Assisting a friend in setting up their ideal computer feels overwhelming.
Assisting a friend in setting up their ideal computer feels overwhelming.
In short, a friend of mine has recently acquired a substantial sum of money and is seeking my assistance in assembling their ideal PC. The challenge lies in my limited expertise beyond basic knowledge and the PC selection filter, combined with a mid-range enthusiast's perspective, making it difficult to suggest a high-end build without a significant investment.
I therefore sought advice online.
Approximate time of purchase: ASAP (prices for RAM are rising)
Budget range: uncertain (they’ve kept their actual funds somewhat vague, but they’ve managed builds exceeding $3000)
Primary uses from most to least important: Video editing, art, gaming, with the ability to handle all three fairly well
Monitor needed: Yes
Upgrades planned: Full build—CPU, GPU, RAM, MOBO, PSU, case and accessories
Operating system: Not required
Preferred retailers: Newegg, Amazon
Location details: Private for privacy; all transactions will be conducted online
Parts preferences: AMD for CPU and GPU, but open to other GPUs (though I find the 600W models problematic)
Overclocking: No
Multiple GPUs: Possibly; uncertain whether it would meet their requirements
Monitor resolution: Likely upgrade to 1440p, not exceeding 2k
Extra notes: My friend is very fond of the Lian Li MicoATX case and generally prefers compact form factors. A MicroATX model with wood paneling would be ideal, though not mandatory. They are also hesitant about water cooling due to concerns over warranties and anxiety. Most importantly, they just need a PC that fits their lifestyle—covering video editing, gaming, and art—and will remain functional for years.
System Priorities from Highest to Lowest: Video Editing, Art, Gaming, though it can handle all three fairly well.
Consider adding the app names that will be used when taxing the system.
Recommended purchasing sites for components: Newegg, Amazon
It seems you're based in the USA; you might want to check this;
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 4.7 GHz 8-Core Processor
($439.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 77 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
($89.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI MAG B850M MORTAR WIFI Micro ATX AM5 Motherboard
($209.99 @ MSI)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory
($441.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial T500 500 GB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD
($104.99 @ B&H)
Storage: Crucial T705 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 5.0 X4 NVME SSD
($259.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB Video Card
($699.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Phanteks XT M3 MicroATX Mid Tower Case
($69.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: MSI MAG A750GL PCIE5 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX
($87.99 @ Amazon)
Overall Cost: $2404.90
Includes shipping, taxes, and available discounts
Created by
PCPartPicker
2025-12-06 15:19 EST-0500
If the focus was solely on gaming, AMD would be a better choice; however, for both work and gaming scenarios, I prefer Intel CPUs and Nvidia GPUs. It’s straightforward to upgrade to an AMD motherboard and CPU if needed.
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 265K 3.9 GHz 20-Core Processor
($259.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Royal Pretor 130 81.88 CFM
($53.00 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX LGA1851
($229.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 96 GB (2 x 48 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36
($849.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 990 Pro w/Heatsink 4 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME
($320.33 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PNY OC GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 16 GB
($749.99 @ Best Buy)
Case: Lian Li LANCOOL 217 ATX Mid Tower
($119.89 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: NZXT C850 (2024) 850 W 80+ Gold Certified
($114.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $2698.17
Costs encompass shipping, taxes, and any available discounts.
Generated by PCPartPicker
2025-12-06 19:46 EST-0500
It provides a significant boost, nearly double what is required.
This platform enables you to incorporate an additional M.2 drive later on, preserving your PCIe lane allocation. PCPartPicker Part List CPU: *AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 4.7 GHz 8-Core Processor ($439.99 @ Amazon) CPU Cooler: *Thermalright Royal Pretor 130 81.88 CFM CPU Cooler ($53.00 @ Amazon) Motherboard: *MSI MAG X670E TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard ($234.99 @ Amazon) Memory: *G.Skill Flare X5 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory ($669.99 @ Newegg) Storage: *MSI SPATIUM M480 PRO 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($179.99 @ Newegg) Video Card: *Asus PRIME GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 16 GB Video Card ($749.99 @ B&H) Case: *Lian Li LANCOOL 217 ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.89 @ Amazon) Power Supply: *ASRock Steel Legend SL-850G 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($89.99 @ Newegg) Monitor: *AOC Agon PRO AG276QZD2 26.7" 2560 x 1440 240 Hz Monitor ($499.99 @ Amazon) Cost Summary: $3037.82 Included costs cover shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts *Selected parts based on predefined parameters* Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-12-06 21:47 EST-0500 https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-X670E-TOMAHAWK-WIFI https://www.msi.com/Storage/SPATIUM-M480...0-NVMe-M.2 https://www.asus.com/us/motherboards-com...070ti-16g/ https://www.asrock.com/Power-Supply/Stee...d/SL-850G/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/...as...iew/all/1/ LANCOOL 217 - LIAN LI offers premium PC cases | Computer Cases Timeless Elegance, Endless Performance The LANCOOL 217 blends cutting-edge cooling solutions with authentic wood details. It includes five built-in fans for efficient airflow from the start. The adaptable PSU setup simplifies cable organization...