Question What would you buy at Microcenter? $800 to $900

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nonewsgoodnews

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Hello Everyone,

After a bad experience with a NZXT prebuilt, I've decided to build a new PC instead. I have built computers in the past, but it's been a while. Last one I built was a 4790k/GTX1080 system.
There are so many different Motherboard sockets/graphics cards/cpu generations than what I knew in the past that I'm not sure what to buy to get a balanced system.

I'm going to be buying stuff at the Marietta GA store from micro center:
www.microcenter.com

Micro Center - Computers and Electronic Device Retailer

Uniquely focused on computers and related products, Micro Center offers more computers and electronic devices than any other retailer. Micro Center is deeply passionate about providing product expertise and exceptional customer service.
www.microcenter.com www.microcenter.com

I want to spend about $800 (no windows key) but can spend more if it's worth it. I play mostly single player games like Spiderman, last of us, god of war, ect. I have two 1440p MSI Gaming monitors. I do have amazon prime so if I order stuff on there it would be here this weekend when I plan to put everything together. So if you know any killer deals to get there instead let me know.

Thanks!

For reference this was the PC I am returning. ($750):
  • Intel Core i5-12400F with Intel B760 motherboard
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Graphics
  • 16GB (2x8GB) Team T-FORCE Vulcan Z 3200MHz DDR4 Memory
  • 1TB WD Blue SN580 M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive
  • H5 Flow Case (2022) + NZXT T120 Air Cooler
 
https://www.microcenter.com/product...l-flare-24gb-ddr5-5200,-computer-build-bundle

https://www.microcenter.com/product...t-triple-fan-12gb-gddr6-pcie-40-graphics-card

https://www.microcenter.com/product...pered-glass-atx-mid-tower-computer-case-black

https://www.microcenter.com/product...-fully-modular-power-supply-atx-30-compatible

https://www.microcenter.com/product...-4-x4-nvme-m2-2280-internal-solid-state-drive

You’d need to add a cooler. Might grab another stock of ram to rub dual channel. If you’ve got the extra they’ve got a 7700x bundle with 32gb ddr5 for 399.

For a cooler Thermalright coolers are hard to beat something like this.

https://a.co/d/90wdxAv

If you don’t mind ddr4 ran they’ve got a bundle with an i7 12700k boards and 16gb ram.

https://www.microcenter.com/product...-crucial-ddr4-3200-kit,-computer-build-bundle

They’ve also got the same bundle with an i5 12600kf floor 260.
 
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Thanks I'll definitely watch a few vids comparing them. I am interested in things like DLSS to boost frame rates (which I care more about than image quality) so I will have to see how that looks. I didn't know where to start with AMD so that gives me a place to start.
 
FSR is their competing technology. Let me throw a couple more things at you depending what you want to spend. My local Microcenter has the 7800xt which is going to be closer to a 4070.

https://www.microcenter.com/product...r-triple-fan-16gb-gddr6-pcie-40-graphics-card

For 30 bucks less my local one has this 6800xt which is a generation older but performs very close to the 7800xt. This is the same card I have in my pc. I run 1440p and I’m very happy with it.

https://www.microcenter.com/product...d-triple-fan-16gb-gddr6-pcie-40-graphics-card

For reference, not sure if yours has this card, but the Microcenter near me had this refurbished 7800xt for 429.


So if you do some checking you may find you can go up a tier in card.
 
Just checking it looks like the 7800xt requires a 700 watt psu. I know you were looking at the PowerSpec unit. You might ask them about it. I would suggest to consider bumping to an 850 watt unit just for a bit of extra headroom. Also if you know for sure what you’re wanting you can put it in the cart and go through the checkout process without paying and they’ll pull it and have it for you at the reservation desk and you pay in store.
 
Do you need a case, storage, and a CPU cooler as well? If so, here is what I would do

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D 4.1 GHz 6-Core Processor ($399.99)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($36.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus TUF GAMING B650-PLUS WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard (Purchased For $0.00)
Memory: G.Skill Flare X5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory (Purchased For $0.00)
Storage: Western Digital Blue SN580 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($59.00 @ iBUYPOWER)
Video Card: ASUS Dual 7800 XT 16gb ($450.00)
Case: Fractal Design Pop Air RGB ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 TT Premium 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1095.87
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-12-05 12:06 EST-0500
 
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Intel will be better IF you’re doing production work etc. However for gaming I think AMD has a slight advantage. I know you and I were talking above. Currently I’ve got an Intel box so I’m sort of there already, but keep in mind LGA 1700 is effectively a dead socket. So after 14th gen no upgrades. With AM5 I think they are supporting it through 2027. So for example you could get a higher chip at that time and still be good through maybe 2029-2030 depending how things shake out. So AMD will give better upgrade ability.

If you’re looking at that AMD bundle I think they’ve got an option to spend 30 bucks extra for the 9700x in the same bundle.

Since I’m already set on an Intel box I’ll likely update to an i7 14700 and be set for a little while.
 
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The odds of me upgrading down the line are pretty slim. I'm predominantly a Mac user, this pc will be used for only gaming. I just want something stable with decent software. I will not buy a gigabyte motherboard after seeing the software that was on the PC I returned.

I will do some searching to see what makes the most sense for me.
 
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I'd say I get it but not totally lol. I was mac certified for a couple of years and still don't care for them completely but that's me.

Big thing you'll want to focus on is the power supply as if you get great components but your power supply is not of good quality, you can have all kinds of issues. Can be a bit pricey, but this is the power supply in my build.

https://www.microcenter.com/product...-fully-modular-power-supply-atx-31-compatible
 
ohio_buckeye said:
I'd say I get it but not totally lol. I was mac certified for a couple of years and still don't care for them completely but that's me.

Big thing you'll want to focus on is the power supply as if you get great components but your power supply is not of good quality, you can have all kinds of issues. Can be a bit pricey, but this is the power supply in my build.

https://www.microcenter.com/product...-fully-modular-power-supply-atx-31-compatible
Click to expand...
The one I linked is nearly half the price and just as good.
 
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ohio_buckeye said:
I'd say I get it but not totally lol. I was mac certified for a couple of years and still don't care for them completely but that's me.

Big thing you'll want to focus on is the power supply as if you get great components but your power supply is not of good quality, you can have all kinds of issues. Can be a bit pricey, but this is the power supply in my build.

https://www.microcenter.com/product...-fully-modular-power-supply-atx-31-compatible
Click to expand...

I became full time Mac user once the M1 MacBook Air came out. Lots of power, all day battery life, 0 fan noise. I'm a teacher and I use an Apple TV to wirelessly connect my Mac and iPad to an Apple TV when I'm lecturing. Windows laptops are starting to catch up but I don't think they are there yet. I use a Mac mini at home hooked up to my dual monitor setup but I don't really use it that often, I'm mostly on the laptop.

I had moved away from PC gaming a few years ago but once the steam deck came out I started playing again, and now I want something a little more powerful to play on the big screen and also to stream to the deck.
 
helper800 said:
The one I linked is nearly half the price and just as good.
Click to expand...

Good to know. I don’t have any experience with that unit and my experiences at least with lower end thermaltake units hasn’t been great over the years. But like anyone they’ve got his end bs low end as well.

On pc gaming I get it. For a while I was just playing on my Xbox. Started looking though and caught a deal on a new msi 1440p 180hz ips monitor and well I’m hooked again lol.
 
ohio_buckeye said:
Good to know. I don’t have any experience with that unit and my experiences at least with lower end thermaltake units hasn’t been great over the years. But like anyone they’ve got his end bs low end as well.

On pc gaming I get it. For a while I was just playing on my Xbox. Started looking though and caught a deal on a new msi 1440p 180hz ips monitor and well I’m hooked again lol.
Click to expand...
On the very top of this list under Tier A, and under subsection ATX 3.0 PSUs, shows all Thermaltake Units that are model GF3 at 1200ws or less are top tier units.
 
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Ok so here is what I actually ordered to pick up this afternoon:

I went with an I7-12700k/z790/16gb DDR4 bundle for $299. By dropping to the i7 I saved $100 which let me order this GPU:

Zotac 4070
https://www.microcenter.com/product...ked-dual-fan-12gb-gddr6-pcie-40-graphics-card

With the extra $50 that was left from downgrading the processor I also bought a better PSU.

-------------

I watched videos about the 4070 vs 7800xt. I understand the 7800xt is a little better in raw performance but I think the extra benefits of Nvidia like DLSS/Frame gen/ and ray tracing will make up for it. I haven't owned an AMD GPU since the r9 290 (a long time ago...) but I had huge issues with that card at the time. (overheating bad drivers)
 
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