I'm looking to build or buy a PC mainly for watching movies and playing Counter-Strike 2 at 1080p on low settings. My target is at least 150 FPS, and my total budget is under $1,000 CAD. Is that realistic with current CPU and GPU prices, or would I need to consider used parts or an older platform?
4 Answers
There are some new prebuilt systems with an RTX 5060 and a recent Core i5 that could fit close to the budget, but check whether the listed price is in CAD and whether shipping or taxes push it over $1,000. Compare the power supply, motherboard, cooling, and upgrade options rather than judging the deal by the GPU alone.
For a new build, AM4 is usually better value than AM5 at this budget. Something based on a Ryzen 5 5600, 16GB of DDR4, a 1TB NVMe SSD, and a graphics card around the RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT class should handle CS2 comfortably. Choose a reputable power supply and don’t cut costs there. If the budget allows, 32GB of RAM gives you more room for other games and applications.
The efficiency rating mainly indicates how much power the supply wastes as heat at different loads. Gold is more efficient than Bronze, but the model’s quality, protections, and warranty matter more than the rating alone.
You probably don’t need to spend the entire budget for CS2 at 1080p. A used Core i5-9600K paired with an RTX 2060—or similar hardware—should be capable of around 150 FPS depending on the map and settings. A $400–$500 CAD used system could potentially meet your goal, though you should check the condition and exact parts carefully.
What parts would you recommend looking for specifically?
An older Alienware Aurora with an RTX 3060 Ti could deliver the performance you want, but it isn’t necessarily the best upgrade platform. The proprietary case, motherboard, cooling, and power-supply design can make future upgrades awkward. It may be worth considering only if the price is low and you have verified the temperatures, storage, RAM, and exact CPU.
I’ll look into an AM4 build. I’ve also wondered what the different power-supply efficiency ratings, such as Gold, actually mean.