Recently, I decided to buy the Zotac 16GB 4070 Ti Super Trinity card to replace my MSI 3080 10Gb video card. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of Zotac but their aesthetic design this time around is beautiful.
I also took the plung and went back to Intel. Having been on AMD for over 3+ years with my 5950x processor, I decided to get the 14700kf. It's rare for me to not also get the top of the line processor but with the amount of heat generated by the 14900kf, I opted for a bit less this time around.
MY SPECS
CPU: Intel 14700KF 20 cores / 28 threads @ 5.6Ghz
CPU COOLER: DeepCool ASSASSIN IV Premium
MOTHERBOARD: Z790 AORUS Elite X WIFI7 z790
RAM: G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB 64GB) DDR5 6400MT
GPU: Zotac 4070 Ti Super Trinity
NVMEs
- Crucial T500 2TB (OS) 7400 MB/s
- Corsair MP600 PRO XT 1TB (Games) 7100 MB/s
- Sabrent Rocket 4.0 1TB (Storage) 5000 MB/s
POWER SUPPLY:: ASUS ROG Thor 1200w
I was really debating going with the 7000 series or even waiting for the 9000 series from AMD but with all the unresolved memory issues with EXPO and lack of thunderbolt and other features, Intel made sense.
I often get asked, should I buy a pre-built PC, or build one myself?
Here are a few things to keep in mind before making your final decision. Let' start with pre-built machines. Pre-built machines are computers that are put together by a store or OEM (Original equipment manufacturer). They can be convenient since nothing needs to be done, other then plugging it in and setting up Windows, but there are many things to consider:
Positives for Pre-built
- Normally comes with a Windows license
- Plug and play with minimum setup time
- Sometimes offers better deals or specials
Negatives for Pre-built:
- Older hardware, not always the latest technology
- Build quality & cable management can vary
- Cannot choose vendors for GPU
- Weird proprietary parts or connectors.
- Massive Windows bloatware
- Dealing with the store warranty when something breaks.
Positives for DIY:
- Better choice of hardware and named brands
- Additional bling factor of adding lights and visual elements
- Installing only the software you need
- Additional cost management
- Accomplishment of building your own PC
Negatives for DIY:
- No Windows licenses included (extra costs)
- You must install the OS yourself.
- Learning curve, lots of watching videos and reading
- Building mistakes can happen (extra costs)
- Can sometimes cost more money per item
No matter which option you choose, there is no right or wrong answer. Experience, budget and willingness to learning a new skill can be a driving factor to build your own PC. Plug in play might be more interesting to you if you want less trouble.
I always recommend people look at JayzTwoCents (videos on the side) to get a good understanding of what is required to build a computer.