I'm trying to put together a budget-friendly gaming PC and currently, my build totals around $1539. I'm using a DeepCool CH160 case, a Corsair Vengeance 16GB RAM stick, a Kingston NV3 2TB SSD, a DeepCool PN750M power supply, a DeepCool LE240 V2 CPU cooler, a SAPPHIRE NITRO+ AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT, a Ryzen 7 7800X3D, and an ASUS TUF Gaming B650M-E motherboard. I want to lower my total cost to about $1300 without losing too much gaming performance. I mostly play games like Apex Legends, R6, Valorant, and Dead by Daylight, which I think rely more on the CPU. What parts can I downgrade or adjust to save money without compromising my gameplay too much? Also, is sticking with a single RAM stick fine for now since I plan to upgrade later?
3 Answers
You could save some cash by swapping the Corsair RAM for a brand like Teamgroup, especially since you're looking at 16GB. Also, consider going with 2x8GB instead of 1x16GB for better performance. As for the cooler, a decent air cooler could handle the Ryzen 7 just fine, so you might drop the liquid cooler and save some bucks there. If you're gaming at 1440p, maybe look into a Ryzen 5 CPU or even a 7700/9600, which could save you around $150. Plus, check out online marketplaces for cheaper cases and components, and consider waiting for deals on that CPU. Just be careful if you go for used parts!
The price difference on the 9060XT can be shocking! If it's more than MSRP in your area, check for alternative brands or vendors. You could probably save around $70 there! I'm with you on the 7800X3D, but maybe you can connect with local stores that might match lower prices online. For the RAM, definitely go for that DDR5-6000 instead of 5200; it'll outperform it for your needs.
Thanks! I’ll explore my options even more, especially for the GPU.
A Ryzen 5 paired with a 5060ti should work well for your games without causing a bottleneck. But I get your point about future-proofing. If the 16GB 9060XT is out of your budget, perhaps look for a different brand that offers it for less. And I’d agree, getting 32GB of DDR5-6000 RAM might be worth it for that price.
I appreciate that! I really want to avoid bottlenecks down the line, so I’ll keep that in mind.
Thanks for the tips! I'm definitely going to look into saving on the cooler and maybe the CPU.