I'm putting together a gaming PC in the United States and would like to lower the total cost without making a major sacrifice in performance. My target is around $1,700 if possible, though I'm mainly looking for a noticeable reduction in the overall price rather than tiny savings on individual parts. I already own my peripherals. The main games I play are Valorant, Fortnite, and Rainbow Six Siege. I usually play Valorant at 1920×1080 or 1440×1080, but I'm not sure what refresh rate I'll be targeting yet. If you recommend changes, please provide a complete compatible parts list.
3 Answers
A lower-cost processor, a less expensive SSD, and a cheaper full-size case can bring the total down substantially. A Radeon 9070 XT around $720 is still a strong choice for this type of gaming. Make sure the case supports the motherboard’s form factor, since the original case may not have been large enough. I’d also keep 32 GB of memory if the budget allows, though 16 GB can work if you won’t be multitasking heavily.
If the budget is strict, consider buying some components used from a reputable local marketplace, especially the case, memory, or possibly the graphics card. Be careful to test used hardware and avoid questionable software keys. You could also buy the parts you can afford now and wait or save longer for the components where you don’t want to compromise.
For these games, the first thing to determine is your monitor’s resolution and refresh rate. A $1,700 system is already more than capable for competitive 1080p gaming, so you may be able to save money without noticing much difference in actual gameplay. A non-X3D processor such as a Ryzen 7 7700 or 7700X could be a reasonable place to cut costs, although an X3D chip can still deliver excellent high-refresh-rate performance. You’ll also need Windows for reliable anti-cheat support in these games.
Thanks, this makes a huge difference. I really appreciate the help with finding practical places to cut the cost.