I'm building a new gaming PC and I've been hearing a lot of advice like 'buy only what you need,' but I'm really unsure about what that means for me. My setup will include an AM5 chipset with specific components: 2x16 DDR5-6000 CL30 RAM, a 2TB M.2 SSD (PCIE 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2), a 7800X3D or 9800X3D CPU, probably a Phantom Spirit cooler, and either a 5070Ti or 9070XT GPU with an 850W or 1000W power supply. I want to ensure I pick a motherboard that delivers good gaming performance without going overboard on features I won't use, leading to unnecessary costs. I'm particularly confused about what quality VRM is needed for power delivery, what ports are essential, how many M.2 slots I should aim for, what kind of heatsinks I need, and what PCIe slots are required for my GPU. Any advice or tips on future-proofing for upgrades would also be appreciated!
4 Answers
Generally, the quality of a motherboard doesn't drastically affect gaming performance, especially as most CPUs won't be fully loaded during gaming. The B650 chipset should work great with your planned components. Just keep an eye on RAM speeds and ensure PCIe slots match your GPU requirements—using outdated slots can throttle performance if you're going for the latest GPUs.
To keep it simple: look for VRMs that can handle high-end CPUs without overheating, check how many ports you really need, and aim for at least two NVMe slots. Unless you're transferring huge files regularly, PCIe 5.0 drives aren't a must-have. Also, you usually only need one PCIe slot for your GPU unless you want more for expansion down the line. Most modern boards are designed to support overclocking except for some basic models, so you should be able to overclock your CPU if you're using the right chipset. For future-proofing, buying a solid board now will likely serve you well for upgrades later!
Thanks for hitting all those points! I was thinking of putting everything on one 2TB drive, but if that's not the best approach, I'll consider getting a separate one for the OS.
Instead of just focusing on what you think you need, consider your budget while keeping expandability in mind. Aim for at least three PCI-e slots and plenty of USB ports to accommodate future devices!
Thanks for the insight! I’ll ensure those features are included.
I'd suggest getting a B650 or B850 motherboard with WiFi—those are around $150 and should cover your needs well. The rest of your build should run smoothly on that!
Do I need WiFi if I’m using an ethernet cable? Is it worth the extra cost?
Thanks for clarifying! I want to make sure I don't limit my RAM speed.