I'm looking to build a productivity-focused PC with a budget of around $1,000, although I'm flexible. My main uses will be Blender, Unreal Engine 5, Unity 6, CAD, 3D printing, and software development; I don't game much. I have access to a Micro Center, and I want something that I can easily upgrade in the future. My current setup includes an R5 5600, a 6600XT, 16GB of RAM, dual M.2 drives (256GB and 500GB), an mATX motherboard, a Noctua cooler, an old 550W PSU, and a Lian Li case with a 270mm GPU limit. I'm open to either Intel or AMD CPUs and both NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, although I've heard NVIDIA is better for my applications. Thanks for any suggestions!
2 Answers
Honestly, if all you need is more RAM and a stronger CPU, you might not need a complete overhaul. Your current specs are decent. Upgrading the RAM and perhaps the GPU could be enough to future-proof your system without breaking the bank. But hey, if you want to go all out, no judgment here! 😄
You should definitely check out the AM5 bundles at Micro Center. They have some fantastic deals right now! Depending on your budget, you can snag a 9950X3D, an X870 motherboard, and 32GB of DDR5 RAM for around $850. Pairing that with a 5070 or 5070 Ti would give you a powerful setup that should handle all your tasks really well.
I've been considering that too, but once I looked into adding RAM and upgrading the GPU and PSU, the costs were getting close to building a new machine entirely. It might make more sense to just start fresh for a slight increase in budget.