I'm putting together a budget gaming PC for my son and considering a second-hand build that we can upgrade later. Here's what I'm looking at:
- **Graphics Card:** NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 (4 GB)
- **CPU:** Intel Core i5-4670K (3.40GHz)
- **RAM:** 16GB DDR3
- **Storage:** 2 TB Western Digital HDD and two 250GB Samsung EVO SSDs
- **PSU:** 650W Cooler Master GX Bronze
- **OS:** Windows 10
He's interested in downloading Steam and playing games like Peak and Zort. Do you think this setup is suitable for him?
4 Answers
It'll probably handle those lighter games, but expect serious struggles with any modern AAA titles. The upgrade potential here is almost non-existent; the components are just too old to support any significant improvement down the line.
Looking at it overall, those specs won't meet Windows 11 requirements and are nearly a decade old. You are effectively getting a computer that was great back in 2016. For simple games, it might work at low settings, but don’t expect much when it comes to anything newer or more demanding.
Honestly, this PC setup is pretty outdated. If it's priced under $200, that's not too bad, but I wouldn't go higher than $250 for it. The GTX 970 is decent for older games, but for anything newer, you should really aim for at least a GTX 10 series card. Plus, the CPU is quite old—anything 4th gen Intel isn't going to cut it for modern gaming. I'd recommend looking for something like a Ryzen 2600X with an RTX 2060 for a more future-proof build.
If your son is just starting out and won’t be playing anything too intensive, this might be okay. But seriously, this is a pretty weak build by today's standards. If you ever want to upgrade, I recommend looking for a more modern AM4 setup that could take you forward better. You’ll be able to pick up components that offer real performance gains and ensure you won’t need to replace everything too soon.
Totally agree! Going for an AMD platform like the AM4 with something like a Ryzen 5 3600 would give you much better upgrade options down the line. Plus, if you're playing at 1080p, the 20 series cards should perform well enough.