Question AMD Gaming Build advice

JPC2015 · Mar 25, 2024

Hello all,

I am in the process of planning a custom desktop build with the primary purpose of gaming (from Solitare to high/max graphics settings). Mainly I am browsing Micro Center which I currently prefer because I live close enough to pick it up myself and a few friends of mine have had good experiences with them. Moreover, I have had bad experiences with prebuilts being shipped to me. It has been a solid while since I invested in a new PC so I may have forgotten a thing or two... or more, hence why I am here.

I am trying to keep below the semi-hard ceiling of <$1,300, and I am not planning on OC'ing right now so not looking for liquid cooling, but having the option is a nice-to-have. I do have a Corp AC4400BT Beta 400ST AMD CPU cooler from my old PC, but it is AM3/AM3+ so I am doubting I can use it (or any of my old components) with the proposed more current motherboard.

Proposed Build:

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 7 5700 Cezanne AM4 3.7GHz 8-Core
$159.99
Motherboard: ASUS - B550-PLUS TUF Gaming WiFi II AMD AM4 ATX Motherboard
$169.99
RAM: TeamGroup - T-FORCE VULCAN Z 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3200 PC4-25600 CL16 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit TLZGD432G3200H - Gray
$55.99
GC: ASUS - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Dual White Overclocked Dual Fan 12GB GDDR6X PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card
$499.99
Storage: WD - Black SN770 1TB SSD 112L TLC NAND M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe 4.0 x4 Internal Solid State Drive
$79.99
PSU: PowerSpec - 650 Watt 80 Plus Bronze ATX Semi-Modular Power Supply Active PFC SLI Crossfire Ready Gaming PC Computer Switching PSU
$59.99
Case: Montech - SKY ONE Lite Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case - Black
$69.99
OS: Windows 11
Cooler: DeepCool - AK620 CPU Air Cooler
$54.99

Total Price: $1302

Thoughts, suggestions?

Darkbreeze · Mar 25, 2024

Terrible. But it's sort of hard to compare things when we can't see the per component prices in order to offer something better. I mean, I guess it's not that bad, but you've skimped where you should not and have not invested where you should. Overall, it's honestly not that great. And there are some REALLY freaking bad components in there especially the PSU, case and memory.

JPC2015 · Mar 25, 2024

Darkbreeze said:
Terrible. But it's sort of hard to compare things when we can't see the per component prices in order to offer something better. I mean, I guess it's not that bad, but you've skimped where you should not and have not invested where you should. Overall, it's honestly not that great. And there are some REALLY freaking bad components in there especially the PSU, case and memory.

Thanks, prices added. They do have Corsair PSUs which I have had in the past with no complaints. My hardest requirement is the price.

Darkbreeze · Mar 25, 2024

This is a nearly identical, but with MUCH, MUCH better component selection, than that. Different sources, yes, but this is FAR better quality and selection that half that build, for three dollars more. Just so much better all the way around yet very similar in terms of aesthetics and component selection. And honestly, just plain better.

Better CPU. Faster memory. Higher quality case. WAY higher quality power supply. Much better CPU cooler. Better.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X 3.4 GHz 8-Core Processor ($164.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($33.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus PRIME B550-PLUS ATX AM4 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory ($67.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Black SN770 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($79.98 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Zotac GAMING Twin Edge OC GeForce RTX 4070 12 GB Video Card ($529.99 @ Amazon)
Case: be quiet! Pure Base 500DX ATX Mid Tower Case ($94.90 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 - TT Premium Edition 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($104.00 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Home Retail - Download 64-bit ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1305.73
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-03-25 23:09 EDT-0400

JPC2015 · Mar 26, 2024

Darkbreeze said:
This is a nearly identical, but with MUCH, MUCH better component selection, than that. Different sources, yes, but this is FAR better quality and selection that half that build, for three dollars more. Just so much better all the way around yet very similar in terms of aesthetics and component selection. And honestly, just plain better.

Better CPU. Faster memory. Higher quality case. WAY higher quality power supply. Much better CPU cooler. Better.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X 3.4 GHz 8-Core Processor ($164.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($33.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus PRIME B550-PLUS ATX AM4 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory ($67.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Black SN770 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($79.98 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Zotac GAMING Twin Edge OC GeForce RTX 4070 12 GB Video Card ($529.99 @ Amazon)
Case: be quiet! Pure Base 500DX ATX Mid Tower Case ($94.90 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 - TT Premium Edition 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($104.00 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Home Retail - Download 64-bit ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1305.73
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-03-25 23:09 EDT-0400

Thank you!

Though I have two questions:

1) Concerning the PSU, wouldn't Bronze certified PSU work well enough? Also 850 W seems like overkill when looking at the parts builder estimated wattage use. More doesn't hurt of course esp if one were to oc.

2) Don't suppose you have a MB alternative that was wifi built in? makes no difference to me whether its 5 or 6.

Again thank you for your assistance.

Darkbreeze · Mar 26, 2024

"Bronze" is simply "efficiency". It has NOTHING, at ALL, to do with quality. Please, read these two articles so that you can educate yourself on something that you seem to be confused about.

Discussion - PSU recommendations and power supply discussion thread - Tom's hardware

Below you will find MY standard list of recommended power supplies and beyond that this thread is intended as a landing place for questions or discussions regarding specific units, platforms or related PSU tech, all of which are all welcome to be discussed here. If it's related to power supplies...

forums.tomshardware.com

https://www.sevenforums.com/pc-cust...y-80-plus-irrelevant-you-when-buying-psu.html

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X 3.4 GHz 8-Core Processor ($163.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($33.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B550 AORUS ELITE AX V2 ATX AM4 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory ($67.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Black SN770 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($79.98 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Zotac GAMING Twin Edge OC GeForce RTX 4070 12 GB Video Card ($524.99 @ Amazon)
Case: be quiet! Pure Base 500DX ATX Mid Tower Case ($94.90 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 - TT Premium Edition 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($104.00 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Home Retail - Download 64-bit ($123.94 @ Walmart)
Total: $1322.69
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-03-26 22:42 EDT-0400

JPC2015 · Apr 13, 2024

Thank you!

I completed the build with the only changes being reusing my old case and opting for a SeaSonic FOCUS GX-850 ATX 3.0 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply instead. That said all in all, I am pleased with this build and thus far has been working without issue.

Thank you again for your assistance!