I'm in the UK and planning to spend around £1,200 on a gaming PC. It would mainly be used for single-player games and FPS titles. I'm unsure whether to build on the older AM4 platform to save money on memory, choose AM5 for a better upgrade path, or buy a used prebuilt system instead. DDR5 prices seem unusually high, so I'm concerned that choosing AM5 could leave less money for the graphics card. Which option offers the best performance and value for this budget?
4 Answers
If you can find reasonably priced used parts, AM5 is the more future-friendly choice. You could start with a modest processor and 16GB of DDR5, then upgrade the memory and CPU later. Just make sure the initial build still has enough money allocated for a capable GPU, since that usually matters most for gaming performance.
Used prebuilts are worth considering because some are priced below the combined cost of their parts. Before buying, check the exact CPU and GPU models, the power supply brand and wattage, whether the motherboard uses standard components, and how much storage and memory are included. Avoid vague listings that don’t provide a full parts list, and compare the price against individual component costs first.
AM4 can still make a lot of sense at this budget, especially if choosing AM5 would force you to compromise on the graphics card. A good AM4 gaming build with 32GB of DDR4 and a stronger GPU may outperform a cheaper AM5 system in games today. It won’t have much of an upgrade path, but it can still provide excellent value.
That was my first thought too, although I’m worried I’ll need to replace the whole platform later if I want to upgrade.
Used GPUs and other components can offer much better value in the UK, but check the seller carefully and test everything where possible. A mixed new-and-used AM5 build could be a good compromise: buy the case, power supply, and storage new if possible, then look for deals on the CPU, motherboard, memory, or graphics card.
I’m mainly unsure whether a cheaper AM5 build or a higher-end AM4 build would give me better price-to-performance right now.