I'm planning a new budget gaming build around an RTX 5060 8GB and want to keep the total cost near $700 USD. I'd prefer components that are no more than about three years old, though I'm open to older hardware if it makes sense for my needs. The build can use either an Intel or AMD processor, must support DDR4 memory, and the motherboard needs at least one NVMe slot. I may be able to find a case, RAM, power supply, and storage cheaply through local listings. The main goal is casual 1080p gaming at a steady 60 FPS. Is the $700 budget supposed to include the graphics card, or is the RTX 5060 already purchased?
5 Answers
That makes sense. I’ll make sure the power supply is new and use the case as the main place to cut costs.
For 1080p gaming at a locked 60 FPS, you don’t necessarily need very recent hardware. A Ryzen 5 5600 or Core i5-11400 would be more than capable and could make the build much cheaper. An older AM4 or 11th-generation Intel system is still a reasonable match for this target.
AM4 is another good budget route. A Ryzen 5 5600X with 16GB of DDR4 would handle this use case well, even though the platform is older than three years. If you find a reasonably priced Ryzen 7 5800X3D, it offers excellent gaming performance and gives the system a lot more longevity.
Avoid buying a used power supply or storage drive, even if they look like easy places to save money. Get the PSU new from a reputable brand, such as Seasonic or Corsair, with around 650W and an 80 Plus Gold rating. The case is a safer component to buy used or find cheaply.
A solid newer option would be an i5-14400F with a B760 DDR4 motherboard, 16GB of DDR4-3200, and a 1TB NVMe SSD. That combination should pair comfortably with the RTX 5060 without overspending on parts that won’t improve 1080p performance much.
I’m okay with using an older platform if it keeps the cost down, as long as it can maintain 60 FPS reliably.