I'm upgrading an older PC and want to reuse a few parts while replacing the platform, case, and memory. My current system has an ASUS RX 550 4GB graphics card, an Intel Core i5-4590, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, an office-style case, a basic 550W power supply, a 500GB SSD, and a 2TB hard drive. The only CPU cooling I have is the stock cooler.
The new parts I'm considering are:
- ADATA XPG Spectrix D50 16GB DDR4-3600 CL18 kit: 160 BAM
- Gigabyte B550M AORUS ELITE AX motherboard: 200 BAM
- AMD Ryzen 5 3600: 150 BAM
- DarkFlash AIGO C195 Mesh Micro-ATX case with four ARGB fans: 90 BAM
The total is about 610 BAM, or roughly $350, and everything in the upgrade would be new. I'm buying in Bosnia and Herzegovina and would like to know whether this is a fair price, whether any of these parts should be changed, and if it would be smarter to wait or save for a different configuration. I mainly want a solid general-purpose PC, but I'd also like to know what kind of gaming performance I can realistically expect with the RX 550. Would upgrading the graphics card later make this a sensible starting point?
3 Answers
The overall idea is fine, but check local used prices before buying everything new. You may find a better-value Ryzen processor or graphics card second-hand, and the RX 550 will be the biggest gaming limitation by far. If possible, prioritize saving for a stronger GPU after the platform upgrade rather than spending extra on RGB features.
The upgrade should be a noticeable improvement over the old system, and the Ryzen 5 3600 platform is reasonable for this budget. With the RX 550, though, you’ll mostly be limited to older games and less demanding titles at 1080p. Newer games may require low settings, reduced resolution, or may not run well at all. The build makes more sense if you plan to replace the graphics card later.
A higher-end processor such as the Ryzen 7 5800X3D would offer much better gaming performance, but it costs considerably more and doesn’t fit the stated budget. For around $350, the Ryzen 5 3600 is a more realistic choice, especially if you can negotiate a lower price with the seller. Just make sure the power supply is a reliable model before reusing it, since a generic 550W unit could become a problem with a future graphics card upgrade.
That’s what I was thinking. If I upgrade the graphics card later, would the rest of the system be a decent base?