Need help setting up a $1,500 to $2,000 budget PC for gaming, Maya, and UE5?
Need help setting up a $1,500 to $2,000 budget PC for gaming, Maya, and UE5?
Approximate Purchase Timing:
This week or this month would be best.
Budget Range:
Between $1500 and $2000.
System Priorities:
Gaming takes precedence. I’ll manage tasks in Unreal Engine 5, Maya, and Blender.
Monitor Upgrade:
A main monitor upgrade is needed, but it’s not a top priority.
Components to Replace:
I plan a full rebuild from the ground up.
Operating System:
Yes, I need to install the OS.
Preferred Retailers:
I’m comfortable shopping at Newegg and Amazon.
Parts Preferences:
I prefer air cooling unless otherwise specified.
Overclocking:
Unlikely to pursue overclocking.
Multi-GPU Support:
No interest in SLI or Crossfire.
Screen Resolution:
1920x1080.
Additional Notes:
I don’t want a high-end setup with fancy LEDs. I’d like to play Marvel Rivals, ARK Survival Ascended, Helldivers 2 smoothly, and still be able to handle Unreal Engine 5, Maya, or Blender when required. Most importantly, I need to understand why I’m making this upgrade.
I would choose the AM5 model and allow room for future upgrades. The 9800x3d supply would be better, helping prices return to at least the MSRP. It performs reasonably well outside of gaming as well. If possible, I’d opt for the MSRP version, upgrading from the 7800x3d model. I upgraded with 64GB of RAM for those non-gaming tasks. The GPU seems a bit excessive for 1080p but should last a long time.
PCPartPicker List of Components
CPU:
*
Intel Core i7-13700F 2.1 GHz 16-Core Processor
($299.99 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler:
*
ID-COOLING FROZN A620 PRO SE 58 CFM CPU Cooler
($29.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard:
*
MSI B760 GAMING PLUS WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
($149.99 @ Amazon)
Memory:
*
TEAMGROUP T-Create Expert 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory
($86.99 @ Amazon)
Storage:
*
Silicon Power UD90 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD
($89.97 @ B&H)
Video Card:
*
Asus DUAL EVO OC GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER 12 GB Video Card
($609.99 @ Amazon)
Case:
*
Montech AIR 903 BASE ATX Mid Tower Case
($65.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply:
*
ADATA XPG Core Reactor II 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
($89.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System:
*
Microsoft Windows 11 Home OEM - DVD 64-bit
($119.99 @ Amazon)
Grand Total: $1541.90
Costs cover shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts
*Selected lowest-priced items based on specified parameters*
Created by
PCPartPicker
2025-01-02 06:00 EST-0500
Op, one question to ask, do you happen to be near a Microcenter? If so they’ve got great bundle deals. Like I recently got a ryzen 5 7600x3d cpu, board and 32gb ddr5 for $460. Could have saved 10 bucks but I opted for the rgb ram kit. But they also have the ryzen 7 7700x in a bundle like that for $400.
Also the one near me has a 7900gre card for $549. You can get an idea, if just gaming without as much ray tracing the 7900 gre looks like a faster card. However you may prefer the nvidia card of your doing productivity work etc with it
https://www.techradar.com/computing/gpu/...4070-super
But I’d definitely suggest giving the AMD ryzen lineup a look. LGA 1700 is effectively a dead end socket. AMDs socket am5 should be supported through 2027 according to AMD. So later you should be able to drop in a newer cpu and be set a few more years without needing to buy a new pc.
It’s worth noting that there isn’t a Microcenter option, which is an interesting detail about the motherboard. The build should be durable enough so it won’t become irrelevant by then, especially with new releases making higher-end LGA1700 CPUs more affordable if they become relevant sooner than expected. I’d like to see an AMD5 or newer Intel chipset setup if it matched the price and performance of what Why_Me recommended. Prices appear to be significantly higher after doing my own research, which might not be worth the effort. I’m a bit concerned about the i7-13700f showing 2.1GHz, as that seems low. I’m unsure if overclocking or using boost speeds would be practical, and I don’t know how user-friendly it would be to reach 5.2GHz regularly. Maybe getting some advice from friends on the CPU clock speed or a more current motherboard chipset would help. Thanks a ton!
One point to note about Intel is that the 13th and 14th generation CPUs seemed to have some problems. They’ve provided solutions through microcode or BIOS updates. Still, consider whether you believe their statements. The Intel system might still function, but it’s something to keep in mind.
Regarding low clock speeds, many CPUs start at a base frequency and increase it to turbo if cooling permits. This allows the processor to operate more efficiently without constant high speed.
On the AMD side, I’m currently using a b650 board paired with a Ryzen 5 7600X3D. It’s similar to the 7800X3D but more exclusive to Microcenter. I benefit from this exclusivity, which helps me secure better deals. For instance, you can often find a b650 board along with a Ryzen 7 9700X and 32GB DDR5 memory for around $430.
If you’re focused on gaming, the 9800X3D is a solid choice, though it comes at a higher price. Here are some links for reference:
https://www.newegg.com/amd-ryzen-7...
https://www.newegg.com/gigabyte-b65...
https://www.newegg.com/g-skill-32gb-ddr5...6820374419
I would choose the AM5 model and allow room for future upgrades. The 9800x3d supply would be better, helping prices return to at least the MSRP. It performs reasonably well outside of gaming as well. If possible, I’d opt for the MSRP version, upgrading from the 7800x3d model, which I upgraded to 64GB RAM for additional memory needs. The GPU seems a bit excessive for 1080p but should last a long time.
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz 8-Core Processor ($475.94 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 66.17 CFM ($34.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B650 GAMING X AX ATX AM5 ($179.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Flare X5 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 ($192.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Inland Performance Plus 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Speedster MERC 310 Radeon RX 7900 XT 20 GB ($699.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Montech AIR 903 MAX ATX Mid Tower ($74.98 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 TT Premium 850 W (80+ Gold Certified, Modular ATX) ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Home OEM - DVD 64-bit ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1998.76 (incl. shipping, taxes, and available discounts)
Generated by PCPartPicker
2025-01-03 09:23 EST-0500
On the graphics card shown, if you wish to go a bit further, you could opt for the 7900xtx model.
It would be excessive for 1080p. I’m using a 1440p screen and it’s quite excessive there, but it’s great to push everything to full settings at 1440p and achieve over 100fps even in the latest Indiana Jones game. There’s no need for FSRC or anything similar.
I'm sorry for the delay in responding. I've been evaluating both CPU and GPU options on my own, seeking guidance from knowledgeable friends to finalize my choice. I was considering Why_Me's $1540 build, as the CPUs and GPUs are quite similar for gaming purposes, making the lower cost worthwhile. I still have the flexibility to add two more RAM sticks if future workloads require it, especially for a 64GB system, and if VRAM differences become significant, I wouldn't mind the trade-off. However, Intel 13th/14th generation issues are quite concerning, giving me many doubts about the overall decision. Fortunately, I've discovered Microcenter as an alternative option. I'm curious about how these bundles would perform in terms of performance, particularly with the main difference being the motherboards, and whether they would fit smoothly into both Why_Me's and Logainofhades' configurations. If I were to replace Logainofhades' SSDs with Why_Me's, the price difference would likely be around $100, depending on the GPU and PSU power requirements.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, ASUS B650-E TUF Gaming, G.Skill Flare X5 Series 32GB DDR5-6000 Kit, Computer Build Bundle
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, ASUS B650-A ROG Strix Gaming WiFi, G.Skill Flare X5 Series 32GB DDR5 6000 Kit, Computer Build Bundle
The 7900xt performs better than the 4070 super. It’s actually similar to the 4070ti super, as shown in the techpowerup's 7900gre review.
https://www.techpowerup.com/review/sapph...se/32.html
The storage I picked is a solid-state drive with a 6-year warranty. I’ve used the 1TB model in my AMD system for some time without any problems. Since you have access to Microcenter, you might even find it cheaper there—Inland is their brand and they frequently offer discounts. The one I selected is a decent option, and it’s perfectly fine for a gaming rig. I opted for a higher-end drive because my budget allowed it.