I currently do most of my gaming on a PS5 and Steam Deck OLED, but the Steam Deck has made me seriously consider moving to PC gaming full-time. I like having multiple storefronts such as Steam, GOG, and Humble, along with better keyboard-and-mouse support, emulation, and the flexibility to use the system for studying and work during my upcoming PhD. I also see a desktop as a longer-term investment because it should be considerably faster than a PS5 and potentially last longer.
I found a used PC for €1,500 with these specifications:
- PowerColor RX 9070 XT 16GB Reaper
- ASUS TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- Frozen A620 Pro cooler
- 32GB DDR5-6000 CL36 Corsair Vengeance
- 1TB Kingston NV3 SSD
- Corsair RM850e 850W 80 Plus Gold power supply
A new system with similar hardware would apparently cost at least €2,000. I mainly play story-driven games rather than competitive titles, so I do not need extremely high frame rates. My goal is roughly 1440p at 60 FPS without frame generation for the foreseeable future. Is this a good deal, and is it realistic to expect the system to remain suitable for around eight years? Or would I be better off continuing with my PS5 and Steam Deck until hardware prices improve?
4 Answers
At €1,500, this looks like a good deal if the machine is in good condition. The parts are reasonably balanced, and the 850W power supply leaves room for a future graphics-card upgrade. It is also a much more flexible gaming and general-purpose platform than a console, so the extra cost may be worthwhile for your use case.
Before paying, test the computer in person if possible. Check that it boots reliably, confirm the listed components in the BIOS or operating system, run a game or stress test, and listen for unusual fan or electrical noise. Also check the SSD's health and ask for proof of purchase or warranty information.
The hardware is very strong for 1440p gaming and should handle 60 FPS well for quite a while. Eight years is a long time in PC hardware, so nobody can guarantee that every new game will run at your preferred settings, but you should be able to extend its useful life by lowering settings as needed. Whether to buy now depends mostly on whether you want the PC experience; there is no guarantee that RAM, SSD, or GPU prices will drop soon.
One thing to be aware of is that some RM850e units have been reported to produce noticeable buzzing or other noise at particular loads. It does not necessarily indicate a failure, but listen carefully during testing and make sure you are comfortable with the seller's return or warranty arrangements. Aside from that possible annoyance, the power supply should be adequate for this build.
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