I'm looking to upgrade my aging gaming PC, which currently has a GTX 970 and was built back in 2015. Since I haven't kept up with PC building trends, I'm pretty out of the loop! My goal is to create a build that's future-proof and allows for upgrades down the line without needing to replace every component. Initially, I considered a high-end setup, but it quickly became clear that it was too expensive. Now, I'm hoping to stick to a budget of around €1500 or even up to €2000, with a target price in the Netherlands. I want to be able to run games like heavily modded Kerbal Space Program, the latest AAA titles, and support VR gaming. Given the current RAM prices, I'm aware it might be a challenge, so any guidance on creating a solid build within this budget would be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
It’s tough to balance future-proofing and a budget, but with about €1500, you can definitely build a solid setup. Start with an AM5 motherboard—either B650 or B850—and pair it with a Ryzen 5 9600X and 16GB of 6000MHz RAM. For your GPU, look at something like the RX 9060 XT. A good case, a 360mm cooler, and an 850W power supply will round things out. Once you tally up costs, if you're under budget, I’d suggest bumping your RAM to 32GB or even considering second-hand parts for good deals! Focusing on a strong backbone like the motherboard and power supply sets you up for future upgrades without a total overhaul.
There’s certainly ways to hit a solid build under €2000. Check out this part list I found: [link]—it totals around €1995. If you’re okay with slightly lower power, I've got another option for about €1760, which gives you more room to upgrade parts later.
If it helps, I’ve put together a build that I think fits well under your budget. I went with a Ryzen 5 7500X3D, 32GB RAM, and a good 2TB PCIe SSD for speed. The RX 9070 16GB will offer solid performance without breaking the bank. You've got some leeway to customize based on your needs, too! Let me know if you want more specifics.
If you’re really looking to save, I’d advise buying second-hand wherever possible, except for the PSU. You can still score great components that are slightly used but in fantastic condition.
That’s a solid strategy! I’d personally prefer a brand-new build, even if I have to settle for slightly lower specs.
Future-proofing can be tricky! The past few years have shown slow hardware advancements, but you can still make wise investments. I recommend using the Dutch version of PCPartPicker for better pricing accuracy. You can adjust a few parts; for example, a Ryzen 5 7600X3D and a RX 9070 non-XT might get you a great setup just beyond €1500. Just make sure to keep an eye out for deals on the parts you need!
Good call on the RAM! Don’t forget about storage too. I manage just fine with a single 1TB NVMe drive.