I'm looking for some advice on a gaming PC build for my son, Ayden, who's 16. He wants a PC to play games like Fortnite, GTA V (with mods), and Roblox with his friends online. He's come across a TikTok video suggesting a build that costs around £500, but I want to make sure it's a solid setup before diving in. Here's the list of parts he mentioned:
- **Motherboard:** ASUS PRIME B450M-A II (AMD B450, AM4, Micro-ATX)
- **CPU:** AMD Ryzen 5 8500G Processor
- **RAM:** Lexar ARES RGB DDR4 RAM 16GB Kit (2x8GB) 3866 MHz
- **GPU:** ASRock Radeon RX 6500 XT Phantom Gaming 4GB OC GDDR6
- **Storage:** Patriot P320 512GB NVMe PCIe Gen 3x4 M.2 SSD
- **PSU:** MSI MAG A550BN UK PSU – 550W
What I'm wondering is:
1. Is this build suitable for Ayden's games, especially GTA V with mods?
2. Are there any compatibility issues?
3. Is anything overkill, underpowered, or a poor value?
4. Any recommendations for swaps while staying close to the budget?
The last PC I built was years ago, so I'd really appreciate your expertise to help Ayden make a smart choice rather than just relying on TikTok! Thanks a lot!
5 Answers
The CPU won't work with that motherboard. You should seriously consider a Ryzen 5600 instead, and for RAM, aim for 3600 CL16 or CL18. Plus, the GPU needs an upgrade if you're looking for better performance! A 1TB drive is also advisable since 512GB will fill up fast with games like GTA V, especially with mods.
Buying new parts for that budget is tough. I’d look into pre-owned PCs instead. If you find anything interesting, feel free to share here for feedback! I can help assess its value for you. Just shoot me the specs and prices.
I strongly suggest you reconsider that build. It’s poor value for money, and if you want something upgradable later on, you'll end up spending closer to £1200. If you’re on a tight budget, you might want to explore second-hand options or build a bit more slowly to gather better parts over time.
I wouldn't recommend that setup. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G isn't compatible with the B450 motherboard since it requires an AM5 board. Plus, the GPU choice isn't ideal either. You've got a £500 budget to work with; I suggest looking for used parts or opting for an AM4 platform with a Ryzen 3600 or 5600. For the GPU, something like the RTX 2060 or 3060 would be a better fit for gaming.
Yeah, can you explain why the CPU and motherboard compatibility matters? Not everyone understands those terms!
Definitely a compatibility issue! The 8500G is an APU that has integrated graphics, which is unnecessary since you're getting a dedicated GPU. I'd recommend switching to something like the Ryzen 5 5600, it's better priced and offer better performance. Also, the GPU you chose isn't the best for gaming. Consider upgrading to something more robust if you can.
Good call! Also, any thoughts on storage? 512GB won’t cut it for GTA and Fortnite.
Absolutely, used PCs can save a lot of money. Just remember to double-check everything!