I'm trying to assemble the best possible gaming PC for roughly €800, including the case but excluding the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals. I live in Southern Europe, so the parts need to be realistically available from local or regional retailers. I'm interested in both new and used components.
The game I'm targeting lists Windows 11, a modern 8-core processor with a boost clock around 5.2 GHz, a DirectX 12 graphics card with 8 GB of VRAM, 16 GB of memory, and at least 128 GB of SSD space as its recommended specifications. I realize matching those recommendations exactly may not be possible at this budget, so I'd prefer the strongest practical build for the money, along with advice on whether buying used parts makes sense.
3 Answers
Matching every recommended specification with entirely new parts will be difficult at €800, especially once the case, power supply, storage, and memory are included. A used graphics card and processor are probably the best way to get there. Look for a system built around a Ryzen 5 5600 or Ryzen 7 5700X, 16 GB of DDR4, and a used RTX 3060 Ti, RTX 3070, RX 6700 XT, or RX 6750 XT. Add a 1 TB NVMe SSD and a reputable 550–650 W power supply. That should provide much better gaming performance than trying to overspend on the CPU.
I’d split the budget approximately like this: €250–350 for the graphics card, €150–220 for the CPU, motherboard, and memory if buying used, €60–90 for a 1 TB SSD, €60–80 for a quality power supply, and €40–70 for the case. Don’t buy an unbranded power supply just to save money. Also, 16 GB is enough to start, but choosing a board with two free memory slots makes upgrading to 32 GB straightforward later.
Those are recommended specifications, not necessarily the minimum needed to play. For an €800 build, I’d prioritize the graphics card and choose a value-oriented modern platform. A Ryzen 5 7500F with 16 GB of DDR5 and a Radeon RX 7600 or RX 6650 XT could work with new parts if you find good regional prices, although the total may be tight. A Ryzen 5 5600 paired with an RX 6700 XT is often the stronger gaming combination at this budget, particularly if used parts are acceptable.
A used prebuilt can also be worth considering. Older systems with a Ryzen 5 5600X or Core i7-9700 and an RTX 2080 Super or similar graphics card sometimes offer excellent value, but check the power supply, temperatures, storage health, and whether the case has adequate airflow before buying.
I’m open to used parts, so a separate new-parts and used-parts approach would be useful. The main goal is getting the best performance possible within the €800 limit rather than matching the listed recommendation perfectly.