I'm a beginner planning to build a gaming PC with a budget of about $2,000 CAD. I originally put together a parts list, but I'm not sure whether the components are good value or compatible. The build is mainly for gaming, and I already have a Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 memory kit that wasn't included in the list. I'd appreciate advice on which parts should be changed, especially the CPU, graphics card, storage, motherboard, case, and monitor. I'm also trying to understand whether keeping my existing DDR4 RAM is worthwhile.
3 Answers
The list isn’t terrible, but it’s built around older AM4 and DDR4 parts, so the value isn’t great for a new $2,000 CAD gaming PC. The Ryzen 7 5700X is also a weak choice at that price; a newer processor such as the Core i5-14600KF could offer considerably better performance for only a little more. The RX 7700 XT is another concern at around $600 CAD—look for a better-priced RX 7800 XT or a newer 16 GB graphics card instead. You can also save money with a less expensive case without affecting gaming performance. For a gaming-focused build, putting the savings toward a 1440p monitor makes more sense than buying a 1080p display.
Before choosing parts, decide what resolution and refresh rate you want. For this budget and gaming use, 1440p is the better target than 1080p. An entry-level SSD should load games almost as quickly as a premium model, so the expensive SSD is an easy place to save money and put the budget toward the GPU. Also remember that a 16 GB memory kit is usable, but 32 GB would provide more headroom for newer games and multitasking.
Since you already own 16 GB of DDR4 RAM, you can reuse it to reduce the cost, but it limits your platform choices. A newer DDR5 system would be more upgradeable, and 32 GB is increasingly preferable for modern gaming, so you may eventually want to replace the kit. If you keep the DDR4 memory, make sure the motherboard supports DDR4 and don’t pay extra for features you won’t use.
PCIe is the connection standard used by components such as graphics cards and some SSDs. PCIe 4.0 is faster than PCIe 3.0, but the difference usually isn’t noticeable in gaming, so the more important priorities are overall platform age, CPU performance, and graphics-card value.
The parts list didn’t show it properly, but I already have a Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB DDR4-3200 kit. Does keeping that memory change the recommendation?