I'm venturing into the world of PC building after being a laptop user for ages! I would love some feedback on my parts list, especially from those who have been down this road before. My budget is capped at $2.5k, but I'm aiming to stay below $2.3k if possible. I'd prefer to buy all components from Amazon for convenience. My main uses will be heavy Photoshop work, RAW editing in Lightroom, audio engineering with Ableton, and of course, some gaming. I'm also thinking about future upgrades, which is why I opted for a larger case. Looking forward to hearing your insights! Here's what I've got so far: [PCPartPicker Part List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/t6YFh7)
2 Answers
This build looks solid overall! While the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro cooler is more than you truly need for the Ryzen 7 7700X, having extra cooling isn't going to hurt. However, you might reconsider the fan hub; unless you're set on it for cable management, you can connect all your fans directly to the motherboard instead. If aesthetics are your priority, then go for it!
Hey! Have you considered going for the Ryzen 9 9900X instead? It can provide better performance for heavy applications like Photoshop and audio editing. Plus, it fits within your budget. Check out this alternative parts list I put together if you're curious: [PCPartPicker Part List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/yDm9Lc)
Is that what you recommend as a more powerful option? Seems interesting! I'll look into it.
Thanks for the feedback! I get that the cooler is overkill, but I want to keep the option open for upgrades down the road. The fan hub is mostly for keeping the cables tidy and adding some flair.