I'm putting together my first gaming PC and want to keep the total under $2,000. I can get several components at discounted prices through a bundle deal. The planned parts are:
CPU: Ryzen 5 7600X — $160
Motherboard: ASUS TUF Gaming B650E-Plus — $110
Cooler: Cooler Master MasterLiquid 240 — free with the deal
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 32GB DDR5 — $440
Storage: Silicon Power 1TB SSD — $160
GPU: Radeon RX 9070 — $650
Case: Montech TG3 ATX mid-tower — $65
PSU: Super Flower Zillion FG Gold 850W — $70
The estimated total is about $1,655 before tax. I plan to play at 1440p across a wide range of games, including demanding titles such as Baldur's Gate 3, Alan Wake 2, and Elden Ring. I'm hoping to average roughly 120–150 FPS on reasonable settings. Is that expectation realistic, and are all of these parts compatible? Also, is 32GB of DDR5 worthwhile for this build, and are there any components I should change?
2 Answers
I’d take a closer look at the memory and SSD prices. $440 for 32GB of DDR5 is extremely high, and $160 for a 1TB SSD may also be more than necessary unless those prices include other components or special bundle terms. You can usually find a quality 32GB DDR5-6000 kit for much less and put the savings toward other parts.
The power supply is the part I’d reconsider. Wattage alone doesn’t determine quality, and an 850W unit should come from a reputable, well-reviewed platform with strong protections and good transient handling. Spending a little more on a higher-tier Gold-rated PSU is worthwhile, especially with a powerful graphics card. At 1440p, the RX 9070 should perform very well, but 120–150 FPS in every demanding game won’t be guaranteed; Alan Wake 2 and similar titles may require upscaling or reduced settings, while less demanding games should get much closer to that target.
What makes one PSU better than another besides the wattage? I haven’t researched power supplies much and mainly chose this one because it was included in a guide.