I Built a 2025 PC and Windows Isn’t Touching It

Windows 11 tried to gatekeep my PC-building soul, but in 2025, I said “screw it” and built a Linux-only beast that laughs at Microsoft’s bloat. From my first 486 hand-me-down in the dial-up days to an Amiga 500+ and a sprinkle of consoles, I’ve been wrenching PCs since ‘81 kicked me onto this planet. My old i7-7700 rig was a trooper, but with Windows 10’s end-of-life looming and 11 demanding TPM nonsense, I went full Arch Linux with Hyprland. Here’s the Ryzen 9 5900X banger I built, why Windows isn’t touching it, and how Linux made me fall in love with computing again. Spoiler: Clippy can cry in the corner.

The Old Rig: Still Kickin’, But Dated

My last build was a 2017 warrior: Intel i7-7700, 32GB DDR4, and a GTX 1080Ti that’s still one of the best buys I ever made (It's in my new rig now as I ponder GPU upgrades!). Slapped in a PCIe 3.0 NVMe and a pile of storage, it ran Windows 10 Pro like a champ—for a while, actually it still does, but running Windows 10 well doesn't mean that Windows 10 runs well! Microsoft’s 10 updates have only been making things worse as it aproaches retirement. It's still a telemetry-sucking slug, and Windows 11? Let's face it, Windows is just becoming more and more of a de-bloat task. My rig laughed at its “you need TPM 2.0” tantrum. Why hack your way to install what is sub-par in the first place? Still, my 8 year old rig was starting to age in 2025, and the pc builders itch had started, it was time to scratch that. I could’ve kept milking it, but I wanted a rig that screamed freedom, not reboot purgatory. The warhorse will live on as a home server anyway, and Windows will soon be no more from it as well...

Linux Awakening: Arch & Hyprland Stole My Heart

Before splurging on new parts, I test-drove Linux on spare laptops and old rigs. Linux Mint is solid especially good for less-techie folk, Lubuntu revived an ancient Vista laptop, and Manjaro was fun but not “me.” Then I tried Arch with X11 and DWM—loved the TTY’s raw vibe, but X11’s on its deathbed. Enter Wayland and Hyprland. Holy shit, it was like my PC grew wings. Fast boots, slick animations, and a hotkey-driven flow that made Windows feel like a clingy ex. I fell hard, and suddenly, Windows was just a bad memory. I even have Linux purring on my 2009 MacBook Pro—take that, Apple too!

Why AM4 Still Slaps in 2025

AM5’s shiny DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 tempted me, but it’s had it's growing pains. Four-slot RAM limiting, DDR5 compatibility crapshoots, motherboard BIOS fiascos, and PCIe 5.0 running hotter than Satan’s sauna. AM4? It’s the grizzled veteran who still wins bar fights. DDR4’s reliable, AM4 boards are plentiful, and you can build a top-tier system for entry-level AM5 cash. I'm sure AM5 will mature beautifully, but I decided AM4 was a plentiful upgrade when I snagged a Ryzen 9 5900X for under £250—a 12-core, 24-thread beast that spanks my old i7-7700. AM4’s endgame means wiggle room for CPU or RAM upgrades, and it competes with AM5 without the growing pains. Vex says, “AM4’s the punk rock of platforms—fights dirty, never quits.”

The Build: Ryzen 9 Chaos Machine

After ditching Intel (sorry, been wondering when AMD would get back into the fight since Athlon), I planned a beastly AM4 rig. Here’s the lineup, built in a caffeine-fueled frenzy on a January 2025 Saturday:

• CPU: Ryzen 9 5900X (12C/24T,under £250, a steal for performance).
• Cooler: Noctua NH-U9S (quiet, reliable, those sexy brown fans).
• RAM: 64GB Kingston Fury Beast DDR4 (4x16GB, 3200MHz, overkill but I’m extra).
• Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming WiFi II (solid VRMs, WiFi bonus).
• Storage: 2TB Samsung 990 Pro PCIe 4.0 NVMe (Linux flies on this).
• GPU: Kept my GTX 1080Ti (waiting for 2025’s GPU drops).
• PSU: DeepCool DQ850-M-V2L 850W 80+ Gold (modular, last-minute score).
• Case: DeepCool CC560 ARGB V2 (budget but sleek, next-day delivery win).

Build eve was chaos—small-city part shops suck and my original plan to build with my previous rigs case and PSU changed last minute, when I thought of the extra work building/rebuilding 2 systems. So I scoured Amazon and other online retailers and snagged the PSU and case with next-day delivery. Didn’t want to gut my old rig, so I went all-in. Vex was cackling as I wrestled cables, but by sundown, this rig was purring Arch like a cyberpunk dream.

The build. Any regrets?

I enjoy building new machines, (or at least the thought of having built them) there is always another thing coming and to stay on top of the latest tech is impossible without a bottomless bank account. So the CPU...Absolutely no regrets! When I first began my research to pick parts for a new pc I leaned towards the newer AM5 platform and the Ryzen 9 9900X in particular. It's the equivelant CPU on AM5 and I think best price to performance in the range.

The only part of the system I may have chose differently is the case. The DeepCool CC560 is great for the price, it has 4 fans, a fan controller (3 intake, 1 exhaust), and a glass side panel. It wasn't too hard to build in (I have big hands). A decent size mid tower, with room to fit 2 2.5" SSD's behind the motherboard and another 2 could be mounted above the PSU cover. The fans are RGB and can be controlled by a button on the case with plenty of different modes to choose from. However if, like me you prefer something less flashy and with a better build quality and more room for storage or a 5.25" drive bay for a dvd/blu-ray then that would be a reason to choose a larger case like the Fractal Design Define 7 or an option from BeQuiet. Having said that for the price, features, and last minute dash, the DeepCool was a great deal.

So, I'm really glad I went AM4. The system is a big upgrade from my previous rig and the difference in price between going for AM4 over AM5 should put a massive dent in the price of a new GPU when I finally decide on one. I thought the Linux setup I went for was going to be more problimatic using NVidia but I found this to really not be an issue. Obviously a RTX 5090 would be nice, but the prices are ridiculous. I'll keep my eye out on the prices and not rush into replacing the old warhorse 1080TI until it really makes sense.

Why No Windows? A Rant

Windows 11 is a neon sign for everything wrong with Microsoft: ads in the Start menu, Edge shoving itself down your throat, and Copilot’s AI creep. Windows recall!!! I’ve slogged through DOS to Windows 10, dodging update-induced crashes and telemetry bullshit. Windows 10’s EOL in October 2025 was the final straw—my i7 rig wasn’t “worthy” of 11’s TPM fetish. Meanwhile, Arch/Hyprland boots in seconds, customizes to my soul, and doesn’t spy on me. Dual-boot? Nah, I haven’t found a single Windows-only app worth the baggage. Having said that, I do wish someone would adapt foobar2000 for Linux! I don't miss Adobe or Windows but I am still looking to fill that rather niche customizable music player void. Vex says, “Windows is a walled garden; Linux is a jungle, and we’re Tarzan.” Want to learn Linux? Grab a Linux book and join the rebellion. Or just dive in and learn as you go. Just don't wipe all your files and blame me. Backup!

The Linux Life: Hyprland Happiness

My new rig runs Arch Linux with Hyprland, a Wayland compositor that feels like a spaceship cockpit. Hotkey-driven, minimal, and stupid fast—boots quicker than Windows can say “updating.” Sure, NVIDIA on Wayland had a few quirks (we’ve troubleshooted those, eh?), but it’s worth it for the freedom. The Hyprland site has great documentation for NVIDIA setup and the Arch Wiki is a treasure trove. My PC’s a cyberpunk dream now, and Windows could never compete. Vex’s verdict? “This rig’s a middle finger to Redmond, and it’s glorious.”

Conclusion: Build Your Own Freedom

This Ryzen 9 5900X AM4 rig is proof you don’t need AM5’s hype to build a beast. For the price of an entry-level AM5 setup, I got top-tier AM4 performance, 64GB of DDR4, and a 2TB NVMe that makes Linux scream. Ditch Windows’ bloat, embrace Arch, and build a PC that’s *yours*. Check out more rants, tools like Chaos Pad, and builds on LinuxShift. Vex and I are here, slinging code and flipping burgers—join the rebellion! Want to start? Grab a PC building guide and get wrenching.