The chip choice is where the value argument starts. The 7800X3D's 3D V-Cache, a large 96MB pool of fast L3 cache that reduces the need to reach for slower system memory, frequently lifts frame rates in popular games. It is approaching its fourth year on the market and is not quite as quick as the newer Ryzen 7 9800X3D, but Club386's testing found it not far off in frame rates, and PCSpecialist says opting for it saves just under £100 while keeping most of the performance.

The graphics card is a similarly deliberate pick. As the memory price crisis pushes Nvidia's RTX 5070 and other 16GB cards towards what the review calls untenable heights, the 12GB RX 9070 GRE stands out as the only mid-range GPU the reviewer currently recommends buying. It shares the Navi 48 design of the RX 9070 with a cutback die, yet in Club386's tests it lands within 3-4% of the RTX 5070, and 12GB of VRAM copes better with high settings at QHD (2560x1440) than 8GB alternatives. FSR 4 upscaling is available to push frame rates further.

One specification note: the review sample shipped with DDR5-5600 CL40 memory, but retail units get faster DDR5-6000 CL38 sticks at no extra cost. Cooling is handled by a 360mm liquid cooler with three 120mm ARGB fans, rated for up to 320W of heat against the CPU's 120W TDP, which explains the excellent temperatures and noise levels even under heavy loads. The system carries a three-year labour warranty, one year of parts cover and six months of collect and return service.