$1500 Build Guide
With $1500 to spend, we’re specifically trying to build a 1440p Ultra gaming machine. This will be a significant boost compared to the $1000 template for both CPU and GPU performance.
There’s no better choice than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Not only is it one of the most powerful CPUs on the planet for gaming right now, but the AM5 upgrade potential is fantastic as well. I wouldn’t consider any other CPU for this price range of a build, unless somebody requires Intel for a specific software.
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Even with Ryzen 9000 series being available, the 7800 X3D is the top choice for gaming until the 9000 series launches X3D models. Currently we do not not know when that will be.
There are a lot of 240mm options that aren’t super expensive these days. The ID-Cooling Frostflow is a great affordable option, and the ID-Cooling Dashflow is only a bit more expensive. If you don’t want to go with water cooling though, then the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 is a fantastic choice for higher end CPU’s as well.
Because of the high-end 7800X3D, we’ll want a good motherboard to pair with it. There aren’t many mATX choices for X670/X670E, so we’ll go with ATX for this build. This Gigabyte X670 Gaming X AX V2 model is the cheapest I would go for a 7800X3D, so if you want to spend more money, consider upgrading to something like the MSI MAG X670E Tomahawk WiFi.
We’re specifically looking for a 2x16GB DDR5 kit that’s clocked at 6000MHz, with the lowest CL rating as possible. Usually you’ll be able to find a 6000MHz CL30 or CL32 kit pretty easily for less than $100. The G.Skill Flare X5 kit is usually available.
Prices of storage have gone up recently, and might continue to do so. Right now for a PCIe Gen 4 NVMe 1TB drive we’re looking at around $60. SSD pricing usually stays very “grouped up” so there’s usually a lot of models around the $60 mark. For Gen 4 drives, I typically use the Silicon Power UD85, but I also like the Silicon Power UD90, Klevv CRAS C910, and the Teamgroup MP44L.
The RX 7900 GRE is one of the best valued cards on the market right now. It sits between the RX 7800XT and RX 7900XT in terms of performance, but thankfully it’s not much more expensive than a 7800XT. There’s been several options available around the $550, so I’d recommend whichever one has the best deal.
For our CPU and GPU combo, I’d recommend a 750W power supply. We’re specifically looking for a Tier B or A rated unit, and I like spending a little extra money on the MSI MAG A750GL. This is a PCIe 5/ATX3.0 unit so it’s up to standard, it’s 80+ Gold, and fully modular.
The case selection is always personal preference, but with a $1500 build price we need to go a little higher in quality. I really like the ATX sized Fractal Design Pop Air. This is a very minimal and clean non-fish tank layout, and it comes preinstalled with 3 black fans. This keeps everything nice and simple, and if you add a 240mm AIO up at the top (which is what we’re doing for this build) it’ll be fully maxed out with 5 total fans. There’s also a little drawer system up at the front to store USB dongles, SD cards, etc.
Last updated: August 6, 2024