Building a New Computer – Few Updates
June 26th, 2025I’m in the middle of my once-a-decade computer build. New hardware is burned-in and working fine. I’m moving everything I need over to the new system and getting it set up.
I felt a huge rant coming on, but there’s no point.
Anyway, back to normal posting soon.
There is a point: blowing off steam. If you don’t burn up angry brain chemicals in a bonfire, they’ll smoulder awhile and do harm. Be physically angry. Chop wood, dig holes, pile rocks, yelling or at least muttering all the while. It feels weird to calm down so fast, with the problem unchanged. But then it becomes only a computer issue, not a mind- or mood-derailing issue.
Ouch. Looks like more corporate moronism.
How about a specs breakdown for us tech nerds out here? 🙂
I’m still running the future-proof machines I built in 2016, so I’m due to build new ones soon-ish. Any recommendations on hardware are always welcome.
Have a look at true launch bar as an alternative.
I’ll include affiliate links in case anyone wants to buy any of this stuff (or anything else) and help me out. I slowly bought these components over almost a year, waiting for sales. I’m typing on the rig now! Move to new system complete.
New system is:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3d
https://amzn.to/462NlFp
Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix B850-F AMD/AM5 ATX
https://amzn.to/4lrA915
Never received a DOA Strix board. Never had one fail. My last system was on an Asus TUF Sabertooth Z170. Totally solid. Still works after ten years of hard use. Asus boards are expensive for what you get, but I’ve had DOA MSI, Gigabyte and Biostar *vomit noise*. I’ve never built on Asrock, but those boards have been frying AMD chips lately:
https://www.techpowerup.com/337450/asrock-acknowledges-ryzen-cpu-failures-linked-to-motherboard-bios-offers-warranty-replacement?cp=2
RAM: 32GB CORSAIR Vengeance DDR5 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MHz CL30
https://amzn.to/4kZzCn9
EXPO profile worked first time. No drama.
SSD: Samsung 990 PRO 4TB PCIe Gen 4.0 M.2
https://amzn.to/45JvYcv
HDD: Seagate Exos X18 18TB SATA 7200rpm (pulled from old system)
The one I got doesn’t come up for me on Amazon. This is similar:
https://amzn.to/44A6DR4
PSU: Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 Platinum 1000W ATX
https://amzn.to/4lppHXN
Seasonic PSUs are very easily the best. I don’t know how many dead PSUs I’ve replaced over the years, but the total number of dead Seasonic PSUs I’ve encountered = zero. I used a Seasonic PSU that I bought in 2011 in my eldest daughter’s new PC. That PSU is older than her.
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
https://amzn.to/45Ebim6
I normally go with Noctua for high end clients/builds, this is cheaper/better believe it or not.
I was going to pull the Noctua NH-U14S off my old system, but I still need it to work, so I left it in place.
https://amzn.to/4ly1XRz
Case: Corsair Obsidian Series 550D Full Tower Quiet Case (pulled from old system)
This case has been discontinued for many years. It is so good.
GPU: ASUS TUF RTX3080 (pulled from old system)
No GPU recommendations at this time. I’d wait, but if you have to buy something, consider some AMD RX9070XT model. F Nvidia.
Monitor: Dell G3223D 32″ 165hz 1440p IPS (pulled from old system)
I don’t recommend this monitor. It’s discontinued anyway. If you see one at a garage sale for $50… It’s… ok. The backlight bleed is bad. I tried to RMA mine right after I got it. They sent me another one that was only about 15% better. They didn’t want the original one back! I gave it to my son. He was happy to have it.
Keyboard: Keychron K10 QMK Wireless Mechanical Keyboard (Version 2) RGB Backlight Aluminum Frame / Keychron Super Switch (Hot-Swappable) / Banana
https://amzn.to/46joJYN
I replaced the Banana switches with Gazzew U4T RGB, which are end-game switches for me. Very tactile with deep sound.
https://amzn.to/40uRG0b
I got my U4T RGB switches on AliExpress when they were on sale several months ago.
Mouse: Razer Viper Ambi Wired (pulled from old system)
https://amzn.to/4kbm9Y4
This is the best built mouse I know of. These last forever.
Old system was based on Intel 6700K and still works. I’m debating whether to gift it to my youngest daughter or turn it into an immich or ente server.
*phew* that was a lot. Happy computing!