Build Advice Parts advice for an mATX build ?

[IntrovertedPotato]

Hi, I'm looking for constructive criticism and advice on my PC build. I'm not seeking specific purchase offers, I just need help deciding on the components.

Format: mATX or mid tower
Budget for PC: Around 6000–7500 PLN (maybe more if necessary). Translates to around 1400–1800 USD, or more (hard to convert exactly due to cross-border price differences).
CPU and GPU: A good setup at a lower price. Later this year I want to upgrade to RTX 5070 Ti + AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (buying some better AIO now with this upgrade in mind).
Country: Poland

Purpose:
- Games: Rasterized, light ray tracing (maybe). Recording gameplay.
- Creative work: Definitely Photoshop. Additionally, maybe learning modeling in ZBrush and Blender (simple projects). I might try some AI video upscaling in Topaz or DaVinci Resolve.

___________________________________
A. Micro ATX:

- Case: Lian Li A3-mATX wood (370 PLN)
- CPU ooling: ARCTIC Freezer 34 eSports DUO (200 PLN)
- One rear exhaust fan: Arctic P12 PWM PST (26 PLN). No obstructions – priority is low noise level and decent airflow.
- Bottom slim fans: SilverStone Air Slimmer 120 (200 PLN za 3 sztuki). It has higher static pressure than other slim options, which helps push air through the mesh. It's a bit louder, but I can accept that trade-off.
- Power supply: Corsair RM850e 850 W (530 PLN)
- SSD: Crucial T500 1TB (380 PLN). Avoid picking up an SSD with a heatsink from the factory as removing that may void warranty. Motherboard comes with heat spreaders for M.2 SSD's
- Motherboard with USB4: ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi (1650-1900 PLN)|
^ USB4/Thunderbolt is added because I want a port that allows video/touch/power transmission via a single cable. I use Wacom Movink 13 with stylus and another portable OLED.
- GPU: ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 5070 OC (2800-3000 PLN) or MSI GeForce RTX 5070 12G Gaming Trio OC (2800-3000 PLN)
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance 6000MHz CL30 (504 PLN)
- AMD Ryzen 7 7700 OEM (830 PLN) - 830 PLN
^ Out of the box, the Ryzen 7 7700 trails the 7700X by roughly 3–7% in multi-threaded tests, but enabling Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) auto closes nearly all of that gap, bringing performance within 1–3% of the 7700X. Applying a –30 mV offset via the Curve Optimizer can yield an additional ~3–4% improvement in multi-threaded workloads while cutting peak temperatures by up to 15 °C, making the non-X model a cost-effective alternative to the 7700X.

Total = ~7490 PLN

Future upgrades (later this year):
- Cooling: Be Quiet! Light Loop 360 (572 PLN). Generally has to be strong enough to sustain things like Blender rendering (sustained high average, and very high peaks).
- GPU: RTX 5070 Ti, something stronger from AMD or maybe RTX 5080 (last one probably unlikely).
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X


___________________________________
B. Mid Tower sized:

- Case: Lian Li LANCOOL 207 (423 PLN)
- CPU cooler: ARCTIC Freezer 34 eSports DUO (200 PLN) or Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE (190 PLN). Arctic has much better warranty.
- Top fans: 2 × Arctic P14 PWM PST (64 PLN for 2)
- Rear fan: 1 × Arctic P12 PWM PST (26 PLN)
- Power supply: Corsair RM850e 850 W (530 PLN)
- SSD: Crucial T500 1TB (380 PLN). Avoid picking up an SSD with a heatsink from the factory as removing that may void warranty. Motherboard comes with heat spreaders for M.2 SSD's
- GPU: ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 5070 OC (2800-3000 PLN) or MSI GeForce RTX 5070 12G Gaming Trio OC (2800-3000 PLN)
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance 6000MHz CL30 (504 PLN)
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700 OEM (830 PLN)
^ Out of the box, the Ryzen 7 7700 trails the 7700X by roughly 3–7% in multi-threaded tests, but enabling Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) auto closes nearly all of that gap, bringing performance within 1–3% of the 7700X. Applying a –30 mV offset via the Curve Optimizer can yield an additional ~3–4% improvement in multi-threaded workloads while cutting peak temperatures by up to 15 °C, making the non-X model a cost-effective alternative to the 7700X.
- Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi (1471 PLN) or Gigabyte X870E AORUS PRO ICE (1500 PLN).
^ B850-E is more recent and has some AI fireworks. Both have USB4 ports 40 Gbps (Asus has 1, Gigabyte has 2).
^ USB4/Thunderbolt is added because I want a port that allows video/touch/power transmission via a single cable. I use Wacom Movink 13 with stylus and another portable OLED.

Totals = ~7228 PLN

Future upgrades (later this year):
- Cooling: Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360mm (430 PLN). Generally has to be strong enough to sustain things like Blender rendering (sustained high average, and very high peaks).
- GPU: RTX 5070 Ti, something stronger from AMD or maybe RTX 5080 (last one probably unlikely).
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

1| 7700x. You could go with the 9600x but you'll need to flash the BIOS on your motherboard beforehand.
2| Either one
3| Arctic Liquid Freezer III
4| I would leave the fans out of the equation. See how the case is with the AIO and then you can add the fans in for better temps.

Side note, avoid picking up an SSD with a heatsink from the factory as removing that could potentially void your warranty. Your motherboard comes with heat spreaders for M.2 SSD's.

Moved thread from Components section to Systems section.

 

[geofelt]

I think you would be served better with a ATX motherboard and case.
The case should have good airflow from front to back.
Perhaps a lian li lancool 216 with two front 160mm intake fans.
That would allow you to use a good twin tower air cooler that will be quieter and more reliable.
The add in card in a MATX case is very close to the graphics card and bottom intake will obstruct the gpu fans which is the component that needs cooling most.

 

[williamjeremiah]

Your desired case, hardware spec and budget reminded me of a build that I done for a friend of mine.

It's "No. 2" of this post:
#5,108 of Toms Hardware Member System Gallery

 

[IntrovertedPotato]

The add in card in a MATX case is very close to the graphics card and bottom intake will obstruct the gpu fans which is the component that needs cooling most.

Yes, one local tech service provider told me that fitting this card with a GPU could be a little hard. They said a 2.5-slot GPU won't fit. This is why I picked only 2-slot GPUs, like the INNO3D RTX 5070 Twin X2 OC 250×116×41 mm. I think there are high chances both would fit with this kind of GPU. Also, having a slimmer GPU should help my fan situation. Based on what I saw, people fit slim 15 mm fans with normal GPUs, so my pick should work with 25 mm fans most likely.

The ThunderboltEX 4 occupies slot 3, so clearance with my two-slot RTX 5070 is fine. It may replace one vented slot cover, which I expect to add about 2–4 °C to GPU temps - not a major issue. Bottom fans aren’t blocked, they can even help if kept at low RPM, I may need to read on this one more (if they really help according to reviews). Overall the add-in card won’t starve the GPU, and the build remains within spec.

Towards ATX cases and motherboards, from what I saw, ATX motherboards compatible with that extension card are more costly, so I would plan to use that mATX motherboard with it anyway. I'm looking into a bigger build additionally (like mid tower), but more so to see if it would be cheaper and offer more. Price-wise, it seems to be just a little cheaper when using good components, generally something like 7400 or more for a mid tower build, 7900 for an mATX build, with similar specs. A mid tower would have a bigger GPU, full-size ATX power supply, and a capable air cooler maybe, the main way of paying a little less for the PC. Generally, I would like a well-made mATX PC long term, with everything fitting well inside, so I'm keeping it as my main option for now, while planning a mid tower build as a secondary option (if the mATX one fails). From bigger cases I liked something like Fractal Design North, Lian Li Lancool 207 and maybe Fractal Meshify 3.

 

[IntrovertedPotato]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

1| 7700x. You could go with the 9600x but you'll need to flash the BIOS on your motherboard beforehand.
2| Either one
3| Arctic Liquid Freezer III
4| I would leave the fans out of the equation. See how the case is with the AIO and then you can add the fans in for better temps.

Side note, avoid picking up an SSD with a heatsink from the factory as removing that could potentially void your warranty. Your motherboard comes with heat spreaders for M.2 SSD's.

Moved thread from Components section to Systems section.

Thank you for the good advice as well. I agree with everything except the Arctic Liquid Freezer III. I like this AIO, but according to online reports and videos, the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 does not fit in this case. Most/all online reports of issues related to 360 mm AIOs seem to involve the Arctic Liquid Freezer III specifically.

I'm a bit confused about the bottom fans now - whether they would help or cause issues. I’ll need to talk to a local tech specialist or store and ask for their opinions as well.

 

[IntrovertedPotato]

Your desired case, hardware spec and budget reminded me of a build that I done for a friend of mine.

It's "No. 2" of this post:
#5,108 of Toms Hardware Member System Gallery

Thank you for sharing this as well.
I'll take a detailed look at your component choices.

 

[LordVile]

Hi, I'm looking for constructive criticism and advice on my planned mATX PC build. I'm not seeking specific purchase offers, I just need help deciding on the components.

Format: mATX
Budget for PC: Around 6000–7500 PLN (maybe more if necessary). Translates to around 1400–1800 USD, or more (hard to convert exactly due to cross-border price differences).
CPU and GPU: A good setup at a lower price. Later this year I want to upgrade to RTX 5070 Ti + AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (buying some better AIO now with this upgrade in mind).
Country: Poland

Purpose:
- Games: Rasterized, light ray tracing (maybe). Recording gameplay.
- Creative work: Definitely Photoshop. Additionally, maybe learning modeling in ZBrush and Blender (simple projects). I might try some AI video upscaling in Topaz or DaVinci Resolve.

Components:
- Case: Lian Li A3-mATX wood (370 PLN)
- One rear exhaust fan: Arctic P12 PWM PST (26 PLN). No obstructions – priority is low noise level and decent airflow.
- Power supply: Corsair SF850 Platinum ATX 3.1 SFX (809 PLN)
- SSD: Crucial T500 Heatsink 1TB (420 PLN)
- Motherboard: ASUS TUF GAMING B650M-PLUS WiFi (750 PLN) + Expansion card ASUS ThunderboltEX 4 (470 PLN)
^ ThunderboltEX 4 list directly includes TUF B650M-PLUS WiFi
^ Expansion card is added because I want a port that allows video/touch/power transmission via a single cable. I use Wacom Movink 13 with stylus and another portable OLED.

Variants:

1. CPU:
- A. Ryzen 5 9600X (900 PLN) + RAM: Corsair Vengeance 2x16GB 6400MHz CL32 (558 PLN)
- B. Ryzen 7 7700X (1179 PLN) + RAM: Corsair Vengeance 6000MHz CL30 (504 PLN)
^ The 9600X offers about 7% better single-core performance, whereas the 7700X delivers roughly 12–17% higher multi-core performance.
^ Ryzen 7 7700 (830 PLN) works too, but it is a bit slower.

2. 2-slot GPU:
- 3 fans: Palit GeForce RTX 5070 Infinity 3 OC 292×117×41mm (2841 PLN) or Gainward GeForce RTX 5070 Python III OC 292×117×41mm (2500 PLN).
- 2 fans: INNO3D RTX 5070 Twin X2 OC 250×116×41mm (2700 PLN), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Founders Edition 245×115×40mm (2775 PLN) or ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5070 Twin Edge OC 242×120×41mm (2730 PLN)
^ Narrow 2 slot GPUs should always clear with that extension card.
^ Future GPU upgrade - Zotac GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Solid OC SFF or other SFF.

3. AIO (top mounted):
- Be Quiet! Light Loop 360 (572 PLN).
- Thermalright Frozen Warframe Pro 360 (490 PLN).
- Iceberg Thermal IceFLOE 360 (378–420 PLN).
^ Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 doesn't fit this case according to many reports.

4. Three bottom intake fans:
- A: Arctic P12 Max (135 PLN/3 fans): Airflow 81.04 CFM, static pressure 4.35 mm H₂O, noise ~10–42 dBA.
- B: Arctic P12 PWM PST CO (120 PLN/3 fans): Airflow 56.3 CFM, static pressure 2.2 mm H₂O, noise ~10.65 dBA.
- C: Arctic BioniX P120 PST (156 PLN/3 fans): Airflow 67.56 CFM, static pressure 2.75 mm H₂O, noise ~23 dBA.
- D: XPG Vento Pro 120 PWM (153 PLN/3 fans): Airflow 75 CFM, static pressure 3.15 mm H₂O, noise ~10–28 dBA.
^ bottom intake fans on one PWM header and the rear exhaust on another. This ensures each group follows its own fan curve tuned for its role.

If you’re after quiet I’d look at Be quiet or Noctua case fans rather than the P12 Max. Also remember you don’t need to Keep your components at 70 degrees. If it’s quiet, hitting the right clocks but bumping off the TJmax it’s fine, the parts are designed to work at that temp

 

[IntrovertedPotato]

The add in card in a MATX case is very close to the graphics card and bottom intake will obstruct the gpu fans which is the component that needs cooling most.

I'm still considering your words here, since someone from my local tech service has pointed out a similar potential issue.

I wanted to ask if another mATX case might be a better option here. For example, the Montech Heritage Micro ATX offers a bit more space.

Otherwise, the Lian Li A3 should work with my current plan, though it comes with some compromises. I came across the following information: "Real-world A3 builds show it only blocks the middle bottom-fan position, leaving at least one, often two, fans usable." If that's accurate, I might consider switching to another case - I generally prefer to avoid compromises like that, even if the impact is minimal. I just want everything to be clean and solid—a proper machine.

 

[Why_Me]

I'm still considering your words here, since someone from my local tech service has pointed out a similar potential issue.

I wanted to ask if another mATX case might be a better option here. For example, the Montech Heritage Micro ATX offers a bit more space.

Otherwise, the Lian Li A3 should work with my current plan, though it comes with some compromises. I came across the following information: "Real-world A3 builds show it only blocks the middle bottom-fan position, leaving at least one, often two, fans usable." If that's accurate, I might consider switching to another case - I generally prefer to avoid compromises like that, even if the impact is minimal. I just want everything to be clean and solid—a proper machine.

https://www.fractal-design.com/products/cases/pop/pop-mini-air/rgb-black-tg-clear/

https://www.ceneo.pl/;szukaj-fractal+design+pop+mini+air

https://www.ceneo.pl/Komputery;szukaj-deepcool+ag620

https://www.ceneo.pl/Komputery;szukaj-be+quiet!+pure+rock+pro+3

https://www.ceneo.pl/182333310

https://www.proshop.pl/Chlodzenie-C...zenie-powietrzem-procesora-Max-27-dBA/3293293

https://www.proshop.pl/Chlodzenie-C...zenie-powietrzem-procesora-Max-25-dBA/3294874

 

[IntrovertedPotato]

https://www.fractal-design.com/products/cases/pop/pop-mini-air/rgb-black-tg-clear/

https://www.ceneo.pl/;szukaj-fractal+design+pop+mini+air

Thank you for responding and giving component suggestions. I will check it in detail.

For now I'm pretty sure it is better to get another case. For now I made a list like this, What do you think?

Problem raised in the criticism. Concrete requirement for a case to “solve” it:
1 ThunderboltEX 4 + GPU + bottom intake fans cannot fit together – ≥ 5 free horizontal slots or bottom-fan mounts in front of (not under) the slots
2 Losing bottom fans hurts GPU cooling – Bottom layout lets you keep two × 120 mm intakes without hitting cards, or published tests show bottom fans unnecessary
3 61 mm GPU thickness cap when bottom fans are installed – ≥ 75 mm GPU width allowance with bottom fans present
4 Extra heat from expansion card – Enough side clearance so the card is not pressed against the GPU shroud
5 Spare slot for future cards – ≥ 6 horizontal slots

Lian Li A3-mATX (DAN Cases wood)
Type: Mini Tower Volume: 26.3 L
Price: 299 PLN Availability: free shipping; next-day dispatch widely available.
Status: fails points 1–5; only advantages are lowest price and smallest volume.

Fractal Design Pop Mini Air
Type: Mini Tower Volume: 36.5 L
Price: 463 PLN Availability: multiple shops; Ceneo shows from 463 PLN.
Status: meets points 1–4 (front/side fans don’t block slots; > 75 mm GPU clearance; bottom fans optional) but fails point 5 (only 4 PCIe slots; no spare).

Montech Heritage Micro ATX
Type: Mini Tower Volume: 41.5 L
Price: 428.02 PLN Availability: Amazon.pl – in stock.
Status: meets points 1–4 (5 PCIe slots; bottom fans in front; \~ 78 mm GPU clearance; ample side space) but not point 5 (only 5 slots; no future-card spare).

Lian Li LANCOOL 207
Type: Mid Tower Volume: 45.5 L
Price: 486.56 PLN Availability: two stores; free shipping; \~ 14-day delivery.
Status: solves all points; smallest ATX-class mid-tower that clears every requirement.

Fractal Design North (Charcoal Black)
Type: Mid Tower Volume: 46 L
Price: 597.53 PLN Availability: free shipping; ships within 1 day; recent sales on Ceneo.
Status: all issues resolved; trade-offs are higher price and distinctive styling.

Not sure if all details are right. In your opinion, should I go straight to mid tower cases, or maybe try some a little bigger alternatives to my primary mATX primary Lian Li choice? Like Fractal Design Pop Mini Air or Montech Heritage Micro ATX, I like such "smaller" cases a bit more, but I also just want a solid final PC with no issues.

 

[Why_Me]

Thank you for responding and giving component suggestions. I will check it in detail.

For now I'm pretty sure it is better to get another case. For now I made a list like this, What do you think?

Problem raised in the criticism. Concrete requirement for a case to “solve” it:
1 ThunderboltEX 4 + GPU + bottom intake fans cannot fit together – ≥ 5 free horizontal slots or bottom-fan mounts in front of (not under) the slots
2 Losing bottom fans hurts GPU cooling – Bottom layout lets you keep two × 120 mm intakes without hitting cards, or published tests show bottom fans unnecessary
3 61 mm GPU thickness cap when bottom fans are installed – ≥ 75 mm GPU width allowance with bottom fans present
4 Extra heat from expansion card – Enough side clearance so the card is not pressed against the GPU shroud
5 Spare slot for future cards – ≥ 6 horizontal slots

Lian Li A3-mATX (DAN Cases wood)
Type: Mini Tower Volume: 26.3 L
Price: 299 PLN Availability: free shipping; next-day dispatch widely available.
Status: fails points 1–5; only advantages are lowest price and smallest volume.

Fractal Design Pop Mini Air
Type: Mini Tower Volume: 36.5 L
Price: 463 PLN Availability: multiple shops; Ceneo shows from 463 PLN.
Status: meets points 1–4 (front/side fans don’t block slots; > 75 mm GPU clearance; bottom fans optional) but fails point 5 (only 4 PCIe slots; no spare).

Montech Heritage Micro ATX
Type: Mini Tower Volume: 41.5 L
Price: 428.02 PLN Availability: Amazon.pl – in stock.
Status: meets points 1–4 (5 PCIe slots; bottom fans in front; \~ 78 mm GPU clearance; ample side space) but not point 5 (only 5 slots; no future-card spare).

Lian Li LANCOOL 207
Type: Mid Tower Volume: 45.5 L
Price: 486.56 PLN Availability: two stores; free shipping; \~ 14-day delivery.
Status: solves all points; smallest ATX-class mid-tower that clears every requirement.

Fractal Design North (Charcoal Black)
Type: Mid Tower Volume: 46 L
Price: 597.53 PLN Availability: free shipping; ships within 1 day; recent sales on Ceneo.
Status: all issues resolved; trade-offs are higher price and distinctive styling.

Not sure if all details are right. In your opinion, should I go straight to mid tower cases, or maybe try some a little bigger alternatives to my primary mATX primary Lian Li choice? Like Fractal Design Pop Mini Air or Montech Heritage Micro ATX, I like such "smaller" cases a bit more, but I also just want a solid final PC with no issues.

Add two more to that list.

https://www.ceneo.pl/158398727
https://www.montechpc.com/air-903-base

Montech Air 903 Base Review

The Montech Air 903 Base diminishes the barrier of entry even more compared to the already incredibly affordable Max variant. All the while, it delivers everything you anticipate from a contemporary, airflow-centric enclosure. To the extent that this case essentially competes only with its own...

www.techpowerup.com

https://www.ceneo.pl/158009099
https://www.antec.com/product/case/p20c

Rear exhaust fan for that case.
https://www.ceneo.pl/78016336
https://www.arctic.de/us/P12-PWM-PST/ACFAN00120A

 

[geofelt]

The pop air mini would do fine with front air intakes.
A 240 aio is possible but such would cool no better than a good twin tower cooler like noctua NH-D15s of thermalright peerless asassin

 

[IntrovertedPotato]

Add two more to that list.

Montech Air 903 Base Review

The Montech Air 903 Base diminishes the barrier of entry even more compared to the already incredibly affordable Max variant. All the while, it delivers everything you anticipate from a contemporary, airflow-centric enclosure. To the extent that this case essentially competes only with its own...

www.techpowerup.com

Thanks for the recommendations. I actually had the Montech Air 903 on that list but thought it was too long for one response, so I removed it. I looked at its Max version though, so I’ll check out this other one too.

 

[williamjeremiah]

For anyone not familiar with caseend.com, it is a convenient webpage for discovering and comparing available cases.

 

[IntrovertedPotato]

The add in card in a MATX case is very close to the graphics card and bottom intake will obstruct the gpu fans which is the component that needs cooling most.

Youre right here. Now I am sure this extension card would cause numerous issues - so my only option for this mATX case (or possibly any mATX case) is to get a more costly motherboard with native USB4/Thunderbolt 4. I think logically this should cause no more issues, or am I wrong?

My current two builds to consider are:

___________________________________
A. Micro ATX:

- Case: Lian Li A3-mATX wood (370 PLN)
- CPU ooling: ARCTIC Freezer 34 eSports DUO (200 PLN)
- One rear exhaust fan: Arctic P12 PWM PST (26 PLN). No obstructions – priority is low noise level and decent airflow.
- Bottom slim fans: SilverStone Air Slimmer 120 (200 PLN za 3 sztuki). It has higher static pressure than other slim options, which helps push air through the mesh. It's a bit louder, but I can accept that trade-off.
- Power supply: Corsair RM850e 850 W (530 PLN)
- SSD: Crucial T500 1TB (380 PLN). Avoid picking up an SSD with a heatsink from the factory as removing that may void warranty. Motherboard comes with heat spreaders for M.2 SSD's
- Motherboard with USB4: ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi (1650-1900 PLN)
- GPU: ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 5070 OC (2800-3000 PLN) or MSI GeForce RTX 5070 12G Gaming Trio OC (2800-3000 PLN)
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance 6000MHz CL30 (504 PLN)
- AMD Ryzen 7 7700 OEM (830 PLN) - 830 PLN
^ Out of the box, the Ryzen 7 7700 trails the 7700X by roughly 3–7% in multi-threaded tests, but enabling Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) auto closes nearly all of that gap, bringing performance within 1–3% of the 7700X. Applying a –30 mV offset via the Curve Optimizer can yield an additional ~3–4% improvement in multi-threaded workloads while cutting peak temperatures by up to 15 °C, making the non-X model a cost-effective alternative to the 7700X.

Total = ~7490 PLN

Future upgrades (later this year):
- Cooling: Be Quiet! Light Loop 360 (572 PLN). Generally has to be strong enough to sustain things like Blender rendering (sustained high average, and very high peaks).
- GPU: RTX 5070 Ti, something stronger from AMD or maybe RTX 5080 (last one probably unlikely).
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X


___________________________________
B. Mid Tower sized:

- Case: Lian Li LANCOOL 207 (423 PLN) or Fractal Design North (592 PLN)
- CPU cooler: ARCTIC Freezer 34 eSports DUO (200 PLN) or Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE (190 PLN). Arctic has much better warranty.
- Top fans: 2 × Arctic P14 PWM PST (64 PLN for 2)
- Rear fan: 1 × Arctic P12 PWM PST (26 PLN)
- Power supply: Corsair RM850e 850 W (530 PLN)
- SSD: Crucial T500 1TB (380 PLN). Avoid picking up an SSD with a heatsink from the factory as removing that may void warranty. Motherboard comes with heat spreaders for M.2 SSD's
- GPU: ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 5070 OC (2800-3000 PLN) or MSI GeForce RTX 5070 12G Gaming Trio OC (2800-3000 PLN)
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance 6000MHz CL30 (504 PLN)
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700 OEM (830 PLN)
^ Out of the box, the Ryzen 7 7700 trails the 7700X by roughly 3–7% in multi-threaded tests, but enabling Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) auto closes nearly all of that gap, bringing performance within 1–3% of the 7700X. Applying a –30 mV offset via the Curve Optimizer can yield an additional ~3–4% improvement in multi-threaded workloads while cutting peak temperatures by up to 15 °C, making the non-X model a cost-effective alternative to the 7700X.
- Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi (1471 PLN) or Gigabyte X870E AORUS PRO ICE (1500 PLN).
^ B850-E is more recent and has some AI fireworks. Both have USB4 ports 40 Gbps (Asus has 1, Gigabyte has 2).

Totals = ~7228 PLN

Future upgrades (later this year):
- Cooling: Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360mm (430 PLN). Generally has to be strong enough to sustain things like Blender rendering (sustained high average, and very high peaks).
- GPU: RTX 5070 Ti, something stronger from AMD or maybe RTX 5080 (last one probably unlikely).
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

 

[geofelt]

Have you considered using an Ultra 5-245K OR 7-265k?
The processors are stronger for non gaming work than the 7700 and consume very little energy.
Price should be comparable.

 

[IntrovertedPotato]

Have you considered using an Ultra 5-245K OR 7-265k?
The processors are stronger for non gaming work than the 7700 and consume very little energy.
Price should be comparable.

Welcome back. You're right, it would be a better choice. But in the future I wanted to target a stronger CPU from AMD (AMD Ryzen 9 9950X). If I get a budget Intel CPU now, I would have to buy a motherboard for it as well. Then I would either have to stick with Intel for future upgrades or replace the motherboard (when getting that AMD Ryzen 9 9950X). Native USB4/Thunderbolt 4 motherboards are costly, so buying two isn't a good option for me. I like Intel CPUs, but they can be harder to cool when aiming for something stronger later on.

 

[geofelt]

Today, the Ultra 285K is comparable to the 9950x in performance, looking at the passmark ratings.
There is supposed to be an incremental upgrade on the same 1851 socket this fall.

 

[IntrovertedPotato]

Today, the Ultra 285K is comparable to the 9950x in performance, looking at the passmark ratings.
There is supposed to be an incremental upgrade on the same 1851 socket this fall.

Good competition is always good for us clients. I'll see then what is my best choice.
For now, I need to decide about other parts as well. Would you rate my current two builds positively? Based on my understanding, both setups (mATX and mid tower) should work fine even with a stronger CPU in a future upgrade, if liquid cooling is added later. Temperatures would be better in the mid tower variant. The micro ATX variant could still maintain stable temperatures under demanding tasks, but the main difference would be noise, as mATX with the same processor and comparable cooling may need to ramp everything up more, causing more noise. The A3 can match the 207’s temperatures only by running its fans faster.

 

[williamjeremiah]

Today, the Ultra 285K is comparable to the 9950x in performance, looking at the passmark ratings.
There is supposed to be an incremental upgrade on the same 1851 socket this fall.

Even if there is a chance Intel's next CPU uses the same socket, is an incremental upgrade worth forking over another $350 to $500 within a year of purchasing the previous ?
Look at the list of processors I've owned, down in my signature.

 

[geofelt]

Whatever you buy today will have a cheaper/stronger replacement within two years.
Buy what you need today ---today. Plan, perhaps on a graphics upgrade.

 

[IntrovertedPotato]

Even if there is a chance Intel's next CPU uses the same socket, is an incremental upgrade worth forking over another $350 to $500 within a year of purchasing the previous ?

Budget is budget. You get it to have something before achieving your target hardware.


Later I'll sell my current GPU, and maybe CPU as well. Upgrading to AMD Ryzen 9 9950X and RTX 5080 later this year makes sense for me. I can lose some, doesn't matter as my financial situation would be simply far more stable. I can't afford my target PC now without spending an unreasonable amount of money and neglecting other areas of life. In my position, RTX 5070 + Ryzen 7 7700 is a good upgrade from what I have at this moment (an older 2-in-1 device). It should be enough for now, and it should allow me to see if I want to invest more. If my beginning adventure in creative tasks (simple Blender and ZBrush modeling learning) fails, then I won't upgrade my CPU that much, for example. At most I may score some cheaper AMD Ryzen 9 7900 at this time, if I find a cheaper offer (but probaly not).