Please could someone take a look at my PCPartpicker build and give advice on how powerful it would be
Posted by -TheManInTheChair@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 17 comments
Furthermore, please could you advise if there's any parts that would make it a bit cheaper without sacrificing much performance, or vice versa, a big improvement for not much more money. Please see build here: https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/vknb8Z
Please also let me know if this build could place restrictions (not enough HDMI/USB ports, difficult to upgrade parts, etc) in the future.
Currently I'm running on a 7 year old built PC and I'd like to upgrade. My budget is pretty high, could go to around £4,000 or even a little higher, but depends on what I get for the cost.
Jatilq@reddit
Since I been posting the value of asking AI questions. Ill post this response to your question. When it comes to things Like this I ask several AI and verify the prices, because they are often off, unless I ask it to provide a direct link to the product. Here was the response from Deepseek.
Thank you for sharing the actual build list. Now I can give specific, actionable advice.
Your current build (Intel i7-14700K + RTX 5080) is strong, but there are several areas where you’re either **overspending significantly** or **locking yourself into a dead-end platform** with no easy upgrade path. With a budget up to £4,000, you have room to improve without blowing the bank.
---
## 🔍 First – Critical Pricing Errors in Your List
| Part | Your Listed Price | Typical UK Price (Feb 2026) | Saving if corrected |
|------|------------------|------------------------------|---------------------|
| **Corsair Vengeance 32GB DDR5-6000 CL30** | £479.69 | £100–120 | **\~£360** |
| **WD Black SN7100 2TB** | £279.99 | £120–150 | **\~£140** |
That’s **£500 of wasted budget** right there. Those prices are either a glitch or a very bad deal. Fixing them alone brings the build down to **\~£3180**, leaving you £820 headroom within your £4000 budget.
---
## 💰 Making It Cheaper Without Sacrificing Performance
### 1. Keep the GPU, swap CPU+motherboard to AMD AM5
**Current:** i7-14700K + MSI Z790 Max WiFi – **£593**
**Alternative:** AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + B650 motherboard – **\~£550** (or even less)
| | Intel (your pick) | AMD alternative |
|--|------------------|------------------|
| Gaming performance at 3440×1440 | Very good | **5–15% faster** (X3D cache) |
| Power consumption | High (peak \~250W) | Low (\~90W gaming) |
| Upgrade path | **None** (LGA1700 dead) | **AM5 supported to 2027+** |
| Stability | 13th/14th gen have known degradation issues (fixed via microcode, but still less ideal) | Rock solid |
**Net change:** Slightly cheaper, better gaming performance, future-proof.
### 2. CPU cooler – already good, no change needed
£75 for Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 is excellent. Keep it.
### 3. Power supply – 850W is fine, but 1000W gives headroom
RM850e (2025) is good. However, RTX 5080 can have transient spikes. For only **\~£20 more**, a **Corsair RM1000e (2025) or NZXT C1000** gives peace of mind and room for future upgrades. Optional.
### 4. Case – Montech XR is fine, but…
At £50 it’s a bargain, but check GPU length clearance. The Gigabyte AORUS Master RTX 5080 is a long card (\~340mm). The Montech XR supports up to 345mm – it will **just** fit, but cable management will be tight. For £80–100 you could get a **Lian Li LANCOOL 216** or **Fractal Pop Air** with better airflow and easier building.
---
## 🚀 Big Improvements for Not Much More Money
### 1. Upgrade CPU to Ryzen 7 9800X3D
| CPU | Approx price | Gaming uplift vs 14700K |
|-----|--------------|--------------------------|
| 7800X3D | £400 | +10% |
| **9800X3D** | **£480** | +20–25% |
The 9800X3D is the current gaming king. Adds \~£80 over the 7800X3D, or \~£130 over your Intel combo (after fixing RAM/SSD pricing). Well within budget.
### 2. Upgrade GPU to RTX 5090 (big jump, but costs more)
RTX 5090 costs \~£2000–2300 in the UK (vs your £1364 for 5080). That’s an extra **\~£700–900**. It would put you at \~£4200–4400 total after fixing RAM/SSD. You said budget could go “a little higher” – if that’s acceptable, the 5090 is a massive leap (50–70% faster at 4K). But for 3440×1440 175Hz, the 5080 is already excellent.
### 3. Faster SSD – PCIe 5.0
Your board (if you stick with Intel Z790) or a B650E/X870 AM5 board supports PCIe 5.0 SSDs. A **Crucial T705 2TB** (\~£250) is nearly 2× faster than your selected WD SN7100. No real-world gaming difference, but nice for large file transfers. Not a priority.
---
## ❗ Restrictions & Future Upgradability
### A. Dead platform (Intel LGA1700)
- **No future CPUs** beyond 14th gen. In 2–3 years, you’d need a new motherboard for any meaningful CPU upgrade.
- **Recommendation:** Go AM5 (B650/B650E/X870). You’ll be able to drop in a Zen 6 or Zen 7 CPU later.
### B. USB / HDMI ports
- **Motherboard I/O:** MSI PRO Z790-A MAX has 1× HDMI, 1× DP, 4× USB 3.2, 2× USB 2.0, 1× USB-C 3.2. That’s fine.
- **GPU (RTX 5080):** Typically 1× HDMI 2.1b, 3× DisplayPort 2.1b. No issue unless you need multiple HDMI monitors (use DP-to-HDMI adapters).
- **AM5 alternative boards** have similar or better USB (e.g., more USB-C 20Gbps).
### C. Difficulty upgrading parts
- **Case size:** Montech XR is mid-tower – fine for one GPU, but if you ever want a second GPU or more drives, it’s tight.
- **PSU cables:** RM850e uses non-sleeved cables, fine. But if you go 5090, you’ll need a 12V-2×6 connector (850e has it).
- **RAM slots:** 2 DIMMs used, 2 free – fine.
---
## 📋 Revised Build Recommendations (within £4000)
### Option A – “Better value, future-proof” (no GPU upgrade)
| Part | Suggested | Approx price |
|------|-----------|---------------|
| CPU | Ryzen 7 9800X3D | £480 |
| Cooler | Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 (keep) | £75 |
| Motherboard | ASRock B650 Steel Legend WiFi | £220 |
| RAM | 32GB DDR5-6000 CL30 (e.g. G.Skill Flare X5) | £110 |
| SSD | WD SN770 2TB or Crucial P3 Plus 2TB | £130 |
| GPU | RTX 5080 (keep) | £1364 |
| Case | Lian Li LANCOOL 216 RGB | £100 |
| PSU | Corsair RM1000e (2025) | £110 |
| Monitor | AOC Agon PRO AG346UCD (keep) | £599 |
| OS | Windows 11 Home (OEM) | £110 |
| **Total** | | **£3298** |
> That’s **£385 less than your original build** (after fixing the overpriced RAM/SSD), with **better gaming performance** and a clear CPU upgrade path.
### Option B – “Maximum performance” (add RTX 5090)
Add \~£900–1000 to the above: swap GPU to RTX 5090 (\~£2300). Total \~£4200–4300. Slightly over £4k but within “a little higher”. You’d also want a 1000W PSU (already included).
---
## ✅ Final Verdict
- **Don’t pay £480 for RAM** or £280 for a midrange SSD – that’s a trap.
- **Switch to AMD AM5** (9800X3D + B650) for better gaming, lower power, and future upgrades.
- **Keep the RTX 5080** unless you truly want 5090-level performance and can stretch the budget.
- **Consider a slightly larger case** for easier building and better airflow.
If you stick with your current Intel build, you’ll still have a fast PC, but you’ll regret the upgrade dead-end in 2 years. With your high budget, AM5 is the obvious choice.
Thilraphor@reddit
Hey, I don't know if the formatting is on purpose but you might want to check this, it helps with readability. Otherwise my bad!
Jatilq@reddit
I'm getting an error when I try to edit it, but thank you! this is much better.
Your current build (Intel i7-14700K + RTX 5080) is strong, but there are several areas where you’re either \*\*overspending significantly\*\* or \*\*locking yourself into a dead-end platform\*\* with no easy upgrade path. With a budget up to £4,000, you have room to improve without blowing the bank.
\## 🔍 First – Critical Pricing Errors in Your List
| Part | Your Listed Price | Typical UK Price (Feb 2026) | Saving if corrected
| \*\*Corsair Vengeance 32GB DDR5-6000 CL30\*\* | £479.69 | £100–120 | \*\*\\~£360\*\* |
| \*\*WD Black SN7100 2TB\*\* | £279.99 | £120–150 | \*\*\\~£140\*\* |
That’s \*\*£500 of wasted budget\*\* right there. Those prices are either a glitch or a very bad deal. Fixing them alone brings the build down to \*\*\\~£3180\*\*, leaving you £820 headroom within your £4000 budget.
\## 💰 Making It Cheaper Without Sacrificing Performance
\### 1. Keep the GPU, swap CPU+motherboard to AMD AM5
\*\*Current:\*\* i7-14700K + MSI Z790 Max WiFi – \*\*£593\*\*
\*\*Alternative:\*\* AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + B650 motherboard – \*\*\\~£550\*\* (or even less)
| | Intel (your pick) | AMD alternative |
| Gaming performance at 3440×1440 | Very good | \*\*5–15% faster\*\* (X3D cache) |
| Power consumption | High (peak \\~250W) | Low (\\~90W gaming) |
| Upgrade path | \*\*None\*\* (LGA1700 dead) | \*\*AM5 supported to 2027+\*\* |
| Stability | 13th/14th gen have known degradation issues (fixed via microcode, but still less ideal) | Rock solid |
\*\*Net change:\*\* Slightly cheaper, better gaming performance, future-proof.
\### 2. CPU cooler – already good, no change needed
£75 for Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 is excellent. Keep it.
\### 3. Power supply – 850W is fine, but 1000W gives headroom
RM850e (2025) is good. However, RTX 5080 can have transient spikes. For only \*\*\\~£20 more\*\*, a \*\*Corsair RM1000e (2025) or NZXT C1000\*\* gives peace of mind and room for future upgrades. Optional.
\### 4. Case – Montech XR is fine, but…
At £50 it’s a bargain, but check GPU length clearance. The Gigabyte AORUS Master RTX 5080 is a long card (\\~340mm). The Montech XR supports up to 345mm – it will \*\*just\*\* fit, but cable management will be tight. For £80–100 you could get a \*\*Lian Li LANCOOL 216\*\* or \*\*Fractal Pop Air\*\* with better airflow and easier building.
\## 🚀 Big Improvements for Not Much More Money
\### 1. Upgrade CPU to Ryzen 7 9800X3D
| CPU | Approx price | Gaming uplift vs 14700K |
| 7800X3D | £400 | +10% |
| \*\*9800X3D\*\* | \*\*£480\*\* | +20–25% |
The 9800X3D is the current gaming king. Adds \\~£80 over the 7800X3D, or \\~£130 over your Intel combo (after fixing RAM/SSD pricing). Well within budget.
\### 2. Upgrade GPU to RTX 5090 (big jump, but costs more)
RTX 5090 costs \\~£2000–2300 in the UK (vs your £1364 for 5080). That’s an extra \*\*\\~£700–900\*\*. It would put you at \\~£4200–4400 total after fixing RAM/SSD. You said budget could go “a little higher” – if that’s acceptable, the 5090 is a massive leap (50–70% faster at 4K). But for 3440×1440 175Hz, the 5080 is already excellent.
\### 3. Faster SSD – PCIe 5.0
Your board (if you stick with Intel Z790) or a B650E/X870 AM5 board supports PCIe 5.0 SSDs. A \*\*Crucial T705 2TB\*\* (\\~£250) is nearly 2× faster than your selected WD SN7100. No real-world gaming difference, but nice for large file transfers. Not a priority.
\---
\## ❗ Restrictions & Future Upgradability
\### A. Dead platform (Intel LGA1700)
\- \*\*No future CPUs\*\* beyond 14th gen. In 2–3 years, you’d need a new motherboard for any meaningful CPU upgrade.
\- \*\*Recommendation:\*\* Go AM5 (B650/B650E/X870). You’ll be able to drop in a Zen 6 or Zen 7 CPU later.
\### B. USB / HDMI ports
\- \*\*Motherboard I/O:\*\* MSI PRO Z790-A MAX has 1× HDMI, 1× DP, 4× USB 3.2, 2× USB 2.0, 1× USB-C 3.2. That’s fine.
\- \*\*GPU (RTX 5080):\*\* Typically 1× HDMI 2.1b, 3× DisplayPort 2.1b. No issue unless you need multiple HDMI monitors (use DP-to-HDMI adapters).
\- \*\*AM5 alternative boards\*\* have similar or better USB (e.g., more USB-C 20Gbps).
\### C. Difficulty upgrading parts
\- \*\*Case size:\*\* Montech XR is mid-tower – fine for one GPU, but if you ever want a second GPU or more drives, it’s tight.
\- \*\*PSU cables:\*\* RM850e uses non-sleeved cables, fine. But if you go 5090, you’ll need a 12V-2×6 connector (850e has it).
\- \*\*RAM slots:\*\* 2 DIMMs used, 2 free – fine.
\---
\## 📋 Revised Build Recommendations (within £4000)
\### Option A – “Better value, future-proof” (no GPU upgrade)
| Part | Suggested | Approx price |
| CPU | Ryzen 7 9800X3D | £480 |
| Cooler | Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 (keep) | £75 |
| Motherboard | ASRock B650 Steel Legend WiFi | £220 |
| RAM | 32GB DDR5-6000 CL30 (e.g. G.Skill Flare X5) | £110 |
| SSD | WD SN770 2TB or Crucial P3 Plus 2TB | £130 |
| GPU | RTX 5080 (keep) | £1364 |
| Case | Lian Li LANCOOL 216 RGB | £100 |
| PSU | Corsair RM1000e (2025) | £110 |
| Monitor | AOC Agon PRO AG346UCD (keep) | £599 |
| OS | Windows 11 Home (OEM) | £110 |
| \*\*Total\*\* | | \*\*£3298\*\* |
\> That’s \*\*£385 less than your original build\*\* (after fixing the overpriced RAM/SSD), with \*\*better gaming performance\*\* and a clear CPU upgrade path.
\### Option B – “Maximum performance” (add RTX 5090)
Add \\~£900–1000 to the above: swap GPU to RTX 5090 (\\~£2300). Total \\~£4200–4300. Slightly over £4k but within “a little higher”. You’d also want a 1000W PSU (already included).
\---
\## ✅ Final Verdict
\- \*\*Don’t pay £480 for RAM\*\* or £280 for a midrange SSD – that’s a trap.
\- \*\*Switch to AMD AM5\*\* (9800X3D + B650) for better gaming, lower power, and future upgrades.
\- \*\*Keep the RTX 5080\*\* unless you truly want 5090-level performance and can stretch the budget.
a
\- \*\*Consider a slightly larger case\*\* for easier building and better airflow.
If you stick with your current Intel build, you’ll still have a fast PC, but you’ll regret the upgrade dead-end in 2 years. With your high budget, AM5 is the obvious choice.
Provisional_Hope@reddit
swap out the 14700k for a 9800x3d
-TheManInTheChair@reddit (OP)
It's not compatible with the rest of the build according to Pcpartpicker
Antenoralol@reddit
PCPartPicker Part List
Top_Company7340@reddit
Change the Mobo to a X870 chipset, then it will be compatible.
Sea_Conversation9595@reddit
You need to swap the motherboard also to make it compatible
Thilraphor@reddit
I am going to assume you want it for gaming. I made some changes for some parts but left the case and such since that is mostly personal preference. The 5080 you chose has a customizable screen in case you didn't know that. I changed the CPU since that is the best on the market right now. Got the same quality of RAM for cheaper with RGB since that is a theme in your build. Changed the PSU to one with a better rating and more wattage. Saved a little under £100 as well:
PCPartPicker Part List
-TheManInTheChair@reddit (OP)
Please could you briefly explain why AMD Ryzen is better than Intel right now? I really have little clue about the differences between the two and I've always been intel.
Otherwise i'll take a look at the system and will probably go for it thank you.
Thilraphor@reddit
AMD put some extra L3 V-Cache on the CPU which gives a MASSIVE improvement in gaming. Besides that Intel shipped (and might still) the 13th and 14th gen CPUs with a bad microcode causing it to fry itself. Anywhere you look people will recommend AMD over Intel for gaming, and the gap is not close. For other stuff Intel might be a better choice. But for gaming AMD is sitting comfortably at the top
-TheManInTheChair@reddit (OP)
Make sense and a quick online check, along with other comments, seems to verify that, thank you.
Will have a further look around but will probably end up with something very similar to what you sent. Thank you so much, if you could give any more advice on parts or building, I'd be very thankful
Thilraphor@reddit
You're very welcome, if you have any questions at any point feel free to ask!
kawaii_Summoner@reddit
Briefly? AMD X3D CPUs have a larger L3 cache, which provides superior fps & 1% lows. It also relies less heavily on your RAM, making suboptimal kits viable.
Gamer Nexus' 9850x3d review has some benchmarks for gaming fps, typically goes something like 9850x3d > 9800x3d > 9950x3d. With the best intel chips fighting against the 7800x3d for 4th-5th place.
rainmakesthedaygood@reddit
9800X3D CPU, you need to change your motherboard to AM5 too.
Tall_Apricot_9842@reddit
swap mobo n cpu to am5, go for a 5070ti or 9060xt instead, dont use windows
Important_Sea_1136@reddit
LGA1700 doesn't make a lot of sense to buy in 2026 if you are building with ddr5. Either go LGA1851 if you prefer intel or AM5