Choose a Ryzen processor that complements your GTX 1080 graphics card.
Choose a Ryzen processor that complements your GTX 1080 graphics card.
During this Thanksgiving, my cousin and I decided to enjoy LEGO Star Wars and Gran Turismo on our PS2 just for fun. After about an hour of disappointing graphics, we figured it was time to switch to a gaming PC. This idea sparked the thought of setting up a small MITX rig near my TV for similar experiences later. My goal is to have a system powerful enough to handle demanding games in ultra 4K at 60 frames per second. I’m not planning to run heavy titles like Witcher 3 or Skyrim mods, just racing games such as Forza Horizon 4 and Project Cars 2. I’m considering a GTX 1080 because it’s affordable now and should last for years. Since I haven’t built a PC since the Ryzen era, I’m unsure which CPU would pair well with the graphics card. I appreciate any advice you can offer! Thanks!
PCPartPicker list shows various components at different prices. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600X processor costs $199.99 and the MSI B450 TOMAHAWK MAX ATX AM4 motherboard is $114.99. Memory includes G.Skill Trident Z Neo 16 GB DDR4-3600 at $94.99. Storage options range from ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro to Hitachi Ultrastar 2 TB at $69.98. The case mentioned is KOLINK OBSERVATORY RGB ATX Mid Tower at $66.75, and the power supply is Corsair CXM 550 W with an 80+ Bronze certification for $44.99. Newegg prices include shipping and taxes, with a total of $626.64 after rebates. The review notes better cooling options for this CPU compared to others, and confirms no update needed for the motherboard's BIOS.
I use my GTX 1080 with a Ryzen 5 3600X and am really satisfied with the results. I can confirm Forza Horizon 4 runs smoothly at 1080p Ultra around 80-100 FPS. The 2700X is still a solid option, though the 3600X generally outperforms it in single-core tasks. This setup makes sense as a balanced path, though I wouldn’t go that far with a hard drive using a long pole. Some refurbished components are reliable, but hard drives are less common in this category. I’m pretty sure Amazon doesn’t have the right facilities—clean rooms and skilled technicians aren’t available for serious repairs, so they likely just check for visible issues before sending parts out.
I'm not concerned about storage space; I have some SSDs available to use. I'm trying to decide which CPU to purchase. This offer is quite interesting and comes with a free game. Comparing benchmarks of the 2700X with a 1080 versus an i7-8700K really confirms it. It offers a bit fewer frames for half the cost—hard to deny. I'll choose the 2700X. Appreciate the advice!