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The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has arrived, and we’re giving it the partner it deserves: the RTX 5090. In this build guide, we push the limits of 4K competitive gaming while showcasing some of Phanteks’ newest thermal tech. From the 8TB of blistering Samsung storage to the pristine white ‘Stealth’ motherboard, every part of this system was chosen for one reason: to be the best. So this build will be an interesting blend of raw performance, innovative products, and some seriously cool white aesthetics.
We’ll walk you through the parts we’ve chosen and explain what makes them really tick our boxes. We’ll show you how this gaming system performs across a range of relevant and popular titles. Finally, we’ll link our build guide video, so if this PC tickles your fancy, you can follow along with James as he shows you how to build it from start to finish.
Parts Overview
AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D
First up is our shiny new AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D, which we are so excited to be including in this new gaming PC build. This processor packs a solid eight cores with sixteen threads, which is more than enough to game and handle medium multitasking workloads without issue. Its base clock speed is 4.7 GHz, and its boost clock is a whopping 5.6 GHz, making it currently the fastest X3D CPU on the AM5 socket with the latest Zen5 architecture. There’s something rather special about the X3D Chips, and it’s that they have more L3 cache than typical CPUs, which is especially important for competitive shooters and CPU logic-demanding games. This processor has 96MB of L3 cache, consisting of 64MB extra storage stacked vertically on top of the base 32MB.
When compared to the remainder of the Ryzen X3D lineup, the 9850X3D sits above the existing 9800X3D, but with fewer cores than the 9900X3D and 9950X3D:
CPU Comparison
Ryzen 7 7800X3D Competitor Comparison
Hover rows for highlight. Drag the :: handle to reorder specs, or tap/click a header title to sort.
| CPU | ::Cores | ::Threads | ::Base Clock Speed | ::Boost Clock Speed | ::TDP | ::L3 Cache | ::Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Baseline gaming CPU in this build |
8 | 16 | 4.2 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 120W | 96MB | [your-shortcode-7800x3d] |
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X Zen 5 8-core alternative for mixed use |
8 | 16 | 3.8 GHz | 5.5 GHz | 65W | 32MB | [your-shortcode-9700x] |
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X Price-focused 8-core AM5 competitor |
8 | 16 | 4.5 GHz | 5.4 GHz | 105W | 32MB | [your-shortcode-7700x] |
Intel Core Ultra 7 265K Arrow Lake desktop rival in this class |
20 (8P + 12E) | 20 | 3.9 GHz (P-core) | 5.5 GHz | 125W | 30MB | [your-shortcode-core-ultra-7-265k] |
Intel Core i7-14700K High-core hybrid alternative for gaming + productivity |
20 (8P + 12E) | 28 | 3.4 GHz (P-core) | 5.6 GHz | 125W | 33MB | [your-shortcode-i7-14700k] |
If the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is out of your budget, these CPU are great alternatives that also work on the AM5 socket! Bear in mind that your performance may result in slightly different results.
Phanteks Glacier One 360D30 X2
The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is a powerhouse with a 120W TDP, making it a processor that is as thermally demanding as it is powerful. To maintain peak performance without throttling, the Phanteks Glacier One 360D30 X2 in white serves as a highly effective cooling partner. This liquid cooler utilises a 360mm aluminium radiator and three premium, interconnected Phanteks D30 fans that work in tandem to rapidly diffuse heat away from the CPU, ensuring your system remains stable even during the most intensive workloads or gaming sessions.
Beyond its core cooling capabilities, the Glacier One features a sophisticated brushed aluminium pump cover equipped with an integrated fan. This secondary airflow is vital for cooling the surrounding VRMs and M.2 SSDs, protecting the motherboard components that often get neglected in liquid-cooled builds. The aesthetic is topped off by a centre-mounted infinity mirror and fully customizable RGB lighting, which can be effortlessly synced via Phanteks' NEXLINQ Hub or standard motherboard software to create a cohesive, high-end look.
Gigabyte X870 AORUS STEALTH ICE
The icy white Gigabyte X870 AORUS STEALTH ICE was the definitive choice for this build, offering a refined, minimalist foundation that balances an otherwise complex hardware configuration. By opting for this sleek design, we ensure the build remains visually sophisticated without feeling overwhelmed by the surrounding components. The "Stealth" philosophy is truly realised through its reverse-connector design, which moves the majority of cable headers to the back of the PCB. This keeps the internal chamber virtually cable-free, allowing the clean lines of the hardware to take centre stage.
Performance and practicality are equally prioritised, as this board features an advanced thermal suite including a dedicated VRM heatpipe and a massive M.2 heatsink that spans the lower half of the PCB. This ensures that both the high-speed storage and power delivery remain cool under sustained loads. For the modern enthusiast, the board is entirely tool-less, extending even to the EZ-Plug WiFi antenna for a seamless assembly experience. On the connectivity front, the rear I/O is exceptionally well-equipped, featuring dual USB4 Type-C ports with 40Gb/s speeds and DP-Alt support, alongside cutting-edge WiFi 7 and 5G LAN for ultra-fast networking.
G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO RGB
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, with an onboard profile that optimises performance by increasing speeds where possible and lowering latency. Specifically, the G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO EXPO we’ve chosen offers a speed of 6000MT/s while latency sits around CL36, 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. Each DIMM features a small RGB strip that can be synced with other components via various applications. Our Phanteks case will also allow us to showcase these gorgeous sticks from three different viewing positions.
Samsung 9100 Pro 8TB
The Samsung 9100 Pro is built on the latest PCIe Gen5 interface, offering roughly double the speed of its predecessor, the Gen4-based Samsung 990 PRO. It’s available in four capacities ranging from 1TB to 8TB, making it suitable for demanding tasks like gaming and 4K video editing.
For this build, we’ve opted for the 8TB model to maximise performance and long-term storage. In our testing, the 9100 Pro has proven to be one of the best SSDs we’ve used, delivering uncompromising performance and exceptional endurance.
Suggested Article: Best SSDs to Buy in 2026
Gigabyte AORUS GeForce RTX 5090 MASTER ICE 32GB
The Gigabyte AORUS GeForce RTX 5090 MASTER ICE 32GB is undeniably an overkill choice, but for this build, we are going completely all out. While the RTX 5090 itself is the key to sustaining elite frame rates at 4K ultra settings - thanks to its massive 32GB of GDDR7 VRAM and a wide 512-bit memory bus - Gigabyte has delivered a custom variant that effectively knocks other options off the shelf. It is a flagship in every sense of the word, designed for those who refuse to compromise on either raw power or visual presence.
The features of the AORUS MASTER ICE make it a true force to be reckoned with, characterised by the signature LCD Edge View for real-time monitoring and the striking RGB halo rings surrounding the fans. Under the hood, the powerhouse WINDFORCE cooling system ensures that the card remains frosty even when pushed to its absolute limits. Between the cutting-edge internal specs and the premium external aesthetics, it is hard to imagine anything else you could possibly want a graphics card to do.
Alternative GPU Choice
Gigabyte AORUS GeForce RTX 5080 MASTER ICE 16GB
If you're looking for strong 4K performance without the crazy price tag associated with the RTX 5090, especially in the current market conditions, the RTX 5080 is a great alternative pick. For many people, the extra memory and raw horsepower of the 5090 are overkill and not actually required.
Phanteks EVOLV X2 MATRIX
The EVOLV X2 MATRIX is a new case from Phanteks that introduces a bold new dimension to the EVOLV line, with an impressive integrated 900-LED Matrix display concealed behind a fabric interior layer. This unique feature transforms a typical fish-tank-style case into more than just a house for your components; it becomes a dynamic canvas that lets you personalise your build.
Measuring 454 x 228 x 588 mm, this case is taller than most other mid-towers to incorporate the LED panel whilst still providing enough room for airflow and cable management. We like that the front IO is on the side panel for easy access when the case is on a desk, and the LED lighting makes this case a proud showpiece. When paired with the CPU cooler, you'll achieve complete harmony between these two components using the NEXLINQ application.
Lian Li SX1200P
Our final component choice is the SX1200P; it's a newer release from Lian Li. We chose this PSU because it's white, the cables and cable tips are white, and, most importantly, it provides enough stable headroom to power the extremely power-demanding RTX 5090 we are using. It also offers extra wattage to support future upgrades without requiring a new PSU.
The power supply is fully modular for easier cable management. It's ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 certified, and it has an 80 PLUS Platinum rating, meaning it is highly efficient and can save you money on your energy bills compared to lower efficiency ratings. We recently wrote that this PSU is one of the best white PSUs on the market right now.
Suggested Article: Best Power Supplies to Buy in 2026
Recommended Peripherals
Here are some peripherals we recommend for this build, as their quality and design perfectly complement the PC and its components.
A premium 75% pick with enthusiast-level build quality, smooth switches, and strong all-around gaming + daily use performance.
Esports-focused wireless mouse with strong sensor consistency and responsive click feel for FPS-heavy playstyles.
The VIRTUOSO MAX WIRELESS adds active noise cancellation, simultaneous 2.4GHz + Bluetooth, and 50mm graphene drivers for a more premium all-round experience.
Top-end 32-inch 4K gaming display with OLED-level response times and excellent HDR impact.
Performance
With the hardware side covered, it’s time to see what this system actually delivers in-game. For testing, we’ve focused on a mix of competitive shooters and visually demanding AAA titles to give a realistic spread of workloads. That means fast-paced, high-refresh experiences like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Battlefield 6, Arc Raiders, Fortnite and Apex Legends, alongside heavier cinematic titles including Indiana Jones & The Great Circle and Hogwarts Legacy. The idea is to look at both ends of the spectrum — raw FPS potential and GPU-heavy visual stress.
All testing is carried out at 1440p and 4K, which are the most relevant resolutions for a GPU of this class. 1440p lets us see how the system handles high-refresh gaming, where the CPU can still affect performance, while 4K shifts the load firmly onto the GPU to showcase what the 5090 is capable of under pressure. Settings are configured to reflect realistic enthusiast use — high or ultra presets, with ray tracing enabled where it makes sense — so the results mirror how someone would actually run this hardware day to day.
Gallery
