First Time Build for Daily Use

This was our first PC upgrade in over 10 years. We had never built a PC before and knew very little about PC builds or the terminology involved. Thanks to Tech Notice and other YouTube channels, we were able to learn about the different components, what is required for a system, and how CPU and GPU setups, coolers, and benchmarks compare. The Tech Notice YouTube channel in particular focuses on photo and video editing and frequently features PC builds designed specifically for content creation, which was especially helpful for our needs. Our goal was to build a computer capable of handling photo editing and light video editing while staying within a reasonable budget, especially with rising component prices. For our first build, we chose the Ultra 7 265K, MSI Pro Z890-A Wi-Fi motherboard, and 32GB Crucial RAM bundle for $599. We added a Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Digital air cooler, a Crucial T710 2TB SSD for $250, and a Montech Century II 1050W PSU on sale for $99. It’s a strong budget power supply with an “A” tier rating, although, all the PCIe cables are pigtailed. We also installed an LGA 1851 support bracket for the CPU to help prevent bending, while improving thermal performance and reducing temperatures. The Montech King 95 Pro case comes with 6 fans pre installed and ARGB fan hub. We paired our build with the Intel Arc B580 GPU, giving the system a clean look. Overall, it’s hard to find a GPU with 12GB of VRAM and 192 bit memory bus at this price point, and the Intel Arc B580 is widely considered one of the best budget GPUs on the market. In total, the entire setup—including the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and Windows 11—came in under $2,000. We were also fortunate to purchase the parts when we did, as prices began increasing and kept increasing while we were still buying components. To test the system, we ran Novabench to stress test the build, and it returned an overall score of 5056. The Novabench test score placed the system in the top 95th percentile, so we are very happy with the results. Micro Center offers the best bundle options on the market. Looking ahead, we hope to see them offer more bundle options in the future that allow for upgraded motherboard choices for an additional cost, giving builders more flexibility when selecting components.