Hey, I need some help building a quiet gaming and productivity computer that fits in my 1500 to 1700 euro budget.
Hey, I need some help building a quiet gaming and productivity computer that fits in my 1500 to 1700 euro budget.
Hi everyone, I'm planning to build a new gaming PC soon. My budget is about 1500 to 1700€. My main priorities are quiet operation, ideally even when it's under load and strong performance for both games and productivity work (like Adobe apps or video editing). I want something that looks good too. I need the best price-to-performance value since I can't stretch the budget much past 1700€.
I'm stuck on a few choices:
For CPUs, I see these options: Ryzen 5 9600X (~220€), Ryzen 7 9700X (~320€), and Ryzen 7 7800X3D (~440€). These are hard to find here and cost a lot more. Is the performance jump from the 9600X or 9700X worth paying 120€ extra?
For GPUs, I see an RTX 5070 (~650€), RX 9070 (~700€), and RX 9070 XT (~800€). They look like amazing deals in my area. The 9070 XT looks tempting because of the price-to-performance ratio, but I'm a little nervous switching from NVIDIA to AMD. Also, I'm not sure which CPU pairs best with this card.
I'm trying to figure out which CPU and GPU combo gives me the "sweet spot" for gaming and productivity within my budget. If you've built something like this before or have suggestions, please let me know!
Silence is really important to me. I don't know where to focus on spending money to get a quiet system. I think all three parts play a role, but which should I prioritize?
Case: Is it worth spending extra on a premium, quiet case? Or are there budget-friendly options that still keep noise down?
Cooling: I have no experience with better cooling solutions. Should I go for air or liquid cooling, and what price range fits a quiet system?
PSU: I'm aiming for Gold-rated 750W to 850W units, nothing Bronze. What's the difference in noise between a 90€ PSU and something like a Corsair RMx at 130–150€?
In my past builds, I always went cheap on these parts (case, cooler, PSU) and had a Ryzen 5 5600X and RTX 4060 Ti. The system was super loud while gaming. I've never used premium cases, cooling, or high-quality PSUs before, so I don't know if investing in those would make a real difference in noise levels. And if so, which parts matter the most?
Bonus Info:
I mainly play AAA single-player games on high settings. I'm not into e-sports or competitive games. I'd love to play in 1440p but will stick with 1080p until I can afford a better monitor. I work with Adobe software daily, so productivity performance matters too.
Would really appreciate any input:
- Best CPU + GPU combos within my budget
- Components worth investing in for a quieter PC
- Parts to avoid
- Specific brands or models you've had good experiences with
Thanks a lot in advance!
You should follow the rules of this thread and look at what people ask for advice about new builds or upgrades. First things first, respect other people's space when it comes to asking questions here. This is just a copy of an old Animal forum post on how to get good build suggestions. I made this because there are so many posts lately asking for upgrade tips both here and in the CPU community. I think the forums will give good advice if you ask nicely. If your work is mixing gaming and office stuff, then the 7800X3D and an RTX5070 are a no-brainer choice. Adobe apps usually run better on Nvidia cards. And some people say noise sounds different to them than it does to others. Maybe someone recommends a quiet fan to you, but then you hear the motor ticking in the back of the PC.
Here is my take: You can mix and match parts however you like. The secret to silence? An AIO cooler that stays quiet, without any fans blowing air around it. I just built the system I usually describe as my signature setup, and nobody even notices it. Even though the AIO sits under the case and hangs from my standing desk stand, it works perfectly for me. Here are the links to all the parts of this build:
It's a cool trick for building things up. Basically, if you use an AIO cooler, your PC will be very quiet. Other parts like the case and power supply don't make much noise either.