I'm building my first gaming PC in Hyderabad, India, with a total budget of about ₹80,000. I've already bought an AMD Radeon RX 7600 for ₹29,500 because the only new GPU options I could find were an RTX 3050 for ₹23,000, the RX 7600, and an RTX 3060 for ₹44,000. Used hardware wasn't an option for me.
I'm deciding between three platforms. The AM4 build uses a Ryzen 5 5600X, B550 motherboard, 16GB DDR4-3200, a 650W PSU, 250GB NVMe SSD, and an MSI MAG Forge 120A case, totaling around ₹62,400 including the GPU. The AM5 build uses a Ryzen 5 7500F, B650 motherboard, 16GB DDR5, and the same storage, PSU, and case, totaling about ₹91,100. The Intel Core Ultra option uses a Core Ultra 5 225F with a B860 motherboard and 16GB DDR5, totaling roughly ₹90,300.
I already have a 1TB hard drive and a 512GB SATA SSD, so the 250GB NVMe drive would mainly be for the operating system. Which platform offers the best value for gaming with the RX 7600? Is AM5 worth exceeding my budget for its upgrade path, or would AM4 be more sensible? Is Intel Core Ultra a better choice at this price? I'd also appreciate suggestions for changing the parts while keeping the overall cost close to the same.
5 Answers
The biggest issue with the AM5 proposal is the single 16GB DDR5 stick. One module prevents dual-channel performance, so a 2x8GB kit would be preferable if available, though 2x16GB is the better long-term target. Also, 250GB fills up quickly even if you already own other drives; use the SATA SSD for games if needed, but a larger NVMe drive would be more convenient.
You can save money with AM4 by choosing the Ryzen 5 5600 instead of the 5600X. A 550W quality PSU is enough for an RX 7600, so the savings could go toward a 1TB SSD or additional memory. AM4 still offers a possible future upgrade to a Ryzen 7 5700X3D or 5800X3D, although AM5 is the better platform if you expect to replace the CPU more than once.
AM5 would be my first choice if you can make the budget work. The Ryzen 5 7500F gives you a strong starting point and leaves room for future CPU upgrades, while AM4 is effectively a finished platform. Intel could make sense for professional workloads, but for a gaming-focused build with an RX 7600, AM5 is the more attractive long-term option. Upgrade to 32GB of RAM later if necessary, and make sure the memory is installed in a dual-channel configuration.
A lower-cost AM4 build can fit comfortably within the budget: Ryzen 5 5600, B550 motherboard, 16GB DDR4, a reliable 650W Gold-rated PSU, a 1TB NVMe SSD, and an inexpensive aftermarket cooler. Buy a second matching RAM stick if you start with one 16GB module. This gives good RX 7600 performance today and leaves the 5700X3D as a later gaming upgrade, but AM5 is still the preferable choice if you can afford the extra cost without sacrificing RAM, storage, or PSU quality.
Before choosing either CPU, check whether the Ryzen 5 7400F is available locally as a tray processor. It may reduce the AM5 cost, but remember that tray CPUs generally don’t include a cooler. You should budget for a basic tower cooler with the Ryzen 5 7500F or 7400F, and verify exactly what is included with the processor you buy.
I already have a 1TB hard drive and a 512GB SATA SSD, so I was planning to use the 250GB NVMe drive only for the operating system.