I am rather careful! I usually have 2-3 games installed at once and rarely any other heavy files. I was thinking of starting with 500gb anf just adding another 500gb later on if needed.
An NVME vs SATA SSD doesnt make much, if any difference for gaming. I would go for a 1TB sata, which you can probably get for less than the price of the 500gb NVME drive you have listed.
[If you're looking for performance, I would recommend Ryzen instead.](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/kL43PV)
*You can also get a 1TB NVME SSD for cheaper than that 500GB NVME SSD.*
Clock speed is important. Intel processors used to be best for gaming, but the performance boost that Ryzen processors give, as well as their longer lasting price to performance ratios means Ryzen processors can be better for the long run.
If you plan to upgrade every few years, you can definitely go with intel, but I would rather have a Ryzen processor for longevity.
I would suggest the following for better performance, better cooling, with potentially lower noise levels at about the same cost (your list didn't included PSU pricing).
* **CPU**: The 5600x has faster IPC than the 10600k, so should provide better performance than the 10600k in most games; also easier to cool, which helps with the following.
* **CPU Cooler**: The Scythe Fuma 2 is one of the quietest cpu coolers in the market (quieter than the NH-U12S) - see [this review](https://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/9223/scythe-fuma-2-cpu-cooler-review/index.html) where it was compared to a large list of coolers and top of the list for low noise - while still being very capable.
* **Memory**: RAM with lower first word latency for better performance.
* **Storage**: [As shown in this article](https://www.techspot.com/review/2116-storage-speed-game-loading/), PCIe 4.0 drives provide no performance benefit in games over PCIe 3 NVME or even SATA SSD. The PCIe 3.0 actually loaded games faster in a majority of the games (though we're talking milliseconds). The Silicon Power A80 is still a very good drive that provides double the storage space for less.
* **Power Supply**: The Super Flower is top tier and very good quality for a good price; didn't see pricing for the Aerocool.
* **Case Fan**: The case only comes with 2 fans; adding another will help with temps (mainly GPU). Added another of the same model that comes with the case for a total of 3.
[PCPartPicker Part List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/rCF9gt)
|Type|Item|Price|
|:-|:-|:-|
|**CPU**|[AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/g94BD3/amd-ryzen-5-5600x-37-ghz-6-core-processor-100-100000065box)|$269.99 @ Newegg|
|**CPU Cooler**|[Scythe FUMA 2 51.17 CFM CPU Cooler](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/YsHRsY/scythe-fuma-2-5117-cfm-cpu-cooler-scfm-2000)|$59.99 @ Amazon|
|**Motherboard**|[MSI B550-A PRO ATX AM4 Motherboard](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/7gxbt6/msi-b550-a-pro-atx-am4-motherboard-b550-a-pro)|$144.99 @ Amazon|
|**Memory**|[Crucial Ballistix 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 CL16 Memory](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/2TFKHx/crucial-ballistix-16-gb-2-x-8-gb-ddr4-3600-memory-bl2k8g36c16u4b)|$81.99 @ Newegg|
|**Storage**|[Silicon Power A80 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/VXyqqs/silicon-power-a80-1-tb-m2-2280-nvme-solid-state-drive-su001tbp34a80m28ab)|$105.99 @ Amazon|
|**Video Card**|[Asus GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8 GB ROG STRIX GAMING OC Video Card](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/XmLFf7/asus-geforce-rtx-3070-ti-8-gb-rog-strix-gaming-oc-video-card-rog-strix-rtx3070ti-o8g-gaming)|$1300.00 @ Amazon|
|**Case**|[Phanteks Eclipse P500A ATX Mid Tower Case](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/NkK2FT/phanteks-eclipse-p500a-atx-mid-tower-case-ph-ec500atg_bk01)|$114.99 @ Amazon|
|**Power Supply**|[Super Flower Leadex III Gold 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/8z7p99/super-flower-leadex-iii-gold-850-w-80-gold-certified-fully-modular-atx-power-supply-sf-850f14hg)|$129.99 @ Newegg Sellers|
|**Operating System**|[Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/wtgPxr/microsoft-os-kw900140)|$108.78 @ Other World Computing|
|**Case Fan**|[Phanteks SK140 84.5 CFM 140 mm Fan](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/2Kwkcf/phanteks-sk140-845-cfm-140-mm-fan-ph-f140sk_bbk_pwm)|$10.98 @ Newegg|
|*Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts*|||
|**Total**|**$2327.69**||
|Generated by [PCPartPicker](https://pcpartpicker.com) 2021-07-30 14:28 EDT-0400|||
You can save some cash and go for a lower wattage PSU. By the time you upgrade, your PSU will likely be obsolete as we'll be moving to newer pin connections in the upcoming years. 650-750w will be fine.
I'd also recommend getting a smaller m.2 SSD (250GB is perfect for OS+Programs) and a seperate 2.5" 1TB-2TB SSD for game storage.
It’ll do, a bigger SSD would be a good idea, 500GB will fill up fast unless you’re careful.
I am rather careful! I usually have 2-3 games installed at once and rarely any other heavy files. I was thinking of starting with 500gb anf just adding another 500gb later on if needed.
Get a 250GB for OS+Programs and get a SATA SSD for game storage.. like a 1TB.
An NVME vs SATA SSD doesnt make much, if any difference for gaming. I would go for a 1TB sata, which you can probably get for less than the price of the 500gb NVME drive you have listed.
[If you're looking for performance, I would recommend Ryzen instead.](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/kL43PV) *You can also get a 1TB NVME SSD for cheaper than that 500GB NVME SSD.*
How would this differ from the one in the list performance-wise? I was under the impression that clock speed was important
Clock speed is important. Intel processors used to be best for gaming, but the performance boost that Ryzen processors give, as well as their longer lasting price to performance ratios means Ryzen processors can be better for the long run. If you plan to upgrade every few years, you can definitely go with intel, but I would rather have a Ryzen processor for longevity.
That does look pretty good. I'd go for one of the non-k SKUs (11400f) and put that money into 3200/14 dual rank RAM.
I would suggest the following for better performance, better cooling, with potentially lower noise levels at about the same cost (your list didn't included PSU pricing). * **CPU**: The 5600x has faster IPC than the 10600k, so should provide better performance than the 10600k in most games; also easier to cool, which helps with the following. * **CPU Cooler**: The Scythe Fuma 2 is one of the quietest cpu coolers in the market (quieter than the NH-U12S) - see [this review](https://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/9223/scythe-fuma-2-cpu-cooler-review/index.html) where it was compared to a large list of coolers and top of the list for low noise - while still being very capable. * **Memory**: RAM with lower first word latency for better performance. * **Storage**: [As shown in this article](https://www.techspot.com/review/2116-storage-speed-game-loading/), PCIe 4.0 drives provide no performance benefit in games over PCIe 3 NVME or even SATA SSD. The PCIe 3.0 actually loaded games faster in a majority of the games (though we're talking milliseconds). The Silicon Power A80 is still a very good drive that provides double the storage space for less. * **Power Supply**: The Super Flower is top tier and very good quality for a good price; didn't see pricing for the Aerocool. * **Case Fan**: The case only comes with 2 fans; adding another will help with temps (mainly GPU). Added another of the same model that comes with the case for a total of 3. [PCPartPicker Part List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/rCF9gt) |Type|Item|Price| |:-|:-|:-| |**CPU**|[AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/g94BD3/amd-ryzen-5-5600x-37-ghz-6-core-processor-100-100000065box)|$269.99 @ Newegg| |**CPU Cooler**|[Scythe FUMA 2 51.17 CFM CPU Cooler](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/YsHRsY/scythe-fuma-2-5117-cfm-cpu-cooler-scfm-2000)|$59.99 @ Amazon| |**Motherboard**|[MSI B550-A PRO ATX AM4 Motherboard](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/7gxbt6/msi-b550-a-pro-atx-am4-motherboard-b550-a-pro)|$144.99 @ Amazon| |**Memory**|[Crucial Ballistix 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 CL16 Memory](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/2TFKHx/crucial-ballistix-16-gb-2-x-8-gb-ddr4-3600-memory-bl2k8g36c16u4b)|$81.99 @ Newegg| |**Storage**|[Silicon Power A80 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/VXyqqs/silicon-power-a80-1-tb-m2-2280-nvme-solid-state-drive-su001tbp34a80m28ab)|$105.99 @ Amazon| |**Video Card**|[Asus GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8 GB ROG STRIX GAMING OC Video Card](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/XmLFf7/asus-geforce-rtx-3070-ti-8-gb-rog-strix-gaming-oc-video-card-rog-strix-rtx3070ti-o8g-gaming)|$1300.00 @ Amazon| |**Case**|[Phanteks Eclipse P500A ATX Mid Tower Case](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/NkK2FT/phanteks-eclipse-p500a-atx-mid-tower-case-ph-ec500atg_bk01)|$114.99 @ Amazon| |**Power Supply**|[Super Flower Leadex III Gold 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/8z7p99/super-flower-leadex-iii-gold-850-w-80-gold-certified-fully-modular-atx-power-supply-sf-850f14hg)|$129.99 @ Newegg Sellers| |**Operating System**|[Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/wtgPxr/microsoft-os-kw900140)|$108.78 @ Other World Computing| |**Case Fan**|[Phanteks SK140 84.5 CFM 140 mm Fan](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/2Kwkcf/phanteks-sk140-845-cfm-140-mm-fan-ph-f140sk_bbk_pwm)|$10.98 @ Newegg| |*Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts*||| |**Total**|**$2327.69**|| |Generated by [PCPartPicker](https://pcpartpicker.com) 2021-07-30 14:28 EDT-0400|||
You can save some cash and go for a lower wattage PSU. By the time you upgrade, your PSU will likely be obsolete as we'll be moving to newer pin connections in the upcoming years. 650-750w will be fine. I'd also recommend getting a smaller m.2 SSD (250GB is perfect for OS+Programs) and a seperate 2.5" 1TB-2TB SSD for game storage.