White AM5 build finished. Looking for assistance with your new board.
White AM5 build finished. Looking for assistance with your new board.
Hey everyone! I’m planning a switch to the new AMD 9000 Ryze series and have a full idea of what I want. Here’s the setup I’m thinking about: a Ryzen 7 9700X with 64GB of Corsair Dominator Titanium 6000MHz CL30 (compatible with AMD EXPO, but only a few options and nothing much faster). I’ll also have a Sapphire Core RX7800XT 1000W, an ASUS ROG Strix 80Plus Titanium PSU.
To be honest, I’ve read a lot about the X670 chipset being inferior to the X870, but in real life I’d like to understand better how to choose a reliable build. My previous setup used a Ryzen 7 3700X on an X570 board, which was top of the line back then. I’m not sure about the importance of choosing between X870, X670, or B-series now.
I have two NVMe M.2 drives and plan to add at least one 1TB Gen5 NVMe for gaming. I’d like a 500GB Gen3 silicon NVMe and think it’s enough for my Linux distro. I’d prefer a white or mostly-white motherboard since the GPU is white, and it would make my build look nice.
My main questions: Should I pick the X870, X670, or a B-series? Can you explain what makes one better than another? Also, I’m considering a PSU upgrade and want to know more about the chipset specs.
Thanks for all the help! I was hoping to spend over 1300€, but I managed to save around 400€ by skipping some parts that didn’t seem essential. The total cost is about 1800€ as of March 31, 2025, based on Amazon Italy prices.
Appreciate all the advice from @Millios and @jaslion – they really helped me out!
You might save some cash on your PC and find a 7900xt a strix plat 1000w is quite expensive. You can easily get quality PSUs for $100 less. For your setup, you can go as low as an ASRock B850 and still avoid any issues. Spending too much on a motherboard isn't helpful at all. The second power supply is sufficient, so you won’t need to invest more. Many boards come with enough features without breaking the bank. Avoid overspending on a board; a Gen 5 drive is unnecessary since we can't even reach the max for Gen 3. If you need direct storage, Gen 4 drives are available at half the price. Also, for RAM, you don’t need 2x 6000MHz sticks that are rarely needed. For cooling, a $35 thermal solution is excellent and won’t cost much.
This discussion highlights that the x870 is essentially a refinement of the x670, offering improved connectivity features like USB 4 and Wi-Fi 7 while maintaining comparable pricing. Many users find the x870 more affordable than its predecessor or nearly equivalent in cost, making it a practical upgrade. Additionally, it includes Gen 5 ports, enhanced power delivery components, and more convenient GPU setup options depending on the specific board.
I recently purchased a PSU about a week ago. The Corsair RM850x is stressing my GPU, so I expect a replacement soon from Amazon. I already bought the PSU because ASUS offered a free copy of Monster Hunter Wilds with it (I spent around 220€, which was already discounted from about 270, so it’s fine).
A quality Gen4 PSU from Sabrent would be ideal. I have an H100i RGB Platinum from Corsair, and I found out on a few forums there might be an AM5 bracket available. That should keep the cost under 20€ if I can locate it or Corsair arranges shipping.
Regarding RAM, I’m confused about the compatibility—why are all options labeled EXPO or XMP? My current RAM is only XMP compatible. I might consider a few 6000+ white sticks, which would be cheaper than these two options.
Fair offer! Mostly sn850x or lexar nm790 tend to be cheaper for the same spec, though peak performance isn't always essential :p. Try reusing components if you can! Expo is essentially AMD XMP but XMP also functions on AMD platforms. It's just an updated version with a stronger emphasis on AMD. Go for it! Look at pcpartpicker for good filtering options. Also, a 6000mhz clock speed matches the 9700x's memory controller more often, sometimes boosting performance even slightly. Cl30 is excellent; lower frequencies offer only marginal gains!
To save effectively, switch to a 2x16 GB RAM setup instead of the usual 64 GB. If you need more, you can upgrade later. For the motherboard, replace the RoG GaMiNg PSU with a Corsair 850 Gold model. Both options are similar, so you can save around $40. Good luck with your purchase!
Why? Good PSU and the game runs smoothly with a solid performance. It’s like saying "trust me bro" versus a different situation. They might play modded games or run other apps too, like OBS. With four RAM sticks, they’re usually set to lower speeds, so two sticks are ideal for AM5. They’re not the same. The X870 boards come with extra features, and if you need them, it’s worth around $40. Do I have any updates for you?