My current computer is very old, with only 1 GB of VRAM and DDR3 memory, so it is no longer practical for gaming. I want to build my first PC and would appreciate advice on choosing compatible parts. I am not concerned with ultra settings or fancy graphics, but I would like to run most games smoothly within a budget of roughly $750–$1,000. If building a desktop at that price is not worthwhile, I may buy a laptop and stream games to it instead.
The games I have played most include Crusader Kings, Civilization, The Sims, modded Arma 3, modded Minecraft, Shadow of Mordor, and GTA V. I am open to buying used components, although my hardware knowledge is limited.
My initial parts list uses a Ryzen 5 5600, an A520 motherboard, 16 GB of DDR4 memory, a 500 GB NVMe SSD, a FirePro W7100 graphics card, a compact micro-ATX case, and a 500 W power supply. The list comes to about $624 before making any changes. Is this a sensible starting point, and where should I improve it—especially the graphics card, power supply, storage, and motherboard?
2 Answers
A revised build around $925 would be a much better balance: Ryzen 5 5600, a basic A520 motherboard, 16 GB of DDR4-3600, a 1 TB NVMe SSD, an Arc B580 12 GB, a decent 650 W Gold-rated modular power supply, and the same case. The A520 board is adequate for the 5600 if you do not need extra expansion features or serious overclocking, so spending more on the graphics card will have a larger effect on gaming performance.
The FirePro W7100 is the biggest problem. It is a workstation card and is not a good gaming choice at around $170; it would only make sense if you found one extremely cheaply. A used RX 580 for roughly $50 could be a better budget option, while cards around RTX 2070 performance may also be available near that price. For a new build, a stronger gaming GPU such as an Arc B580 12 GB makes much more sense and fits comfortably within the full budget.
A Ryzen 5 5600 paired with 16 GB of dual-channel memory is a reasonable foundation. I would also choose a 1 TB NVMe SSD rather than 500 GB, since modern games fill smaller drives quickly, and use a reputable 650 W power supply instead of the inexpensive 500 W unit.
If you can find a Ryzen 5 5500X3D for around $150 delivered, it could be worth considering for simulation-heavy games such as strategy titles, though the 5600 is still a solid value if the newer chip costs substantially more.
I would at least compare prices with a B550 board. It offers better connectivity and upgrade flexibility, but it is not essential if the A520 model is significantly cheaper and already has the features you need.