I'm looking to piece together a gaming PC for my living room using some parts from my girlfriend's old computer, and I need some advice on how to get the best value. I want to be able to play moderately demanding games at 4K, ideally on medium-high settings. Some of the games I'm targeting include Switch and Wii U emulation titles like Breath of the Wild and Smash, as well as modern heavy-hitters like Red Dead Redemption II and Alan Wake II.
Here are the parts I currently have:
- Ryzen 7 3700X (which I can sell for around £65-75)
- Gigabyte X570I AORUS PRO WIFI
- 16GB DDR4-2666 RAM
- Zotac RTX 2070 Mini (can sell for £130-140)
I'm definitely selling the CPU and GPU, and I'm considering getting a Ryzen 5 5500X3D as a replacement. I also want to look into a new GPU and a PSU since my current one is a small SFX 500W. My rough plan for the build looks like this:
- Ryzen 5 5500X3D (~£170-180)
- X570I AORUS PRO WIFI
- 16GB DDR4-2666 RAM
- AMD 6950 XT (~£350-425)
- Lian Li A3 case
- Corsair RM750e PSU (£85)
Is this the best approach value-wise for what I want to achieve? Should I stick with the AM4 X3D chip, or is it time to switch platforms? Do you think the 6950 XT is a good match for this setup? I'm considering a higher-end card like a 7900 XT, but I'd prefer to stay within budget if possible. Gaming is my primary focus, so I'm not too worried about productivity performance.
4 Answers
I'd suggest building everything except the GPU first and testing it out. If you're hooking up to a TV, remember that most just hit 50/60hz anyways, so the AMD 6950 XT might be sufficient if your current GPU isn't cutting it.
Are you sure you need an X series motherboard? It seems unnecessary from your list, and those can be a pricey addition. You might save some cash by looking at more affordable options without sacrificing too much performance.
Honestly, when it comes to 4K gaming, getting good value can be tricky. You might need to rely on some upscaling to achieve decent FPS in newer titles. If you're targeting high-performance at 4K, I'd lean towards an Nvidia GPU. Their DLSS tech is really effective right now compared to AMD's FSR. Just keep in mind that the GPU is likely going to be your main bottleneck, so make sure you grab a solid one—I'd aim for at least a Ryzen 5 5600X on the CPU side.
Totally agree with you on the GPU front! 4K gaming is no joke, so investing there is crucial.
That Zotac RTX 2070 can run pretty hot under load, and in my experience, it might struggle on the higher settings. I would recommend selling that and investing in a 9060XT or 9070XT instead. It should save you some grief down the road!
Good point! I guess the GPU is really where the focus should be for 4K.