Hi everyone! I'm planning to build a gaming PC for my 15-year-old daughter who's currently struggling with an older laptop. I've gathered a list of components based on recommendations from friends, and I'd love a second opinion on them. The budget is around $1500 to $1800. She mainly plays Valorant and Fortnite, and occasionally enjoys Roblox and Genshin Impact. While those games aren't super demanding, I want to ensure we have some future-proofing in place since I plan on upgrading her monitor to 1440p later this year. I'm aware that hardware prices can be volatile, so I understand the total might fluctuate. I'd really appreciate any feedback on the parts I've chosen or suggestions on possibly going for a prebuilt option from places like Amazon or Dell. Here's what I've got so far:
- **CPU:** AMD Ryzen 5 9600X 3.9 GHz 6-Core Processor - $194.99
- **CPU Cooler:** Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE ARGB 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler - $37.90
- **Motherboard:** Asus TUF GAMING B650E-E WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard - $169.99
- **Memory:** G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 - $355.00
- **Storage:** Western Digital WD_Black SN850X 2 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD - $329.00
- **Video Card:** ASRock Challenger OC Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB - $399.99
- **Case:** Lian Li Vector V100R ATX Mid Tower Case - $76.49
- **Power Supply:** MSI MAG A750GL PCIE5 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX - $104.99
**Total:** $1668.35. Thanks in advance for your help!
4 Answers
I have an AMD 9950X3D myself, but don’t rule out Intel for a budget build. Consider the Intel 245K, which is slightly faster than the 9600X. You can get a well-balanced setup with decent components for around $1534. If you want to push the performance further, the RTX 5070ti looks great for just over $1,800. This way, you’ll have a more future-proof system that plays smoothly for a couple of years.
Honestly, for games like Fortnite and Valorant, you could save some cash. Focusing on a stronger CPU and motherboard with a cheaper GPU may be a better route. This way, if she decides to play more GPU-intensive games later, you can just upgrade the graphics card without worrying about the rest of the build. The current components look good, though—she's going to be thrilled with the upgrade!
While the Ryzen 5 9600X is decent, you might want to look into the Intel 225F as a faster, cheaper alternative. It’s newer and still has solid performance, especially in gaming. Just something to consider before you finalize your choice!
This build looks really solid! If you have a Micro Center nearby, consider grabbing an AMD bundle - you could get a 7800x3d for around $650, which would enhance gaming performance significantly. Also, you might want to upgrade to a 1000W power supply for better longevity. If the budget allows, look into the 9070 XT for a significant performance boost. Just my two cents, but it might be worth stretching the budget a bit for longevity in 1440p gaming.
I was thinking along those lines, especially since those games aren’t very demanding. I just want to make sure there’s some room for upgrades as she grows into her gaming. Thanks for the advice!