Build advice for 1440p gaming

skerry · 01-03-2025 12:40PM #1

After being underwhelmed with the current 'next gen' consoles, and given that most of the games I play would be better suited to PC set up, I'm thinking about taking first step into PC gaming. Happy to pick up parts once settled on a build with a view to building in a few months time. Have a Steam Deck so I have a decent library of steam and epic games ready to go too.

Aiming for 1440p. Further details below. Thanks in advance for any advice as I'm kind of green in terms of PC building. Currently trying to educate myself with YouTube videos

1. What is your budget? €2000

This is is mainly coming from totting up the costs of the parts from the build in the video below. Id be happy to get what I want for less than that if some of the recommendations there are overkill for what I need

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer?

Gaming - no FPS games or online shooters. Mostly want to play the like of Cyberpunk, BG3 and Civ VI at decent fps

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? Yes

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer?

No

5. Do you need a monitor?

Yes

5a. If yes, what size do you need.

27'

1440p

6. Do you need any of these peripherals?

First build so would need any of the essential peripherals

7. Are you willing to try overclocking?

No - don't know enough about it

8. How can you pay?

Card, transfer, anything really

9. When are you purchasing?

My plan is to pick up the most expensive parts as I see deals. Not in major rush. Id be happy to start collecting what I need with a view to getting build in a few months time

10. If you need help building it, where are you based?

Clare

I have looked at the build in the below video which has CPU/ GPU combo of AMD Ryzen 7 7700 & Gigabyte Radeon RX 7800 XT. Would this be a good staring point. The monitor in the video is too expensive so happy to cut a little cost there.

Any recommendations massively appreciated. As I'm not in a major rush, is there new cards coming out soon and would that mean previous cards might not be as costly?

https://youtu.be/cm0-8JKxIqo?si=VtrMQv8DU7-NfuJE

Spear · 01-03-2025 12:46PM

The new AMD cards were just out yesterday, the 9070 and 9070XT, but the entire GPU market is an absolute dumpster fire. There's no stock, massive price gouging, serious manufacturing and design issues with the nVidia 50xx series etc etc. You won't have much choice to but wait for one, so you should give serious consideration to going with a second hand GPU.

For a Windows licence key, just get one for €20 from a key seller site like Kinguin or similar. No need to pay full whack at the cost of hardware.

skerry · 01-03-2025 01:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123221979#Comment_123221979

Thanks for that. I was kind of getting the impression the market was a mess from the videos I was watching, but was hoping that was more restricted to the very high end cards.

Anywhere I should be looking for second hand cards apart from the usual Advert and eBay? Is there anything I should be looking out for with a secondhand card?

The 7800xt is on Amazon Germany for around 500 euro but I've no idea if that's a good price or not. Or even if that's the card I specifically need

Spear · 01-03-2025 01:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123222031#Comment_123222031

€550 should get you a 9070 XT instead which is significantly faster. That's assuming there's no stock issues or price gouging. AMD should be better on the stock side than nVidia at least, they've been shipping out the 9070's since early January.

skerry · 01-03-2025 02:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123222047#Comment_123222047

Any recommended outlets I should be looking at. Couldn't find anything online there but I don't think it's released for another week

K.O.Kiki · 01-03-2025 03:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123221979#Comment_123221979

9070 / 9070 XT were REVEALED yesterday, not released.

Stock won't be showing up in stores until the 6th

skerry · 02-03-2025 01:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123222373#Comment_123222373

How does it go with new card releases theses days? If I'm thinking of getting a 9070 for a build would it be advisable to get the card at release? Do they typically get nabbed by scalpers or have inflated rrp down the line due to stock issues?

Coyler · 02-03-2025 05:04PM

As @Spear said, they've been stocking retailers for months now. There are pictures doing the rounds of shelves full of cards in storage, ready to go. Generally card releases have been awful since Cypto/COVID/AI but given AMD's MSRP for their new cards along with potentially a decent supply we are all hoping it's finally over. it looks promising but we can't know until a few weeks play out.

skerry · 07-03-2025 12:27PM

So I've managed to get a 9070xt now. More than I planned to spend but I did want to future proof the build as much as possible.

Any recommendations on a CPU to go with that. Was looking at Ryzen 7 7700 x per the above build visor but I'll happily go with something cheaper if that's overkill for my needs.

Spear · 07-03-2025 12:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123240480#Comment_123240480

What's the budget for the CPU, if there is one?

skerry · 07-03-2025 12:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123240491#Comment_123240491

Seeing as I spent way more on GPU than I had planned, I'm thinking if I can get something below 250ish. I don't want to go overboard if not needed but happy to wait and get money together for something that I know won't bottle neck the GPU seeing as I've spent more than I planned on that

K.O.Kiki · 07-03-2025 01:06PM

Ryzen 5 7600 or 9600 will do you fine.

skerry · 07-03-2025 01:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123240619#Comment_123240619

Legend, thanks for that. I think I'll go with the 7600 so.

byrne249 · 07-03-2025 01:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123240502#Comment_123240502

Built a PC last week myself after being away from it for a long while. Got the 9700x, lower power consumption and it's slightly better than the 7700x for not much more. It's all the same really. I think the X3D 'gaming' cpus are more of a marketing ploy than anything you'll notice in game.

K.O.Kiki · 07-03-2025 03:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123240783#Comment_123240783

That's simply not true, the 3D V-cache has massive benefits in many games for faster FPS / 1% frametimes due to the simple fact the CPU + GPU are spending less time communicating with each other about "can you draw this frame / wait to draw this frame" since the data is in L3 cache.

https://gamersnexus.net/cpus/rip-intel-amd-ryzen-7-9800x3d-cpu-review-benchmarks-vs-7800x3d-285k-14900k-more

Look at a game like Baldur's Gate - it goes from 99.1 fps (Ryzen 9700X) → 160.3 fps (9800X3D) - a 62% increase in performance DESPITE being 300MHz slower!

skerry · 07-03-2025 04:08PM

Any thoughts on ordering a 'Used Like New' motherboard from Amazon. Or is Mobo something I'd really want to be buying new?

Looking at the 'MSI B650 GAMING PLUS WIFI Motherboard'. It's £150 new but £120 for the like new version.

Or is there any other board in that range that would be worth considering

byrne249 · 07-03-2025 05:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123241396#Comment_123241396

The OP will be on 1440p which we all know means the cpu makes less of a difference anyway. Unless you are very serious gamer, you're not going to notice. Not saying it's not better, but for the average gamer, the extra 2-300e is massive overkill

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123241486#Comment_123241486

I got the MSI B850 for 150£, seems it's gone up again since. I returned what I think was a LIke New motherboard recently, was supposed to be new but the bluetooth module was broken

skerry · 07-03-2025 05:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123241761#Comment_123241761

Sound, I'll go for new one so. Not in a major rush so will keep an eye on prices for better boards. Although I think the MSI one I quoted seems well reviewed

byrne249 · 07-03-2025 06:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123241824#Comment_123241824

It's the hassle of taking apart the entire computer and starting again for me, anything else is fine but the motherboard is such an effort to replace.

skerry · 10-03-2025 04:42PM

Ordered motherboard. Went for an Asrock B650 Steel Legend. Trying to nail down RAM now. Looking at the below one. Transfer speed looks fine but I can't see a CL number which I understand should be around the low 30s.

Any advice if this RAM is a good choice. I can find some Klevv models of RAM on the boards QVL but not this particular one

https://amzn.eu/d/7FqRy6S

Coyler · 10-03-2025 08:58PM

If you wanted to go for cheap you can find better

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D4NLSP87?tag=pcp0f-21&linkCode=ogi&th=1

If you wanted to spend £100 you can get a whole lot better

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CORSAIR-VENGEANCE-6000MHz-Compatible-Computer/dp/B0BPTKD797?pd_rd_w=GUzks&content-id=amzn1.sym.707a350c-f6d8-4abf-9861-74c140760f91&pf_rd_p=707a350c-f6d8-4abf-9861-74c140760f91&pf_rd_r=YMF83Z6Q8HMSFCCS05V0&pd_rd_wg=hFdVV&pd_rd_r=fe39f0b5-076f-4d29-9c56-f5f47c0df743&pd_rd_i=B0BPTKD797&th=1

Not a fan of RGB but just to give you an idea.

Both are DDR5-6000 CL30 kits.

skerry · 10-03-2025 09:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123251881#Comment_123251881

Thanks for that. I was actually looking at that Vengeance kit too. Good speed and CL rating and not overly expensive. Think I'll go with them so.

Was looking at motherboard QVL and it seems to support Corsair RAM but I couldn't find that particular code for that vengeance on it. I'm sure it'll be fine.

skerry · 11-03-2025 02:52PM

RAM ordered.

For NVME drive, what should I be looking out for re speeds? And do I need a drive with DRAM?

Was looking at the below option which is around €110 for 2TB. Would this work, or is there any better options I should look out for?

https://amzn.eu/d/hQx3ENj

Would WD Black drive below be more reputable brand?

https://amzn.eu/d/fLdciyF

Planning on running with one 2TB drive for now which will be game storage and have windows installed. Not sure if it's advised to have windows on separate drive but was hoping to keep cost down a bit with just one drive for now, expand later if needed

minitrue · 11-03-2025 03:40PM

I've never heard of that brand and the fact Amazon flag it as frequently returned would be enough for me not to want it, at least for anything I cared about.

The SN770 would be a much safer bet. The cheapest of the premium-ish pci-e gen 4 options I spot on Amazon UK right now might be the Kingston KC3000 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09K7DRMSC

In practice for just gaming the difference between a sane cheap option like a Kingston NV3/SN770 and the most premium option is rarely (or very barely) perceptible. The closest to just gaming where it can start to show a benefit would be if you start to record/clip/edit gameplay footage.

I'd say if your wallet is screaming already go with an NV3 or SN770 unless you have video editing thoughts in your head already but if it's fine with the extra £20ish for a KC3000 it's a reasonable splurge. SN850X/Fury Renegade/980 Pro/990 Pro/MP600 Pro are other premium drives but all cost more today than the KC3000 which I suspect is as far as you should be splurging so I'm only listing them in case you spot a deal or want to aim high and the KC3000 has gone up/out of stock by the time you order.

skerry · 11-03-2025 04:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123254061#Comment_123254061

Much appreciated. Is it advisable to have boot drive with DRAM? Im seeing mixed opinions online. If it is, I'm thinking I might go for KC3000 1Tb to keep cost down for now. Have that as boot drive with some game storage and get something like WD Black 2 tb for game storage secondary drive once the wallet recovers from initial build splurge

minitrue · 11-03-2025 04:49PM

I wouldn't drop from 2TB to 1TB to get a dram cache, especially as the drop from 2TB to 1TB makes the value (price per TB) a lot worse while also decreasing performance and longevity (at least with every drive I've looked at). Dram cache mattered more in the days of sata ssd's and at this point I wouldn't pay more than a few euro to have it (all else being equal).

skerry · 11-03-2025 05:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123254298#Comment_123254298

Perfect. I think I'll go with the WD Black S770 2TB so.

Think I just need PSU now and I should have a build. Pc part picker says the wattage of my build is 490w so I'm guessing a 750W PSU should be loads presuming that's relatively accurate

minitrue · 11-03-2025 05:27PM

750W should be fine and you could even get away with 650W so long as it's a good power supply. It can be nice to aim for around 50% peak usage usually keeping it running cooler and quieter and also giving plenty of extra headroom for future upgrades though so it's all about the price. There's a relatively big price jump at 1000W but 850W isn't much more than 750W which isn't much over 650W at least with the ones that jumped out at me as the first options:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C7LJFVZN

Vs

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C7LKLSMD

£10 in the difference. Don't drop to 650W to shave off another £10, people will probably shout at me for even suggesting you could ;)

skerry · 11-03-2025 05:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123254412#Comment_123254412

Legend. Thanks for all the advice. I had MSI Mag PSU in my build list so might bump that to 850w just for headroom. I'm going with 9070 XT GPU and Ryzen 5 7600 CPU but might be looking to upgrade CPU way down the line and I'm guessing more power to back that up might be handy.

skerry · 13-03-2025 12:38PM

I've went with the Montech Xr case which has 2 intake fans at the side, and an exhaust at the back. Have also got a Peerless Assassin fan CPU cooler.

https://www.montechpc.com/xr

I've ordered 3 x 120mm fans and was going to put them as intake fans at bottom of case for GPU.

Question is, would the 2 intake and 1 exhaust in the cause typically be sufficient? And if not, would additional intake fans under GPU, or Exhaust fans at top of case be more beneficial?

If the postage gods smile on me I should have everything for my buil by tomorrow and plan to start on it this weekend

K.O.Kiki · 13-03-2025 01:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123260463#Comment_123260463

5x intake / 1 exhaust is a bit imbalanced, I'd do 2 GPU intake + 1 top exhaust with those extra fans.

Also make sure your PSU fan is facing down.

Build advice for 1440p gaming

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