I'm in the United States and want to replace my HP Omen 15 laptop, which has an i7-9750H, RTX 2070 Max-Q, and 16GB of DDR4 memory. My target is 1080p gaming on a 60Hz monitor: older games at medium-to-high settings and newer, demanding games such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption 2 at low-to-medium settings. A roughly 25–50% performance improvement over the laptop would be great, although I mostly play older single-player games and only a few newer multiplayer titles such as Wardogs and Helldivers 2.
My budget is about $1,000, but I could spend up to $1,500 if the extra money would provide a meaningful improvement or a better upgrade path. I'd like the system to last several years and be reasonably easy to upgrade. I'm also interested in running both Windows and Linux, ideally with a 1–2TB SSD for Windows games and another roughly 512GB SSD for Linux and general use. AMD is preferable if it offers better Linux support, though I still need Windows for games using kernel-level anti-cheat.
I have many USB devices, including a keyboard, mouse, headset dongle, controller, charging hub, external storage, and card readers. I'd prefer a case and motherboard with plenty of USB ports, including at least two USB-C ports if practical. I'm new to building PCs, so advice about a complete parts list, prebuilt alternatives, sales, and safely buying used components would be appreciated.
4 Answers
You don’t necessarily need two large SSDs immediately. Start with a good 1TB or 2TB NVMe drive and add a second drive later when prices are better. Modern motherboards commonly support two or more M.2 drives, but check the manual because some slots can disable certain SATA ports or share bandwidth.
For lots of peripherals, focus on the motherboard’s rear I/O rather than the case alone. A powered USB hub is perfectly fine for low-bandwidth devices such as a keyboard, mouse, headset receiver, and charging cables. A motherboard with several rear USB-A ports and at least one or two USB-C ports should cover most of your needs; the case can add convenient front-panel ports.
If you’re near a major computer retailer, check bundle deals and prebuilts before buying individual parts. Building is not always cheaper, especially when a prebuilt includes a discounted CPU, motherboard, and memory bundle. Since your monitor is only 1080p and 60Hz, a sensible midrange CPU paired with a current 16GB graphics card should be enough without spending the full $1,500.
An AM5 build with a Ryzen 5 9600X-class processor, 32GB of DDR5, a midrange Radeon card, a quality 650W–750W power supply, and a motherboard with two M.2 slots would offer a good upgrade path. Just be careful with unusually cheap memory or storage listings and verify every part’s warranty and return policy.
The nearest major retailer is about four hours away, so I’ll compare its prebuilt prices with online parts and shipping before deciding. I’m not opposed to a prebuilt if it includes the features and upgradeability I need.
For your current games, a Ryzen 5 5600X paired with a Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB-class card would be a capable 1080p combination and could fit below $1,000. However, I’d try to use 32GB of RAM rather than 16GB if the budget allows, especially for newer games and multitasking. If you choose the 5600X, remember that AM4 has limited future upgrade potential; an AM5 system costs more but is the better choice if you expect to replace the CPU later.
A used AM4 system can offer excellent value. Something like a Ryzen 7 5800X3D with a suitable motherboard, 32GB of DDR4-3600, and a used RTX 3080 or Radeon RX 6900 XT would easily handle your target games at 1080p and leave room for higher settings. A new, quality 850W power supply is worth buying rather than risking a used one. Depending on local prices, the tower could land around $1,000–$1,200.
The downside is that AM4 is essentially a finished platform, so a future CPU upgrade would probably require a new motherboard and memory. It is still a strong value if you want performance now, but AM5 would provide a better long-term upgrade path. Used parts can be found through reputable local listings or established hardware marketplaces; check seller history, request testing evidence, and avoid deals that seem unrealistically cheap.
The lack of a future CPU upgrade is my main concern with AM4. Would the current performance still make it worthwhile, or would spending more on AM5 be smarter for a long-term build?
I may use Linux for most things and keep a small Windows installation for games with kernel-level anti-cheat. Would a separate 512GB–1TB Linux drive and a smaller Windows drive work well, or would that create problems?
Older enthusiast motherboards often have many USB ports, but some only include one M.2 slot. A newer AM5 board may be a better balance because it can provide multiple M.2 slots and enough rear USB connectivity.