My New 5K2K Build
An overview of my new 5K2K PC build
I’ve had my current build, which I’m sharing below, for about six years. I built it for 1080p gaming, and it has performed great so far. It’s only recently that I’ve started noticing some slowdowns—not so much in my day-to-day productivity, but in video games.
When the build was new, I could comfortably reach 240 fps; now I’m down to around 60–100 fps, depending on the game. But that isn’t the real reason I decided to upgrade.
Old build
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 3700X |
| Motherboard | Asus TUF B550-PLUS |
| RAM | Crucial Ballistix 32GB 3200MHz CL16 |
| GPU | Asus TUF GeForce RTX 3070 |
| Cooler | Noctua NH-D15 |
| Power supply | Seasonic PRIME GX-650 |
| Case | MasterCase Pro 5 |
I’m starting to feel the need (are we sure it’s a need and not just an indulgence?) for a larger screen. Given how I use my PC—productivity mixed with gaming, or perhaps the other way around—I need a computer capable of handling high resolutions in games.
For viewing charts, writing code, and browsing web pages in 5K, I could also use a mini PC. Things get more complicated when I also want to play games on a 5K2K monitor.
Here’s the long-awaited moment, ladies and gentlemen: nearly €4,000 worth of a build that I hope will last me at least as long as the setup I’ve just retired:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D |
| Motherboard | MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk |
| RAM | Crucial Pro 32GB 6000MHz CL36 |
| GPU | PNY GeForce RTX 5080 |
| Cooler | Corsair Nautilus 360 RS |
| Power supply | be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W |
| Case | NZXT H7 FLow |
I’m extremely happy with it. I can’t wait for the monitor (Alienware AW3926QW) to arrive so I can enjoy the complete build.
I ran some tests with DSR at 4K. At ultra settings, I tested games such as Helldivers 2, Cyberpunk, The Blood of Dawnwalker, and The Witcher 3, and we’re more or less between 60 and 160 fps. We’ll see how the PC performs at 5K2K. Benchmarks to follow.