I'm considering replacing my current HP Pavilion TG01 because its motherboard and power supply are proprietary, and the system cannot be upgraded with more RAM. Upgrading the current machine would cost roughly 4,000–5,000 NOK, so I'm thinking about selling it to my brother for a similar price and putting that money toward a new build.
My current PC has an RTX 3060 Ti 8GB, Ryzen 5 5600G, 16GB DDR4-3200 memory, a 500GB NVMe SSD, and a 2TB SATA SSD. The main build I'm considering costs about 14,300 NOK and includes an RX 9060 XT 16GB, Ryzen 5 9600X, 16GB DDR5-6000, an ASRock B650M Pro RS motherboard, a 750W power supply, a Montech X5M case, and roughly 1TB of additional NVMe storage.
My normal budget is around 10,000–12,000 NOK, although I might be able to borrow or receive another 2,000 NOK from family. I want the computer to last six to eight years, which is why AM5 seems appealing. However, I'm unsure whether I should wait for seasonal sales, choose a cheaper AM4 system, or consider Intel instead. I'm also looking at used graphics cards such as the RTX 3070 Ti, RTX 3080, or RTX 4060 Ti for around 2,800–3,500 NOK. Is the extra VRAM on the RX 9060 XT worth prioritizing, and does this AM5 build offer good value for the money?
1 Answer
The AM5 parts list is a reasonable direction if you want a platform with future CPU upgrade options. Before buying, though, check used parts carefully—especially the graphics card and memory. A used RTX 3070 Ti or 3080 could provide strong performance for the price, but both have only 8–10GB of VRAM and can use considerably more power. The 4060 Ti is more efficient, but it usually isn’t attractive unless the price is particularly low.
The 16GB RX 9060 XT gives you more breathing room for newer games and high-resolution textures, so it may age better than those used cards. Just verify the DDR5 price, since 16GB kits normally should not cost anywhere near 3,265 NOK unless there is a pricing error or the listing is for something different. A reputable used 32GB kit could also be a better long-term choice, but confirm the seller and test the memory if possible.
I’m checking used listings now and have found several 3070 Ti and 3080 cards between 2,800 and 3,500 NOK. I’m also looking at a 32GB DDR5 kit, although I’ll verify that the seller is trustworthy before paying.