I'm new to choosing PC parts, although I'm comfortable assembling a computer. My budget is roughly $600 USD, or about $800 CAD, and I already own the monitor and other peripherals. I'd like to play BeamNG, Peak, and GTA 5 at 1440p. I'm open to buying used parts or a used complete system, and I'd prefer an Nvidia graphics card if one fits the budget. What parts or systems should I look for?
4 Answers
A sensible low-cost platform would be AM4: a Ryzen 5 5600 or 5600X, B550 motherboard, 16GB of DDR4, and a used RTX 3060, RTX 2070, or similar card. An RX 6600 is also worth considering if you find one cheaply. Add a reliable 650W power supply and a basic case, but expect the final total to be near or above your budget.
You may need to save a little more for comfortable 1440p performance. A used AM4/DDR4 build is probably the best target, since newer DDR5 platforms consume too much of the budget. Watch for bundle or open-box deals, compare expected game performance before purchasing, and be patient rather than forcing a poor new-part build.
I’d start by searching locally for a complete used PC with at least a Ryzen 5 5600-class processor, 16GB RAM, and an RTX 3060, RTX 3060 Ti, RTX 3070, or comparable GPU. A tower without a graphics card can also be a good deal if you find the GPU separately. Test the system, check temperatures, and verify the power supply before buying.
At this budget, a completely new 1440p gaming PC—especially one with Nvidia graphics—will be extremely difficult. Used parts or a complete used tower will usually offer much better performance per dollar. Be flexible about the GPU brand and prioritize the strongest graphics card you can find.
Related Questions
Lenovo Thinkpad Stuck In Update Loop Install FilterDriverU2_Reload