New PC wanted budget 1.5k upto 2k max

Oct 23, 2021
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My current build:
Nothing-I use a yoga laptop for general computing

CPU: Maybe a Ryzen 9? Is that necessary? 7?
CPU Cooler: I like the idea of liquid cooling
Motherboard: I have no idea. I want something that is upgradeable for the next say 5-6 years?
Memory: I want at least 16GB
Storage: I like SSD, I think pretty much any kind is fine right?
Storage: Don't feel I need a platter drive
Video Card: Not a hardcore gamer, but my son is and I would like to be able to play some games with him like Battlefield perhaps, though high end gaming is not a MUST for me.
Case: I like BIG open cases that make changing components a breeze. No case is too big for me.
Power Supply: ??? 850watts?
Operating System: Do i care??
Total: Ideally less than $1,500 but I could be excited into going up to 2k. (not including my monitors of course)

I am honestly not a gamer really. I play super simple games and I use my PC for online roleplaying with Virtual Tabletops like Foundry. I do a lot of PDF work at home . My son is getting into gaming though and so I would like to be able to play with him from time to time. Something like the new Battlefield military game. I think it's a FPS. In general I don't NEED a lot of PC power but I do LIKE the idea of being able to play games.

I really want to be able to use 3 monitors (a big deal for me) and have something that I can upgrade without buying all new case and components. I don't have any monitors yet and I think I would like something that can handle 4k video streams for when I do get my monitors. Any suggestions on those would be welcome as they seem quite expensive, especially the curved ones. I was thinking about two curved ones with a straight one in the middle.

I get lost on which video card I really need, how important 12 cores are vs 8 or 10 and which motherboard I need for 3 monitors, etc. I really know nothing.
 
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The prices of graphics cards atm are insanely expensive due to the chip shortage. A graphics card for 4k resolution is going to run you anywhere from $1700 - $2000+. I'd recommend 1440p or even 1080p resolution.

1080P

https://www.newegg.com/black-phanteks-eclipse-p400a-atx-mid-tower/p/N82E16811854085
Phanteks Eclipse P400A Mid Tower Computer Case $74.99

Exhaust fan for that case.

https://www.amazon.com/ARCTIC-F12-PWM-PST-Technology/dp/B002QVLBM2/
ARCTIC P12 PWM, 120mm 4-Pin Case Fan $6.99

https://www.newegg.com/super-flower-leadex-iii-sf-550f14hg-550w/p/1HU-024C-00008
Super Flower Leadex III 550W 80+ Gold Modular Power Supply $74.99

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813144396
MSI MAG B560M BAZOOKA $139.99

or ...

https://www.newegg.com/gigabyte-b560m-aorus-pro/p/N82E16813145332
GIGABYTE AORUS B560M $139.99

https://www.calhountech.com/products/intel-cm8070804497016-intel-i5-11400f-4-4ghz-w-o-graphics.html
Intel Core i5-11400F $207.90

https://www.amazon.com/Gelid-Solutions-Black-CPU-Cooler/dp/B00BF3LF2I
Gelid Solutions Phantom Black CPU Cooler $39.99

https://www.amazon.com/TEAMGROUP-T-Force-Vulcan-3200MHz-Desktop/dp/B07T637L7T/
TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z DDR4 3200MHz 16GB Kit (2x8GB) CL16 $62.99

https://www.newegg.com/western-digital-blue-sn550-nvme-1tb/p/N82E16820250135
WD Blue SN550 NVMe M.2 2280 1TB PCIe 3D NAND Internal SSD $94.99
+ $10 off w/ promo code SSDTCV3

https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Graphics-DisplayPort-Axial-tech-Technology/dp/B0985X2YR1/
ASUS Dual NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 V2 OC Graphics Card $799.00

Total: $1493

1080P

Switch out the graphics card and psu in that build up above with these.

https://www.newegg.com/super-flower-leadex-iii-bronze-sf-650r14he-650w/p/1HU-024C-00017
Super Flower Leadex III Bronze PRO 650W 80+ Bronze Modular Power Supply $89.99

https://www.amazon.com/MSI-Graphics-DisplayPort-Mazepoly-Accessory/dp/B09FVLSNZ2/
MSI NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Gaming X Graphics Card $939.00

Total: $1647

1440P

Switch out the graphics card and psu in that build up above with these.

https://www.newegg.com/super-flower-leadex-iii-bronze-sf-750r14he-750w/p/1HU-024C-00018
Super Flower Leadex III Bronze PRO 750W 80+ Bronze Modular Power Supply $109.99

ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Trinity OC 8GB Graphics Card $1,299.00

Total: $2028

https://www.amazon.com/VG248QG-G-Sync-Compatible-Gaming-Monitor/dp/B08K2GYHD8/
ASUS TUF Gaming VG259QR 24.5” IPS Gaming Monitor, 1080P Full HD, 165Hz , 1ms G-SYNC Compatible $229.00



https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-VG27AQL1A-Supports-Compatible-DisplayPort/dp/B088MLC8PH
ASUS TUF Gaming 27" 2K Monitor (VG27AQL1A) - WQHD 1440P, IPS, 170Hz , 1ms, G-SYNC Compatible $349.99

https://www.asus.com/Displays-Desktops/Monitors/TUF-Gaming/TUF-Gaming-VG27AQL1A/

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-B560M-BAZOOKA

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/B560M-AORUS-ELITE-rev-10#kf

http://www.phanteks.com/Eclipse-P400A.html

Reviews of that cpu with benchmarks.

https://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/intel-core-i5-11400f-processor-review,1.html

 
Last edited:
Are you planning to build this system yourself?

It should be much cheaper to buy a PC at the moment, since the manufacturers are able to get graphic cards at much more reasonable prices.

Memory: I want at least 16GB
That's plenty for a few years.

Storage: Don't feel I need a platter drive
If it's only for gaming, then you're right.
If you might store static data—ie only accessed occasionally—like images, video, music etc, then a large HDD could be good value if you'd have terabytes of stuff. You'd also need an external backup drive, or a cloud backup if you have fast internet.

I like SSD, I think pretty much any kind is fine right?
You want NVMe, like Why_Me linked.

BIG open cases
Gotcha covered:

Power Supply: ??? 850watts?
The experts here emphasize being very careful about the PSU, there are only a few brands & models I've seen them recommend in other threads.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

No case is too big for me
Got an old fridge you could repurpose? Built-in cooling… :cool:

I use a yoga laptop for general computing
I was meditating about getting one of those on sale, but fell asleep and missed the deal :(
 
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