I'm embarking on my first venture into building a home PC, and I feel a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of components and configurations available. I've done my research, but I'm looking for some solid resources to help narrow down my choices while adhering to my budget of around 2.5-3k AUD. The primary focus for this build will be 144hz 1440p gaming with good graphics for modern titles, as well as using it for CAD and general engineering applications. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
Wow, so many options! My advice is to start by clarifying your budget and goals, then come back and ask for help again! <3
You should definitely check out PCPartPicker; it’s an awesome site for finding parts within your budget. For your needs, I’d recommend a performance setup with the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, a 5070 Ti (if you can snag it at MSRP), 32GB of RAM, a 2TB SSD, and a B650 motherboard. This build should easily hit 144 FPS at 1440p in most modern titles. Just make sure to do your own research to tweak it to your needs! Oh, and keep an eye on deals at r/buildaPCsales!
Starting with PCPartPicker is wise! First, choose a motherboard (I like MSI and ASRock). This will help guide your choices for CPUs and GPUs. There's a lot of information out there; don’t get too overwhelmed! If you’re stuck between parts, just Google to see which one performs better for your needs. If you want a hands-off approach, try posting your requirements on r/buildapcforme—they’ll help you pick great parts based on your budget and use case.
Consider whether your engineering applications benefit from multiple CPU cores. Some programs can leverage lots of cores for simulations, while others are mostly single-threaded. If you don’t need many cores, focus on CPUs like the 7600X or 7800X3D as they should serve you well. Also, think about your RAM needs: is 32GB enough for CAD? If you find it limiting, you might consider going higher. For motherboards, look for B650 or B850 options around $250-$300 AUD. And remember, the cooling system doesn’t need to be fancy unless you want it to be!
Thanks for the insights! I do sometimes find 32GB limiting, especially for simulations, so I’ll need to explore that further.
Thanks for the advice! I did some math, and it looks like the build is coming in around 2k AUD. I’ll check out the subreddit you suggested too.