Intel Core i5-14500 + Radeon RX 9070 GRE · Intel B760 · 32GB DDR4 · 2TB NVMe build

Smart build — best all-round · tower build on LGA 1700 + Intel B760

Still the recommended build for:

Blender 3D workstation Blender 3D workstation · Europe

Parts · Smart build — best all-round€1,515

cpuIntel Core i5 1450014C/20T · 5 GHz · 65 WAlternatives & swap
€273
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motherboardGigabyte B760 GAMING X DDR4 ATX LGA1700Intel B760 · ATX · 6× M.2Alternatives & swap
€117
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ramPatriot Signature Premium 32GB DDR4 3200 MHz UDIMM Memory Kit (2 x 16GB)32 GB DDR4 · 3200 MT/sAlternatives & swap
€150
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caseKolink Observatory HF Glass PC-GehäuseATX · 0× 3.5″Alternatives & swap
€30
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coolingThermalright AXP90-X36 Air Cooler Grayair low-profile · 36 mmAlternatives & swap
€19
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psube quiet! Straight Power 11 550W Fully Modular 80+ Gold550 W · gold · modularAlternatives & swap
≈ €60
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storageADATA XPG GAMMIX S50 Lite 2TB M.2 SSD PCIe 4.0 NVMeNVME · 2 TBAlternatives & swap
€211
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gpuGigabyte GAMING OC Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12GB GDDR612 GB VRAM · 220 W · ROCMAlternatives & swap
€655
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Performance76

Value82

Efficiency65

Expandability74

Silence50

Longevity83

Reliability60

Overall74

Future-proof score

Strong future-proofing

72/100

Strong future-proofing (72/100) — this build should stay relevant for years without major surgery.

Upgrade path75

DIY build — the CPU, motherboard and PSU can each be upgraded independently without replacing the whole system.

Expansion76

Expansion headroom: 0 PCIe slot(s), 5 M.2, 0 SATA, 0 drive bay(s), 2 RAM slot(s) free.

Storage growth20

Storage is 100% utilized with 0 free drive bay(s) and 0 free SATA port(s).

Memory growth75

2 RAM slot(s) free; memory is 100% utilized.

Networking80

Networking is 2500 Mbps.

Replacement ease90

ATX form factor with standard, socketed components — most parts are easy to replace.

Workload change85

A 12GB GPU is present — AI and transcoding workloads are covered.

Homelab Risk Score

Low risk

21/100

Low risk (21/100) — sensible redundancy and headroom; no single point of failure is exposed.

low

Single point of failure

No primary data stored on this system, so a drive failure has low impact.Fix: Keep backups for any data you do add later.

low

Storage risk

Solid-state storage — no moving parts, low mechanical failure risk.Fix: For an always-on system, prefer NAS/CMR-rated drives; monitor SMART and replace before the warranty ends.

high

Data loss risk

1 drive(s) with no redundancy — a single SSD/controller failure can still lose data.Fix: Add redundancy and an off-site/off-box backup for anything irreplaceable.

low

Power risk

PSU is 550W, peak load 315W (57%).Fix: PSU sizing leaves healthy headroom for spikes and future parts.

low

Network risk

Single 2500 Mbps NIC — a switch/port failure takes the box fully offline, and multi-user media can saturate 2500 Mbps.Fix: Consider a second NIC or a managed switch; for heavy media, plan for 2.5/10G before the build.

low

Expansion risk

0 PCIe, 5 M.2, 0 SATA, 0 bays free.Fix: Healthy room for future drives, NICs and accelerators.

low

Upgrade risk

2024 platform — current generation with a forward-looking socket/feature set.Fix: Buy for the workload, not the socket — upgrade paths are a bonus, not a guarantee.

Final build audit

Audit passed (0 critical, 0 warning) — mostly optional and future considerations remain.

2 Optional1 Future

Optional

Back up what you keep

No data pool on this build: a drive failure costs a reinstall, not your files.Action: Keep saves, configs and projects in a cloud or external backup.storage

Optional

Keep a backup off-box

Redundancy inside the box does not survive fire, theft or a whole-array fault.Action: Mirror the important data to an external drive, a second box, or cloud.storage

Future

RAM expansion available

2 RAM slot(s) free for a later upgrade.Action: Leave them free until the workload actually grows.memory

What becomes the limit

Most likely to date this build within 1-2y: RAM is tight.

1-2y

RAM is tight

Why: Memory is 100% utilized — a growing workload will hit the ceiling quickly.What to do: Add the remaining RAM before prices change, while slots are free.

1-2y

Storage nearly full

Why: 100% of raw capacity is already in use — media libraries and backups grow fast.What to do: No free bays/ports — the next capacity jump requires a DAS or a rebuild.

1-2y

CPU is the next bottleneck

Why: The CPU runs at 86% of capacity — new services or more users will hit the wall first.What to do: Consider a stronger CPU within the same socket generation while it is still cheap.

Estimated FPS at Medium preset with a Gigabyte GAMING OC Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12GB GDDR6 and a Intel Core i5 14500.
Game	1080p	1440p	4K
Grand Theft Auto V	~300	~300	~300
Baldur's Gate III	~190	~150	~70
Red Dead Redemption 2	~135	~100	~60
Cyberpunk 2077	~100	~75	~45
Roblox	≈300	≈300	≈300
Elden Ring	~120	~110	~80
Apex Legends	≈300	≈290	≈175
Palworld	~95	~75	~35
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	~170	~165	~145
Minecraft	~300	~300	~300
Geometry Dash	≈300	≈300	≈300
Stardew Valley	≈300	≈300	≈300