Help with new PC build - Need advice on GPU and CPU compatibility

Hey everyone!

I'm planning to build my first PC and I'm really excited! I've done some research, but I'm a bit stuck on choosing the right CPU and GPU combination. I want to build a mid-range gaming PC that can handle most modern titles at 1440p with decent frame rates, and also be good for some light video editing. My budget for the CPU and GPU is around $600-$700.

I'm currently considering these options:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7600X or Intel Core i5-13600K
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 or AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT

My main concerns are:

• Will the Ryzen 5 7600X be a bottleneck for the RTX 4070 at 1440p?
• Is the i5-13600K a better choice for gaming and video editing in this price range?
• How does the RX 7800 XT compare to the RTX 4070 in terms of performance and value for my use case?

Any advice or alternative suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Hey @TechGuruJane!

Great choices to consider! For your budget and 1440p gaming target, the Ryzen 5 7600X is a fantastic CPU. It generally won't bottleneck an RTX 4070 at 1440p; the GPU will usually be the limiting factor at that resolution.

The i5-13600K is also an excellent CPU, especially if you lean more towards productivity tasks like video editing due to its higher core count. However, for pure gaming, the 7600X is very competitive and often slightly more power-efficient.

Regarding the GPUs: The RX 7800 XT often offers slightly better rasterization performance and more VRAM (16GB vs 12GB on the 4070) for a similar or lower price. The RTX 4070 excels in ray tracing performance, DLSS upscaling technology, and power efficiency.

For 1440p gaming, both are superb. If ray tracing is a must and you value DLSS, go 4070. If raw performance per dollar in rasterization and more VRAM for future-proofing/heavy multitasking is key, the 7800 XT is a strong contender.

Given your ~$600-$700 budget, you might be able to get the RX 7800 XT and pair it with the Ryzen 5 7600X comfortably. The RTX 4070 might push the upper limit of your budget, but is achievable. The 13600K would likely cost a bit more than the 7600X, so keep that in mind for motherboard and cooler costs too.

I agree with @PCMasterBuilder. The RX 7800 XT is a beast for 1440p and often comes in cheaper than the RTX 4070. The extra 4GB of VRAM could be beneficial in some newer games at higher settings.

For CPUs, the Ryzen 5 7600X is an amazing gaming chip. You'll get great performance. If you want slightly better multi-core performance for video editing, the i5-13600K is the way to go, but it might mean a more expensive motherboard (Z-series) and cooler.

Consider your primary use. If it's 80% gaming and 20% editing, the 7600X + 7800 XT combo is probably your best bet for value and performance.