AMD Ryzen 5 7600X Has Become the Default First Build CPU

Across 17 build posts filed by first-time builders between January and May 2026, the Ryzen 5 7600X appears with the regularity of a form field rather than a deliberated choice. Users explicitly stating "I'm new" or "first time building" do not ask whether the CPU fits their workload — they list the 7600X as a given and seek feedback on GPU, cooler, or case selection instead ^[8][11][16]. One builder who used ChatGPT to generate a parts list ended up with the same CPU as every other first-timer ^[8]. The community's…