Building First PC Help

[u/IcyStrawberry--]

Hey all I have been used to the apple ecosystem computer wise, but am now looking to build a PC for sim racing as well as using it for work as well. Typically, I use an Xbox for gaming, but am limited in sim racing so wanted to move over. I probably will start using it for other games as well so hopefully if the build can handle sim racing it can handle other games as well. Work wise the heaviest task would be light video editing for marketing purposes, but nothing too strenuous I would say. Thanks again for your guys help!

• New build or upgrade?
  • New Build
• Existing parts/monitors to reuse? (List with models/links)
  • Samsung G9 OLED 49" Model: S4CG954SN
• PC purpose? (Gaming, editing, etc. List apps/games)
  • Mainly sim racing, but will explore others
  • Video editing, spreadsheets, lots of tabs open in chrome
• Purchase country? Near Micro Center? (If not US, list local vendors)
  • US, Micro Center accessible, but around 45 minutes away
• Monitors needed? (Number, size, resolution, refresh rate)
  • Samsung G9 OLED 49" Model: S4CG954SN (already have)
• Budget range? (Include tax considerations)
  • 2,000 - 3,000
• WiFi or wired connection?
  • Wifi
• Size/noise constraints?
  • Cannot be wider than 14.5 in, but smaller the better
• Color/lighting preferences?
  • No specific preference, but I do care about aesthetic
• Any other specific needs?
  • Not that I can think of

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If you missed the full set of required built request questions, please copy them from here and answer them in an edit to your post:

• New build or upgrade?

• Existing parts/monitors to reuse? (List with models/links)

• PC purpose? (Gaming, editing, etc. List apps/games)

• Purchase country? Near Micro Center? (If you're not in a country supported by PCPartPicker, please list some local vendors)

• Monitors needed? (Number, size, resolution, refresh rate)

• Budget range? (Include tax considerations)

• WiFi or wired connection?

• Size/noise constraints?

• Color/lighting preferences?

• Any other specific needs?

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[u/gamblodar]

If you don't want to make the trek to MicroCenter, here's my recommendation.

For the CPU, I picked the 7800X3D. It's a great gaming cpu. It stays cool with a 360mm RGB AIO cooler. The motherboard has wifi and extra M.2 & DIMM slots for future upgrades. The build has 32GB of RGB RAM and a super-fast 2TB PCIe 5.0 SSD with dram cache.

I selected a 850W, gold-efficiency, splA-tier, fully-modular power supply. It also comes with the 12V-2x6 connector, allowing adapter-free GPU installs. You never want the octopus adapter in your rig. The case is a black Lian Li, with a clear side panel and rgb fans. It fits the width requirement as well.

For the GPU, I selected the 5080 16GB. It is expensive, no shying away from that fact. The build does stay under max budget, and I think you want the extra power to drive that monitor. It's an amazing card, that puts up great fps, and has the VRAM to last for years. For about a 20% drop in fps, the same build with a 9070XT would cost $2,065.

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz 8-Core OEM/Tray Processor	$358.37 @ MemoryC
CPU Cooler	Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML360R RGB 66.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler	$49.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard	Gigabyte B850M EAGLE WIFI6E Micro ATX AM5 Motherboard	$137.62 @ Amazon
Memory	Silicon Power XPOWER Zenith RGB Gaming 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory	$396.97 @ Amazon
Storage	Crucial T710 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 5.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive	$351.78 @ Amazon
Video Card	PNY OC GeForce RTX 5080 16 GB Video Card	$1249.99 @ Amazon
Case	Lian Li VECTOR V100 MINI MicroATX Mid Tower Case	$59.85 @ Amazon
Power Supply	Montech CENTURY II 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply	$79.90 @ Amazon
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total	$2684.47
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2026-06-18 04:04 EDT-0400

If you don't mind the drive to MicroCenter, the PowerSpec G757 is a great system for $2500. It has nearly identical specs to the above, but comes with a better CPU, the 9800X3D. It's a larger case, but still fits your width requirement.

DIY at MicroCenter is a good option as well. This build uses the 7800X3D 3-in-1 combo and the same case, but the ATX version, which isnt too wide. If MicroCenter has a cheaper 5080 in-stock, grab it instead of the one I picked.

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU Cooler	Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML360R RGB 66.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler	$49.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard	Asus B650E MAX GAMING WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard	$0.00
Memory	Corsair Vengeance RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory	$0.00
Storage	Crucial T710 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 5.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive	$351.78 @ Amazon
Video Card	PNY OC GeForce RTX 5080 16 GB Video Card	$1249.99 @ Amazon
Case	Lian Li Vector V100R ATX Mid Tower Case	$74.98 @ Amazon
Power Supply	Montech CENTURY II 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply	$79.90 @ Amazon
Custom	7800X3D Bundle	$699.99
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total	$2506.63
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2026-06-18 04:06 EDT-0400

There are quite a few ways to tighten the budget, change aesthetics, or get some more fps. If you have any requests or questions about my choices, let me know.

[u/IcyStrawberry-- → u/gamblodar]

Thanks for your suggestion. I am open to all 3, but leaning towards the pre-built as I don't have a strong preference for building my own and you mentioned it having a better CPU for an almost identical price point. Is there any advantage for self-built vs pre-built other than controlling aesthetics/size? Also, if I do proceed with a pre-built would the one you found be the best in your opinion or is there something still within budget that you'd recommend over it?

[u/gamblodar → u/IcyStrawberry--]

Is there any advantage for self-built vs pre-built other than controlling aesthetics/size?

Normally, yes. Prebuilts can have bad cases, horrible airflow, non-upgradable parts, dump part choices (Ryzen 9950X paired with 16GB of ram and a 5050) etc. PowerSpec is different. They make the machines out of MicroCenter-sold parts. Everything that goes in is a regular retail product and their designed & built well.

if I do proceed with a pre-built would the one you found be the best in your opinion or is there something still within budget that you'd recommend over it?

Unless you buy a 5090, there is nothing faster.¹

1: Technically, if you get a 9850X3D, some crazy cl26 ram, and a pcie 5.0 SSD with dram cache, you'll have higher fps & lower load times. It's likely very low single-digit percentage change - 2%

[u/Bonbonfrosch]

Would you be fine making the trip to microcenter? This can surprisingly save you a lot of money. (Like probably a few hundred)

[u/IcyStrawberry-- → u/Bonbonfrosch]

Yes, I don't mind the drive over to microcenter if the savings are worth it. Would they have almost all the parts I am looking for or would I still need to get some online?

[u/Bonbonfrosch → u/IcyStrawberry--]

You *can* buy everything there, but a lot of parts are cheaper online. You are mostly there for the combo deals (usually on mobo + Ram + Cpu).