Build AdviceBuilding my own PC
Build AdviceBuilding my own PC
Noticing the rapid increase in RAM prices, I realized it’s time to stop being lazy and start building quickly. My goal is to secure a Ryzen 7 9800x3d and choose between the 5070ti or 5080 GPU. Which one would perform better here? Are there other GPU options worth considering? As someone new to PC building, I’m still figuring out the right balance. For a high-end system like this, I’d definitely aim for 32GB of DDR5 RAM and what specifications should I look for?
The purpose of the PC is mainly focused on gaming, though some might think it's just about gaming. I usually pick a motherboard first, as it affects which RAM works best. A 32 GB DDR 5 setup is standard, but there are many options available. It helps to choose a motherboard before deciding on RAM. Most boards have a QVL that lists compatible RAM, though missing from the list isn't always a problem. I also consider getting a case early in the process. You seem to have a good budget—what's the maximum you're planning?
RTX 5080 doesn’t offer good value, while the RX 9070XT performs better than the RTX 5070 TI.
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 4.7 GHz 8-Core Processor ($608.96 @ shopRBC)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 66.17 CFM ($52.34 @ Amazon Canada)
Motherboard: MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI ATX AM5 ($327.24 @ Vuugo)
Memory: Kingston FURY Beast RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 ($367.00 @ shopRBC)
Storage: Seagate FireCuda 530R 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME ($234.99 @ Best Buy Canada)
Video Card: Asus PRIME OC Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB ($879.99 @ Best Buy Canada)
Case: Montech AIR 903 BASE ATX Mid Tower ($64.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Power Supply: Super Flower Leadex III Gold UP 850 W (80+ Gold Certified, Fully Modular ATX) ($146.41 @ Vuugo)
Total: $2681.92
Includes shipping, taxes, and available discounts
Generated by PCPartPicker
2025-12-12 09:09 EST-0500
Sorry for missing proper details earlier. The place is Canada, near Toronto. The computer will mainly be used for gaming, with a bit of work too, but the main reason for buying it is gaming. I really don’t know what budget would work, so don’t let cost stop me from suggesting options. As long as the GPU isn’t over 2100 and RAM isn’t too expensive, it should be okay.
PCPartPicker List of Components
CPU:
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 4.7 GHz 8-Core Processor
($608.96 @ shopRBC)
CPU Cooler:
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler
($59.00 @ Amazon Canada)
Motherboard:
Gigabyte B850 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ATX AM5 Motherboard
($290.99 @ PC-Canada)
Memory:
Kingston FURY Beast RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory
($367.00 @ shopRBC)
Storage:
SanDisk WD Blue SN5100 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive
($217.28 @ Amazon Canada)
Video Card:
ASRock Challenger Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB Video Card
($879.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Case:
Fractal Design Meshify 3 ATX Mid Tower Case
($159.99 @ Vuugo)
Power Supply:
Montech CENTURY II 1050 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
($129.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Overall Cost:
$2713.20
Includes shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts
Created by
PCPartPicker
2025-12-12 08:45 EST-0500
Don't opt for the RTX5080, choose the RTX5070Ti or RX 9070XT instead. I’d likely pick the 5070Ti since I really enjoy DLSS and AMD hasn’t convinced me with FSR4 yet. In terms of features, it still has some gaps. Overall performance-wise, the RX9070XT performs well, even with ray tracing. Still, I might stick with Nvidia if an upgrade is necessary. However, that could change with RDNA5... we’ll find out.
For RAM, yes, I’d go for 32GB. There’s no need for 64GB in gaming, particularly given current pricing. Some titles recommend and benefit from 32GB now. But DDR5 kits with great timings are already quite pricey. It might make sense to invest in a RAM kit within that range; you could potentially get a bit more memory latency, but in most cases it shouldn’t be noticeable during regular gaming.
Would you prefer to choose the 5080 instead? I understand your concern about favoring NVIDIA cards because of DLSS, and I share that view. I’d be keen to have an NVIDIA GPU for this build, but it raises the question of whether the 5070ti, 5070 or 5080 would work best. I don’t want to limit my options with the 9800x3d, and I’m still unsure which model can properly support it. After that decision, I’ll focus on the motherboard, case and RAM before picking the GPU.
Either GPU works just fine. The key issue with the 5080 is its expensive price. The 5070ti comes close but at a significantly lower cost. If you were to invest in a 9800x3d, I wouldn’t settle for anything less than the 5070ti from Nvidia. For AMD options, the 9070xt matches the 5070ti but at a much lower price. The 5080 isn’t terrible, but when it’s $250 or more above the 5070ti with only a 15-20% performance boost, many people prefer the 5070ti and 9070xt.