Budget Build [ $1,100 ]

Hey everyone,

So, I’ve finally decided to pull the trigger on some new parts for my build.
I'm already set with an SSD, an HDD, a case, and all my peripherals.
I just need help checking if this specific list is a solid move.

Intel Core i5-9600K
NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti
ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming
CRUCIAL Crucial BX DDR4 3200Mhz (2x8GB)
GIGABYTE modularno napajanje B700H
AOC 24G2U/BK

I know the Intel Core i5-9600K might be a bit much compared to the NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti right now, but it's kind of like buying a truck when you only have a small trailer—it gives me room to grow since I'll probably grab an NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super next year.

Do you think I can find a better deal than this at $2450 (Amazon) ?

It feels pretty overpriced for just an Intel Core i5-9600K and an NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti. I bet you could find something better for that money.

Intel Core i5-9600K AM4 CPU 3.6GHz
Riotoro ENIGMA G2 PSU, 650W, 80 GOLD
2x 8GB DDR4 3000 MT/s (PC4-24000) CL15 SR x8 Unbuffered DIMM 288pin
ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming motherboard, AM4, DDR4, U3, m.2, ATX
Palit GF GTX1660Super GamingPro OC, 6GB GDDR6

$1930 - Online retailer (formerly Rolling Stone)

+:

The only thing that could really be considered overkill here is if the processor ends up being way too weak to keep up with the graphics card 😁

crimsonstag84 said:It feels pretty overpriced for just an Intel Core i5-9600K and an NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti. I bet you could find something better for that money.

Intel Core i5-9600K AM4 CPU 3.6GHz
Riotoro ENIGMA G2 PSU, 650W, 80 GOLD
2x 8GB DDR4 3000 MT/s (PC4-24000) CL15 SR x8 Unbuffered DIMM 288pin
ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming motherboard, AM4, DDR4, U3, m.2, ATX
Palit GF GTX1660Super GamingPro OC, 6GB GDDR6

$1930 - Online retailer (formerly Rolling Stone)

+:

Where do you think I could tighten things up to make this better?

My biggest headache right now is definitely finding the right monitor. If I wasn't held up by that, I’d easily shell out the extra cash to grab an NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super instead of sticking with the NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti.

Larry Ortiz5 said:The only thing that could really be considered overkill here is if the processor ends up being way too weak to keep up with the graphics card 😁

No way, you've gotta be kidding me! People are out here recommending an Intel Core i5-9600K paired with an NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super? There is absolutely no way that setup is too weak. That's just wild.

crimsonstag84 said:It feels pretty overpriced for just an Intel Core i5-9600K and an NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti. I bet you could find something better for that money.

Intel Core i5-9600K AM4 CPU 3.6GHz
Riotoro ENIGMA G2 PSU, 650W, 80 GOLD
2x 8GB DDR4 3000 MT/s (PC4-24000) CL15 SR x8 Unbuffered DIMM 288pin
ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming motherboard, AM4, DDR4, U3, m.2, ATX
Palit GF GTX1660Super GamingPro OC, 6GB GDDR6

$1930 - Online retailer (formerly Rolling Stone)

+:

Nah, this is solid. Honestly, I don't think you're gonna find a better deal for that much cash.

silentcobra3 said:Where do you think I could tighten things up to make this better?

My biggest headache right now is definitely finding the right monitor. If I wasn't held up by that, I’d easily shell out the extra cash to grab an NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super instead of sticking with the NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti.

No way, you've gotta be kidding me! People are out here recommending an Intel Core i5-9600K paired with an NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super? There is absolutely no way that setup is too weak. That's just wild.

Nobody is actually saying the Intel Core i5-9600K is too weak in this case—I'm just pointing out that people usually look at whether the CPU can keep up with the GPU, rather than the other way around, right?

Back in mid-autumn, I was asking for some gaming build suggestions on a thread titled "for the kids." Looking back, I realized that "for the kids" is such a meaningless label—I was at a birthday party recently and watched a bunch of dads act way more childish than their actual children. 😁 Anyway, the initial build we discussed was sitting around $2000, but it turns out we actually have a bit more wiggle room in the budget if we want to spend it.
After digging through various suggestions here on the forum, checking out pre-built setups at Best Buy, and scrolling through component bestseller lists, I want to know if the parts listed below will actually play nice together. I pulled everything from Future.

Motherboard
ASUS ROG Strix B450M-A, 4xDDR4, AM4
Part number: ASR-B450M-STEEL $272

Processor
Intel Core i5-9600K
Part number: 0400496 $543

Drive
Samsung 970 EVO Plus 250GB
Part number: MZ-V7S250BW $217
(or the 500 GB version)

Memory
Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2X8) DDR4 3000MHz, CL15, RED
Part number: CMK16GX4M2B3000C15R $250

Graphics Card
GIGABYTE GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti OC 6GB GDDR6
Part number: GV-N166TOC-6GD $835

Cooler
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 34, fits 1150/1155/1156/2011/2011-3/2066/AM4
Part number: 050.903.387- $63

Power Supply
Riotoro ENIGMA G2 PSU, 650W, 80 GOLD
Part number: RIO-PR-GP0650-FMG2EU $233

Case
EVGA SuperNOVA 750 G3, Mid-Tower Case, black, 4x120mm RGB
Part number: ZAL-Z7-NEO $215

We're also going to need some decent Bluetooth and Wi-Fi receivers since we're on home Wi-Fi.

Here’s how I’d set it up:

1 x ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming, AM4, DDR4, U3, m.2, ATX
1 x Crucial 16GB Kit ( 2x8GB ) DDR4 3000 MT/s (PC4-24000)
1 x Riotoro ENIGMA G2 PSU, 650W, 80 GOLD
1 x Intel 660 P Series 512GB M.2 2280 NVMe
1 x NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB
1 x ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 34 cooler, fits 1150/1155/1156/2011/2011-3/2066/AM4,
1 x Intel Core i5-9600K
1 x Mid-Tower Case

$2575

Maybe go for a stronger GPU, roughly the same amount of RAM, but cheaper. A larger drive for a lower price (even if it's slightly slower).

+:(I'm no expert, obviously)

https://www.future-it.com/tp-link-bez...-Lost/product/

It’s just one endless cycle of combinations. There are so many choices out there, but you actually have to know how to pick the right ones—luckily, there are people here who actually know what they're talking about, so I'm hoping for some solid answers.
First off, we can definitely make some tweaks, but my main concern is whether a PC built from these specific parts will actually run smoothly. I need to know if everything is compatible and if there aren't any massive bottlenecks hiding in there. That kind of feedback is absolutely critical for me.

On the subject of modifications... If I decide to go with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB, will that Intel Core i5-9600K be able to keep up with it? (Since there are multiple Intel Core i5-9600K options listed in the price sheet, I made sure to include the exact item codes).

The suggested Mid-Tower Case isn't going to work for us because it only offers 2 USB ports—and honestly, I was already second-guessing the EVGA SuperNOVA 750 G3 because it "only" has 3—so yeah, it's a no. Besides, a teenager is eyeing that EVGA SuperNOVA 750 G3 specifically because of the look, and that counts for something 😉

Sure, an Intel Core i5-9600K can handle just about anything. Your setup should work fine, though I guess crimsonstag84 managed to squeeze out a bit more performance.

Most USB ports are on the back of the motherboard, so they aren't really tied to the case. Those front ones are mostly there for quickly plugging in thumb drives, phones, and stuff like that. How many do you actually need?

In that case, I’m definitely upgrading the GPU—that’s about a $100 difference right there.
I already know about the USB ports on the motherboard, but those are fine for stuff that stays plugged in permanently.
But when you need quick access for things you actually use? That's a different story...🤔Yeah, sure... he could probably get by with less. But if he's already set his heart on that EVGA SuperNOVA 750 G3, then whatever, let him have it.

You should definitely go for a larger, more budget-friendly SSD instead (plus, it’s usually easy to snag a 5-year warranty on those). That Samsung drive just isn't worth the premium; even if it's top-tier for specific workloads, you won't actually notice the performance boost in daily use, but you'll certainly feel the difference in extra storage capacity.

Yeah, I’m definitely going with a bigger drive. That part is set in stone. I just haven't pulled the trigger on the specific model yet—I originally picked this Samsung one based on some top-tier recommendation lists I saw online.
I was actually leaning toward the WD Black, but Future doesn't even have the 500GB version in stock. Honestly, looking at the price, it would probably end up being about the same as the Samsung anyway, so...
I'm going to spend a little more time digging through what else Future has on the shelves and seeing how they actually stack up in terms of performance.
Thanks for the tip.

Ordered it!!🙂 I finally swapped out that Apple's drive for an Intel's one. Total damage came to $2667.
Thanks to everyone for the advice.

I really just wanted to take a moment to say thanks to Accenture over here. Honestly, this entire thread—specifically your hardware configuration—served as the perfect blueprint for my new Intel build. It saved me an incredible amount of time on all that deep-dive research I would have otherwise had to do myself. I guess I haven't been keeping up with the HP scene very closely lately, to be honest 👍👍