Hey everyone! I'm about to buy my first PC, and I have to admit, I'm totally new to this whole thing. After being a Mac user for years, I'm pretty frustrated with missing out on game releases that aren't available on the platform. I'm looking for guidance to build or purchase a solid PC that can handle my work as a filmmaker and graphic designer. Specifically, I need something capable of running high-resolution edits in software like DaVinci Resolve, After Effects, Photoshop, and Illustrator, and I also want it to perform well for gaming. I mostly play on my PS5, but it would be awesome if my PC could run most modern games smoothly at high settings.
Here's what I'm considering:
* This will be a new build.
* I don't have any existing parts or monitors to reuse.
* I want the PC for gaming as well as graphic design and editing.
* I'm located in Canada, Quebec, with access to retailers like BestBuy.
* It would be nice to have some monitor suggestions as well.
* My budget is under 4K if possible.
* I'd prefer a WiFi connection.
4 Answers
Here's a suggestion that strikes a balance between productivity and gaming capabilities. While the AMD X3D chips are great for gaming, they can struggle a bit with editing tasks, so just keep that in mind. I put together a [PCPartPicker list](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/JdWHsp) that includes a decent 2K monitor; you could always go for a 4K later if you feel like it!
Do you have any preferences for either Intel or AMD processors, or for Nvidia vs. AMD graphics cards? Also, how much do aesthetics matter to you in your build?
Honestly, I don’t have strong preferences since I’m not super informed on the differences. And as for looks, I’m okay with my PC just being functional. If it can look good too, awesome, but it’s not something I’m stressing over.
For your needs, I'd recommend checking out this Ryzen 9 9900X3D bundle for around $1500. It combines great performance for both gaming and productivity with 64GB of RAM. You might want to consider swapping one of the SSDs for a larger HDD to save some money too. The RTX 5070 Ti will easily handle both your work and gaming requirements. Here's a [PCPartPicker list](https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/8XswKq) for your consideration!
Thanks for the suggestions! I’ll definitely check that out.
Have you checked out r/buildapcforme? They have tons of resources for budget PC builds and more. Also, Puget Systems publishes some solid recommendations for DaVinci Resolve and other software, which might help you decide on the best components for your needs. Here’s a link to their [Resolve setup recommendations](https://www.pugetsystems.com/solutions/video-editing-workstations/davinci-resolve/hardware-recommendations/) if you want to dive deeper.
I actually posted the same question over there as well! Thanks for the tip!
Yeah, that’s a known issue with the Zen 4 series. The new layer of the 3D cache does help, but I still prefer to err on the side of caution when it comes to editing.