Hey all! Looking to upgrade to a new build, but I am not familiar with newer hardware. Would appreciate any advice! I am shopping from Canada.
Requirements
I have 2 main uses for my PC:
Software development
- compiling extremely large codebases (most of an OS daily)
- running multiple VMs
- often having several IDEs open at once
- several Firefox windows with hundreds/thousands of tabs open (most discarded, but yeah I know; I have a problem ๐).
Gaming
I also have my PC hooked up to a 4K TV via a long HDMI cable, in off hours I use it as an HTPC and I play games on it. Some of the more demanding examples of games I play are: Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077, God of War, Assassin's Creed Odyssey/Shadows, emulating console games including Switch, etc.
I've been playing things like Witcher 3 at medium to low settings @ 1080p; I don't need to play at 4K, but I would like to be able to run these sorts of games at at least 1080p with high/ultra settings, without dipping below 60 FPS (barring game engine issues, of course).
My thoughts
- Large, fast NVMe for the system drive (I was thinking 4TB).
- Powerful CPU
- 128GB RAM
- Case: USB-C port(s) on the front would be nice if possible. I've been using a Phanteks Enthoo Pro (ES614P_BK), and been quite happy with it. I like the look of it, and it has a lot of room for airflow and cable management. I only thought I would buy a new case so my current setup can be given as a hand-me-down.
Budget
I see parts have gotten more expensive, I am guessing probably somewhere around $2000-3000 CAD, but I am not up to date on hardware info enough to know exactly what I need. I could go to 3k, but I also don't want to spend just for the sake of it. The most important thing is that this machine will be able to handle my workload without stumbling, and that it will be able to last me a few years before I need to upgrade again.
Misc
- I only need a case and the components, I will be reusing peripherals.
- AMD for CPU and GPU (GPU drivers are better for Linux).
- In general I would prefer brands that have a good reputation for quality, reliability, warranty/RMA, and support.
Previous build
- AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
- MSI PRO B550-A PRO
- 32GB RAM (DDR4 3600, 2x16GB, G.Skill Ripjaws V)
- MSI AMD Radeon RX 580 ARMOR OC 8GB PCI-E w/ Dual HDMI, Dual DP, DVI
- Kingston 1TB A2000 M.2 2280 NVMe
- Phanteks Enthoo Pro (ES614P_BK)
Attempted parts list
I tried to put together a parts list, but as I say I am not up to date on hardware and I don't have the time & energy to research everything:
| Type | Item | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X 4.3 GHz 16-Core Processor | $819.99 @ Memory Express |
| CPU Cooler | Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition 42 CFM CPU Cooler | $46.99 @ Memory Express |
| Motherboard | Asus ROG STRIX B650E-F GAMING WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard | $399.99 @ Memory Express |
| Memory | Kingston FURY Beast 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory | - |
| Memory | Kingston FURY Beast 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory | - |
| Storage | Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 5.0 X2 NVME Solid State Drive | $429.99 @ Memory Express |
| Case | Fractal Design Meshify C ATX Mid Tower Case | $144.99 @ Memory Express |
| Power Supply | Corsair RM850 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply | $184.99 @ Memory Express |
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts | ||
| Total | $2026.94 | |
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-04-01 22:37 EDT-0400 |
(I like Memory Express and being able to go in store if needs be, but items don't have to be from there.)
For the CPU cooler, I would recommend the Peerless Assassin instead of the Hyper 212 (basically the same price but should perform better)
For the case, I would consider the following cheaper alternatives that include more fans:
You could save over $50 on each of the RAM kits with these from Patriot, their speed and latency is the same as the kit you've specced out but a little looser on the other timings, not sure how much that matters in your workload. There's also options from Silicon Power and G.Skill (Ripjaws or Flare) that again are same speed/latency, but looser timings. Of these I think the G.Skill Flare kits are most well regarded for AMD platforms.
I'm not super familiar with the intricacies of AM5 chipsets so I'll avoid making a specific motherboard recommendation, but it looks to me like you could probably save up to $100 there going with some of the other options that are available. Also you mentioned wanting good warranty/RMA support, there was a pretty big scandal with Asus on that front last year, and I think GamersNexus has mentioned fairly recently they still get a decent amount of emails from people having trouble with Asus, so I personally would avoid them.
I went through your suggestions, and did a bit more research. Curious about thoughts on the updated list:
PCPartPicker Part List
I took a closer look at cpu cooler options, this one looks like it is probably better (cooling / noise) if I am willing to pay more (I am, CPU workload is big for me). Seems to have variable speed, and lower noise.
Found a cheaper MOBO from MSI, as you said. Seems well reviewed..
For the RAM I think I'd rather pay a little more for a better product. I definitely won't touch G.Skill after they ghosted me during an RMA just last year.
GPU prices have gotten crazy. I see the Sapphire Radeon RX 7800 XT PULSE 16GB available for $709 CAD, and the Sapphire Radeon RX 9070 XT NITRO+ OC 16GB for $1139 CAD. Sapphire seems to be a well-regarded brand from what I can see, not many other brand options. Either seems crazy expensive for a GPU to me, but I guess this is just the reality we live in now? I've been putting off a proper GPU upgrade for so long waiting for them to be reasonable again. Torn on what to get there. ๐คทโโ๏ธ
Yeah GPU prices have gotten really stupid since last year, but your list looks really solid to me. I wish you luck in the GPU hellscape.
Thanks for your help! Really appreciate it. :D