I bought these components about three or four years ago with the intention of building a gaming PC, but a major life event interrupted those plans. The parts have never been opened or used, though they have been sitting in storage collecting dust. I'm now trying to decide whether it's worth completing the build or selling everything.
I used to know the basics of PC building, but I'm rusty now. I'm also unsure whether these parts are still capable of running modern games smoothly or whether they may have developed problems from sitting unused. The only major component I'm missing is a motherboard. If finishing the build makes sense, I'd appreciate recommendations for a compatible board.
The parts I currently have are:
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix liquid cooler
- Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 32 GB
- Samsung 970 Evo Plus 1 TB
- Seagate BarraCuda Compute 2 TB
- NVIDIA Founders Edition GeForce RTX 3070
- Corsair iCUE 4000X RGB ATX Mid Tower case
- Corsair RM850x 850 W 80+ Gold fully modular power supply
4 Answers
You’re only missing the motherboard, so I’d finish the build. A B550 board is the straightforward match for the Ryzen 5 5600X, and something like the MSI B550 Gaming WiFi has good features without costing too much. Just check whether the board’s BIOS supports the 5600X, although most newer stock should already be updated.
I’d personally consider replacing the liquid cooler with a quality air cooler, such as a Thermalright Peerless Assassin-style model. The 5600X doesn’t need an expensive cooler, and an air cooler is simpler and usually more dependable after long-term storage. The existing cooler may still work, but it’s worth checking carefully before trusting it.
That hardware is still perfectly capable for gaming, especially at 1080p or 1440p. It won’t be ideal for every brand-new game at maximum settings on a 4K monitor, but the 5600X and RTX 3070 are a solid combination. If money is tight or you no longer want the project, selling is reasonable, but there’s no performance-related reason you have to abandon the build.
A refurbished B550 motherboard could be a good way to keep the cost down. Before installing everything, inspect the parts for corrosion or dust, test the power supply if possible, and make sure the motherboard has the right mounting and connector support. Since the liquid cooler has been stored for years, keep an eye out for leaks or pump noise once it’s running.
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