Question Budget Build or Not - Straight from Tom's Hardware BEST PICKS
Question Budget Build or Not - Straight from Tom's Hardware BEST PICKS
The 14th Gen model came with numerous firmware-related problems, in addition to the oxidation issues seen in the 13th Gen, all stemming from manufacturing defects. The power supply unit (PSU) is essentially of poor quality; you can find tier lists for it. The PSU Tier List rev. 17.0g on Cultists Network can assist in selecting a suitable PSU among hundreds available, covering everything from budget options to premium models. You should consider the importance of the PSU as the core component of your system.
In short, a $800 build would likely contain defects that require frequent repairs and upgrades, potentially causing downtime when issues arise. I recommend investing wisely and purchasing correctly once. If you're in the USA, you might explore these resources:
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 9600X 3.9 GHz 6-Core Processor ($193.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Burst Assassin 66.17 CFM ($18.89 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI PRO B850M-P WIFI Micro ATX AM5 ($154.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws M5 Neo RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial P3 Plus 500 GB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial P3 Plus 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME ($119.95 @ iBUYPOWER)
Video Card: PowerColor Reaper Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB ($369.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Montech X5M MicroATX Mini Tower ($54.90 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Montech CENTURY II 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX ($89.90 @ Amazon)
Total comes to $1147.59, including shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts.
Generated by PCPartPicker
2025-09-17 12:57 EDT-0400
I rechecked the components to determine if reducing the number of arenas would help, considering that Corsair's RMx PSU models don’t exist anymore and other competitive options are no longer available. I searched for a 650W unit to see if prices could be reduced, but any lower wattage options were either more expensive or not listed in the tiered range. This led me to choose the Montech PSU. If you have a bit more budget, I’d consider the MSI B850 Tomahawk Max WiFi board or the B850M Mortar WiFi. All these boards are fully equipped and well-built. The non-M board would require an ATX chassis instead of a matx one. The case offers USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, and USB 2.0 Type-A ports. You could consider the Asus A21 case, but adding fans increases the cost since it doesn’t include them. I think it’s best to wait for other users or the community to suggest alternatives that fit closer to your budget.
Similar items available:
PC Part Selection
CPU:
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X 3.9 GHz 6-Core Processor
($193.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler:
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 90 SE 32.77 CFM CPU Cooler
($23.39 @ Amazon)
Motherboard:
ASRock B850M Pro RS WiFi Micro ATX AM5 Motherboard
($149.99 @ Newegg)
Memory:
G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory
($83.99 @ Amazon)
Storage:
Samsung 990 Pro 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD
($89.99 @ Abt)
Video Card:
Gigabyte GAMING OC Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB Video Card
($279.99 @ Best Buy)
Case:
Phanteks XT PRO ATX Mid Tower Case
($68.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply:
Thermaltake Toughpower GF1 (2024) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
($89.99 @ Amazon)
Overall cost: $980.31
Costs cover shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts
Created by PCPartPicker
2025-09-17 13:39 EDT-0400
The tower cost is manageable at $1k. An upgrade would be close to $800.
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7600X 4.7 GHz 6-Core Processor ($174.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB 66.17 CFM ($36.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B650 GAMING X AX ATX AM5 ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Silicon Power Value Gaming 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 ($85.97 @ Silicon Power)
Storage: Silicon Power UD90 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME ($53.97 @ Newegg Sellers)
Video Card: PowerColor Reaper Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB ($349.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Montech X5 ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.90 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Montech CENTURY II 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX ($89.90 @ Amazon)
Total: $991.61 (includes shipping, taxes, and discounts where applicable)
Generated by PCPartPicker
2025-09-17 13:43 EDT-0400