Build Advice Gaming Build or buy a Prebuilt ?

[VaultBoy13]

Approximate Purchase Date: Probably within a month
Budget Range: $1000-1500
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming
Are you buying a monitor: No
Parts to Upgrade: New build
Do you need to buy OS: Yes
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon, newegg
Location: UT, USA
Parts Preferences: None
Overclocking: No
SLI or Crossfire: No
Your Monitor Resolution: 1440p
Additional Comments: I care more about the noise level than blingy fans. So, something that's relatively quiet would be nice.
And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: My current PC is about 8 years old. I mostly play strategy games with a little bit of shooters and RPGs. Baldur's Gate 3 is the main reason I'm looking to upgrade.

I've built my last 3 PCs. I don't have an issue doing that. But, if spending $100-150 more saves me the time shopping around and slapping something together; then I'm fine with a prebuilt.

Realistically, based on my past builds, I don't do a lot of upgrading. Typically, this has only happened if a component dies. I've also added RAM. But, I won't get much value out of future proofing.

Thanks

 

[Darkbreeze]

So you are looking to do everything new? And you're looking to do an Ultra 1440p build or you are ok with reduced expecations in terms of quality settings?

Is there a reason you are not able to simply move your OS license to the new machine? I've never had a problem doing this yet with any Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10 license when moving the OS to a new system when using a key for any of those versions prevously, nor with Windows 11 when using any of those qualifying licenses. Are you selling the old machine WITH the OS or something, so that you can't reuse it for the new machine?

In truth I'm thinking that you are probably going to need to increase the budget a bit because decent graphics cards are not cheap right now, and prebuilt systems are just not the way to go unless you don't mind dealing with hassles if something goes wrong with something. They are generally overpriced as well and just not very palatable in my opinion at least and especially for somebody that is able to do the build themselves. For those who can't, or shouldn't, because they are all thumbs, then I guess it makes sense.

What are the specs on your current system so that we have a frame of reference and also maybe could repurpose a few things like maybe the case, fans, etc., unless you are fully against that and simply want all new components.

 

[VaultBoy13]

This is my old system:

CPU: Intel i5-4460 3.2 GHz
Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) DDR3-1600 CL7 Memory
Storage: Samsung 850 Evo 500 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
Video Card: GeForce 1060 6GB (replaced an Asus STRIX GeForce GTX 970 4 GB)
Case: NZXT S340 ATX Mid Tower Case
PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550 W 80+ Gold Certified

I'm likely going to cleanup the HDD and pass along the old PC to family.

I had seen this as a roughly $1000 build, but no idea how good of a build it is.
CPU: Intel Core i5-13400F
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Gigabyte Aorus Elite AX DDR4
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 RAM
Storage: Solidigm P41 Plus 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD
Video Card: AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT GPU
Case: Corsair 4000D Airflow
PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 650 G5

 

[Why_Me]

RX 7800 XT 16GB $500
https://www.amd.com/en/newsroom/pre...deon-rx-7800-xt-and-radeon-rx-7700-xt-gr.html

The 120mm fan goes inside the back of that case for a rear exhaust fan.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: *Intel Core i7-13700F 2.1 GHz 16-Core Processor ($349.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: *Deepcool AG620 67.88 CFM CPU Cooler ($43.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: *MSI B760 GAMING PLUS WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($159.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: *Patriot Viper Black 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: *Solidigm P41 Plus 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Case: *Fractal Design Focus 2 ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: *Corsair RM750e (2023) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($99.99 @ Best Buy)
Case Fan: *ARCTIC P12 56.3 CFM 120 mm Fan ($9.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $903.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-09-05 22:15 EDT-0400

A better look at those components.

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B760-GAMING-PLUS-WIFI

https://www.intel.com/content/www/u...-30m-cache-up-to-5-20-ghz/specifications.html

https://www.deepcool.com/products/C...al-Tower-CPU-Cooler-1700-AM5/2022/15900.shtml

https://www.corsair.com/us/en/p/psu...ular-low-noise-atx-power-supply-cp-9020262-na

https://www.fractal-design.com/products/cases/focus/focus-2/black-tg-clear-tint/

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIG4vFQbDn4

 

[Darkbreeze]

RX 7800 XT 16GB $500
https://www.amd.com/en/newsroom/pre...deon-rx-7800-xt-and-radeon-rx-7700-xt-gr.html

The 120mm fan goes inside the back of that case for a rear exhaust fan.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: *Intel Core i7-13700F 2.1 GHz 16-Core Processor ($349.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: *Deepcool AG620 67.88 CFM CPU Cooler ($43.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: *MSI B760 GAMING PLUS WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($159.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: *Patriot Viper Black 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: *Solidigm P41 Plus 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Case: *Fractal Design Focus 2 ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: *Corsair RM750e (2023) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($99.99 @ Best Buy)
Case Fan: *ARCTIC P12 56.3 CFM 120 mm Fan ($9.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $903.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-09-05 22:15 EDT-0400

You didn't even include a graphics card, much less one capable enough to do what the OP is asking for it to be able to do. LOL.

 

[Darkbreeze]

What monitor are you planning to run with this? Or are you planning on multiple monitors?

Specifically, it would help to know the refresh rate of the display or displays that you plan to run and also whether that display is going to have, or need, G-sync, Freesync, is compatible with either/or, etc.?

 

[VaultBoy13]

What monitor are you planning to run with this? Or are you planning on multiple monitors?

Specifically, it would help to know the refresh rate of the display or displays that you plan to run and also whether that display is going to have, or need, G-sync, Freesync, is compatible with either/or, etc.?

BenQ GW2765HT Eye Care 27 inch IPS 2560 x 1440p
No G-Sync, Freesync, and 60Hz.
It's possible that I'd upgrade this within the next 6 months, But, it wouldn't be part of my budget for the PC.

 

[Why_Me]

You didn't even include a graphics card, much less one capable enough to do what the OP is asking for it to be able to do. LOL.

What's it say at the top of my post that you quoted ?

Here I'll help you:

RX 7800 XT 16GB $500
https://www.amd.com/en/newsroom/pre...deon-rx-7800-xt-and-radeon-rx-7700-xt-gr.html

 

[Lucky_SLS]

I would suggest the following case and PSU to @Why_Me 's excellent build:

The case has pre installed fans, front panel type C and generally good value for money.

The PSU is tier A, atx 3.0 and has 16 pin connection ready for 4070 or the 7800 XT

PCPartPicker Part List

Case: Montech AIR 903 MAX ATX Mid Tower Case ($74.98 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 TT Premium 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $164.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-09-06 04:21 EDT-0400

 

[Darkbreeze]

What's it say at the top of my post that you quoted ?

Here I'll help you:

RX 7800 XT 16GB $500
https://www.amd.com/en/newsroom/pre...deon-rx-7800-xt-and-radeon-rx-7700-xt-gr.html

Noted. I didn't notice it because it wasn't part of the build itself.