Intel Core i7-14700F + Radeon AI PRO R9700 · Intel B760 · 128GB DDR4 · 4TB NVMe build
Smart build — best all-round · tower build on LGA 1700 + Intel B760
Parts · Smart build — best all-round≈ €3,761
cpuIntel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processor 14700F 20 Cores (8 P-cores and 12 E-cores) up to 5.4 GHz20C/28T · 5.4 GHz · LGA 1700 · 65 WAlternatives & swap€317Finding prices…
€183Finding prices…
ramG.Skill Trident Z Royal Silver DDR4-3200 CL14 128GB (4x32GB)128 GB DDR4 · 3200 MT/sAlternatives & swap≈ €884Finding prices…
€28Finding prices…
€9Finding prices…
≈ €64Finding prices…
storageWestern Digital WD Blue SN5000 4TB SSD M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMeNVME · 4 TBAlternatives & swap€414Finding prices…
€1,862Finding prices…
Idle
82W
Typical
98W
Peak
423W
Energy / year
≈ €241
Performance86
Value28
Efficiency31
Expandability82
Silence50
Longevity82
Reliability60
Overall70
Future-proof score
Strong future-proofing75/100
Strong future-proofing (75/100) — 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.
Expansion92
Expansion headroom: 1 PCIe slot(s), 4 M.2, 4 SATA, 1 drive bay(s), 0 RAM slot(s) free.
Storage growth90
Storage is 100% utilized with 1 free drive bay(s) and 4 free SATA port(s).
Memory growth20
0 RAM slot(s) free; memory is 75% utilized.
Networking80
Networking is 2500 Mbps, and a free PCIe slot can add a faster NIC later.
Replacement ease80
MATX form factor with standard, socketed components — most parts are easy to replace.
Workload change85
A 32GB GPU is present — AI and transcoding workloads are covered.
Homelab Risk Score
Moderate risk37/100
Moderate risk (37/100) — a few items are worth fixing before you commit (see checklist).
critical
Single point of failure
All data sits on a single drive with no redundancy — one failure means total loss.Fix: Add at least a mirror (RAID 1/ZFS mirror) for irreplaceable data, or an additional parity drive for larger arrays.
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 423W (77%).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
1 PCIe, 4 M.2, 4 SATA, 1 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 found 4 critical and 0 warning item(s) worth fixing before you buy.
4 Critical2 Optional2 Future
Critical
Check the balance
Total (3761€) exceeds your budget (2500€) by 1261€ (50%). Ranking already prefers in-budget variants — this one is shown for comparison; check the value variant or raise the budget.Action: Reconsider the config for the stated workload or budget before buying.balance
Critical
Check the balance
This build may struggle with the stated workload.Action: Reconsider the config for the stated workload or budget before buying.balance
Critical
No storage redundancy
1 drive(s) with no mirror or parity for the data you plan to store.Action: Add at least a mirror for irreplaceable data before you migrate anything.storage
Critical
CPU close to the limit
The workload uses 90% of the CPU — little headroom for background tasks or growth.Action: Consider a stronger CPU or drop a secondary workload.compute
Optional
Add a UPS
An always-on server holding data should survive power blips.Action: Add a line-interactive UPS sized for the build's peak draw (≥ 10 min at typical load for a clean shutdown).power
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
Drive bays remain
1 drive bay(s) free for future capacity.Action: Expand capacity in pairs (mirror/parity) when needed.storage
Future
PCIe slot available
1 free PCIe slot(s) for a NIC, HBA or GPU later.Action: Use it for a 10G NIC, extra HBA, or an accelerator when the need appears.expansion
What becomes the limit
RAM is maxed out is the most likely thing to date this build within 1-2y.
1-2y
RAM is maxed out
Why: All RAM slots are used and the workload already sits at 75% — the next memory need means replacing kits or a new build.What to do: Buy a single larger kit now, or plan the RAM for the full lifecycle.
1-2y
Storage nearly full
Why: 100% of raw capacity is already in use — media libraries and backups grow fast.What to do: Expanding is easy: add a drive to the free bays/ports.
1-2y
CPU is the next bottleneck
Why: The CPU runs at 90% 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.
| Game | 1080p | 1440p | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|
 Grand Theft Auto V | ~300 | ~300 | ~300 |
 Baldur's Gate III | ~220 | ~180 | ~115 |
 Red Dead Redemption 2 | ~165 | ~120 | ~75 |
 Cyberpunk 2077 | ~120 | ~95 | ~55 |
 Roblox | ≈300 | ≈300 | ≈300 |
 Elden Ring | ~135 | ~125 | ~95 |
 Apex Legends | ≈300 | ≈300 | ≈210 |
 Palworld | ~110 | ~90 | ~55 |
 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | ~185 | ~185 | ~170 |
 Minecraft | ~300 | ~300 | ~300 |
 Geometry Dash | ≈300 | ≈300 | ≈300 |
 Stardew Valley | ≈300 | ≈300 | ≈300 |
Real FPS from owners
Built this PC? Tell others the frame rate you actually get — we show the median of all reports next to our estimate.
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Verified
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