Hey everyone,
I’m looking for feedback on my PC build. My current setup, a Ryzen 5 3700X with 32GB of RAM and an RX 480, has served me well over the past three years. However, it’s driving me nuts lately because of the noise. The high TDP of the 3700X, combined with the cheap Cooler Master N400 case I originally got to accommodate my pile of HDDs, has made it unbearably loud. I’m planning to repurpose that build as a file server, so it’s time for a much-needed upgrade.
Here’s the new build I’m considering:
| Type | Item | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 9700X 3.8 GHz 8-Core Processor | |
| CPU Cooler | Noctua NH-D15S 82.52 CFM CPU Cooler | $99.95 @ Amazon Canada |
| Motherboard | MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard | |
| Memory | TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory | |
| Storage | Timetec 35TTFP6PCIE 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive | $0 (on hand) |
| Storage | Seagate IronWolf 12 TB 3.5" 7200 RPM Internal Hard Drive | $0 (on hand) |
| Video Card | Asus Dual GeForce RTX 3060 V2 OC Edition GeForce RTX 3060 12GB 12 GB Video Card | $0 (on hand) |
| Case | Fractal Design Focus 2 ATX Mid Tower Case | $79.99 @ Canada Computers |
| Power Supply | Corsair RM750e (2023) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply | $114.99 @ Newegg Canada |
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts | ||
| Total | $1029.32 |
A bit about my design decisions:
- Case: I chose the Fractal Design Focus 2 ATX case because of its 140mm fans and the option for a USB-C upgrade. I considered the be quiet! Pure Base 500 for its quieter performance, but I decided against it since the slight noise reduction wasn’t worth sacrificing overall airflow. My main thing is that I can’t stand cases with exposed glass panels, so I was looking for cases that either were fully mesh or had non-glass side panels. I’m okay with mini-ATX cases or getting an mATX board but I’d rather have a larger PC and the option of adding additional expansion cards with an ATX mobo.
- CPU: I opted for the Ryzen 7 9700X over the 7700X for its lower TDP, which I hope will translate to quieter operation and lower temperatures. I ruled out the X3D CPUs since my main use case includes development, virtualization, and some local AI workloads (e.g., Local LLaMA), with gaming as a secondary focus.
- Cooler: I went with the Noctua NH-D15S for its quiet operation and compact design. While its airflow is slightly worse than the standard NH-D15, I felt the trade-off was worth it. A little peace of mind as well for it conflicting with the rest of my build.
- Motherboard: I chose the MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK because it has the most USB ports and strong VRMs, which fit my needs since I tend to lag behind the latest GPU generations (e.g., buying prior-gen GPUs for 1080p/1440p gaming). Its lack of a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot could limit future graphics upgrades, but I hope to still upgrade to x4 cards down the line when prices drop. Alternative bundled mobos I considered were the ASUS TUF GAMING B650-E and GIGABYTE B650 EAGLE AX, which I’m open to switching to if the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
- PSU: I picked the Corsair RM750e because it was the cheapest Tier A option on the PSU Tier List.
- RGB: Not a fan of LEDs and RGB and I’m willing to pay a premium to avoid it.
- Upgrades in mind: I don’t need this build to last five years without upgrades. My plan is to eventually upgrade the GPU (to the best current-gen GPU under $400 USD when prices drop) and bump the RAM to 64GB if I take on heavier virtualization workloads.
Does this look like a balanced build?
Are there areas where I could improve performance or save money? I’d also love thoughts on my motherboard choice and whether my upgrade path assumptions make sense. Thanks in advance for the feedback! 😊
About your notes regarding case. I don’t believe geeater silence is worth higher temperatures overall. Between 9700 and DDR5, you will for sure noticr a difference in speed. I would recommend X670/E if you had any interest in 2 to 3 yeats for the new CPU architecture going up to 16 cores.
Overall I like the price to perforamnce, as long as you stay at 8 cores. I would suggest a 5070 to help with workflow, I know that it’s going to be over 400USD.
Why the Tomhawk over their other boards or Gigabte?
I really doubt OP will have any performance issues with a 9700x and the D15s cooler, and because it’s a noctua fan it will be inaudible. I have the older NH-D14 and my 5800x3d rarely even touches 70c, and that’s with bad mounting/thermal paste and an RTX 4090 dumping 300+ watts of extra heat. When I did it right the first time it would never leave the 60s. And that’s in a much older Fractal Define R4 which is not known for airflow. My friend with an overclocked 5900x has no issues on his D15.
I do agree with opting for an x670/e board for longevity, but a B650e will also get OP the pcie 5 slots and those don’t cost much more than a b650.