I'm new to PC gaming after years of playing on consoles and I'm ready to build my first PC. I've been looking at pre-built systems, but I've realized that building it myself might save me some money. I'm located in Ireland and have a budget of €1500, which includes a monitor since I already have the other essentials. I want to game at 1440p with high settings, aiming for around 100-150 fps, especially for shooters and racing games. I've put together a build list on PCPartPicker, but it's come out over budget. I'm wondering if I've splurged too much on my components or if there are ways to cut costs, as it looks like the pricing is drawn from one site. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
1 Answer
Your build is looking solid! Prices have skyrocketed lately, so it's not surprising. Typically, when setting budgets, remember that OS and monitor costs can add up quickly. For your monitor, you should be able to find a decent 180+ Hz display for under €160. If you’re considering the PSU, an upgrade to something better might help, but it may not save you much cash overall. For your RAM and GPU, the prices you're seeing are definitely on the high side. If a 16 GB RX 9060 XT is listed at €473, you might want to keep looking as it's usually around €400. Also, sticking with 16 GB of RAM should be sufficient unless you're running a lot of background processes. Don’t forget to grab a CPU cooler as well!
Appreciate the insight! Would it be wiser to shop for second-hand parts? I found a used Ryzen 5 7600 for €140. Also, is it better to have one 16 GB stick of RAM instead of two 8 GB sticks?