My PC recently stopped working, and I'm planning to replace the RAM, motherboard, CPU, and graphics card. My budget is £500–£600, and I'd prefer an AM5-based system, although I'm open to buying used parts to make the budget work. New parts are preferable where possible.
The case supports full-size ATX hardware and can also fit a micro-ATX motherboard. I already have an AIO cooler and a be quiet! Pure Power 13M 750W power supply, so neither of those needs to be included. I don't play many demanding AAA games, and I'm comfortable doing basic graphics-card cooling repairs. I'm also willing to use a cheaper or smaller RAM kit temporarily while memory prices settle.
I've been considering a Ryzen 5 7600 or 9600 paired with either an RTX 5060 8GB or Radeon RX 7600 8GB, but I'm not sure which combination offers the best value. The original PC failure was unclear; I suspect the RAM because the system would not post, while the graphics card appeared to be working. Suggestions for specific parts or a complete parts list would be appreciated, especially options that are realistic for local used-market prices.
3 Answers
The budget is extremely tight for a complete AM5 platform with a dedicated GPU, even if you buy some parts used. It may be possible with good local deals, but you’ll need to price-shop carefully and probably accept 16GB of RAM or a single-stick kit initially. An older used platform and graphics card would be easier to fit within £500–£600, though it would give you less upgrade potential.
Your proposed AM5 pricing could work if your local deals are genuinely that good. A Ryzen 5 7600X and motherboard around £220 leaves roughly £265 for the graphics card, assuming you can get DDR5 for about £115. In that situation, I’d prioritize the best-used GPU available rather than paying extra for a newer model with only 8GB of VRAM. The 750W power supply is more than adequate, and your existing AIO means the CPU cooler cost can be avoided.
Before buying replacement parts, try to identify what actually failed. A system that won’t post isn’t necessarily suffering from bad RAM. Test one memory stick at a time in the recommended slot, reseat the GPU and power cables, clear the motherboard CMOS, and check for diagnostic LEDs or beep codes. If the motherboard, CPU, and power supply are still healthy, you might only need memory rather than a whole rebuild.
I’m not completely sure what failed, but RAM seems likely because the graphics card appears to work and the system won’t post. I’ll test the existing parts more thoroughly before replacing everything.
AM5 is more realistic at this budget in some local used markets than it is at typical retail prices. I’d compare the total cost of each bundle and avoid sacrificing motherboard quality just to move up to a slightly faster CPU.