Question Recommendations for a gaming PC (April 2023)

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Jan 11, 2023
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I'm in the market for a new PC, and it's been quite some time since I purchased my last one (eight years, at least). In the past, I've generally built my own, although for medical reasons, I'm not sure I'd trust myself to do so currently. I haven't kept tabs on what the market is like for GPUs, harddrives, RAM, or anything else, so I'm open to suggestions.

Gaming, and in particular VR, is a major consideration.

Another major consideration is local AI image training and generation; I've heard that this can be very taxing on both CPUs and GPUs.

Budget is less of a consideration, although if y'all could give recommendations at different price points (under $1500, under $2000, under $3000, etc) that would be helpful.

Pre-builts especially, although if you can make a good budgetary case for a custom build component's list, I'd appreciate that as well.

Thanks!
 
I'm in the market for a new PC, and it's been quite some time since I purchased my last one (eight years, at least). In the past, I've generally built my own, although for medical reasons, I'm not sure I'd trust myself to do so currently. I haven't kept tabs on what the market is like for GPUs, harddrives, RAM, or anything else, so I'm open to suggestions.

Gaming, and in particular VR, is a major consideration.

Another major consideration is local AI image training and generation; I've heard that this can be very taxing on both CPUs and GPUs.

Budget is less of a consideration, although if y'all could give recommendations at different price points (under $1500, under $2000, under $3000, etc) that would be helpful.

Pre-builts especially, although if you can make a good budgetary case for a custom build component's list, I'd appreciate that as well.

Thanks!
What is your monitor resolution or do you require a monitor?
 
You'll always get better components for the money when you build it yourself. Going for absolute budget builds with those budgets doesn't make a lot of sense.

Prices are pretty mellow right now except for GPUs and motherboards (depending on what you want)

If you are serious about AI, then you want a beefy GPU, which is basically the entirety of your lowest budget.

If you are considering it as a hobby and you want to focus on VR and gaming, then there a few options to consider. Still, new GPUs are going to set you back and the previous generation aren't looking that cost effective except for one or two.

RTX4070 just launched, should be between $600 and $700. Relatively low power requirements, so you don't need a huge PSU. RTX 4070Ti is basically the same thing, but with more shader cores and another $200. Both have 12GB of VRAM. AMD Alternative to the 4070Ti is the 7900XT with 20GB of VRAM at $900+

RTX4080 is the next step up with 16GB VRAM for $1200+. 7900XTX is an alternative at $1000 with 24GB VRAM.

RTX4090 is the top pick for mixed gaming/workstation. $1600, but 24GB VRAM and nearly triple the compute of the 4070.

40 Series GPUs use a new 12VHPWR 16-pin cable. This is only available on new ATX 3.0 PSUs. GPUs have included adapters that will take 2/3/4 8-pin PCIe cables. On higher end modular power supplies, complete replacement cables are available.

For CPUs you get to pick between Intel 13th gen and Ryzen 7000 series. For A good gaming and workstation hybrid you can look at the 13900K (8P cores, 16E cores) or the 7950X with 16 full cores. DDR5 is a must at this point except for true budget builds. 2x16GB or 2x32GB DDR5 6000 with something like CAS of 36. If you were pure gaming then the i7-13700K or the Ryzen 7800X3D would be the CPUs of choice.

PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs are pretty standard and not terribly expensive per GB.

There are Dells out there that can fill most of the need, maybe add storage and RAM.

($2909, 16GB DDR5 4800, 256GB NVMe)

Lenovo and HP would have similar offerings.

And a quick and dirty build with matching hardware and then some:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i7-13700K 3.4 GHz 16-Core Processor ($397.90 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Silver Soul 110 54 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z790 UD AC ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($193.85 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6400 CL32 Memory ($199.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial P5 Plus 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte EAGLE GeForce RTX 4080 16 GB Video Card ($1149.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 4000D Airflow ATX Mid Tower Case ($94.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 TT Premium 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro OEM - DVD 64-bit ($159.97 @ Amazon)
Total: $2490.58
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-04-13 15:50 EDT-0400
 
i9+4090

Dell version of that PC with the same stuff is $4600

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i9-13900K 3 GHz 24-Core Processor ($562.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML360L ARGB V2 62 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z790 UD AC ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($193.85 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6400 CL32 Memory ($199.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial P5 Plus 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GAMING TRIO GeForce RTX 4090 24 GB Video Card ($1614.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 4000D Airflow ATX Mid Tower Case ($94.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 TT Premium 1000 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro OEM - DVD 64-bit ($159.97 @ Amazon)
Total: $3255.75
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-04-13 15:54 EDT-0400
 
@PoiuytZxc if you don't feel comfortable building yourself then a suggestion would be to call around to local mom & pops PC/laptop repair shops and find out how much they would charge to build it for you if you brought them the components. This way you know exactly what you are getting.

Fractal Design Focus 2 RGB ATX Mid Tower Case $69.98

Rear exhaust fan for that case.
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/68WfrH/arctic-p12-563-cfm-120-mm-fan-acfan00120a
ARCTIC P12 PWM 120mm 4-Pin Case Fan $9.99

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/qv...tified-fully-modular-atx-power-supply-hg2-750
FSP Group Hydro G Pro 750W 80+ Gold Modular ATX Power Supply $118.99

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/2v...x-atx-lga1700-motherboard-b760-aorus-elite-ax
Gigabyte B760 AORUS ELITE AX $179.99

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/xz8bt6/intel-core-i7-13700f-21-ghz-16-core-processor-bx8071513700f
Intel Core i7-13700F $364.89

DeepCool AG620 BK ARGB Dual Tower CPU Cooler $51.98

Low profile RAM so it doesn't impede the cpu cooler.
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/x4...ddr5-6000-cl30-memory-f5-6000j3040f16gx2-rs5k
G.Skill Ripjaws S5 DDR5-6000 32GB (2x16GB) CL30 $123.99

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/VZ...ie-40-x4-nvme-solid-state-drive-ct2000p5pssd8
Crucial P5 Plus 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVME SSD $119.99

MSI GeForce RTX 4070 VENTUS 3X OC 12GB Video Card $599.99

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/dKkWGX/microsoft-windows-11-home-oem-dvd-64-bit-kw9-00633
Microsoft Windows 11 Home OEM - DVD 64-bit $99.99

Total: $1739.98

https://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails?ItemList=Combo.4539774
MSI - MPG A850G PCIE 5.0 80+ Gold Modular 12VHPWR Cable 4080 4070 ATX 3.0 Compatible 850W Power Supply and MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti VENTUS 3X 12GB Video Card $944.98 Combo Savings: $15.00

Total: $1965.98

https://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails?ItemList=Combo.4539788
MSI - MPG A850G PCIE 5.0 80+ Gold Modular 12VHPWR Cable 4080 4070 ATX 3.0 Compatible 850W Power Supply and MSI GeForce RTX 4080 VENTUS 3X 16GB Video Card $1,318.99 Combo Savings: $15.00

Total: $2339.99

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/vw...d-fully-modular-atx-power-supply-sf-1000f14tp
Super Flower Leadex V Platinum Pro 1000W 80+ Platinum Modular ATX Power Supply $169.99

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/8h...b-video-card-geforce-rtx-4090-gaming-trio-24g
MSI GeForce RTX 4090 GAMING TRIO 24GB Video Card $1614.98

Total: $2805.97

A better look at those components.

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

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/B760-AORUS-ELITE-AX-rev-10#kf

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

 
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Hey, thanks for the recommendations, all!

To answer some questions:

Monitor is fine. I'm using a flatscreen TV, and we've got a couple more spares.


AI is ideally going to be professional. Without getting into a tl;dr, I am. or was, a painter and illustrator by trade, but some neurological damage, possibly from my Army days, has severely limited my fine motor skills. While I initially took this as a sign to switch into a more "grownup" career (lol?), the rise in AI is showing serendipitous timing.

(the neuro stuff is also why I don't trust myself to build a PC atm. I don't want to ruin a new GPU by chucking it across the room by accident...)


If running local AI (strictly local, mind; I'm NOT trying to set up a server) is more GPU intensive than even VR gaming room right, what are the minimum and average GPUs that would fit the bill?
 
Hey, thanks for the recommendations, all!

To answer some questions:

Monitor is fine. I'm using a flatscreen TV, and we've got a couple more spares.


AI is ideally going to be professional. Without getting into a tl;dr, I am. or was, a painter and illustrator by trade, but some neurological damage, possibly from my Army days, has severely limited my fine motor skills. While I initially took this as a sign to switch into a more "grownup" career (lol?), the rise in AI is showing serendipitous timing.

(the neuro stuff is also why I don't trust myself to build a PC atm. I don't want to ruin a new GPU by chucking it across the room by accident...)


If running local AI (strictly local, mind; I'm NOT trying to set up a server) is more GPU intensive than even VR gaming room right, what are the minimum and average GPUs that would fit the bill?
@Eximo would know. tbh I know zilch about VR.
 
I don't VR myself, none of the games offered really appeal to me, but deep learning and AI does better the larger the VRAM pool, and more processing power certainly doesn't hurt. Some of the programming will be for Open CL but some is likely CUDA specific, so you would have to stick with Nvidia in that case.
 
what is the power and running temp increase for RTX4070 over the 3080 .. that is my last decision on my system. And I'm going fo 12700 , avoided next gen because of power and heat .. should I consider another ... music app, MSFS Flight Simulator (probably the only game I'll play) , but I am programing AI software thanks!
 
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RTX4070 has a TBP of 200W, measurements have shown max of 223 and average 188W during gaming.

RTX3080 was a TBP of 320W, and the partner models can use more.

My 3080Ti runs at 350W stock when I give it a game that it can't fully run at 1440p 144hz. I have limited it to 280W since it retains 90% of its performance. (I even have it water cooled, just no reason to stress it that much for a nearly unnoticeable performance difference)
 
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