Building a PC for the first time in 8 years, could use some advice before purchasing.
Posted by Refrobate@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 15 comments
Hello! Building a PC for the first time in 8 years. Did plenty of research way back when, but I am trying to get caught up on recent gaming trends, future-proofabilty, and also being worried about component compatibility.
Namely, I understand that there was a period of time where some 5000 series GPUs were catching fire: I really don't want to drop an exhorbitant amount of money on a PC only for it to catch fire. I also don't understand the difference between some CPU types (i.e., Ryzen 9 9950X vs. Ryzen 9 9950X3D2). Right now with SSDs, I also really don't know what makes a good SSD for gaming, vs just a LARGE SSD. If anyone could help me discern the differences, I would greatly appreciate it.
I have created a list below that is the best things I can come up with, all while being NON-RGB. I made big RGB build when I was younger and either iCue software or the components themselves have crapped out in a way that makes a really terrible lightshow if they turn on at all these days.
Right now, price isn't an issue but if there are cost saving methods then I would gladly hear them.
[PCPartPicker Part List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/tktLsK)
Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 4.3 GHz 16-Core Processor](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/2BBFf7/amd-ryzen-9-9950x3d2-43-ghz-16-core-processor-100-100001978wof) | $899.00 @ Amazon
**CPU Cooler** | [ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 77 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/v2kqqs/arctic-liquid-freezer-iii-pro-360-77-cfm-liquid-cpu-cooler-acfre00180a) | $83.99 @ Amazon
**Motherboard** | [Asus ProArt X870E-CREATOR WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/mFFmP6/asus-proart-x870e-creator-wifi-atx-am5-motherboard-proart-x870e-creator-wifi) | $483.00 @ Amazon
**Memory** | [G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Xg2WGX/gskill-trident-z5-neo-64-gb-2-x-32-gb-ddr5-6000-cl30-memory-f5-6000j3040g32gx2-tz5n) | $949.99 @ Amazon
**Storage** | [Samsung 990 Pro 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/FsqPxr/samsung-990-pro-1-tb-m2-2280-pcie-40-x4-nvme-solid-state-drive-mz-v9p1t0bw) | $249.99 @ Amazon
**Storage** | [Samsung 990 Pro 4 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/RKYmP6/samsung-990-pro-4-tb-m2-2280-pcie-40-x4-nvme-solid-state-drive-mz-v9p4t0bw) | $879.99 @ Amazon
**Video Card** | [Asus TUF GAMING OC GeForce RTX 5090 32 GB Video Card](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/2Ftkcf/asus-tuf-gaming-oc-geforce-rtx-5090-32-gb-video-card-tuf-rtx5090-o32g-gaming) | $3949.00 @ Amazon
**Case** | [Fractal Design North XL ATX Full Tower Case](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Gd26Mp/fractal-design-north-xl-atx-full-tower-case-fd-c-nor1x-02) | $194.99 @ Amazon
**Power Supply** | [Corsair RM1200x SHIFT 1200 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular Side Interface ATX Power Supply](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/LMn9TW/corsair-rm1200x-shift-1200-w-80-gold-certified-fully-modular-side-interface-atx-power-supply-cp-9020254-na) | $169.99 @ Newegg
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 11 Home Retail - Download 64-bit](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/7ZpzK8/microsoft-windows-11-home-retail-download-64-bit-kw9-00664) | $129.99 @ Adorama
| *Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts* |
| **Total** | **$7989.93**
| Generated by [PCPartPicker](https://pcpartpicker.com) 2026-05-24 13:39 EDT-0400 |
aragorn18@reddit
Saved you thousands of dollars for the same performance.
PCPartPicker Part List
Refrobate@reddit (OP)
Thank you. I really like this list and I appreciate you taking the time so compose it.
External_Safe_7787@reddit
if you tell me everything you plan to do on the pc, i would normally ask budget but you seem insanely rich so i guess thats not an issue, what games you will play, what resolution, refresh rate and monitor you have etc, then i can make a list for that? it seems more like an ai workstation than a gaming rig
Slottr@reddit
If this is just for games, you don't need 64GB of memory, and definitely don't need 990 Pros
That motherboard is supremely overpriced and doesnt offer much more than the ones 1/3 the price of it do.
Refrobate@reddit (OP)
Understood, thank you. I will trim down to 32GB and a 9950X; I appreciate your advice, thank you.
Slottr@reddit
9950X3D - not the 9950X. Very different chips when it comes to gaming performance
External_Safe_7787@reddit
for gaming a 9850x3d is better
Arcangelo_Frostwolf@reddit
Are you secretly planning to do AI work? You are over-paying for just a gaming machine. The marginal benefit of the highest price components aren't worth the marginal cost if just for gaming. Yeah, it's cool to have the bleeding edge, but it'll only be so until the next gen comes out. Then there will be $5k computers that outperform your $8000 computer.
Refrobate@reddit (OP)
No, I'm really not. I just want a good computer and to future proof it. I built my current computer back in 2018ish and already by the time Cyberpunk 2077 released, I was unable to play it. It was honestly pretty demoralizing. Trying to make something that can last and I finally have a real career and can afford to buy good, new parts. I have NO interest in AI anything.
Over-Extension3959@reddit
Like you experienced with your 2018 build, future proofing is a myth. The only thing you can future proof is selecting a CPU platform where there is promised to be CPUs for years coming. AM4 was one of that, Intel in general is / was not.
Future proofing might also mean to not do high-end, as in buy a 5080 for half of the price of a 5090 now and get the new 6080 when it releases (whenever that is), and benefit from the new features. You won’t have the absolute best system but it will be more current throughout the years and you don’t pay as much initially.
Over-Extension3959@reddit
You absolutely don’t need a 9950X3D2 or a 9950X, if this build is "just" for gaming unless the games you play benefit from more than 8 cores, which is very unlikely.
Half your RAM, get a 9800X3D, B850 is plenty for a chipset (unless you want USB4), SSDs are fine, albeit a bit overkill and you don’t need a 1.2 kW PSU, even with the 5090.
Refrobate@reddit (OP)
I really don't know how core quantity differs, I just found on userbenchmark.com that one version is higher than another. I appreciate your advice. If expected wattage is currently at \~940, what is an appropriate percentage higher of wattage to purchase on a PSU?
Over-Extension3959@reddit
userbenchmark.com is a POS, don’t use that.
Core quantity is not relevant for the majority of tasks, and if it is relevant for your work / hobby, you‘d know.
Like a said, 9800X3D is the king of gaming, there is no other CPU faster than that. And since it looks like you want a balls to the wall system, this is what to get.
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