Building an Awesome Gaming PC in the APNX V2!

Components

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is a brilliant gaming CPU, although it isn’t from the latest generation of CPUs released by AMD, it still holds its own incredibly well against the latest releases. Specs-wise, the 7800X3D sports a base clock speed of 4.2GHz and a boost clock of 5GHz, so top-end gaming shouldn’t pose any issues for this CPU. It is worth noting that the 8 cores and 16 threads on this CPU should provide consumers with ample power for productivity applications as well.

Needless to say, AMD’s Ryzen 7 7800X3D is an excellent option for those looking to build a new PC. This CPU has seen a significant price drop since its release in 2023 and is an incredibly competitive option in the PC gaming space, making it the go-to choice for many. For those building a modern 1440p or 4K gaming PC, it remains a fantastic pick. While AMD’s newer Ryzen 7 9800X3D does offer noticeable gains – especially in cache-heavy titles – the 7800X3D holds its ground admirably and remains a go-to choice for cost-conscious enthusiasts.

CPU Cooler: MSI MPG CORELIQUID P13 360

The APNX has a particularly unique method of horizontally mounting radiators within the dual-chamber style region, and for this build, we were excited to trial this feature. This 360mm all-in-one CPU Cooler is engineered for gamers seeking strong performance and cutting-edge aesthetics with vibrant colours. Equipped with a 2.1-inch LCD screen that has a fully curved glass cover and a water block inspired by the smooth contour of a water droplet, it delivers both visual elegance and functional clarity. Users can monitor their system’s stats in real-time, display animated visuals, or view personalised content, all while complementing the build’s fluid design language. To use this feature, you will need the MSI CENTER application.

An interesting integration MSI has incorporated for the MPG CORELIQUID P13 360 is the universal bracket mounting system, where the ‘UNI BRACKET’ offers seamless compatibility across both Intel and AMD platforms. Additionally, the fans come pre-installed, and both of these features contribute to making the installation faster, easier, and hassle-free. Cable management has a practicality uplift with the cabling streamlined within the sleeved tubing that connects between the water block and the radiator, making your build look less messy and fitting the flow of the design of the APNX V2 case.

Motherboard: MSI MPG B850 EDGE TI WIFI

MSI’s MPG series is engineered for gamers who demand strong performance and premium, sleek designs. Every product delivers cutting-edge aesthetics and vibrant colours, reflecting MPG’s commitment to exceptional design. This ATX motherboard fits perfectly within our APNX V2 case, which is purpose-built to support this form factor. Featuring the MSI MPG B850 EDGE TI WIFI’s striking white PCB, vibrant RGB lighting, and elegantly designed heatsink covers, it’s crafted to be a showpiece. Thanks to the APNX V2’s three tempered glass panels, you’ll have a clear view to give its beauty the justice it deserves from every angle.

This motherboard is compatible with the latest PCIe 5.0 platforms, and provided that supplemental PCIe power is available, you will be prepared to take advantage of the latest GPUs and expansion cards. If you purchase the recommended PSU mentioned near the end of the article along with this motherboard, you can avoid potential power-related issues. Separately, this motherboard offers excellent support for RAM overclocking, allowing for compatibility with speeds of up to 8400 MT/s, and it can accommodate up to 256GB of DDR5 RAM. It’s also ready for high-end processors, featuring 14+2+1 VRM power phases, making it an excellent fit for our powerful AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D. It’s also worth mentioning that the motherboard has a wide variety of USB ports for both the front and rear IO.

This combination of aesthetics, power, and cutting-edge features makes the MSI MPG B850 EDGE TI WIFI an outstanding choice for builders seeking a balance of style and substance.

RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO RGB 32GB

For the RAM, we’ve chosen the G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO EXPO kit. What’s great about this kit is that the EXPO memory is designed for AMD PC builds, as the particular onboard profile optimises performance, increasing the speeds where possible and lowering latency. Specifically, the G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO EXPO we’ve chosen offers a speed of 6400MT/s while latency sits around CL32, which is solid for this gaming PC build. Aesthetically speaking, the G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO EXPO is a fantastic-looking kit. The black and white heat spreader looks sophisticated and complements the other white parts in the build well. Each DIMM features a small RGB strip that can be synced with other components via various applications. With the APNX case, we’ll be able to showcase the gorgeous appearance of these components.

SSD: TeamGroup MP44L 1TB

GPU: MSI RTX 5070 Ti Gaming Trio

We’ve chosen the RTX 5070 Ti because it offers outstanding performance, and its stunning design aligns with our other MSI components. It’s ideal to stick to a brand theme for both lighting purposes and visual harmony. The RTX 5070 Ti itself uses the latest NVIDIA Blackwell architecture, featuring fifth-generation Tensor Cores that maximise AI performance with DLSS 4. DLSS 4 is a technology that utilises artificial intelligence to enhance frame rates, minimise latency, and improve image quality through multiframe generation; it generates intermediate frames using AI to offload the bulk of rendering and graphics calculations in the background. This architecture is the ultimate platform for gamers and creators alike. With 16GB of VRAM, this graphics card will provide faster texture loading and processing times, while also contributing to overall low latency. This amount of VRAM is becoming increasingly necessary for gaming, especially as modern titles demand higher texture resolutions, larger open worlds, and more complex asset streaming.

Moving on to the more physical properties, this MSI GPU features a fierce design with advanced cooling technologies. The Gaming Trio embodies the passion of gamers with a sleek exterior that erupts with vibrant lights amidst bold lines and sharp edges. LED lighting is diffused through a frosted cover and a dragon totem. All this while maintaining whisper-quiet acoustics under load. The triple-fan setup leverages MSI’s TORX Fan 5.0 technology, which combines high static pressure with low noise output integrated as part of their 4-step thermal design.

Case: APNX V2

This stunning PC chassis has been designed to showcase your components and internals in a unique way. Stay tuned for our APNX V2 Case Review to learn everything you need to know about this stunning case, as we’re only going to give you a brief rundown here.

This PC case measures 480mm in length, 312mm in width, and 500mm in height, placing it on the larger end of the mid-tower spectrum. Combined with its somewhat awkward front IO positioning, it’s worth considering how this might affect placement within your setup. That said, don’t let the front IO sway your decision; this is an innovative case that offers what feels like endless ways to customise your setup.

The standout features of this case are its unique ability to mount the radiator horizontally within the dual-chamber design and the use of three tempered glass panels. We’ve never seen these two elements combined in quite this way before. While there’s room for refinement, as APNX’s inaugural design of this style, it deserves credit for effectively executing these innovations. The APNX V2 makes for a showstopping centre piece and is a standout option for those looking for a fish-tank style design.

PSU: MSI MAG A850GL PCIE5

With any PC build, it’s always nice to keep on theme, which is why we’ve chosen the MSI MAG A850GL PCIE5. It is a white 850W power supply, which is more than enough to power all the components that this PC is composed of. The component we need to make sure we meet the power requirements of is the GPU; it is recommended that the MSI RTX 5070 Ti Gaming Trio has a minimum PSU of 750W. This power supply features a lovely accent of black around the cable sockets, and it comes with white wires with black tips to tie the look together.

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