Hey everyone! I'm planning to build my first PC with a budget of around £1500, focusing mainly on gaming. I don't need a monitor, and I want something that'll last a few years. I've put together a list of parts based on advice from others, but I'm quite new to this whole thing, so I'd really appreciate any suggestions or feedback. There's also a compatibility warning between the motherboard and CPU I'm using—should I be concerned about that? Here's my build list if you want to check it out: [Link to build list](https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/f48Wsp). Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
Your build looks solid and should perform well for your gaming needs!
Here are a few changes I suggest:
- Upgrade your motherboard for better quality since yours may not be reliable with high-end parts.
- Consider slightly cheaper RAM.
- Look for a better NVMe SSD that’s still reasonably priced.
- A micro ATX case might fit better with your motherboard and come with additional fan support. Just check for front audio jacks, as some cases skip that.
- For the power supply, go for one with PCIe 5.1 cables to avoid any fire hazards! Here’s a motherboard I suggest: [Link to improved mobo](https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/R9wmP6/asus-tuf-gaming-b650m-plus-micro-atx-am5-motherboard-tuf-gaming-b650m-plus). You'll be fine BIOS-wise as modern motherboards have BIOS flashback features!
Just a heads up, the UD90 SSD you're looking at uses QLC flash, which isn't as durable and tends to slow down over time. I'd recommend upgrading to a TLC SSD like the Kioxia Exceria Plus G3 or something from the WD Blue series instead. Also, if your motherboard is new, it might already have an updated BIOS, but you can update it without the CPU if needed. Just something to keep in mind!
Thanks for the info! I chose the UD90 mainly for the price, but the TLC options you mentioned look affordable too.
Thanks for the detailed feedback! I chose that motherboard mostly due to cost, but I definitely see the value in a better quality one. Better safe than sorry with the PSU too.