L-Dog
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Hey Guys
I want to build a new PC that can fir into a modern home. Found this case (https://www.wootware.co.za/lian-li-...eel-micro-atx-mini-tower-desktop-chassis.html) which looks like a great deal considering the I was looking at the Fractal Terra last year.
Budget +- 20k
Got the following from Grok, any changes you guys would make ?
Let’s build you a "best bang for buck" PC using South African pricing, with the Lian Li G99.A3X-WD.00 A3-mATX Wood Edition Mesh Black Steel Micro-ATX Mini-Tower Desktop Chassis as the centerpiece. This case is a compact, stylish Micro-ATX option with good airflow and support for decent hardware, so we’ll aim for a balanced build that maximizes performance per rand spent. The focus will be on gaming and general productivity, keeping costs reasonable while leveraging local availability and pricing trends as of March 13, 2025.
I’ll base this on pricing from popular South African retailers like Wootware, Evetech, and PC International, which are known for competitive deals. Since I don’t have real-time access to their exact stock or daily specials, I’ll estimate based on typical pricing for components in South Africa, adjusted for the current date and market. The build will prioritize value, meaning mid-range parts with strong performance rather than bleeding-edge tech. Let’s dive in!
Build Specifications
Case: Lian Li G99.A3X-WD.00 A3-mATX Wood Edition Mesh Black Steel Micro-ATX Mini-Tower Desktop Chassis
I want to build a new PC that can fir into a modern home. Found this case (https://www.wootware.co.za/lian-li-...eel-micro-atx-mini-tower-desktop-chassis.html) which looks like a great deal considering the I was looking at the Fractal Terra last year.
Budget +- 20k
Got the following from Grok, any changes you guys would make ?
Let’s build you a "best bang for buck" PC using South African pricing, with the Lian Li G99.A3X-WD.00 A3-mATX Wood Edition Mesh Black Steel Micro-ATX Mini-Tower Desktop Chassis as the centerpiece. This case is a compact, stylish Micro-ATX option with good airflow and support for decent hardware, so we’ll aim for a balanced build that maximizes performance per rand spent. The focus will be on gaming and general productivity, keeping costs reasonable while leveraging local availability and pricing trends as of March 13, 2025.
I’ll base this on pricing from popular South African retailers like Wootware, Evetech, and PC International, which are known for competitive deals. Since I don’t have real-time access to their exact stock or daily specials, I’ll estimate based on typical pricing for components in South Africa, adjusted for the current date and market. The build will prioritize value, meaning mid-range parts with strong performance rather than bleeding-edge tech. Let’s dive in!
Build Specifications
Case: Lian Li G99.A3X-WD.00 A3-mATX Wood Edition Mesh Black Steel Micro-ATX Mini-Tower Desktop Chassis
- Price: ~R2,000 (based on Wootware’s listing for similar Lian Li A3 models, e.g., G99.A3W.00 at R1,999).
- Why: You chose this case, and it’s a solid pick—26.3L volume, supports Micro-ATX and ITX motherboards, 415mm GPU clearance, and up to a 360mm radiator. The wood accent adds flair, and the mesh design ensures good thermals.
- Price: ~R3,500 (often discounted to around R3,200-R3,600 at Wootware or Evetech).
- Why: This 6-core, 12-thread CPU offers excellent gaming and multitasking performance for the price. It’s a previous-gen chip, but in South Africa, it’s widely available and cheaper than the newer Ryzen 5 7600 (which requires DDR5 RAM and pricier motherboards). Pairing it with a decent GPU keeps costs down while delivering great 1080p or 1440p gaming.
- Price: ~R2,500 (typically R2,300-R2,700 at Wootware or PC International).
- Why: A reliable Micro-ATX board with built-in Wi-Fi, four RAM slots, and solid VRM for the Ryzen 5 5600X. B550 chipsets strike a sweet spot for value, supporting PCIe 4.0 (for faster SSDs and GPUs) without the higher cost of X570 or newer AM5 platforms.
- Price: ~R6,500 (often R6,000-R7,000 depending on brand, e.g., Palit or ASUS at Evetech).
- Why: The RTX 3060 12GB is a value king in South Africa. It handles 1080p ultra and 1440p medium-high settings well, with 12GB VRAM giving it an edge over the 8GB RTX 3060 Ti for future-proofing. Ray tracing and DLSS are bonuses, and it fits the case’s 415mm GPU limit (most models are ~300mm long).
- Price: ~R1,200 (R1,100-R1,300 at Wootware or Computermania).
- Why: 16GB is the sweet spot for gaming and multitasking in 2025. DDR4-3200 offers good speed for Ryzen 5000 CPUs, and dual-channel (2x8GB) maximizes performance. DDR5 is too expensive in SA right now for a budget build.
- Price: ~R1,400 (R1,300-R1,500 at Evetech or Wootware).
- Why: A 1TB NVMe SSD provides fast load times and ample space for games and OS. The NV2 is a budget-friendly PCIe 4.0 drive (though limited to 3.0 speeds on B550), offering great value over SATA SSDs or smaller capacities.
- Price: ~R1,300 (R1,200-R1,400 at Dreamware or Wootware).
- Why: 650W is enough for this build (RTX 3060 recommends 550W), with headroom for upgrades. Bronze efficiency keeps costs down, and the A3-mATX case supports ATX PSUs up to 220mm (this is ~160mm). Non-modular is fine for the price, though cable management will need care in this compact case.
- Price: ~R700 (R650-R800 at Wootware or PC International).
- Why: The Ryzen 5 5600X stock cooler is decent, but the Hyper 212 is quieter and better for sustained loads. It fits the case’s 165mm cooler height limit and offers great cooling for the price.
- Price: ~R400 (R180-R200 each at Wootware).
- Why: The A3-mATX supports up to 10x 120mm fans. Adding two for intake (bottom or front) improves airflow with the mesh design. PWM control keeps noise low, and Arctic fans are cheap yet effective.
- Case: R2,000
- CPU: R3,500
- Motherboard: R2,500
- GPU: R6,500
- RAM: R1,200
- Storage: R1,400
- PSU: R1,300
- Cooler: R700
- Fans: R400
- Total: ~R19,500 (R19,000-R20,000 depending on deals)
- Gaming: At 1080p, expect 100+ FPS in titles like CS2 or Apex Legends on high settings, and 60-80 FPS in AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077 with DLSS. At 1440p, 60+ FPS is achievable with tweaks.
- Productivity: Handles multitasking, light video editing, and streaming well thanks to 6 cores and 16GB RAM.
- Thermals: The mesh case plus added fans keeps temps in check, though South Africa’s warm climate might push GPU/CPU to 70-80°C under load—normal for this tier.
- CPU/GPU Balance: The Ryzen 5 5600X and RTX 3060 pair well for gaming without overspending on either. Newer CPUs (e.g., Ryzen 7600) require DDR5 and AM5 boards, adding ~R4,000+ to the cost.
- Local Pricing: South Africa often has higher component prices due to import costs, but this build avoids premium tiers (e.g., RTX 4070 at R12,000+) while delivering 90% of the performance for half the price.
- Future-Proofing: 1TB SSD, 12GB VRAM, and PCIe 4.0 support give longevity without breaking the bank.
- Availability: Check Wootware, Evetech, or PC International for stock. Prices fluctuate, so look for specials (e.g., Wootware’s frequent GPU/CPU bundles).
- Assembly: The A3-mATX’s compact size means cable management is key—use the case’s tie-down points and plan your build order (PSU first, then motherboard).
- Upgrades: Swap the GPU for an RTX 4060 (~R7,500) if budget allows, or add more RAM later.
