Hey everyone! I'm in the process of finalizing parts for my gaming PC build. The total cost comes up to around $1500, and I'm mostly looking for casual gaming at medium to high settings on a standard monitor, probably 1080p. Here's the list I've put together:
- **CPU**: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
- **Cooler**: MSI MAG CORELIQUID A13
- **Thermal Paste**: Arctic Silver 5
- **Motherboard**: MSI PRO B850M-P WIFI Micro ATX
- **RAM**: Patriot Viper Elite 5 16GB DDR5-6000
- **Storage**: Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB NVMe SSD
- **GPU**: MSI VENTUS 2X PLUS OC GeForce RTX 5060 Ti
- **Case**: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mini Tower
- **Power Supply**: MSI MAG A750GL 750W
- **OS**: Microsoft Windows 11 Home
Also, I sometimes need to plug the PC into a TV for gaming, so if you have any tips on what to consider for that, let me know! Here are some specific questions I have:
1. Does this CPU and GPU combo work well together?
2. Will this motherboard hold me back in any significant way?
3. Do you think this GPU will handle casual gaming at medium-high settings until 2030?
4. If I go with DDR5-6000 RAM, will that limit me if I want to add more later?
5. I'm looking at a microATX case due to space considerations—any recommendations?
4 Answers
Regarding your case, just ensure that it has enough ventilation for your components. Sometimes, smaller cases can get pretty cramped, which might affect thermals. If you need specific recommendations, I can help find a microATX case that fits your budget and space!
If you're planning to hook up your PC to a TV, just keep in mind that you might need to adjust some settings to optimize for your TV display, particularly regarding resolution and refresh rate. Also, make sure your TV supports the settings you want for gaming to get the best experience. It sounds like you’re on the right path with your choices, and the microATX case should work as long as it has good airflow!
Your CPU and GPU seem well-matched for what you're aiming for; they shouldn't bottleneck each other too much. That said, the MSI PRO B850M motherboard you picked is a decent choice, but just keep an eye on potential limitations down the line regarding upgrade paths. As for the GPU, unless games drastically change how they run by 2030, it should hold up fine for casual gaming on medium to high settings, especially in 1080p. Switching to DDR5-6000 RAM means you'll likely need to stick with it for any future upgrades to maintain efficiency—so consider that down the line!
For your build, I'd recommend swapping out the Arctic Silver thermal paste for something like MX-4 or MX-6. Arctic Silver has been known to cause issues, plus there are just better options available now. Also, when it comes to your GPU budget, it's usually wise to allocate about 40% of your total budget to the graphics card. Instead of the RTX 5060 Ti, you might want to consider a card in the range of $600, like the upcoming 5070 or 9070, for a more balanced performance overall.
By the way, here's an alternate build that fits those principles.
Good call on the thermal paste! I didn’t realize there were better options out there. I'll definitely check out the MX-4.
Thanks for the suggestion! If you have a small form factor build that fits my budget, I’d love to see it!
That’s good to hear! And I appreciate the heads up about the RAM. I’ll keep that in mind.