I'm currently putting together my first PC on a tight budget and considering starting with a Ryzen 7 8700G processor. The plan is to use it for gaming without immediately buying a dedicated GPU, but I'm thinking of saving up for an RX 9060 XT in the future. However, I've come across some opinions suggesting that this setup might not be the best choice. Also, I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on G Skill's 32GB 7200MT/s RAM. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
Sure, you can game without a GPU, but expect to play on low settings and it won't be a great experience, especially with graphics-intensive games. If possible, grab a used GPU for around $100 for a much better experience. About the RAM, I've heard that anything above 6000MT/s can lead to stability issues. Consider that before you finalize your choice!
It's a decent setup as long as you're okay with the price. While the Ryzen 7 8700G isn't bottlenecked, it wouldn't be the most powerful option either. As for the RAM, if that's what fits your budget, go for it. But here's a tip: skip the 32GB kit unless you’re doing heavy workloads. Opt for 16GB instead and use the savings towards a GPU, since prices seem to be on the rise. You could even get a cheap old PC to use with a GPU for now!
Funny enough, I actually found the 7200MT/s kit cheaper than the 6000 ones. I might limit it to 6000 in the BIOS to avoid any issues. Appreciate your input!
While it's nice to have high hopes, I'd recommend waiting and saving for a more powerful CPU and pairing it with the RX 9060 XT. Just going with the 8700G might restrict you to 1080p low settings, which could lead to frustration. If you already have a console, is it worth sticking with that until you can build a really upgraded PC?
Any suggestions for good CPU options I could use with the 9060 XT? I hadn’t thought about how the 8700G is pretty limited. Thanks a ton!
I get what you mean, but I also think building a PC, even with the struggles, teaches you a lot about tech that you'll appreciate in the long run!
The Ryzen 8700G is an okay choice for light gaming with its decent iGPU, but a used RX 5600 XT or GTX 1070 is almost twice as fast for gaming. Also, for a better deal, consider switching to a 7600X or 9600X, as they can be found for less and perform about 10-20% better. Just a thought if you're looking for pure value!
Thanks for the tip, I’ll definitely consider it!
I was thinking about limiting the RAM to 6000 or 5600 MHz in BIOS to avoid stability problems. Do you know if that really works? Thanks for your reply!