After my second article talking about the mess of dealing with ARGB, I figured it’s time to discuss how to build a rig without it. So, I set out on a quest to find good-value, high-performance components that let you forget the RGB nightmare entirely.
The first thing we need to do is decide on our goals for the system. I’m aiming for a great 1440p gaming rig — something that delivers years of amazing gameplay while keeping costs reasonable and performance solid.
For the build size, we’re going with mATX. This gives us a good balance of price, performance, and desk space. Finally, the build should be cool and quiet — since it’s sitting on your desk, you want to keep noise to a minimum.
Case Selection – Form Meets Function
The first challenge: finding a case without a window. I’m not talking about cheap, ultra-budget boxes, but good-quality cases with solid airflow and construction.
Thankfully, there are still some great options. The Lian Li A3 and the Asus AP201 are both excellent choices that fit our smaller build plan and come in versions without glass side panels. The Lian Li even offers a slightly higher-end model with tasteful wood accents on the front — subtle and stylish.
Both cases deliver great airflow through grilled side panels and support up to 360 mm AIO coolers. The mesh design also means they work well with either tower or down-draft air coolers. The A3 even includes a side intake bracket, making down-draft cooling surprisingly effective.
CPU Choice – Power and Efficiency
For the CPU, I’m going with the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. While it’s overshadowed by the newer 9800X3D, it’s still an incredible gaming chip — and I’ve been seeing it on sale for under $300. It’s power-efficient, easy to cool, and perfect for a stealthy 1440p gaming PC build.
Motherboard – Solid and Simple
For motherboards, look for a B650M or B850M board. These offer great value, typically around $150, and provide all the features we actually need.
I’d focus on getting dual M.2 slots and reliable networking. We’re after solid performance, not flashy extras.
Our PULSE B850M fits the bill nicely — it offers all the essential baseline features at a fair price, without paying extra for unnecessary frills.
Memory – Practical and Fast
RAM pricing right now makes me want to cry, but we need 32GB of DDR5-6000 for a solid modern gaming build.
Both Crucial Pro and G.Skill Flare X5 kits are great choices: clean design, no RGB, EXPO support, and dependable performance — exactly what we want for a stealth build.
Storage – Speed and Flexibility
Most B650M/B850M motherboards include two M.2 NVMe slots. You can easily get by with a single 2TB PCIe Gen4 x4 TLC drive as your baseline.
If you’re like me and planning a dual-boot Windows/Linux setup, consider adding a second smaller drive. I run Windows for work and a few titles that don’t play nicely with Linux, and Linux for everyday gaming. A 1TB + 2TB combo works beautifully.
Skipping RGB makes Linux even more appealing — no more fighting with buggy lighting control tools!
Cooling – Stay Chill, Stay Stealthy
Cooling was trickier than expected. I first thought of using a 360mm AIO for top exhaust and excellent CPU temps, but nearly every cooler these days has RGB or LCD screens.
I wanted a Thermalright AIO, since they’re great value, but even their pumps have RGB. Thankfully, Arctic, Cooler Master, and BeQuiet! all offer stealthy AIOs around the $100 mark.
If you want to save even more and keep it simple, go air cooling. The Thermalright SI-100 is a down-draft cooling monster at under $30 — I’ve used it on 9800X3D builds and it performs great, so the 7800X3D will be perfectly fine.
Power Supply – Efficient and Compact
Look for a 750W fully modular PSU for the best value. Both cases mentioned support standard ATX PSUs, but I personally prefer SFX units for extra workspace (though they cost more).
A solid Seasonic or Super Flower unit will run around $120. Check 850W models, too — they’re often priced similarly.
GPU – Pure Power, No Flash
For the graphics card, I’m choosing the SAPPHIRE PULSE RX 9070 XT. This card is a 1440p gaming beast and is currently available at strong pricing. The PULSE model skips flashy extras, keeping cost and noise low while delivering serious performance.
(SAPPHIRE PULSE has been my personal go-to model for years — reliable, quiet, and fast.)
Build Summary
This Stealth Gaming PC build (2025) should total around $1,700 USD. It’s not an ultra-budget YouTube special, but a real-world build that prioritizes quality, performance, and long-term reliability — all with no RGB distractions.
Pair it with a 1440p or even a 3440x1440 ultra wide monitor, and you’re set for years of smooth, immersive gaming — without a single flashing light in sight.
The articles content, opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed in SAPPHIRE NATION are the authors’ own and do not necessarily represent official policy or position of SAPPHIRE Technology.
