I'm new to building PCs and would appreciate advice for a gaming build in Australia. My budget is roughly $1,000–$2,000 AUD, but I'd ideally like to stay near $1,500. I'm open to used components if they're worthwhile, although I'm prioritizing reliability and future upgradability.
I'd like to play Genshin Impact, Minecraft with good shaders, Valorant, Honkai: Star Rail, and similar games at high or maximum settings with minimal lag. I'm happy to spend less on appearance and focus on performance. I'd also like the parts to be replaceable or upgradeable over time. Monitor resolution and refresh rate can be considered when deciding how much of the budget should go toward the graphics card.
4 Answers
Use an Australian version of a PC parts-pricing and compatibility checker to compare prices and make sure everything works together. Don’t cut corners on the power supply—choose a reputable model with enough wattage, since a poor-quality unit can damage other components. AMD graphics cards often offer better gaming performance per dollar, though Nvidia may be preferable for certain productivity features or advanced ray-tracing workloads.
Around $1,500 AUD, I’d look at a Ryzen 5 7500F or 7600, a decent B650 motherboard, 32GB of DDR5-6000 memory, a 1TB NVMe SSD, and a reliable 650–750W power supply. Pairing that with a Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB, if the local pricing is reasonable, should make a strong 1080p system and a capable 1440p machine. The AM5 platform also gives you a useful upgrade path later. Your monitor’s resolution and refresh rate matter, so include those when choosing the graphics card.
If keeping the cost low is the main goal, an older AM4 setup could work: a Ryzen 5 5600, a compatible B450 or similar motherboard, and DDR4 memory. It won’t offer as much upgrade potential as AM5, but it can leave more money for the graphics card. Use a compatibility checker for the complete build and compare Australian prices before buying.
Used parts can stretch the budget, especially a graphics card, but be cautious. Ask for temperature information and a recent benchmark, check whether proof of purchase is available, and test the card before paying. I’d avoid used power supplies entirely. For a first build, buying several used components at once can also make troubleshooting difficult because it’s harder to identify which part is faulty.
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