Want to equip my son with a premium setup?
Want to equip my son with a premium setup?
Good morning everyone!
I'm planning to equip my son with the top computer available within a $3000 budget in Canada. I can handle the installation myself, but I'm not very experienced with choosing the best hardware.
I need it for high-end gaming only, requiring Windows 11. A 27-inch monitor at 1080p or 1440p resolution is ideal—size isn't too important as long as it fits the sweet spot I've seen. The tower should be functional but not overly fancy, with good airflow. RGB lights aren't necessary.
I want to avoid buying anything from the US and should be able to find everything locally. I'm aware of Black Friday and can look for deals later. Thanks in advance for your help!
Approximate purchase time: end of November
Budget range: around $3,000
Priority order of needs:
1. High-end gaming performance
2. Monitor (1080p or 1440p, 27-inch)
3. Tower with adequate cooling
4. No RGB lighting
5. Water cooling if possible
Also, the main reason for this upgrade is that my current setup is outdated and I want a future-proof system for my son.
Take a glance at this selection;
PC Parts:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X 4.5 GHz 8-Core Processor (($438.25 @ Vuugo))
CPU Cooler: Deepcool LT520 85.85 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler (($111.99 @ PC-Canada))
Motherboard: MSI MAG B650M MORTAR WIFI Micro ATX AM5 Motherboard (($279.99 @ Amazon Canada))
Memory: G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory (($269.97 @ Newegg Canada))
Storage: Crucial P3 Plus 500 GB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD (($42.93 @ Vuugo))
Storage: Crucial P5 Plus 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD (($159.22 @ Amazon Canada))
Video Card: Sapphire NITRO+ Radeon RX 7800 XT 16 GB Video Card (($739.99 @ Amazon Canada))
Case: Deepcool MACUBE 110 MicroATX Mini Tower Case (($52.29 @ Vuugo))
Power Supply: MSI MPG A850G PCIE5 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply (($193.98 @ Amazon Canada))
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Home OEM - DVD 64-bit (($154.05 @ Vuugo))
Case Fan: Deepcool FC120-3 IN 1 61.91 CFM 120 mm Fans 3-Pack (($52.99 @ Amazon Canada))
Monitor: Gigabyte G27Q 27.0" 2560 x 1440 144 Hz Monitor (($259.99 @ Canada Computers))
Grand Total: $2755.64
Costs encompass shipping, taxes, and any available discounts
Created by
PCPartPicker
2023-11-13 11:35 EST-0500
This list is flexible, with more options available for customization.
I would not expect that there would be all that much to gain with respect to a "high end" build/rig. And many products manage to somehow get labeled as "gaming" when there is likely little or no difference in the build from a computer that works well for just about any day-to-day use. "Gaming" being a buzzword. Much like "AI" now being applied to such things. And very likely a well performing rig could be built for less than half the stated budget. However, I will have to defer to those much more familar with Canadian companies and their respective component pricing: regular or "on sale". What games does your son play? Most games and apps provide some listing of hardware specs in the form of "minimal", "recommended", and "best". You do not want minimal and you do want as much "best" as you can afford. However, there is always a point of dimishing returns where excessive hardware (and higher costs) will not make any real difference in performance. Reliability and stability are key as I view it all. Future - proof: subjectively understood but quantifying that is a bit trickier..... A well-reviewed and rated PSU capable of providing peak wattage during game play being a crucial requirement. Start here: Use the calculators. Websites for parts - does matter. Research potential sources/vendors. Check return policies (RMA) before ordering. Also: take the time and make the effort to read all component User Guides/Manuals before purchasing anything. Likely you will find any number of warnings, caveats, and other fine print that may influence your component choices. Go directly to the manufacturer's websites. Find and read the manuals plus the Forums and FAQs - if any. Look for what is said as well as what is not said. Details matter.
I would choose another path instead of what @Ralston18 did. I’d allocate a significant amount to a high-quality 1440p OLED screen, but there are numerous cost-saving options available for the following items.
I share most of your point list, but I would prefer a 7600 since it can accommodate nearly any card at 1440p. I’d stick to one SSD with higher capacity than two smaller ones. Instead of using two drives, I’d choose a 2TB Crucial P5 Plus. The savings could then be used for a 7900xt drive.
Here’s the link you mentioned: https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/VsmNyg
I don't personally enjoy my games loading from the OS drive. This often leads to stuttering and performance issues during startup. It's usually acceptable to use a more robust mass storage NVMe drive for games, while keeping all programs and personal files on the OS drive. A 7900 XT is certainly an improvement, but a 13600k would be better for overclocking, which they were considering trying. It's definitely a solid alternative setup. As I mentioned before, there are many optimization possibilities that haven't been fully explored yet.
How old is your son? I believe you'd want him engaged for various reasons.
For instance, cases generally focus on work, and a son might prefer something more flashy rather than practical.
Check out Newegg Canada and use their PC Builder section.
There, you can pick components.
I think many of those who give advice here tend to suggest what they've built themselves.
That's just human nature.
In reality, Intel and AMD offer similar price-to-performance across all levels.
Look at the reviews to understand their perspective.
A reasonable setup was chosen. I decided to invest in a high-end display, since @geofelt mentioned it as a personal preference.
fair though they claimed they intended to possibly overclock, which the CPU prohibits.