I'm looking to buy my first gaming PC in Italy because I'm tired of the ongoing costs of playing online on a PS5. My budget is around €500, and I'm comfortable buying used hardware. I only need 1080p performance for lighter games such as CS2 and Valorant, ideally at high frame rates, and I'd also like to play Forza Horizon 5 or 6 on low settings if possible. I don't need maximum graphics quality, and something around an RTX 2060 Super would be fine. Would it be better to buy a used prebuilt system through a local marketplace, purchase second-hand parts and build it myself, or save for a larger budget?
4 Answers
For your target settings, you don’t need an expensive high-end machine. An RTX 2060 Super or similar used card would be plenty for 1080p, and CS2 or Valorant should run well above 80 FPS with a suitable processor. Focus on getting at least 16GB of dual-channel RAM and an SSD. A used AM4 system with a Ryzen 5 3600/5600 would probably offer the best value.
If you can increase the budget, saving another €300–€500 would give you a much more balanced system that won’t need immediate upgrades. A very cheap build may require replacing the graphics card, power supply, or platform within a year. Used parts are still worth considering, especially the GPU, but avoid spending too much on an outdated CPU or a low-quality power supply.
A used complete PC can sometimes be a better deal than buying every part separately. There are occasionally systems with a Ryzen 5 5600X, 32GB of RAM, and an RTX 4060 available near or below your budget, although you’ll need patience and should inspect the machine before paying. Don’t send money in advance, confirm that the advertised specifications are genuine, and run a few games or benchmarks to verify that everything works.
€500 can work if you shop entirely on the used market, but I wouldn’t expect a worthwhile brand-new build at that price in Italy. Look for an older complete system with a Ryzen 5 3600 or 5600, 16GB of RAM, an SSD, and a used graphics card around the GTX 1660 Super, RTX 2060, RX 5600 XT, or better. That should handle 1080p esports games well and run newer games at reduced settings. Test the computer in person and check temperatures, storage health, and whether the power supply is from a reputable brand.
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