I'm putting together a low-cost gaming PC and want to keep the remaining budget under €500. It should run Counter-Strike, Fortnite, and similar shooter games smoothly, even if I'm not aiming for extremely high FPS. I already have a B550 motherboard, an AMD Ryzen 5 5500, and two sticks of DDR4 memory. I also believe I have a 500W 80+ Gold power supply from an older PC. What graphics card, storage, and case would make the most sense in Finland? The parts I already own do not count toward the €500 budget. I also discovered that my ASRock B550M-HDV may need a BIOS update to support the Ryzen 5 5500, but the board does not appear to have a BIOS Flashback button. How can I make the CPU and motherboard compatible?
2 Answers
With the motherboard, CPU, RAM, and possibly the power supply already covered, I’d put most of the money into the graphics card. A 1TB NVMe SSD is a good target, although a SATA SSD is fine if it saves enough money. For the GPU, compare current prices against used cards rather than committing to one model—something like a used RX 6600, RX 6650 XT, RTX 3060, or similar would be a strong match for 1080p shooters. Spend the remainder on a basic airflow-focused case. Before reusing the PSU, check its exact model, age, connectors, and condition; wattage and an 80+ rating alone do not guarantee that it is a good unit.
The B550M-HDV can support the Ryzen 5 5500, but it may require a newer BIOS version. Since the board lacks BIOS Flashback, you generally cannot update it with only the 5500 if the installed BIOS is too old to boot. The practical options are asking the retailer or a local computer shop to update it, borrowing an older compatible AM4 processor temporarily, or exchanging the board for one that already supports the 5500. Check the board’s current BIOS version and the manufacturer’s CPU support list first. Do not assume the system is incompatible permanently—the issue is usually just getting the initial BIOS update installed.
The parts I already own are separate from the €500 budget, so the full amount is available for the GPU, storage, case, and any replacement power supply if the old one turns out to be unsuitable.
A used graphics card is probably the best way to stay within the budget, since new GPU prices can take up most of the money. I’d still buy the SSD and case new unless you find a particularly trustworthy second-hand deal.