Long time Apple user, first time gaming PC

[kgonzalez]

Budget (including currency): $1400 USD 

Country: US

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: Cities: Skylines 2, Jedi: Survivor, Baldur’s Gate 3, Elden Ring, and light coding work (full stack dev but I use a M1 MBP for 95% of my personal projects, freelancing, etc.) 

Other details I don’t plan on changing my peripherals - I have a 27” 1440p 180hz Samsung monitor, 65” Vizio M-series quantum 4K TV, ergonomic Logitech mouse and keyboard. I have a 4 TB NAS that is only ~15% full at 4 years old. 

 

Hello!

 

I have been loyal to PlayStation and Nintendo through my lifetime but really loved Cities: Skylines’ potential on a friend’s PC and can’t run away from PC gaming anymore  

 

I don’t care much for DLSS or first person shooters, do not need to scale up to 4k either. I just want a solid performance PC that will run AAA games like the ones above at 1440p for a few years. Have researched different form factors and love the Fractal Ridge Design case, so really want a clean and minimal build that can handle the resolution. 

 

I did see that Cities: Skylines 2 has a recommended spec of RTX 3080 (10 GB) | 6800 XT (16 GB). I didn’t want to blow this budget on the GPU alone but am accepting of the fact that I may have to update GPU down the road. 

 

Where I’m completely clueless is GPU and CPU compatibility across different generations and vendors. I might be undershooting the RAM specs too, but I just want to make sure this will work well together. I’m still learning (thank you LTT for your last guide ever!!) and am open to recommendations/changes to the build below. 

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Yk8KTY

 

 

 

[Zando_]

Good looking list! I only have 2 suggestions:

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/3fGfL9

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X 4.5 GHz 8-Core Processor  ($297.10 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-L12S 55.44 CFM CPU Cooler  ($64.90 @ Amazon) - Much, much more capable cooler than the L9. If you cannot stand the fan, get the Chromax version (the fan is the NF-A12x15 if you want to search it up). You want the absolute best cooler you can fit in an SFF build as it's always a limiting factor for anything above low-end hardware.
Motherboard: ASRock B650I Lightning Wifi Mini ITX AM5 Motherboard  ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Flare X5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory  ($104.99 @ Amazon) - Better timings, same speed, same price, still a clean and low-profile cooler design.
Storage: Western Digital Black SN850X 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($81.00 @ Walmart)
Video Card: XFX Speedster SWFT 309 Radeon RX 6700 XT 12 GB Video Card  ($329.95 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Ridge PCIe 4.0 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic FOCUS SGX (2021) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular SFX Power Supply  ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Noctua A14 PWM chromax.black.swap 82.52 CFM 140 mm Fan  ($26.95 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Noctua A14 PWM chromax.black.swap 82.52 CFM 140 mm Fan  ($26.95 @ Amazon)
Total: $1371.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-04-26 19:38 EDT-0400

 

And one note: Double-check that you can fit those NF-A14s in with the GPU. They are 25mm thick (frame) and 1-2mm thicker than that with the rubber sound-dampening corner pieces, so you need to have ~30-32mm clearance from the GPU (as you don't want the fans rubbing anywhere if case clearance is slightly off). Though if you want the best noise vs performance fan Noctua makes, then look at the NF-A12x25 (specifically the x25 version, not any other NF-A12 variant). They make a Chromax version of it as well now, it's a little more expensive but it is the best fan they have. They've never come out with a 140mm version because they could not get a 140mm fan to perform better than it. It will have the same vertical clearance concerns as the A14s though, ~26-27mm thick with the sound dampening corner bits.

[jaslion]

I would honestly advice against going itx if it is not needed. It has an impact on the budget and cooling of this rig. As well as limiting potential hardware.

 

This case is also just the size of a matx chassis but a bit thinner. If you want a case you can put the monitor on like this one they exist in matx and atx format which would allow for proper cooling and potentially better hardware

 

A  6800xt class gpu is simply put in budget if you choose to go for a matx sized pc.

 

Else well the cooler just can't handle that cpu at all even the best possible one is going to have a decently hard time. Otherwise it's a decent build.

 

 

[Motifator]

Cooler will prolly have no problems at all handling that 5 nm CPU... let's get real here, I, for one, does NOT want a big ass PC. Lately I've been doing ITX / SFX conversions to ALL my PCs so far... and the OP's should also go great.

Less space the better. Easier to just pull the plug, take it out and clean. Trust me, a big ass PC, due to the center of weight, is ALWAYS a burden when the cleaning time comes. Less much space spent too, on the desk.

SFF is love, SFF is life. I can understand some wanting a normal sized PC, but once you go small, you wouldn't want to go back. Surely so.

[brob]

3 hours ago, Zando_ said:

Good looking list! I only have 2 suggestions:

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/3fGfL9

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X 4.5 GHz 8-Core Processor  ($297.10 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-L12S 55.44 CFM CPU Cooler  ($64.90 @ Amazon) - Much, much more capable cooler than the L9. If you cannot stand the fan, get the Chromax version (the fan is the NF-A12x15 if you want to search it up). You want the absolute best cooler you can fit in an SFF build as it's always a limiting factor for anything above low-end hardware.
Motherboard: ASRock B650I Lightning Wifi Mini ITX AM5 Motherboard  ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Flare X5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory  ($104.99 @ Amazon) - Better timings, same speed, same price, still a clean and low-profile cooler design.
Storage: Western Digital Black SN850X 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($81.00 @ Walmart)
Video Card: XFX Speedster SWFT 309 Radeon RX 6700 XT 12 GB Video Card  ($329.95 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Ridge PCIe 4.0 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic FOCUS SGX (2021) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular SFX Power Supply  ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Noctua A14 PWM chromax.black.swap 82.52 CFM 140 mm Fan  ($26.95 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Noctua A14 PWM chromax.black.swap 82.52 CFM 140 mm Fan  ($26.95 @ Amazon)
Total: $1371.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-04-26 19:38 EDT-0400

 

And one note: Double-check that you can fit those NF-A14s in with the GPU. They are 25mm thick (frame) and 1-2mm thicker than that with the rubber sound-dampening corner pieces, so you need to have ~30-32mm clearance from the GPU (as you don't want the fans rubbing anywhere if case clearance is slightly off). Though if you want the best noise vs performance fan Noctua makes, then look at the NF-A12x25 (specifically the x25 version, not any other NF-A12 variant). They make a Chromax version of it as well now, it's a little more expensive but it is the best fan they have. They've never come out with a 140mm version because they could not get a 140mm fan to perform better than it. It will have the same vertical clearance concerns as the A14s though, ~26-27mm thick with the sound dampening corner bits.

 

Consider a better CPU cooler, memory with better timings, an ATX 3.0 compliant PSU, and different fans.

 

PCPartPicker Part List

 

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X 4.5 GHz 8-Core Processor ($294.00 @ Amazon) 

CPU Cooler: Thermalright AXP120-X67 59 CFM CPU Cooler ($43.90 @ Amazon) 

Motherboard: ASRock B650I Lightning Wifi Mini ITX AM5 Motherboard ($199.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory: TEAMGROUP T-Create Expert 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory ($102.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Western Digital Black SN850X 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($81.00 @ Walmart) 

Video Card: XFX Speedster SWFT 309 Radeon RX 6700 XT 12 GB Video Card ($329.95 @ Amazon) 

Case: Fractal Design Ridge PCIe 4.0 Mini ITX Tower Case ($129.99 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply: Corsair SF850L 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular SFX Power Supply ($129.99 @ Amazon) 

Case Fan: ARCTIC P14 PST 72.8 CFM 140 mm Fan ($12.99 @ Amazon) 

Case Fan: ARCTIC P14 PST 72.8 CFM 140 mm Fan ($12.99 @ Amazon) 

Total: $1337.79

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-04-26 22:58 EDT-0400

[Jeppes]

You are paying a huge premium for the itx and that means a slower gpu or cpu. 4070 super or 7900gre are about 50% faster than 6700xt. Of course 4070s with ray-tracing is massively better.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700 3.6 GHz 8-Core Processor  ($285.00 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B650M Pro RS WiFi Micro ATX AM5 Motherboard  ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: TEAMGROUP T-Create Expert 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory  ($102.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: MSI SPATIUM M480 PRO 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($69.00 @ MSI)
Video Card: Asus DUAL OC GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER 12 GB Video Card  ($599.99 @ Newegg)
Case: SAMA IM01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($55.90 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic FOCUS SGX (2021) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular SFX Power Supply  ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: ARCTIC P12 PST 56.3 CFM 120 mm Fans 5-Pack  ($39.64 @ Amazon)
Total: $1412.50
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-04-27 03:22 EDT-0400

 

 

 

 

[filpo]

8 hours ago, kgonzalez said:

Budget (including currency): $1400 USD 

Country: US

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: Cities: Skylines 2, Jedi: Survivor, Baldur’s Gate 3, Elden Ring, and light coding work (full stack dev but I use a M1 MBP for 95% of my personal projects, freelancing, etc.) 

Other details I don’t plan on changing my peripherals - I have a 27” 1440p 180hz Samsung monitor, 65” Vizio M-series quantum 4K TV, ergonomic Logitech mouse and keyboard. I have a 4 TB NAS that is only ~15% full at 4 years old. 

 

Hello!

 

I have been loyal to PlayStation and Nintendo through my lifetime but really loved Cities: Skylines’ potential on a friend’s PC and can’t run away from PC gaming anymore  

 

I don’t care much for DLSS or first person shooters, do not need to scale up to 4k either. I just want a solid performance PC that will run AAA games like the ones above at 1440p for a few years. Have researched different form factors and love the Fractal Ridge Design case, so really want a clean and minimal build that can handle the resolution. 

 

I did see that Cities: Skylines 2 has a recommended spec of RTX 3080 (10 GB) | 6800 XT (16 GB). I didn’t want to blow this budget on the GPU alone but am accepting of the fact that I may have to update GPU down the road. 

 

Where I’m completely clueless is GPU and CPU compatibility across different generations and vendors. I might be undershooting the RAM specs too, but I just want to make sure this will work well together. I’m still learning (thank you LTT for your last guide ever!!) and am open to recommendations/changes to the build below. 

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Yk8KTY

 

 

 

I'd get a 7800X3D

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz 8-Core Processor  ($383.99 @ Amazon) 
Motherboard: MSI PRO B650M-A WIFI Micro ATX AM5 Motherboard  ($144.00 @ MSI) 
Memory: *Silicon Power Value Gaming 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory  ($97.97 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Leven JPS800 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($104.99 @ Amazon) 
Video Card: ASRock Challenger OC Radeon RX 7800 XT 16 GB Video Card  ($489.99 @ Newegg) 
Case: SAMA IM01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($55.90 @ Amazon) 
Power Supply: MSI MAG A850GL PCIE5 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  ($104.00 @ MSI) 
Custom: Thermalright PA120 MINI ($39.00)
Total: $1419.84
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-04-27 04:05 EDT-0400

if you don't need 2tb get a P12 5 pack