Hey everyone! I'm looking to upgrade my ~6-year-old Ryzen 5 3600 and 1660 Ti setup that's been struggling recently. I'm aiming for near top-tier performance without breaking the bank, especially since I spend a lot of time on CPU-heavy simulation games, VR, and dabble in game development. I'm pretty set on the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D for the CPU, but I'm flexible with the rest of my build.
I've got a total budget of around $2500, but I'd like to optimize where I can. I'm looking to see if there are any fat to trim, cheaper upgrades for better performance, or issues in my current build that I might have overlooked. Here's what I've got planned so far:
* **CPU**: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D - $562
* **CPU Cooler**: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE - $35.90
* **Motherboard**: MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX - $230.84
* **Memory**: Silicon Power XPOWER Zenith Gaming 32 GB DDR5-6000 - $84.97
* **Storage**: 2x Western Digital Black SN770 2TB NVME - $124.99 each
* **Video Card**: MSI VENTUS 3X OC GeForce RTX 5070 Ti - $899.99
* **Case**: Corsair FRAME 4000D - $94.99
* **Power Supply**: Corsair RM750x SHIFT 750W - $99.99
Total: $2258.66
I'd appreciate any feedback or suggestions! You can check my full part list [here](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/zfdBWc).
4 Answers
Your build looks solid! I upgraded from an i7-8700K to a 9300X3D with the 5070 Ti as well. Just a heads up, I did have to update the BIOS initially, but everything’s been running smoothly since. You’ll love the performance!
You can save enough to get a 5080 if you’re patient. I’d recommend swapping to the 7800X3D instead of the 9800 and picking a cheaper motherboard. You might be able to use a 2.5” SSD for a secondary drive instead of another M.2, too!
I noticed that the 9800X3D is currently way over its usual price. If you're okay with it, I’d suggest going for the 7800X3D instead. It’s nearly as powerful, and you'll save a decent chunk of change. Plus, consider cheaper options for the motherboard and case to maximize airflow and lower costs. Your current setup has no fans in the case, so switching to something like the Corsair FRAME 4000D RS could help. Finally, think about a single larger SSD instead of two smaller ones; it could simplify things and save you cash too!
Thanks for the suggestions! If I find the 9800X3D for around $480, do you think it's worth it? Also, should I aim for a more powerful PSU, or is my selection fine?
Have you considered reusing parts from your old system? For example, keeping your current power supply or storage could trim costs significantly. As for the RAM, I've heard good things about Silicon Power, but if you're looking for something more well-known, I'd suggest checking reviews and going for a brand with a solid reputation.
I’m keeping my old setup intact for now, but thanks! What RAM brands do you recommend?
Silicon Power is actually pretty reputable! They've been around for a while.
I think sticking to the 750W is fine, but if you can stretch to an 850W for good measure, it’ll help with noise levels and give you more headroom.