Seeking Guidance for My First Custom PC Build

Embarking on the journey of building your first custom PC can feel overwhelming, especially with so many choices to make. As I dive into this new project, I would like to share the specifics of my build in hopes of gathering some valuable insights from the community. Below is the current configuration I have selected, along with my reasons for each choice.

The Vision

My primary objective with this setup is to run complex MATLAB simulations efficiently. Currently, my 8-core office PC struggles through a 400-line code, taking an excruciating three weeks to complete. After discussions with my research professor, I believe that upgrading to a 16-core processor will significantly reduce that time to an estimated 5-10 hours. For this reason, I am leaning towards the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D as my CPU.

In addition to my academic needs, I also aim to utilize this system for gaming. As someone who has never owned a dedicated console or gaming PC, I’m looking forward to starting this exciting new chapter.

Budgeting My Build

As of now, my estimated budget for this entire build is around $2500. I would prefer to keep costs within this range, but I am open to small adjustments if necessary to enhance overall performance.

Current Component Selection

Here’s a rundown of the parts I’ve chosen:

• Case: NZXT H6 Flow RGB ATX Mid Tower (Black, Tempered Glass)
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D 4.3 GHz 16-Core (AM5)
• Motherboard: Gigabyte B650 EAGLE AX AM5 DDR5 ATX
• GPU: Asus PRIME OC GeForce RTX 5070 12GB
• CPU Cooler: Cooler Master – Hyper 212 Halo 120mm – Black Edition
• Storage: Samsung 990 Pro 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
• Power Supply: NZXT C850 (2024) Black 850W Fully Modular 80+ Gold
• Case Fans: Corsair RS120 120mm Black PWM ARGB (2x 3-Packs, Total: 6 fans)
• Monitor 1: Samsung Odyssey G32A 32″ 1080p 165Hz VA
• Monitor 2: Samsung Odyssey G32A