I'm planning my first custom gaming PC after using an underpowered prebuilt for around ten years. I already have a large Steam library and would rather stay on PC than move to a console ecosystem. My budget is roughly £1,000–£1,200, and I'm hoping for around 60 FPS at 1440p in most games.
I'd like to use DDR5 for better future upgrade options. I chose a single 16GB memory module because 2x16GB costs considerably more, and this would let me add a second 16GB stick later. I'd appreciate a sense check on the parts list and any advice on potential improvements or compatibility issues.
Current parts list:
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- Arctic Freezer 36 CPU cooler
- Gigabyte B650M S2H motherboard
- 16GB DDR5-6000 CL30 memory
- Kingston NV3 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
- PowerColor Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
- NZXT H3 Flow MicroATX case
- MSI MAG A650BN 650W power supply
The estimated total is £1,109.84, including delivery and discounts.
1 Answer
That looks like a solid build for the money, and I can see why you chose one 16GB memory stick to keep the cost down. Since your budget can stretch toward £1,200, it may be worth looking at a Radeon 9070 GRE instead. You would drop from 16GB to 12GB of VRAM, but the extra GPU performance could make it a better choice for 1440p gaming. You’re not far off the price already, so compare the current deals before ordering.
Thanks, I appreciate the advice. I’ll take a look at the 9070 GRE and compare the prices.