I'm planning my first PC build and my original budget was around $1,200, but current prices have pushed the total closer to $1,400. The build includes a Ryzen 5 9600X, Radeon RX 9060 XT, CPU cooler, B850 Wi-Fi 6E motherboard, 16GB of DDR5 memory, a 1TB SSD, a Lian Li case, and a 750W 80+ Gold power supply. I already have an RTX 4060 and I'm wondering whether I should keep using it for now, put the money toward 32GB of RAM, and upgrade the graphics card later. I could also wait for Black Friday or Cyber Monday in case prices improve. What would be the smartest way to balance gaming performance and the budget?
2 Answers
Keeping the RTX 4060 temporarily and upgrading to 32GB of RAM can make the system feel smoother, especially for multitasking and games that use more memory. Prices usually don’t collapse during major sales, but Black Friday and Cyber Monday can still bring worthwhile discounts, so waiting is reasonable if you don’t need the PC immediately.
If the RX 9060 XT you’re considering has 16GB of VRAM, it should be a reasonable choice for a modern gaming build. However, 32GB of system RAM is becoming more useful for newer games, multitasking, and keeping background apps open. I’d prioritize a balanced build rather than overspending on one component. Selling the RTX 4060 and moving to a stronger card could also make sense, but only if you find a genuinely good deal.
That makes sense. I’ve also heard that 8GB graphics cards are starting to feel limiting, so I may focus on getting more VRAM and wait for a good deal on the rest.
I’ll probably wait for those sales, since the current prices are already pushing me well past the original budget.