Looking for Advice on PC Building

Kudzu

Hello,

I've been having trouble deciding which build is the best for me. I've tried asking on PC building discords, but I want to try and get other opinions. It seems like their general consensus was to get me to go with a cheaper power supply with higher end GPUs, and I'm not really sure if that's a great idea all things considered. I haven't done or really thought about PC building in 10ish years, so I really don't know what's out there anymore.

I'm looking for a mid-range gaming computer, ideally around $1250 to $1500, but I am flexible up to $1750 before tax. I'm not looking for 200+ FPS Ultra graphics settings, though. My favorite game right now is Helldivers 2, and I'm mainly looking for a setup that can comfortably run it and games like it at medium graphics settings. My other, and maybe even greater, concern is longevity, and I'm willing to drop more if it means I'll get more years out of the system in the long run.

I've been looking at an AMD bundle, but deciding which has been relatively difficult. Do I need a Ryzen 7 9700X, does it make a significant difference, or can I just go with a Ryzen 7 7700X bundle? I'd have the same question for the GPU. I've been looking at the 7900 XT, but when I ask online, people generally say for me to go for the 9070 XT. Do I really need to in order to get what I'm looking for? I've seen some sources say the 9070 XT runs cooler, which I'd assume would contribute to longevity while giving me the performance boost, so it seems like the better option, but I don't know enough to say if it's overkill.

Before I go through my next points of contention, I feel like I should say the case I've been looking at, because I'm not sure if everything will fit. It won't necessarily be a deciding factor, but it'd definitely be nice to know now. I've been looking at the Lian Li LANCOOL 217 Tempered Glass ATX case.

One of the biggest, and maybe most concerning for me, points is the PSU. I went through a few AI instances, and time and time again, they seemed to recommend the Corsair RM850x. The only problem is that this PSU is $170. When I asked about this online, I was recommended the Montech Century II, which is only $90. It's enticing given that it's around half the price, but given what I'm looking for, I'm hesitant to skimp out on this part. So is $170 worth it, or is this PSU or a similar PSU worth looking into?

Next is the CPU Heatsink, and I'm even more lost on this one. I've seen that a $35 to $50 heatsink will do just fine, but given how important this part seems, is this accurate? I've seen the Thermalright PS120SE go for $36, but I don't know anything about it that's substantial.

Admittedly, I may be over thinking some aspects of this, but given the cost of the system, I'd rather get things right the first time.