Phantom Liberty Build Guide: Are You Ready for Cyberpunk 2077 2.0?

MicroCenterOfficial

Written by @Lambdaben

As the highly anticipated expansion for CyberPunk 2077: Phantom Liberty draws near, gamers worldwide are gearing up to explore the next chapter in the neon-drenched dystopia. To truly savor this electrifying experience and immerse oneself in the intricate, ever-evolving world of CyberPunk 2077, CD Projekt Red has released new PC specs. The demands of modern gaming have never been higher, and keeping pace with the latest specifications ensures that players can fully appreciate the game's visual splendor, seamless gameplay, and captivating narrative. In this quest for an exceptional gaming rig, we embark on a journey to craft the perfect PC setup, tailored to the updated specs of the Phantom Liberty expansion, promising an unforgettable journey through the neon-lit streets and thrilling adventures that await.

Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D 4.4GHz 12-Core Boxed Processor

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D emerges as an excellent choice for crafting a high-performance PC build in anticipation of Phantom Liberty. Sporting a formidable 12-core and 24-thread architecture, this processor unleashes immense computational power, ensuring a seamless and immersive gaming experience within the expansive universe of CyberPunk 2077. With a base clock speed of 4.4GHz and Precision Boost technology, it effortlessly handles multitasking and resource-intensive tasks, allowing you to navigate the intricacies of the game world with ease. Paired with support for lightning-fast DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0 connectivity, the Ryzen 9 7900X3D guarantees rapid data transfer rates and responsiveness, making it perfectly suited for handling the graphical and computational demands of modern gaming. Whether you're exploring the neon-lit streets or embarking on thrilling missions, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D ensures that you're equipped to enjoy a stellar Phantom Liberty experience.

Motherboard: ASRock X670E Steel Legend ATX Motherboard

When I think of phantoms, I think of a white ethereal ghost, so we’ll go with a white theme for our build. What better motherboard than the ASRock X670E Steel Legend to give our build its ethereal phantom look? Designed for enthusiasts and gamers alike, this motherboard is a powerhouse, delivering a compelling blend of performance, aesthetics, and durability. Equipped with AMD’s X670E chipset, it's ready to harness the power of our 7900X3D, ensuring you're at the top of your game while playing the Phantom Liberty expansion. The X670E Steel Legend offers an array of advanced features, including PCIe 5.0 support for lightning-fast data transfer, Wi-Fi 6E for lag-free online gaming, and a robust power delivery system to overclock with confidence.

Ram: TeamGroup T-Force Delta Alpha RGB 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5-5600 CL40 Memory Kit - White

The TeamGroup T-Force Delta Alpha RGB DDR5 32GB DDR5-5600 memory kit in the white finish isn't just about aesthetics; it's a powerful addition that ensures our PC meets the new minimum 20GB RAM requirements for CyberPunk's upcoming expansion. This memory kit seamlessly blends elegance and performance, accentuating the sleek white aesthetic of our build. Its ultra-fast AMD EXPO certified DDR5-5600 speed ensures data is processed swiftly, eliminating bottlenecks during gaming, and providing ample memory capacity to explore every detail of CyberPunk's expansive world. Beyond its impressive performance, the integrated RGB lighting adds a touch of customizable flair, enhancing the visual appeal of our rig while meeting the demands of the gaming experience. In this fusion of style and substance, the TeamGroup T-Force Delta Alpha RGB DDR5 memory kit is the key to unlocking the full potential of your CyberPunk adventure.

GPU: ASRock AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Taichi White Overclocked Triple Fan 24GB GDDR6 PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card

Elevate your gaming experience to unprecedented heights with the ASRock 7900 XTX in stunning white. Designed to meet the demands of the most ambitious gamers, this powerhouse GPU delivers an astounding minimum of 60 frames per second at 4K ultra settings, ensuring that you won't miss a single detail of the expansive cyberpunk world. With its cutting-edge technology and relentless performance, the ASRock 7900 XTX delivers seamless, lag-free adventures through the neon-lit streets of Night City. Its clean white design not only exudes elegance but also perfectly complements our phantom-themed PC build. Don't settle for less when Night City beckons – arm yourself with the ASRock 7900 XTX in white and embark on a gaming journey like no other. And don’t forget, if you want to take advantage of CyberPunk’s RT Overdrive settings, switch this up for any RTX 4080 or better for maximum performance.

SSD: Crucial T700 1TB TLC NAND Flash PCIe Gen5x4 NVMe M.2 SSD

The Crucial T700 1TB NVMe SSD stands as a pinnacle of high-speed storage solutions, positioning itself as one of the fastest drives available in the market. With top-tier performance that leaves no room for compromise, it's the ideal companion for experiencing the immersive world of CyberPunk 2077: Phantom Liberty at its best. This cutting-edge NVMe SSD delivers lightning-fast read and write speeds, significantly reducing load times and providing seamless gameplay. Whether you're navigating the neon-lit streets or engaging in adrenaline-pumping combat sequences, the Crucial T700 ensures that your in-game experience remains fluid and responsive, making every moment within the Phantom Liberty expansion a thrilling adventure. With this SSD, you're not just playing a game; you're immersing yourself in a cyberpunk dystopia with unrivaled speed and precision.

Case: NZXT H9 Flow Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case - White

The NZXT H9 Flow case in a sleek white finish is the perfect complement to our phantom-themed PC build, epitomizing the fusion of aesthetics and functionality. Its minimalist yet striking design, featuring clean lines and subtle accents, seamlessly integrates with our build's overall white-themed aesthetic. Beyond its elegant exterior, the H9 Flow offers remarkable airflow, ensuring that our high-performance components stay cool even during the most intense gaming sessions in the world of CyberPunk 2077. With its spacious interior, cable management options, and support for various cooling solutions, this case not only showcases our build's visual prowess but also enhances its overall performance. It's a perfect encapsulation of form meeting function, ensuring our phantom-themed rig looks stunning while providing the ideal environment for top-tier gaming experiences.

Power Supply: Seasonic USA Vertex GX-1200 1200 Watt 80 Plus Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply

The Seasonic Vertex GX-1200 1200W power supply is a pinnacle of power and reliability in the realm of PC components. With a robust 80 PLUS Gold certification, it not only offers a substantial power output but also operates with exceptional energy efficiency, reducing electricity consumption and heat generation. Its fully modular design allows for a clutter-free and organized cable management system, ensuring optimal airflow within your PC case. The Vertex GX-1200 is equipped with top-quality components, such as a high-performance fluid dynamic bearing fan, generating less noise and heat than standard power supplies. This power supply unit is the backbone of any high-end gaming or workstation build, providing ample power to run multiple graphics cards, high-performance CPUs, and other power-hungry components without breaking a sweat. With the Seasonic Vertex GX-1200, you can be confident that your system is powered by a reliable and efficient source, ready to tackle the most demanding computing tasks.

Cooler: NZXT Kraken 360 Elite RGB 360mm All in One Liquid CPU Cooling Kit - White

The NZXT Kraken 360 Elite in a white finish, featuring a brilliant 2.36" LCD display, is the ultimate addition to our white-themed phantom build. This all-in-one liquid cooler not only ensures optimal thermal performance but also complements the aesthetic appeal of our rig. Its vibrant LCD display can be customized to show vital system information, animated logos, or even a touch of personal flair, making it the centerpiece of our build. Beyond its visual appeal, the Kraken 360 Elite provides exceptional cooling efficiency, allowing us to push our CPU to its limits without worry. With its advanced CAM software, we can effortlessly fine-tune fan speeds, monitor temperatures, and create dynamic lighting effects to match the captivating world of CyberPunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. In every aspect, the NZXT Kraken 360 Elite enhances the functionality and aesthetics of our build, ensuring that our phantom-themed PC stands out as a true masterpiece.

Case Fans: NZXT F120 RGB Core Fluid Dynamic Bearing 120mm Case Fan - White 3 Pack

The NZXT F120 RGB Core Fluid Dynamic Bearing 120mm Case Fan in a pristine white finish, available in a convenient 3-pack, is the perfect addition to complete our white phantom-themed build. These fans are more than just cooling solutions; they're aesthetic enhancements that elevate the overall visual appeal of our rig. With customizable RGB lighting, these fans allow us to synchronize and harmonize the lighting effects with the theme of CyberPunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. The fluid dynamic bearing technology ensures quiet and efficient operation, while their 120mm size provides ample airflow to keep our components cool under pressure. Not only do these fans offer top-tier performance, but they also embody the perfect blend of style and function, making them an essential element in our phantom-themed PC that's sure to turn heads and enhance our gaming experience.

See the full build here

ChaosDTV

this update is about to be crazy

ricardo_ortega

Great part recommendations for the big update! 

Rye_Bread

Maybe it's time for me to finally give Cyberpunk a try! It's something I avoided due to the issues at launch but it seems to be heading in the right direction. I guess it's going on the list!

ronwoodson

@Lambdaben Your opening statement is absolutely masterful.

Lambdaben

https://community.microcenter.com/discussion/comment/52096#Comment_52096

Appreciate it sir!

1TM

I am most definitely not ready. My original PC runs CP77 fine, with ~70-71 FPS in 8K with path tracing.

However, the new small build w parts mostly from MC (except the 4090 FE - also from BestBuy) refuses to run raytracing or DLSS of any kind in the 77 update 2.0 (fresh load, files verified). That is with the latest driver 537 (also tried older 532). Runs w/o raytracing though. Whether it's Win10 or NVDA or CP77 update - unsure. Both FEs run fine in the old CP77.

Vladdy

That's a sweet build. The NZXT H9 Flow is a cool looking case.

Thanks for sharing,

-V

Julia_V

Maybe it's time for me to pick up cyberpunk as well 👀

TreBouncee

Haven't played the DLC but definitely plan to!