Give this friend a $1200 gaming and work build to help them succeed.
Give this friend a $1200 gaming and work build to help them succeed.
Hello! I just finished assembling a build and got some helpful suggestions. I’m hoping to share some tips for a friend who will be buying the parts myself. He plans to use it for office tasks, gaming, and light video editing (just trimming clips). His requirements are:
- A powerful GPU/CPU combo within his budget (he prefers Intel or Nvidia)
- 32 GB of RAM
- A 500GB drive with a 1TB storage unit (given the current SSD prices, a 2TB option seems feasible)
- WiFi connectivity
- RGB lighting is nice but not essential; he prioritizes performance over looks
- Some games he liked in the past include Quake 2 and Unreal
- He wants a smooth 1440p gaming experience
- I’ll install Windows for him, no license needed
- I’ve looked at several builds and found this one: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/MwFbvj
It’s a bit over budget, but I think it could work. It should get him onto the latest 40th-gen cards and offer some future flexibility. I’m a bit worried about potential bottlenecks since I’m still getting comfortable with building PCs. I’d love your advice and any feedback you have. As long as the total stays under $1300, I think he’ll be ready to buy. Thanks for your help!
Computer will function excellently, but bottlenecking is often discussed too much due to concerns. CPU and GPU need to operate smoothly. Both are compatible well. However, you might consider spending an extra 20 on an Intel Core i5-13400 so you have Intel UHD Graphics 730 as a backup in case anything goes wrong later!
You're looking for a board featuring improved VRM components to avoid thermal throttling. Adding a 120mm rear exhaust fan can enhance airflow as well. Consider these options.
PC Part List:
CPU: Intel Core i5-13400F 2.5 GHz 10-Core Processor ($201.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Deepcool AK400 66.47 CFM ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B760M GAMING X AX DDR4 Micro ATX LGA1700 ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 ($57.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: ADATA Legend 800 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD ($79.98 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PNY VERTO GeForce RTX 4070 12 GB ($589.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Focus 2 ATX Mid Tower ($79.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: MSI MPG A650GF 650 W (80+ Gold Certified, Modular) ($89.99 @ B&H)
Fan: ARCTIC P12 56.3 CFM 120 mm ($9.99 @ Amazon)
Overall Cost: $1284.89 (includes shipping, taxes, and available discounts)
*Selected parts based on predefined criteria
Created by PCPartPicker
2023-08-12 12:03 EDT-0400
There isn’t any such concept as "bottlenecking."
If by that you’re referring to upgrading a CPU or graphics card reducing performance or FPS, a more fitting phrase would be "limiting factor."
That’s the point where increasing CPU or GPU becomes progressively less beneficial.
This setup seems well balanced.
You can proceed as planned.
My perspective:
I’d allocate an extra $20 for the i5-13400.
In case of a graphics card problem, built-in graphics would be a real advantage.
Additionally, integrated graphics offer fast synchronization:
Intel® Video Processing Library: Video Codecs
Enables media features across CPUs, GPUs, VPUs, and other accelerators with an updated Intel® Media SDK—a video-processing API for encoding and decoding.
www.intel.com
The laminar flow cooler included is excellent; you don’t need a separate aftermarket one.
You can reduce expenses slightly by choosing the $70 2tb Intel 670P M.2:
Intel 670p Series M.2 2280 2TB PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe 3D4 QLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) SSDPEKNU020TZX1 - Available at Newegg.com
Purchase the Intel 670p Series M.2 2280 2TB PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe 3D4 QLC SSD with quick delivery and excellent customer support. Once you’re in, go to Newegg!
www.newegg.com
Or opt for the $80 2tb Samsung 970 EVO Plus:
SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2 2280 2TB PCIe Internal SSD - Available at Newegg.com
Purchase the SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2 2280 2TB PCIe Gen 3.0 x4, NVMe 1.3 V-NAND SSD (MZ-V7S2T0B/AM) with fast shipping and top-rated service. Once you know, you’re set at Newegg!
www.newegg.com
Avoid obsessing over quick synthetic benchmarks.
In real-world scenarios, you won’t notice the difference.
These options fall short:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DKLA7w9eeA
Thank you all for your guidance! I've implemented a few minor adjustments to the original configuration. Updated to the i5-13400 as recommended. Also modified the board settings and replaced the SSD. Detailed build info here: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/kTRMpB
I recently assembled a gaming PC using an Asus Z790 Plus with a full-size ATX motherboard for roughly $230 on Amazon. It's wise to compare prices across different retailers, as competitors often provide slightly lower costs to attract buyers. Online marketplaces such as Amazon, Newegg, and Best Buy offer warranties and free replacements if issues arise. Avoid purchasing PC parts from Ebay, as it increases the risk of failure. Samsung.com and Amazon both list NVMe SSDs at similar prices, though the board supports 5 lanes while other components may have fewer. You should decide whether to opt for more solid-state drives or a combination of options like a spinning drive, DVD, or Blu-ray player. I currently use an external Blu-ray and media drive system on a 5-bay Synology drive, which holds all my music and movies. My existing SSDs include three from previous builds plus a 990 Pro 2 TB for $159.99 on Amazon, which will serve as my C drive. The remaining two are Samsung NVMe 1 TB units (you can find 16TB drives under $200). I also added a Corsair H115i 240mm watercooler for the CPU at $89.99. The case I purchased from Free Geeks for $25 is an older Mastercase full tower, equipped with a 1000-watt gold power supply. I upgraded to a Cooler Master Master vertical graphics card Kit Version 2 with PCI-E riser cable for about $45. The board uses DDR5 DRAM, which is affordable—64 GB models cost around $200 (for two 32GB units at $220 each). The processor in the Z790 series is either Intel or AMD; I selected Intel consistently. This time I chose the Intel i7-13700KF for overclocking potential beyond its boost clock, and the F variant indicates no onboard graphics support since my own Tuf Gaming 3060 runs about $340. This decision frees up processor resources that would otherwise go to an integrated graphics solution. The CPU costs around $1850. You can manage with 32GB RAM, saving approximately $100. The 1TB Samsung 990 Pro is priced at about $90, saving $60, and you might already own a power supply and case for $25. You likely don’t need a 16TB drive and could get by with whatever you currently have, saving another $200. The total estimate comes to roughly $1475, not including sales tax.