!
2 Answers
Your CPU won't limit you at 1440p, so you could even go for a more budget-friendly option like the Ryzen 5 7600X. It’ll handle gaming just fine! I still think the ASUS Strix bundle is the best among what you listed because of its efficient cooling and Gen5 M.2 slots.
I'd recommend going with the ASUS ROG Strix B650-A along with the Corsair DDR5 6000MHz RAM. It’s a solid choice that offers great performance and features that will last you for a while. Plus, the VRMs are good for handling your CPU and GPU without breaking a sweat!
Thanks a lot for the suggestion! Can you explain what's so great about the ROG Strix? I want to learn more about what makes it stand out.
If you're willing to spend a bit more, the B650E-F Gaming is awesome too. It has support for PCIe 5.0 x16, but check it comes with the drivers you need since mine didn’t, which was a hassle.
That helps a lot, thanks! I’ll definitely think about the Ryzen 5 if I need to save some cash.