There’s honestly no point in that setup you put together. That 3600XT is just an overpriced 3600 from $467, plus it doesn't even have integrated graphics.
Build a PC based on this instead; it actually comes with an iGPU.
It’s worth it. These prices are actually realistic—honestly, they should have been this low a long time ago. The RX 570 performs right on par with the GTX 970, yet you see people selling used GTX 970s without any warranty for nearly the same amount of money.😁
Honestly, I think that’s a crazy move. Unless someone is handing you a used one for dirt cheap, it just doesn't make sense. Even right now, we all know the current LGA1200 socket won't stay relevant for much longer—one more generation comes out in a few months and it's basically dead. And don't even get me started on the older 1151v2 socket.
The Core i5 9600K might still be a decent gaming CPU, but it isn't exactly future-proof, nor is it worth the money at these price points. Plus, your upgrade paths are limited and overpriced compared to what you could get with something brand new. There's also the issue that old sockets vanish from store shelves pretty quickly; if your motherboard dies, for example, you'll be hunting for used parts, which is rare and expensive.
10th gen won't fit in a Z390 because that uses the LGA1200 socket, not this one.
From there, you really only have one CPU option that makes sense for your build: the Core i5 10600K. If you decide to go with a Z490 motherboard, I’d suggest skipping the cheaper AsRock models—they've really gone downhill lately.
At the end of the day, it all just comes down to your budget.
If you're looking at the long game, I’d honestly suggest holding off until the Zen 3 architecture drops (it's slated for October 8th). It's also a tricky time to buy a GPU since we're right on the edge of a new generation. We might see an RTX 3060 hit the shelves this fall, but expect that to cost upwards of $1000. Anything lower than that probably won't show up this year.
EDIT
To be blunt, Intel isn't exactly the powerhouse it used to be, even in Photoshop—a field where they used to rule supreme. For instance, a much pricier Core i5 10600K isn't significantly better than a Ryzen 5 3600, and the next generation is expected to absolutely crush them both given the rumored 15% IPC jump. And Photoshop is one of those rare programs that still gives Intel a bit of an edge.
Not necessarily. You might catch an Amazon deal during the Black Friday or Cyber Monday rush, but even then, relying on it being on sale is a long shot. These things are always in high demand, which means stock levels stay pretty thin—especially when the price is already solid. Honestly, you’re more likely to find it completely sold out before you find a discount.
wiredotter14 said:Can someone recommend a G-Sync 144 Hz monitor? My budget is roughly $500, though I might stretch it a bit if there's a significant upgrade worth the extra cash.
Man, it feels like just yesterday that used 500GB drives were going for $33, but looking at Pavlov’s new 1TB model, prices are starting at $90 . https://www.amazon.com/s?k=1tb+hdd
Honestly, a 160GB drive is basically e-waste these days; you're better off tossing it in the bin or giving it away for free.
I actually gave my old 160GB drive to a buddy a few years back. Around three or five years ago, my cousin actually hooked me up with two working 500GB drives he scavenged from an e-waste bin at his company over in Germany.
wiredotter14 said:I’m hoping these issues are covered under warranty right away. Since I’m buying this through my company, I won't have that standard 14-day return window available.
Of course you're covered by the warranty, but there's a catch. If they send it off for official service processing, you're looking at a wait—potentially one or two months. You don't get an instant replacement like you would during a standard 14-day return period. Unless the retailer decides to be generous and swap it out on the spot while they handle your claim, they aren't legally obligated to give you a new one immediately.
BTW, I believe Smartic carries that monitor. It’s about a third of the price of what you'd find at Micro Center.😁 The consensus is that it's a solid choice in terms of panel quality and overall value, though the build quality isn't top-tier. Some users have reported light bleed around the plastic bezel seams.
It sounds like Livadu just got a lemon, but if he really wants it, he should just order another one.
Alexander Moore67 said:That initial price probably assumes a standard Power Supply and case, given that the whole "setup" is valued at around 1000-$400
Maybe even 900-$333 when you factor in that specific graphics card combo. Honestly, I don't think he'd have a "smooth" time selling it for $400—meaning, he’ll either be waiting forever or just won't move it at all.
With Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge i5 and i7 setups, motherboard prices have absolutely plummeted. You see people offloading an i5 2500K for $67. There's actually one listed on eBay right now for $57. Even motherboards aren't worth their weight in gold like they were a few years back... A buddy of mine struggled to move an i7 3770K, a Z77, 16GB of RAM, and a ThermalTake Contact 30 for $367—basically, he had to wait ages for some sucker to bite. 😁 In my opinion, $267 is the absolute ceiling for that kit. He had much bigger plans for it (he actually made $33 flipping those, and even drove out of town to hand it over to a buyer while heading down to Florida 😁).
He was actually pretty decent at turning a profit with those old Intel parts. I doubt he'll pull in more than 😁 anymore.
I can't say for sure about the graphics card, since you could grab something much more powerful for around $250-$100, but then again, you're getting a brand-new card with all the latest features...
Maybe try plugging your laptop into that monitor; if the picture comes through crystal clear, then you know for sure it’s the graphics card at fault. On the other hand, if you hook your PC up to something like a big screen TV and the image looks like total garbage, then you've got a clear-cut case for an RMA on that GPU.
Well, the reviews are already out there. The Intel Core i7-10700K is essentially just a rebranded i9 9900K, though it does run a bit cooler than its predecessor.
And look, regarding heat management—you’re going to need a solid cooler regardless of which one you pick. That’s especially true if you opt for Intel, given their higher clock speeds. On the bright side, they did shrink the die and thicken the IHS, so they don't run quite as hot as the 9th Gen chips used to. If you look at the history, Ryzen 1000 series was incredibly cool, the 2000 series was a bit faster and slightly warmer, and the 3000 series saw a significant jump in both speed and temperature. It's basic physics: as components get faster and the manufacturing process advances, temperatures rise because you're packing more transistors into the same surface area, making it much harder to dissipate that heat.
Look, the 6th gen isn't actually that ancient. Believe it or not, the 10th gen Intel chips that just dropped last month are still running on that same Skylake architecture. When it comes down to IPC, they haven't really moved the needle since the 5th gen; the 6th gen just uses a 14nm process. The difference today is that the manufacturing node is much more refined (think 14nm+++), which allows newer generations to hit higher clock speeds and pack in more cores. You’re probably feeling the sting from having fewer cores, but honestly, if you can hang tight, we'll see everything we need by the end of the year.
"Worth it" is a pretty subjective term. If you've got a job sitting there waiting for you, IMO, there’s zero point in holding out for another six months. By then, this 3000 series will have already paid for itself 😁 Sure, it'll be an upgrade, but don't expect it to absolutely blow the current tech out of the water. We're talking maybe a 10-15% bump in IPC, while clock speeds and core counts will likely stay right where they are now.
Yeah, word is it's dropping in October (definitely before the end of the year). It could be a total game-changer for your budget, provided you can hold out that long. Also, keep in mind that sticking with the Ryzen 3000 series might actually be your smartest move once those new releases hit, simply because the discounts could make it the best value for your money.
By the way, UserBenchmark is actually banned on Reddit 😁
It's such a sad website. For instance, if someone searches Google for R3 3300 x vs i3 10100, the very first result they hit will be UserBenchmark, claiming that the i3 is about 10% faster. But if you actually look at a legitimate review, the R3 3300 x absolutely crushes it (running 15-30% faster in benchmarks), and it even outperforms it in gaming. It's a totally misleading site.
goldenpanther said:They explained to me that you don't actually lose the warranty; instead, you get two years of free diagnostics as long as you don't mess with that sticker. The standard warranty coverage for the components remains fully intact.
That’s exactly it. It would be much more professional if they clearly stated that somewhere or just gave customers a proper explanation upfront.