My PC recently stopped working, and I'm planning to replace the RAM, motherboard, CPU, and graphics card. My budget is £500–£600, and I'd prefer an AM5 system, although I'm open to buying used parts to stay within budget. New parts are preferred where possible.
The case supports full-size ATX motherboards and can also fit micro-ATX boards. I already have an AIO cooler and a be quiet! Pure Power 13M 750W power supply, so I don't need to budget for those. I'm willing to use a cheaper RAM kit temporarily while memory prices are high. I mostly play lighter games rather than demanding AAA titles, and I'm comfortable doing basic graphics-card cooling repairs.
I've been considering a Ryzen 5 7600 or 9600 paired with either an RTX 5060 8GB or Radeon RX 7600 8GB, but I'm not sure which combination makes the most sense. I'm also not certain what failed in my previous PC; it stopped posting, and I suspect the RAM, although the graphics card appears not to be the cause. What parts or build combinations would give me the best value within this budget?
4 Answers
Before replacing everything, test the old system properly. Try one RAM stick at a time in the recommended slot, clear the motherboard’s CMOS, reseat the GPU and power cables, and check whether the board has diagnostic LEDs or beep codes. A failed RAM module is possible, but a dead motherboard, power supply, or CPU can also cause a no-post system. If you can borrow compatible memory, that would be a much cheaper first step.
Your 750W power supply is more than enough for a Ryzen 5 7600 and a midrange card, so you can put the full budget toward the core parts. I’d lean toward the 7600 instead of the 9600 if the price difference is significant, then use the savings for a better GPU. A basic B650M board, 16GB of DDR5 initially, and the strongest reliable used GPU you can find should give better gaming performance than overspending on the CPU.
The budget is possible if you find good local deals, but the graphics card will be the difficult part. A Ryzen 5 7600 with an inexpensive B650 or B650M board and 16GB of DDR5-5600 or DDR5-6000 would leave roughly £250–£300 for the GPU. I’d prioritize a 32GB kit eventually, but 16GB can work as a temporary compromise. Compare used RX 6700 XT, RX 6750 XT, RTX 3060 Ti, and newer RX 7600 or RTX 5060 prices rather than choosing purely by model name.
Avoid buying a single DDR5 stick unless it is only a very short-term solution. It will run in single-channel mode and can reduce performance, especially with a Ryzen processor. A matched 2x8GB kit is preferable at this budget, and you can replace it with 2x16GB later when prices improve. Also check the motherboard’s memory support list and make sure the BIOS supports the processor you buy.
That makes sense for my games. I can get a 7600X and motherboard bundle locally for about £220, so I’d mainly need to find suitable DDR5 and a graphics card within the remaining budget.