Question 1st Desktop PC in over 15 years. Help me build it for OverWatch2 and Counter-Strike 2

[damage424]

Hi Anandtech!

It's been a while, but anytime I needed advice/help with PC's, I ask you guys and you have always delivered. I've been playing PC gaming on a laptop for over a decade now, and I have the necessary budget to go all in on a desktop PC

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

GAMING! I use to be a semi-pro gamer back in Counter-Strike 1.6 days. These days, I play at high ranks in OverWatch 2 (GrandMaster), and I also like to play Civilization 6. Another game I'm very much looking forward to Counter-Strike 2. And I'll also be playing Diablo 4 when it comes out

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread:

My Max budget is $5,000

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from:

United States

5. IF YOU have a brand preference:

I like Intel & Nvidia

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are:

Mouse, mousepad, headphones

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds:

Most likely default, as I want it to last for many years to come

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using:

I already purchased the Zowie xl2566k 360hz, and I am currently waiting for it to be shipped. It is 1080p with 360hz

9. WHEN do you plan to build it:

I'm hoping to go to Microcenter within 10 days to get all the parts and maybe have them build it. Or I would order from Newegg

10. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software:

I don't think so. Just Windows 11 Pro

I already did a good amount of research (I think), but I always prefer to get your opinion before I make this huge splash. Please let me know what you think, and where I can do better.

Mobo:

ASUS Z790-Creator​

ASUS Z790-Creator ProArt WiFi Intel LGA 1700 ATX Motherboard - Micro Center

Get it now! The ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi empowers creators of all levels by maximizing the performance of 13th & 12th Gen Intel Core processors with 16+1 teamed power stages, DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 and lightning-fast connectivity including Thunderbolt 4 (USB4 compliant), 10 Gb and 2.5 Gb Ethernet...

www.microcenter.com

Case:

Fractal Design Torrent Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case​

Fractal Design Torrent Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case - Black - Micro Center

Get it now! Find over 30,000 products at your local Micro Center, including the Torrent Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case - Black

www.microcenter.com

CPU:

Intel Core i9-13900K​

Intel Core i9-13900K Raptor Lake 3.0GHz Twenty Four-Core LGA 1700 Boxed Processor - Heatsink Not Included - Micro Center

Get it now! 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900K desktop processor. Featuring Intel Adaptive Boost Technology, Intel Thermal Velocity Boost, Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0, and PCIe 5.0 & 4.

www.microcenter.com

CPU Heatsink:

Noctua NH-D15S Chromax Black CPU Cooler​

https://www.microcenter.com/product/649943/noctua-nh-d15s-chromax-black-cpu-cooler

PSU:

Corsair RMx Series RM1000x 1000 Watt 80 Plus Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply​

Corsair RMx Series RM1000x 1000 Watt 80 Plus Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply - Micro Center

Get it now! Corsair RMx series power supplies give you extremely tight voltage control, quiet operation, Gold-certified efficiency, and a fully modular cable set. Built with all Japanese 105C capacitors, theyre a great choice for high performance PCs where reliability is essential.

www.microcenter.com

SSD:

WD Black SN850X 4TB 112L 3D TLC NAND Flash PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe M.2 Internal SSD​

WD Black SN850X 4TB 112L 3D TLC NAND Flash PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe M.2 Internal SSD - Micro Center

Get it now! Strap in for breakneck gaming speeds with the WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSD. Crush load times and slash throttling, lagging, and model pop-ins for a smooth, fast experience that lets you compete at your absolute peak. With the advanced features of Game Mode 2.

www.microcenter.com

Graphics Card:

Gigabyte NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Aero Overclocked Triple Fan 24GB GDDR6X PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card​

Gigabyte NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Aero Overclocked Triple Fan 24GB GDDR6X PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card - Micro Center

Get it now! The Windforce cooling system features three 110mm unique blade fans, alternate spinning, 10 composite copper heat pipes, a large vapor chamber directly touches the GPU, 3D active fans and Screen cooling, which together provide high efficiency heat dissipation.

www.microcenter.com

Memory:

Corsair Vengeance 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5-5600 PC5-44800 CL36 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit​

Corsair Vengeance 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5-5600 PC5-44800 CL36 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit CMK32GX5M2B5600 - Black - Micro Center

Get it now! CORSAIR VENGEANCE DDR5, optimized for Intel motherboards, delivers the higher frequencies and greater capacities of DDR5 technology in a high-quality, compact module that suits your system.

www.microcenter.com

Rear Case Fan: (EDITED & UPDATED)

Arctic Cooling P14 Fluid Dynamic Bearing 140mm Case Fan​

https://www.microcenter.com/product/600914/arctic-cooling-p14-fluid-dynamic-bearing-140mm-case-fan


OS:

Microsoft Windows 11 Pro 64-Bit FPP USB - English​

Microsoft Windows 11 Pro 64-Bit FPP USB - English - Micro Center

Get it now! Windows 11 has easy-to-use tools that can help you optimize your screen space and maximize your productivity. Combine that with a Microsoft 365 subscription* and nothing will stop you from getting tasks done. Less noise, clutter, and chaos.

www.microcenter.com

I would really love and appreciate your input and feedback. I do feel confident in things like the case, mobo, cpu, graphics card, and cpu heatsink (they all seem to be proven and stand the test of time).

Some things I'm not 100% confident in are: the memory, SSD, and PSU.
1) Is the memory compatible with the mobo?
2) Can I find a better memory stick for my setup?
3) Is the SSD I picked out good, and can I do better? I just want a fast and reliable SSD that has plenty of storage
4) Will the PSU be able to handle this setup in a safe and efficient manner?

And lastly, I know my monitor is 1080p, but it is also 360hz. I'll be needing a powerful PC that will be able to maintain at least 360 FPS to get that refresh rate on the monitor. I've always been a hardcore FPS gamer in my heart, and I'm finally in a position to be able to give myself the best (thankfully).

Thank you to everyone who made it this far and is taking the time to help me out. This forum always lead me down the right path; thanks again!

 

[Tech Junky]

First thing to do is put all of the parts into PCPartPicker.com for pricing and comparability. Then share the build link. Much easier than scrolling here.

 

[damage424]

First thing to do is put all of the parts into PCPartPicker.com for pricing and comparability. Then share the build link. Much easier than scrolling here.

Thank you so much for your help and tip!

Here is the list:

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/c8cj6r

 

[BoomerD]

I don't really see anything wrong with your parts...The motherboard isn't one I would choose personally...but it's a good board.
I LIKE the Torrent cases. They look good and are great for airflow.

As for the Ram compatibility, go to the ASUS site and verify it's on their QVL for the board/CPU combo.

I have 3 of the Be Quiet Silent Wings 3 fans in my case...they're nice and quiet...and move air very well...but the Arctic Cooling fans are rated quieter and better airflow.

 

[damage424]

I don't really see anything wrong with your parts...The motherboard isn't one I would choose personally...but it's a good board.
I LIKE the Torrent cases. They look good and are great for airflow.

As for the Ram compatibility, go to the ASUS site and verify it's on their QVL for the board/CPU combo.

I have 3 of the Be Quiet Silent Wings 3 fans in my case...they're nice and quiet...and move air very well...but the Arctic Cooling fans are rated quieter and better airflow.

Thank you so much. I'm glad to hear the mobo is a good board, and will be able to support the rig. I'm not a creator, but I do like the ethernet LAN port speeds, and it seems to have high quality parts.

I went to Asus website and found my mobo. I checked support for my memory, and it looks like it is on the approved list! Awesome

I checked to see if Microcenter carry the fan you suggested, and they do! I will gladly swap out the fan I selected for your Arctic Cooling fan in 140 mm.

Thank you so much for your help! I totally forgot to check the mobo's website for compatibility. You all rock; thank you a million.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

How's the block diagram for the board?

 

[damage424]

How's the block diagram for the board?

To be honest, I'm not sure. But yet again, I'm not super tech savvy either. I did try to look in the manual from their website, but couldn't find anything

 

[Tech Junky]

Thank you so much for your help and tip!

Here is the list:

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/c8cj6r

NP! That's what makes building easier.

I use the Arctic P/PWM/PST fans on my systems and they're great. 5-pacs on Amazon for ~$40 depending on the size.

I swapped around a couple of things to save you some money. https://pcpartpicker.com/list/tcgN8r

- Cooler - I used this with dual 120's on it and it keeps my 12700K at room temp when idle and under 60C under full load
-- I use this with a graphite pad https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BL3SCWH This keep s the mess down not having to deal with paste

- added both sizes of 120/140 fans in the 5-packs for your quick reference

- swapped the 850X for SN770's to bring down the cost - 1TB for OS / programs and 2 x 2TB for games / storage

It's about $100 less this way which could score you something else you might need. Even with both 5-packs of fans!!! You can trim some more with a MSFT key off the web for ~$10 instead of buying a full retail pack.

 

[BoomerD]

NP! That's what makes building easier.

I use the Arctic P/PWM/PST fans on my systems and they're great. 5-pacs on Amazon for ~$40 depending on the size.

I swapped around a couple of things to save you some money. https://pcpartpicker.com/list/tcgN8r

- Cooler - I used this with dual 120's on it and it keeps my 12700K at room temp when idle and under 60C under full load
-- I use this with a graphite pad https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BL3SCWH This keep s the mess down not having to deal with paste

- added both sizes of 120/140 fans in the 5-packs for your quick reference

- swapped the 850X for SN770's to bring down the cost - 1TB for OS / programs and 2 x 2TB for games / storage

It's about $100 less this way which could score you something else you might need. Even with both 5-packs of fans!!! You can trim some more with a MSFT key off the web for ~$10 instead of buying a full retail pack.
View attachment 79352

Definitely nothing wrong with the WD SN770 drives. I have two of them in my system.

 

[Tech Junky]

Definitely nothing wrong with the WD SN770 drives. I have two of them in my system.

IIRC I turned you onto to those as an option when you were planning. It's nice to see the price coming down a little bit too.

 

[damage424]

NP! That's what makes building easier.

I use the Arctic P/PWM/PST fans on my systems and they're great. 5-pacs on Amazon for ~$40 depending on the size.

I swapped around a couple of things to save you some money. https://pcpartpicker.com/list/tcgN8r

- Cooler - I used this with dual 120's on it and it keeps my 12700K at room temp when idle and under 60C under full load
-- I use this with a graphite pad https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BL3SCWH This keep s the mess down not having to deal with paste

- added both sizes of 120/140 fans in the 5-packs for your quick reference

- swapped the 850X for SN770's to bring down the cost - 1TB for OS / programs and 2 x 2TB for games / storage

It's about $100 less this way which could score you something else you might need. Even with both 5-packs of fans!!! You can trim some more with a MSFT key off the web for ~$10 instead of buying a full retail pack.

Thank you for your response!

I'm definitely going to take advantage of that Windows key. That will help me save some money right there, thank you!

One thing I noticed about your list is the 'estimated wattage' is at 888W, while my list is at 823W. Which got me thinking, what is causing your list to have more wattage? Is it possibly having more SSD's instead of my single 4TB SSD? Also, would the multiple SSD's you linked cause more heat in the PC case? Some things worth considering.

Thanks again

 

[Tech Junky]

@damage424

Higher watts could be more drives than a single drive and the additional fans.

The drives don't put off a ton of heat when idle. Putting in fans in every possible spot helps push the air through the case more effectively for the M2 heat sinks to work as well.

The estimate though is for full load not idle or remedial tasks. Gaming would push it to that level potentially. Capacity vs utilization is huge with systems like yours with that 4090. Imo though I would probably put a water block on the GPU to isolate the heat from everything else. Having run dual GPUs in the past there's heat soak issues with GPU exhaust if the case is packed with tons of components.

 

[BoomerD]

IIRC I turned you onto to those as an option when you were planning. It's nice to see the price coming down a little bit too.

Could be. I bought the first one (2TB) during Prime Days last summer...then the second one (1TB) a short time ago when I built the new system.

 

[BoomerD]

Something to consider for that 4090...

Also, something to be considered with that 4090...

GeForce RTX™ 4090 GAMING OC 24G (rev. 1.0 / 1.1) Specification | Graphics Card - GIGABYTE Global

Discover AORUS premium graphics cards, ft. WINDFORCE cooling, RGB lighting, PCB protection, and VR friendly features for the best gaming and VR experience!

www.gigabyte.com

Gigabyte recommends a 1000 watt power supply...which you have in your list, but HOPEFULLY it doesn't hit any of those "transient spikes" that have been causing PSUs to shut down.

 

[In2Photos]

Gigabyte recommends a 1000 watt power supply...which you have in your list, but HOPEFULLY it doesn't hit any of those "transient spikes" that have been causing PSUs to shut down.

Transient spikes are better are 4000 series cards so a 1000W should be good.

 

[damage424]

@damage424

Higher watts could be more drives than a single drive and the additional fans.

The drives don't put off a ton of heat when idle. Putting in fans in every possible spot helps push the air through the case more effectively for the M2 heat sinks to work as well.

The estimate though is for full load not idle or remedial tasks. Gaming would push it to that level potentially. Capacity vs utilization is huge with systems like yours with that 4090. Imo though I would probably put a water block on the GPU to isolate the heat from everything else. Having run dual GPUs in the past there's heat soak issues with GPU exhaust if the case is packed with tons of components.

My very noob experience has scared me away from any liquid cooling options ever. My main concerns are leaks and lifespan. Air cooling has always been a safe option for me and very noob friendly (hello air duster cans!); however, my local Microcenter does have the MSI 4090 Suprim Liquid X for sale

​

Any thoughts on which GPU to get for the 4090? My local Microcenter has a PNY, but it seems to be very 'basic', but it is also the most affordable. Then, there is the 4090 Asus ROG, that beast is $2,000. Does it justify hundreds more in dollars? Maybe I should look more into that Suprim Liquid X...

One minor swap I made is changing the Noctua DH-15 to a DH-15S. It seems the S version will fit comfortably in the Fractal Design Torrent case, where the DH-15 version would have some size issues running into the RAM.

Lastly, any final words on the RAM? Do I need to go down that rabbit hole and finding the very best bang for buck? Seems like G. Skill is very popular. Or should I just save my time and money and stick with the Corsair sticks I picked out?

Thanks a million for all the replies and feedback. I really appreciate all the responses!

 

[In2Photos]

I'm not a fan of GPU AIOs. To me, they are too restrictive. Using it in the Torrent would require the radiator to be on the bottom unless you remove the front 180mm fans which is not a good idea. I believe the pump is located on the GPU block so that puts the pump at the top of the loop which is not ideal for an AIO. Air can get trapped in the pump that way. The ASUS Strix OC, MSI Gaming X Trio, and some Gigabyte models seem pretty popular.

G Skill makes good RAM and they are popular in the DDR5 modules due to their use of Hynix dies. Those seem to be the best right now. They also have several different models available, with and without RGB and are priced well. I like the Corsair RAM, but I think you could probably find a faster kit of G Skill for the same price, if not better. The Flare X5 32GB kit is 6000C36 for $20 less than the Corsair for instance.

 

[Tech Junky]

AIO's / LC in general have improved over the years but, there's always that thought of a leak in an expensive setup.

Pros and cons of to/not to do it come into play. Just from experience though knowing how hot these newer GPUs can get and being that you're building for gaming pushes me towards LC. Personally I wouldn't and would focus on a bigger case with tons of fans to push the exhaust out of the case in a timely manner. It depends more on how much you value keeping the temps lower w/ minimum effort / noise. The fans on the blower for GPUs are loud when they're full tilt under load.

When I was running dual cards in my setup for mining I used a program to scale back the fans to 60-70% which kept them cool but not obnoxious. Hitting the right RPM level for noise and cooling to be sufficient is the hard part. I also pulled apart both of them and repasted them which did help a bit but, at this point I would use graphite pads on them instead of paste as it's more consistent for temps and no need to go back and redo it down the road when paste dries up and stops being effective.

 

[damage424]

Is it worth it to swap my PSU to a Corsair HX1200? It has a 10 year warranty and I get extra head room if I go with an OC variant

​

 

[damage424]

I'm not a fan of GPU AIOs. To me, they are too restrictive. Using it in the Torrent would require the radiator to be on the bottom unless you remove the front 180mm fans which is not a good idea. I believe the pump is located on the GPU block so that puts the pump at the top of the loop which is not ideal for an AIO. Air can get trapped in the pump that way. The ASUS Strix OC, MSI Gaming X Trio, and some Gigabyte models seem pretty popular.

G Skill makes good RAM and they are popular in the DDR5 modules due to their use of Hynix dies. Those seem to be the best right now. They also have several different models available, with and without RGB and are priced well. I like the Corsair RAM, but I think you could probably find a faster kit of G Skill for the same price, if not better. The Flare X5 32GB kit is 6000C36 for $20 less than the Corsair for instance.

Thank you so much for your recommendation & tips. I will now definitely look into G. Skill!

 

[In2Photos]

Is it worth it to swap my PSU to a Corsair HX1200? It has a 10 year warranty and I get extra head room if I go with an OC variant

​

I don't think anyone would fault you for choosing either PSU. The extra headroom of the 1200W could mean reduced noise as the fan would run slower. But I think the HX1200 is larger than the RMx1000 so make sure the Torrent has room with that upper PSU compartment.

 

[damage424]

I'm not a fan of GPU AIOs. To me, they are too restrictive. Using it in the Torrent would require the radiator to be on the bottom unless you remove the front 180mm fans which is not a good idea. I believe the pump is located on the GPU block so that puts the pump at the top of the loop which is not ideal for an AIO. Air can get trapped in the pump that way. The ASUS Strix OC, MSI Gaming X Trio, and some Gigabyte models seem pretty popular.

G Skill makes good RAM and they are popular in the DDR5 modules due to their use of Hynix dies. Those seem to be the best right now. They also have several different models available, with and without RGB and are priced well. I like the Corsair RAM, but I think you could probably find a faster kit of G Skill for the same price, if not better. The Flare X5 32GB kit is 6000C36 for $20 less than the Corsair for instance.

The flare is not compatible according to the mobo's support page, but the G. Skill Trident Z5 is.

Looks like the PSU length should fit the upper unit of the Torrent case

New build list:

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/cpGFRv

​