Hey everyone! I'm a 32-year-old game developer who's never actually built a PC before, so I'm reaching out for some advice. Despite my work in gaming, my hardware knowledge has been pretty poor. I've always used prebuilt systems and just upgraded based on what was new and affordable, usually focusing on GPUs. Recently, I won some hardware in a game development competition—a motherboard and CPU set—so I've decided it's time to build my own setup.
Here's what I won: an **ASUS TUF Gaming Z890-PLUS WiFi motherboard (LGA 1851)** and an **Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPU (20 cores, 5.5 GHz)**. I want to keep my total budget around **$1200** for the rest of the components while ensuring it can handle current games with all the visual settings maxed. I'm okay if it becomes less powerful in the upcoming years, as long as I don't have to upgrade too frequently.
So far, I've considered these additional parts:
- **Tower:** Fractal Design North ATX Mid Tower Case
- **CPU Cooler:** Noctua NH-D9L 46.44 CFM
- **PSU:** MSI MAG A850GL PCIE5
- **GPU:** I'm torn between:
- ASUS GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Prime - 16GB GDDR7 RAM
- Inno3D GeForce RTX 5070 Twin X2 - 12GB GDDR7 RAM
- **Storage:** Crucial P3 Plus 2TB, but possibly the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB if the cache is worth it
- **RAM:** Initially planned to use some salvaged RAM but realized I need DDR5 for compatibility.
I've attached a link to the parts list if that helps: [PCPartPicker List](https://dk.pcpartpicker.com/list/4sCPkf).
Are these parts decent choices? Which GPU would you recommend? Any feedback would be super helpful!
3 Answers
Out of those GPUs, the 5070 is definitely the better choice for outright performance. Just know that you shouldn't expect it to handle 4K gaming brilliantly for many years to come, but you should be good for regular 1080p/1440p gaming. And don’t forget to check reviews from channels like Gamers Nexus to help finalize your GPU choice!
You mentioned the Crucial P3 Plus; just a heads-up, it uses QLC flash, which isn’t the best for long-term durability. I'd opt for something with TLC flash like the Kioxia Exceria Plus or a WD Blue SSD instead. Otherwise, your parts list looks solid!
Definitely a great catch on the P3 Plus—durability is important!
You're definitely going to want a beefier cooler than the Noctua NH-D9L for your CPU. A Thermalright Peerless Assassin is a more cost-effective option that'll perform better. Also, trust me, don't skimp on RAM; you'll need DDR5 for that CPU and motherboard combo. Better to buy some new RAM rather than use your old DDR4! Those newer components can take full advantage of DDR5 speeds.
Good call on the RAM! I ended up needing new stuff too when I built my last PC; it's easy to overlook.
Yep, DDR4 won't work with that setup, so better to shop for DDR5 right away.
Thanks for the heads up! I had no idea about the flash types; I'll definitely look into those alternatives.