Build Advice Building a new PC after 12 years; a lot has changed. Would appreciate some advice on my current build.

[yougetagoldstar]

Here is an easier to read list on my PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/GdvbpK

Hello, I built my first PC somewhere around 2013. Twelve years later I decided to do it again; but a lot has changed and I was wondering if anyone could could give me some advice on my next build.

Budget: I'm willing to spend $2,000, but ideally I would only spend $1,500.
OS and Monitor: I already have an operating system and a monitor (planning on using my samsung Crystal UHD CU7000 tv for now).

If you want to read the list here (further details below list).
CPU: Intel Core i7-14700K 3.4 GHz 20-Core Processor ($311.70)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black 82.52 CFM CPU Cooler ($119.95)
Motherboard: Asus Z790 GAMING WIFI7 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($159.99)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6400 CL32 Memory ($199.99)
Storage: Western Digital WD_Black SN850X 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($129.03 )
Video Card: Asus TUF GAMING OC GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16 GB Video Card ($849.00)
Case: Phanteks Eclipse P600S ATX Mid Tower Case. I like this case because it doubles as a soundproofed case and airflow case; I also like the look. ($114.99)
Power Supply: Corsair RM850x (2024) 850 W Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($149.99)
Total: $2034.64

I don't build PCs often so I just want to make this one count. For some reason I don't want this to be mid-range or latest-and-greatest; I just want it to be somewhere in between--something like not-so-latest-and-greatest. I use PCs for gaming and creative work. I do a lot of work with digital images. I just started dabbling in AI image generation, which I heard requires a lot of VRAM. I also do occasional video and sound editing.
I tend not to play AAA games, and I don't care much for playing at 4k settings, but I would prefer my PC to be able to.
Planning on building this either late January or February 2025.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Lutfij]

Your build looks good for someone jumping back after 12 years. I would however look into a smaller capacity SSD so you can install the OS, app's and launchers on. The larger drive can be your game library drive, if this PC is going to primarily see gaming duties. If you're work helps put food on the table and keep a roof over your head, then consider adding a mechanical drive to house your finalized projects(and you don't lose them when your SSD decides to conk out). You can get away with a Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE(which is ~1/4th the cost of the Noctua listed).

Here's my take on the build;
PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i7-14700K 3.4 GHz 20-Core Processor ($311.70 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 140 77.8 CFM CPU Cooler ($47.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z790M AORUS ELITE AX ICE Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($208.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Dominator Titanium 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6600 CL32 Memory ($299.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial P3 Plus 500 GB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($40.95 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital WD_Black SN850X 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($129.03 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus TUF GAMING OC GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16 GB Video Card ($849.00 @ Walmart)
Case: Corsair 2500X Satin MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($144.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: MSI MAG A850GL PCIE5 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($112.28 @ Amazon)
Total: $2144.83
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-01-17 01:28 EST-0500

Though you could swap the case out for this;
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/qJ...ini-air-microatx-mid-tower-case-fd-c-por1m-01
and add this connector to gain type-C front panel connectivity;
https://www.amazon.com/Fractal-Design-Accessory-USB-C-10Gbps/dp/B0B12TL4H5?th=1
comes to around $100 for the case.
^
PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i7-14700K 3.4 GHz 20-Core Processor ($311.70 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 140 77.8 CFM CPU Cooler ($47.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z790M AORUS ELITE AX ICE Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($208.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Dominator Titanium 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6600 CL32 Memory ($299.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial P3 Plus 500 GB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($40.95 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital WD_Black SN850X 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($129.03 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus TUF GAMING OC GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16 GB Video Card ($849.00 @ Walmart)
Case: Fractal Design Pop Mini Air MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ B&H)
Power Supply: MSI MAG A850GL PCIE5 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($112.28 @ Amazon)
Custom: Fractal Design FD-A-USBC-001 Pop Accessory USB-C 10Gbps Cable -... ($16.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $2106.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-01-17 01:31 EST-0500

IMHO, I'd look into AMD's AM5 platform although Intel are trying their best to sort out their issues.

 

[Misgar]

I do a lot of work with digital images.

If you're using something like Adobe Photoshop/Lightroom or Premiere Pro for video, there are two additional M.2 sockets on the Asus Z790 GAMING motherboard. You might consider fitting a smaller (1TB or 500GB) NVMe drive in one of these slots for use as Adobe's "Swap Drive".

A swap drive speeds things up a small amount. Even better if you split the program, swap and work-in-progress files over separate drives.

CUDA on the RTX 4070 Ti will speed things up considerably in Photoshop. A good choice.

You can get away with a Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE(which is ~1/4th the cost of the Noctua listed).

I have the NH-D15 in one rig and a Peerless Assassin 120 SE in another. I cannot tell the difference as regards cooling performance. I don't have glass side panels so it doesn't matter what's inside the case.

Buy Noctua if you can afford it. Buy Peerless if you hanker after additional components.

consider adding a mechanical drive to house your finalized projects

I keep adding old-fashioned hard disks to many of my PCs as DSLR photos are accumulated. I prefer several 6TB or 8TB drives in each PC to one 20TB+ drive. Too may eggs in one basket if a huge drive fails. Backups to other drives, RAID-Z2 servers and LTO.

A 4TB hard disk drive provides a fair amount of space and offloads storage needs from the main M.2 NVMe boot drive. I'm perfectly happy with 3 x 1TB M.2 drives in my main editing PC. More than enough room for Windows plus programs, swap and work files respectively. If you have a lot of games though, you might prefer a 4TB or even an 8TB M.2.