PC Dreamin'

I've spent a considerable amount of time fantasizing about building a new PC.  I've watched numerous videos recommending specific builds or parts and I feel like I've done my research.  There's a bit of non-realistic impetus too--the looming end of Windows 10 support (*although my current PC is capable of running Windows 11 and just requires a BIOS update that would flip the TPM 2.0 switch--BIOS updates scare me a bit, but if worse came to worse, it's doable).  So here's my own mental gymnastics about building a new PC.

First off, here's the build that I'm considering--7800X3D Build.  I'm angling for a high-mid range build that could do 1440p gaming for the next 5-6 years.  With any build you might have some questions.  Why a 7800X3D when there are newer Ryzen 9 CPU's?  For gaming performance the X3D CPU's are basically the best--if I was to go absolute top of the line, it'd be the 9950X3D (currently priced at $699)--the 7800X3D is second on the list in benchmarks for gaming and I use my PC for gaming.  You also might be asking, why the cheap-y air cooler and not a shiny AIO?  Air coolers are absolutely fine for regular gaming--if you're looking to do any fancy overclocking stuff you probably want an AIO--and even air coolers that fall on the "cheaper" side of the spectrum do just fine (I actually had a beefier, slightly more expensive model picked but it seems to be consistently unavailable so I opted for another model that has positive reviews and performance but is cheaper).  And lastly, why no RGB, everyone knows that the sparklies make your PC perform better?  Honestly, I love the sparklies, but I just don't want to mess with all the additional RGB nonsense.  For one, non-RGB parts are slightly cheaper; for another, people with RGB seem to be constantly griping about finding software that manages their RGB the way they want it to.  So yeah, it's just another thing to manage that seems to cause a lot of headaches for a purely cosmetic factor.

(Here's a video from Hardware Unboxed comparing current GPU prices in different markets.)

So what's stopping me from pulling the trigger on my big, beautiful new PC?  GPU prices are one major factor.  I'm angling toward either a 5070ti (*on my build the exact model is interchangeable with the one that has the best pricing--the GPU listed was the one that briefly was the cheapest but has since sold out) or a 9070XT, but both are currently priced about 20% over MSRP.  9070XT prices have been stubbornly high (c'mon AMD!) with that card being the better value at MSRP.  Prices have slowly been creeping down, but haven't gotten anywhere close to MSRP.  Maybe it's wishful thinking that they will actually get there, but other parts of the world (that aren't experiencing tariff nonsense) are seeing prices much closer or at MSRP.  (On my first/current PC I absolutely was not paying attention to prices and am positive that I very much overpaid for my 2070--I'm pretty sure I paid ~$700 for it)

There's also the reality that I don't REALLY need a new PC.  I can still play everything that I want to play and I'm not absolutely dying to play any new titles.  I would like to have a new PC for The Witcher 4 (and maybe GTA VI),  So, realistically, I have some time if I were to do it.

So I'll just continue checking those GPU prices daily and finagling the parts on my list.  That's healthy, right?  Happy weekend with lots of potential gaming to everyone!