$1250 Build Guide
This level of build is an amazing sweet spot for a PC focused on serving Creators. Compared to the $1000 Creator Build template, this higher price point allows you to choose a more equipped 8 core and 16 threaded CPU and a much better graphics card. For new creators wondering about how much should they realistically spend on the PC, I’d consider the $1250 range a top option to consider.
The Ryzen 7 7700 is in a great sweet spot in terms of value because it provides the additional cores and threads without breaking the bank. Creators will definitely appreciate the extra horsepower. It also performs great in gaming and can pair with any top of the line GPU. Being on the latest AM5 platform will give it a serious upgrade path for the next several years as well.
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I do not really consider any Intel CPUs at this point in time. Not all of them are affected by the current instability issues, but Ryzen simply has too many better options for me to consider Intel right now. That will more than likely change in the future.
The Vetroo V5 is usually priced between $20-$30 and is still capable of cooling the 7700. This CPU will definitely push it towards its limit, but it’ll still get the job done. The 7700 doesn’t require a huge amount of cooling to begin with because of its 65W TDP, but if you wanted to spend a little bit of extra money then I’d recommend upgrading to a bit beefier of a cooling option such as the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120.
The main thing we are looking for here is an ATX sized B650, and most people want built-in WiFi. With that as the search criteria, the MSI Pro B650-S WiFi has consistently been the least expensive and most reliable option for a long time. We’ve used dozens of these boards for various builds and they’ve worked great. Bonus points because it has a front USB-C header and a rear USB-C port which creators will often use for fast external drives and accessories.
Any 2x16GB DDR5 kit clocked at 6000MHz or higher will work. I would recommend trying to find one with a CL rating of 30 if possible, but not required. 32GB has become the new standard for DDR5, so there’s no real point in trying to find a slightly cheaper 16GB kit. All different types of creators will be able to utilize the extra amount of RAM in their workflow. I usually find that the SP Zenith Gaming 32GB kit and the G.Skill Ripjaws Flare X5 32GB kit to be the least expensive and very reliable.
I’d recommend starting with at least a PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD with 1TB. If you have more money to spend then feel free to creep your way up to a “High-Level NVMe” or even a 2TB model, but sticking with a mid ranged SSD at this build price is perfectly fine. The Teamgroup MP44L has consistently been one of the most available and least expensive mid ranged drives, so it’s getting my top pick. Video editors will definitely notice the difference of a faster drive compared to a budget alternative.
I will almost always recommend an Nvidia graphics card for creators, especially for live-streamers with one PC. Nvidia includes many software and even hardware features specifically for creators, and I think the extra price compared to an AMD competitor card is worth it. (NVENC encoder and Nvidia Broadcast to name a few) For a $1250 build price, the best Nvidia card that will fit is an RTX 4070 which is a very powerful card for both gamers and creators. I’d recommend getting whichever model you find a good deal on, or one that matches the aesthetics of your build. A safe bet is always the MSI Ventus RTX 4070 model. The ASUS Dual Fan is also usually in stock at a low price lately.
For a Ryzen 7 7700 and RTX 4070 build, my search filter will be any Tier B or A 650W+ unit. The MSI MAG A650GL has been consistently available for $70-$90, and I’ve personally used this probably close to 50 times in the last year. It’s fully modular which is much appreciated, and the RTX 4070 does not require a 12VHPWR connector so it’ll work great.
The case selection is always personal preference, but one of my new favorite models for this price range is the Okinos Aqua 7. It comes preinstalled with a whopping 6 ARGB fans and has the signature "fish tank" design that most people are into right now. My recommendation of the Sama Neview 4361 Black will still work great for this build as well if you want to save some money.
Last updated: September 19, 2024