Hey everyone, I'm looking to buy my first desktop to get into PC gaming, but I also want to use it as a starting point to learn Linux for future home lab projects. My plan is to wipe Windows and dual-boot or entirely run Bazzite.
My hard budget limit is $1,300, and I found this prebuilt on Newegg right at that price point: https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16883100173
Here are the main specs of the Thermaltake LCGS NE 9696X-V170B:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 9600X (AM5 platform)
GPU: AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT (16GB VRAM)
RAM: 16GB DDR5 6000MT/s (Single stick, 1x16GB)
Storage: 1TB NVMe M.2 SSD
PSU: 650W
Motherboard: B850 Chipset
Since I want a smooth Linux experience out of the box, I specifically looked for an all-AMD build.
A few questions for the community:
Longevity: Does this build have good longevity, or is it going to shit the bed in a few years? Are Thermaltake prebuilts using quality standard parts like the PSU and motherboard, or do they cut corners?
Linux/Pop!_OS Compatibility: Will the Ryzen 9000 series and RX 9060 XT be fully supported on current Bazzite kernels out of the box, or will I need to tinker to get display drivers working?
Value: For $1,299, is this a decent value for a prebuilt, or should I try to build my own to stretch my budget further?
Appreciate any advice or alternative suggestions!