I'm 14 and planning to build my first gaming PC in the UK. I want to keep the cost reasonable while getting strong performance now and a platform I can upgrade later. I chose AM5 for that reason. My current parts list is: Ryzen 5 7600X (£127.30), MSI B650M Gaming Plus WiFi (£137.53), Crucial Pro 32GB DDR5-6000 CL36 (£329.99), ASUS Dual RX 9060 XT 16GB (£408.32), Crucial 1TB NVMe SSD (£103.66), Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE (£27.90), MSI MAG A850GLS 850W Gold PSU (£79.99), and a Montech AIR 903 MAX case (£69.99). The total is about £1,284.68 before Windows 11. Does this look balanced, and are there any parts I should replace or ways to lower the cost without hurting performance or future upgrade options?
5 Answers
Overall, it’s a strong first build. Just remember to budget for a legitimate Windows license, and don’t feel pressured to buy every part immediately—waiting for sales could make a big difference, especially with the RAM and GPU. The case has good airflow, and the AM5 platform should leave you useful CPU upgrade options later.
An 850W power supply is more than this build needs, but it gives you plenty of upgrade headroom. It’s fine if the model is well reviewed; otherwise, a quality 650W–750W Gold unit would likely be sufficient for the current parts. The Peerless Assassin is an excellent cooler, so there’s no need to spend extra on an all-in-one liquid cooler unless you mainly want the appearance.
The biggest thing that stands out is the RAM price. £330 for 32GB is unusually high, so compare other reputable brands and check whether a 2x16GB DDR5-6000 kit with similar timings is available for less. Buying used memory from a trustworthy seller could also help, but make sure it can be returned if it has problems.
The RX 9060 XT 16GB is a sensible new choice for this system. Make sure it’s the 16GB model, not the 8GB version. If you’re comfortable buying used, also compare prices for cards such as the RX 7800 XT, RX 6950 XT, RX 7900 XT, or RTX 3080. A used 7800 XT could offer noticeably more performance for a similar price, though check the seller’s return policy and the card’s condition.
This is already a solid, well-balanced build. I’d check several UK retailers for daily deals, especially on the case, motherboard, and memory. A cheaper AM5 board could also work if you don’t need all the extra features. The 7600X is a good choice, although a 7500F may save money if you don’t need integrated graphics.
I’d stick with 32GB rather than dropping to 16GB just to save money. It gives you much more breathing room for modern games and other applications.