PC of the month (October 2024)

The fall season is not over yet, and we already have a lot of significant events in the PC component segment. Intel has introduced a new LGA1851 desktop platform and Core Ultra 200S processors, AMD has prepared another gaming champion Ryzen 7 9800X3D, and NVIDIA… keeps prices for graphics cards high and continues to assure that 12 GB of memory is the norm even for future mid-range models. How can you react to this and avoid spending too much when building up-to-date gaming systems? For this purpose, we preparePC of the Monthmaterials with an analysis of the current situation and the nearest prospects of the component market.

Basic gaming PC of the month ($600-750)

Gaming monitor for the “Basic Gaming PC” from our partner MSI

 

The affordable MSI G255F is powered by the Rapid IPS panel with a 1920×1080 resolution and a response time of just 1ms to deliver a superior gaming experience for entry-level systems. The 24.5-inch display features 99% sRGB color gamut, 180Hz refresh rate, and thin bezels. 

MSI G255F gaming monitor

Processors and motherboards. Sometimes the absence of changes is a sign of platform/configuration stability, which eliminates the painful selection process and gives confidence in the final list of components of the future PC. Yes, we are talking about a basic Intel-based system, for which we once again offer Core i5-12400F (6/12; 2.5/4.4 GHz). A six-core for $115, or even $105 if you choose the Tray version without a bundled cooler and with a one-year warranty, instead of 3 years for retail BOX delivery.

It’s hard to imagine whether such an offer can be “outbid” and whether Intel itself will be able to do it with next-generation chips. The model is quite suitable for an entry-level gaming platform, so if you need to keep within a limited budget, you won’t find anything better. Unless you need a variant with activated integrated graphics, but then you’ll need to add a lot more money – a Core i5-12400 with the video core enabled costs ~$150.

Core i3-12100F (4/8; 3.3/4.3 GHz) for $75 looks tempting if you need to maximize savings, but these are not gaming processors. Quad-core CPUs are no longer enough for such tasks if you’re not ready to put up with lags and freezes in resource-intensive projects.

According to price aggregators, there are still many offers of processors of previous generations on sale. For example, Core i5-10400F/11400F can even be purchased in a BOX version for the equivalent of $100. But this is a solution for the LGA1200 platform, so these chips are more relevant for upgrading existing 4-year-old PCs than for building new systems. This is even if you don’t take into account that Core i5-12400F is significantly faster and costs only $10-15 more.

As for the motherboards, the basic models based on Intel B760 look organic. You will have to decide only on the RAM standard. The 12th generation Core chips (as well as the 13th and 14th) support both DDR4 and DDR5. So if it’s important to save money, DDR4 is your choice, if you want to get a few extra fps, DDR5 is more promising. Especially if you decide to equip the system with 32 GB of RAM right away. Intel B660 motherboards are also still on sale, but this is definitely not a cost-saving option, unless you come across an attractive promotional offer.

With AMD base platforms, things are a bit more complicated. The presence of several options requires the potential owner to make a final decision. We are talking about the combinations “Ryzen 5 5600 + AMD B550 + DDR4” and “Ryzen 5 8400F + AMD B650 + DDR5“. The advantage of the first set is its lower cost and generally good performance/price ratio. AMD continues to expand its range of chips for Socket AM4. Most recently, the Vermeer line has been expanded with the addition of Ryzen 5600XT (6/12; 3.8/4.7 GHz) and Ryzen 5 5600T (6/12; 3.7/4.5 GHz).

The next variations of 6-core processors do not bring anything new except for higher operating frequencies. The recommended price of the CPU has not been announced, but the models have already been spotted on Amazon for $195/186. It seems that the “novelties” are already being presented for quantity, because the prospects for their sales are quite bizarre in the presence of Ryzen 5 5600 (6/12; 3.5/4.4 GHz), which can already be purchased here and now for the equivalent of $120. If necessary, the frequency difference is very easy to reduce, given the presence of an unlocked multiplier. Even if simple digging around in the BIOS settings is frankly not your thing, there is Ryzen 5 5600X (6/12; 3.7/4.6 GHz) for ~$130. So, the starting price leaks for new models are an exaggeration. Hopefully, the official recommended values will be more moderate. But if not, there are plenty of alternatives.

One of them is Ryzen 5 8400F (6/12; 4.2/4.7 GHz; 16 MB L3). It is the most affordable processor for the Socket AM5 platform. In a Tray configuration without a cooler, this model can already be purchased for ~$120. The MPK version (tray + cooler) costs ~$135, and for retail delivery in a beautiful colorful package, they ask for as much as ~$170. Although the Ryzen 5 8400F belongs to the Cezanne line of single-crystal chips with mobile roots, has 16 MB L3 and offers PCI-E 4.0 x8 for connecting a video card, in total, it will at least be as good as the Ryzen 5 5600 in games, and in most situations it will even have an advantage.

The ultimate option for a basic configuration would be Ryzen 5 7500F (6/12; 3.7/5.0 GHz; 32 MB L3) with 32 MB of third-level cache, more PCI-E lines, and higher performance. But even in Tray-configuration in Ukraine, it is offered from $160, while the cost of the MPK version has generally increased to ~$190. So for entry-level gaming PCs, this is a desirable but expensive chip.

The most affordable motherboards for Socket AM5 start at $75, but you shouldn’t rush into such a purchase. It is more rational to look towards AMD B650 models starting at $100. In this category of devices, there are minimal costs for marketing gimmicks, and each additional dollar/hryvnia improves the final characteristics/capabilities of specific board models.

The standard of RAM will also depend on the choice of platform. Socket AM4 chips use DDR4 exclusively, while Socket AM5 solutions require DDR5. The previous generation kits are obviously more affordable ($40 for 16 GB of DDR4-3600), but you will have to pay extra for DDR5. A dual-channel DDR5-5200/5600 kit will cost ~$60. Moreover, the choice of 2x8GB kits is very limited. Therefore, in the case of DDR5, we strongly recommend choosing 32GB kits (2×16GB). This solves several issues at once. The main thing is that a 32 GB capacity is already recommended for a large number of projects.

The range of such kits is much wider, and the speeds of 16 GB modules will be better than those of 8 GB strips due to the specifics of access organization. You won’t need to think about upgrading your RAM for a long time, which is also complicated by the fact that there are only two DIMM slots on Socket AM5 boards for ~$100. But the price of the issue is about $90, which contrasts especially with $40 for 16 GB DDR4-3600. However, if you’ve already chosen Socket AM5 as your platform, it’s worth it.

Video cards. Of the video cards for the basic gaming configuration, the GeForce RTX 4060 8GB is the most popular, with prices starting at $320. The models of the line continue to rapidly gain popularity, occupying more and more positions in the conditional ratings of the popularity of graphics adapters. They are fast enough, very economical, and support DLSS and Frame Generation. Yes, it has only 8 GB of memory, but frankly, this is the norm rather than the exception for video cards of this class. This is the case with the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB, which, despite NVIDIA’s warning to manufacturers about the last opportunity to order GPUs for the production of the corresponding models, is still widely available.

Undoubtedly, this option also has the right to live, but we advise you to pay attention to the memory capacity when buying. You need only models with 12 GB on board. Significantly slower 8GB RTX 3060 variants can now be offered at almost the same price as the “full” version, so you should be careful. If you want GeForce RTX 3060, then only with 12 GB of memory. Still, it is worth using the biggest advantage of this model.

Of course, models with AMD GPUs are also relevant. The Radeon RX 7600 8 GB remains the base here, with prices starting at $290 for the entry-level models. You can still find Radeon RX 6600/6650 XT 8GB on sale, but similar price tags make it pointless to pay attention to them. If you want to add performance (+10%) and double the memory capacity, you can look towards the Radeon RX 7600 XT 16 GB, which are already offered from $340. The advantage of these models over the RX 7600 8 GB with a resolution increase to 1440p/4K increases to 15+%, but these modes are no longer for graphics adapters of this level.

Optimal gaming PC of the month ($1200–1400)

 

Gaming monitor for the “Optimal Gaming PC” from our partner MSI

 

2The 7-inch MSI MAG 275QF gaming monitor with 2560×1440 Rapid IPS matrix, 180Hz refresh rate, and 0.5ms G-t-G response time provides an optimal gaming experience and vivid, rich images.

MSI MAG 275QF gaming monitor

Processors and motherboards. In October, the number of Core i5-12600KF offers (6/12 + 4; 3.7/4.9 GHz + 2.8/3.6 GHz) dropped sharply, while the price of the chips themselves increased to ~$205 (+$30). We hope that this is just a one-time glitch in the supply cycle, and not a curtailment of shipments of a very successful model for optimal configurations. As some kind of “compensation” here, we can consider the rather rapid decline in the cost of 65-watt Core i5-14400F (6/12 + 4; 2.5/4.7 GHz + 1.8/3.6 GHz), which fell to ~$190, and Core i5-13400F (6/12 + 4; 2.5/4.6 GHz + 1.8/3.3 GHz) for ~$185. However, versions with activated graphics are significantly more expensive – $220-230.

The Core i5-12600KF is obviously faster due to its higher operating frequencies, but it is also more expensive than the basic models of the next generation, which, however, have an identical architecture. When the price difference was $30-40 in favor of the 125-watt model, the choice was more clear, but now the situation is reversed, and Core i5-13400F/14400F in retail shipments already come with a simple cooler for the first time, while for Core i5-12600KF you will have to buy a cooler additionally.

Regardless of the processor model you choose, we recommend Intel B760 boards with DDR5 memory for optimal configurations. More equipped models without excessive functionality for this class cost ~$150. There are more affordable versions, but it’s still not worth saving too much on the platform. It is worth noting that Intel B760 boards will not allow you to experiment with overclocking the Core i5-12600KF, despite the presence of an unlocked multiplier. To do this, you need Intel Z690/Z790 models, which means $190+ and additional costs for the appropriate cooling system.

The new Intel LGA1851 platform for optimal configurations can potentially become relevant only after the announcement of available chips and motherboards, which will happen only early next year. In addition, these solutions will still need to be thoroughly tested and compared with their predecessors before being recommended, as there are many questions about the gaming capabilities of the top Arrow Lake-S.

But for mid-range AMD gaming systems, everything is pretty clear. The Ryzen 5 7600 (6/12; 3.8/5.1 GHz; 32 MB L3) for $200 looks organic here. The slightly faster Ryzen 5 7600X (6/12; 4.7/5.3 GHz) will cost $220, but in this case you need to buy a cooler separately. Both models have integrated graphics on board, which will be an argument during possible power outages.

If you’re sure that you won’t need a built-in video core, you can rely on Ryzen 5 7500F (6/12; 3.7/5.0 GHz; 32 MB L3) in this class of systems, but you won’t be able to save much money. The difference in price is only $10-15, so we choose the older model, which has an iGPU backup and +100 MHz without additional settings.

The new Ryzen 5 9600X (6/12; 3.9/5.4 GHz) are dropping in price quite rapidly, but with a current price of ~$300, they still can’t compete with the previous generation models. So if you have a desire/need to accelerate in this class, it is more rational to spend $250-260 on an 8-core Ryzen 7 7700 (8/16; 3.8/5.3 GHz). Although you need to be prepared to pay ~$290 for a BOX set with a cooler.

For optimal configurations, we choose AMD B650 motherboards. Models for ~$150 offer a good balance of features and provide the necessary functionality. Despite the fact that the developers have not yet offered updated AMD B850/B840 chipsets and, obviously, motherboards based on them, there is no need to delay the purchase of the platform – no fundamental changes are expected.

Video cards. In mid-range gaming configurations, GeForce RTX 4070 12GB series graphics cards hold a strong position. It is indeed the best option for this category of systems. Quite powerful, balanced and economical. The presence of 12 GB of memory cannot be attributed to the advantages of this line, but for the most part it is enough for good performance in 1080p/1440p modes.

GeForce RTX 4070 versions with GDDR6 memory are actively expanding the lineup of the series. As expected, such variants do not actually differ in price from the initial modifications with GDDR6X chips. So you start with the equivalent of $600, and a wider range appears with an increase in the budget to $630-650.

Evaluating user requests on price aggregators, we note the considerable popularity of the improved GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER 12 GB models. An additional +15% to the number of fps in games is an attractive prospect, but the cost of such models increases almost proportionally. They start at $680-700. And here it’s a little harder to accept that NVIDIA graphics cards at this price are still equipped with 12 GB of memory.

Moreover, according to previous leaks, the upcoming GeForce RTX 5070 will also have a 192-bit bus in the basic version and will have… 12 GB of memory. If the information is confirmed, it will be a real disappointment. The situation here is supposed to be alleviated by an improved version of the video card with 18 GB of memory, which will also have a 192-bit bus, but will use new GDDR7 chips with a capacity of 3 GB. Six of these chips will eventually provide a total of 18 GB. Obviously, this will be a conditional SUPER-modification, which will cost more than the basic one. However, there is still a lot of time before the announcement of models of this level. NVIDIA is in no hurry, postponing the announcement of top-of-the-line models with Blackwell architecture until early 2025. As for the notional GeForce RTX 5070, we are talking about February-March.

As for AMD solutions, there is nothing better than the Radeon RX 7800 XT 16 GB. It’s stable, predictable, and even a bit cheaper than the GeForce RTX 4070 12GB. Of course, having 16 GB of memory is an advantage and a challenge for NVIDIA. Although, the latter does not seem to pay attention to such trifles. For $650 you can already get a Radeon RX 7900 GRE 16 GB. This is a worthy opponent for the GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER 12 GB, especially if you don’t take into account the more modest performance when ray tracing is activated.

Within the framework of optimal configurations, it is not uncommon for it to be important to stick to the allocated budget, so there is a valid option for saving money. Although a video card in a gaming platform is the last thing you want to do, situations vary. In general, the Radeon RX 7700 XT 12 GB will not break the concept. We get a 15% drop in performance from the Radeon RX 7800 XT, but at a price of $480-500. It’s a workable option, but if $100 is not a critical amount, it’s better to spend money on an older model.

There is still little information about AMD’s next-generation graphics. The topic of the developer’s upcoming conference at CES 2025 includes RDNA4, so we hope to learn more details and specific timelines for the graphics card lineup early next year. According to the latest information, AMD CEO Lisa Su has already confirmed the appearance of new Radeons early next year and promised improved ray-tracing performance and new AI capabilities.

Progressive gaming PC of the month ($1800+)

 

Gaming monitor for the “Progressive Gaming PC” from our partner MSI

 

27-inch MSI MAG 274QRF-QD E2 gaming monitor with a fast 2560×1440 IPS matrix with quantum dot technology. The 180 Hz refresh rate and 1 ms response time provide an optimal gaming experience, while the extended color gamut (150% sRGB) provides a bright, vivid picture.   

MSI MAG 274QRF-QD E2 gaming monitor

Processors and motherboards. You’ve probably been waiting for it. Yes, yes, and yes again! We are returning Intel solutions to the category of advanced gaming PCs. The processor position is occupied by… Core i5-14600K (6/12+8; 3.5/5.3 GHz, 2.6/4.0 GHz). Perhaps unexpectedly, this chip is now unrivaled in terms of features and price. After the launch of the new LGA1851 platform, older models of Intel’s previous generation processors have rapidly declined in price.

The “old friend” 14-core Core i5-14600K has dropped in price from $340 to $270. The Core i5-14600KF version without integrated graphics can be purchased for $250, but given the power prospects, we are still focusing on the full modification with an iGPU. As for the motherboard, a relatively affordable Intel Z790 model will come in handy. If you want, you can even experiment with overclocking, but for the time being, the priority is to downwind and further reduce power consumption.

What about the new Intel LGA1851 platform? We have already reviewed the capabilities of the Core Ultra 5 245K (6P+8E; 4.2/5.2 GHz + 3.6/4.6 GHz), which generally leaves a good, but still mixed impression. Using architectural improvements and advanced TSMC chip manufacturing processes, Intel has indeed managed to significantly improve the energy efficiency of new chips. We also note the presence of an NPU, significantly accelerated integrated graphics, support for high-speed RAM, a large number of PCI-E 5.0 lines, and even a Thunderbolt 4 controller. In terms of performance, developers have generally managed to compensate for the abandonment of Hyper-Threading, so even in multi-threaded tasks, new CPUs usually have a certain advantage over their predecessors.

In gaming, however, a lot of questions have arisen about Intel’s new chips. For the most part, performance remains at about the same decent level as Raptor Lake, but in some projects, Arrow Lake-S performance is outright disastrous – up to -15-20% of the number of frames per second for the 14th generation Core. We will probably see further software optimizations/patches, and Intel plans to actively develop Intel Application Optimization (Intel APO) technology, which more effectively redistributes the load between productive and energy-efficient cores in games. The number of projects has increased, but it is still not a panacea.

Despite the fact that sales of components of the new LGA1851 platform started on October 24, at the time of writing only Intel Z890 motherboards are available in Ukraine, while official CPU deliveries have not yet begun. As for the limited offers of Core Ultra 5 245K for ~$400, they definitely don’t look attractive, especially in the context of PC of the Month configurations with a gaming focus. It will take some time for the offers to normalize.

As of now, the Core i5-14600K variant remains very competitive. Good overall performance at a very attractive price. Moreover, in games, the difference in processor power consumption is not so significant. On average, it’s only 15-20 watts, and if you play around with the CPU supply voltage, the difference will decrease even further.

To balance the price of the Intel and AMD platforms, we suggest using Ryzen 7 7700X (8/16; 4.5/5.4 GHz) processors for the latter for ~$310. If we compare the capabilities with those of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, then in the 1440p/4K modes that are “working” for progressive PCs, the actual difference in fps will be only ~5%. And this is when using GeForce RTX 4090, while with a slower video card it will be even less.

The ultra-high-end 8-core Ryzen 7 7800X3D remains the fastest gaming processor, but this status has a bad effect on its price, which continues to rise. The current ~$510 already looks like an outright exaggeration. An additional $200 for +5% more fps and even lower overall performance is a questionable investment. Especially on the eve of the arrival of the successor – Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

The first chips of the Ryzen 9000 line with 3D V-Cahe will be presented on November 7, and independent reviews of the features will appear a day earlier. It is expected that the increase in performance in games will not be extraordinary and will be 5-10%. However, this will be enough for Ryzen 7 9800X3D to become the fastest gaming CPU. The chip will receive 64 MB of additional third-level cache (L3), and the main difference from its predecessor will be the unlocked boost factor, which will allow for additional overclocking. We will get practical confirmation in a few days.

Currently, Ryzen 7 9700X (8/16; 3.8/5.5 GHz) can be considered as an alternative to Ryzen 7 7700X in a powerful gaming configuration, and its price continues to decline and has already reached ~$400. Nevertheless, the Zen 5 architecture has its advantages, offering higher IPC performance. Obviously, AMD’s mistake was the initial positioning of the 6/8-core X-modification chips with 65W TDP. It would have been more appropriate to focus on improved efficiency in the case of the basic models of the series. The developers quickly recognized this “mistake”, simplifying the process of increasing TDP to 105 W as much as possible and assuring that the warranty obligations will be maintained when using the processors in such conditions.

Motherboard manufacturers have added appropriate parameters to the BIOS to quickly switch between 65W and 105W modes, so now this migration is easy. One mouse click and you get up to +15% performance gain in multi-threaded tasks. In games, the difference is usually insignificant or even within the measurement error. So it’s up to the owner to decide in which mode to use their CPU.

Video cards. There is not much graphical news, the best starting models for advanced gaming configurations are GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16 GB and Radeon RX 7900 XT 20 GB. The cartel graphic collusion allows keeping the prices of these graphics cards at $900-1000. Of course, NVIDIA plays the main role here, setting the price rules. AMD is adjusting and is in no hurry to dump. Seriously, there is clearly a lack of competition in the upper segment of gaming graphics. And it is not a given that the situation will change in 2025.

NVIDIA will probably offer the ultimatum GeForce RTX 5090 and its “half” in the form of GeForce RTX 5080 early next year. AMD’s response is a big question mark here, as the company plans to focus on models with an optimal price/performance ratio, which should help it regain the lost percentage of the graphics “pie”. Nevertheless, we still hope that such assurances from the company’s representatives are a veiled way to lull the vigilance of the main competitor, and somewhere in R&D, work on powerful flagships is in full swing.

We also hope that Intel will get its act together and pleasantly surprise us with new Battlemag, which will still allow the company to gain a share of the graphics adapter segment. Developers continue to persistently optimize drivers, methodically releasing updates that really improve the performance of ARC graphics cards. However, more powerful new solutions are needed, because at the end of 2024, it will no longer be enough to compete with the notional GeForce RTX 3060.