I have a €500 budget and want to build a PC that can outperform my PS5 in current games, ideally playing at 1080p and around 60 FPS for the next few years. Is that realistic, or do consoles still offer better price-to-performance? I'm open to buying used or refurbished parts if that makes the build possible.
4 Answers
It can be done with careful shopping, but you’ll need realistic expectations. Put roughly €250–€300 toward the graphics card, then use the remainder for a used CPU-and-motherboard bundle, 16GB of RAM, a basic SSD, and an inexpensive case. You may need to accept medium settings or upgrade parts later rather than expecting a guaranteed PS5-beating machine in every new release.
The best chance is buying used or refurbished. Look for something like an 8th-generation-or-newer Intel system or an inexpensive AM4 platform, paired with a used RTX 3060 12GB or similar graphics card. The extra VRAM helps with texture quality, and 1080p at 60 FPS is achievable in many games with sensible settings.
A €500 budget is a solid starting point, but not much more than that in the current market. A prebuilt around €1,000 might not automatically outperform a PS5 either, so compare the actual CPU and GPU models instead of judging by price alone. If you can wait and save, you’ll have a much better chance of getting a balanced system.
For €500, a brand-new PC that clearly beats a PS5 is unlikely, especially with current GPU and memory prices. Consoles are usually sold with very slim margins, so matching their performance on a new custom build is difficult. Saving a bit more would give you a much better selection of parts.
Used parts change the situation quite a bit, though. A good local deal could make it realistic.
A complete used system may be easier than sourcing every part separately. Check that the power supply is decent and that the processor officially supports Windows 11.