The Best Gaming PC Upgrades, Min/Maxing an RTX 4090 ⚡ Build Fix Ep2

The Best Gaming PC Upgrades, Min/Maxing an RTX 4090 ⚡ Build Fix Ep2

Build Fix is my monthly series with a simple goal -- helping viewers choose the right PC parts to build with when they are building a new gaming computer. Each episode covers multiple builds submitted by viewers, combing through parts lists to recommend the best CPU and GPU combos, the best SSDs for a gaming PC, the best memory for a gaming PC, the best gaming PC cases, the best gaming PC motherboards, and generally speaking the best bang-for-your-buck PC hardware so you can build a cost effective rig with maximum performance per dollar.

► TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Welcome to Build Fix - Powered by PCPartPicker
0:58 How Build Fix Works
1:29 Build 1 - Overhauling NoobSniper’s Canadian Gaming PC
9:35 Build 2 - How to Upgrade an Older AM4 PC
15:05 Build 3 - A New $1300 1440p AM5 Gaming PC Build
18:56 Build 4 - How to get the most out of an RTX 4090 without overspending

⚒ Build Upgrades

Build 1 - submitted by @NoobSniper
My Upgrades: 14700KF (more cores for work), 32GB DDR5 + DDR5 Mobo, 7900 GRE

Build 2 - submitted by @matthewsmith22
My Upgrades: Swap CPU for 5700X3D/5800X3D, swap memory kit to 32GB

🆕 New Builds

Build 3 - Mid-range Micro ATX, $1300 budget submitted by @SeamusLowe-nl4il
My Upgrades: Swap $295 7600X+AIO for 7700+Air; 7900 GRE for $20 more

Build 4 - submitted by @its_jakester
RTX 4090 Founders Edition blank canvas
(trying to get the most out of the 4090 without overspending)

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► Edited by Joe Aguilar - ShaostylePostProductions

Audio file(s) provided by Epidemic Sound

[timmyt]

YouTube's notifications across the top of my phone cut part of the name of the channel off. Just says Paul's hard!

[fernandoteacher]

just came here to thank you, Paul, from the bottom of my heart, since I was able to finish building my new/old PC with your videos just yesterday!

[NoobSniper]

Hey, that's me! Thanks for the feedback and upgrade options on my build, Paul 🙂 You nailed it with the monitors; started off with the 1080p one and purchased the 1440p one a few years later. I've debated upgrading the platform to DDR5 as you pointed out, however, instead of going for a 13th/14th gen CPU, I'm considering waiting for 15th gen to hopefully have a better CPU upgrade path down the road.

As a side note, at the time when I purchased the 12600k + mobo (combo for $255 USD), the equivalent DDR5 RAM and Z690 mobo was close to $350 USD by itself, not factoring in the cost of the CPU. As others have pointed out, Canadian pricing on tech and hardware in general is 10-15% higher than US folks unfortunately.

The 4090 FE "blank canvas" build was fantastic value AND performance, even factoring in a slightly overpriced GPU!

[garyb]

Should have stuck with non-f since intel quick sync really helps with video editing - more flexibility with gpu.

[Gremlack]

Glad to see you do this type of content.
Jason of pcbuilder does videos regularly.
I like the variation of thoughts on part component matches for best price to performance.

[dufflebagg]

It's vindicating to finally see a PC youtuber also have to wade through PC part prices in Canadian dollars 😅

[origamipostit]

I’m glad to see you still making videos. I wanted to thank you for helping me build my first PC. I learned from the Newegg 3 part series. I would rewatch it a lot and take notes so I could remember what parts to look at when I would go to Fry’s. That started my love for computers. I am forever grateful for those times and the help you shared for free.

[phlix]

I too am still on anAM4 platform and had recently upgraded from an R5 3600 to an R7 5800x3D when I saw it went on sale for less than 290 bucks, I then added a second 16GB kit of Vengeance LPX 3200 cl16 to get a total of 32GB of 3200 cl16 RAM. This removed all the hitching and stuttering I had initially experienced in Cyberpunk 2077.
Also agreed that the Thermalright heatsink is more than enough for the AMD processors.
This video has been very validating for my upgrade decisions.

[bignicnrg]

My 1st build I used Asrock and have used them ever since. Never had an issue. Love em!!

[michaeloneill]

Thanks for showing a Build from Canada, so everyone can see how much we're suffering due to 'Overpriced' PC Components! We pay on average $200.00 more per Part than you do in the U.S. !!

[chouy]

love that you have high bitrate videos with really high resolutions stuff paul makes your videos always look super clean!

[markdavenportjr]

Great video. I finally got a job and will be starting soon. So I am looking at parts for my next build and setup overhaul later this year. :)

[SAFFY]

Great series and lessons for the newbie builders. Hair pulling stuff seeing a low TDP chip being paired with a 360 AIO. Here's hoping this video can reach many peeps so that they don't post silly builds on Reddit.

Having said that Paul, after my recent RMA experiences with Corsair who upgraded my PSU when I received a faulty replacement unit, I would go with Corsair even if it means spending extra simply for their after sales support. I've never experienced anything like it.

[bobbruce]

thats cool af that you help out like this optimizing peoples builds!

[RoxburysFinest]

To think over a year ago I got a 12900k, Asus Z790 motherboard and 32gb 6000 GSKill DDR5 ram at MicroCenter for a total of $325. Thats why I only shop there. 10 minutes away

[noidont]

Speaking for myself only asrock mother boards have worked out better for than any other brand iv used

[chojingab]

Loving this series mate, keep em coming! Im building a new PC soon and have most of my parts I wish you had done this series sooner I would of submitted my parts :) Keep the videos coming

[TheManicGeek]

Vouch for that 4070 SUPER recommend in NoobSniper's build, that's the upgrade path I took and it felt really nice.

[BansheeBunny]

Great advice on the upgrades, Build 3 is a awesome example, of how to balance a system. I think if you can afford over $2k for a video card, you can afford an SSD with Gen4 PCIe and dedicated cache.

[j.p.h.]

For the last build i would change into a cheaper case but with good airflow like the Antec Performance 1 FT.
Or even cheaper Lian-Li Lancool 216. And then get a 1000W+ PSU instead. That 850W is a bit on the low side for a 4090 system.