I'm new to building PCs and want to put together a gaming computer in Portugal with a budget of around €1,200–€1,300. I mainly play Minecraft and Terraria, but I'd also like to run newer, demanding games such as Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and the Dark Souls series at a good quality level. I'm aiming for the best performance for the money and need advice on which components work well together. I'm also unsure whether this budget should include peripherals like a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Since I live in Portugal, availability, shipping, and local prices may be different from other countries.
4 Answers
Start by deciding whether the budget is only for the computer or also has to cover the monitor and peripherals. For the PC itself, a Ryzen 5 7500F or similar AM5 processor paired with a capable graphics card would be a strong starting point. A Radeon RX 6700 XT or better can handle those games well, especially at 1440p depending on settings. Use a compatibility-checking parts site, then compare Portuguese retailers and local second-hand listings. Don’t cut costs on the power supply—around €100 for a reputable model is money well spent.
The best graphics card depends heavily on your target resolution and refresh rate. Minecraft and Terraria are easy to run, but Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring benefit much more from a stronger GPU. If you’re buying new, prioritize the graphics card while keeping the rest of the system balanced. If you’re buying used, an AM4 system may offer better value at this budget, while AM5 gives you a newer upgrade path but can cost more initially.
Second-hand parts can make this budget go much further in Portugal. Graphics cards such as the RX 6700 XT and newer models often offer good value, and you may be able to find a complete system or several components locally. For in-person purchases, test the parts where possible and check that the seller can demonstrate the hardware working. Refurbished components from established stores are another option because they usually include a return period and some warranty coverage.
A compatibility tool is useful for checking the motherboard socket, memory type, case dimensions, power requirements, and graphics-card clearance. A typical balanced build would include a modern six-core CPU, 32 GB of RAM, a 1 TB NVMe SSD, a mid-to-high-range graphics card, and a quality 650–750 W power supply. Remember that a parts list for the computer alone won’t include a monitor, keyboard, mouse, or speakers, so reserve part of the budget if you need those too.
Thanks, I hadn’t realized peripherals could take such a large portion of the budget. I’ll compare a PC-only build with one that includes a monitor before choosing the parts.