Hey everyone! I'm getting back into PC gaming after a long break and looking to upgrade my 10-year-old build. I'm in the UK and usually play less demanding games like MOBAs and MMORPGs, so I'm aiming for an entry to mid-range PC. I've noticed that while building a PC used to save money, that's not really the case anymore. For instance, I found this build on PCPartPicker for about £1000: [PCPartPicker Build](https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/HkvGXf) which includes an AMD Ryzen 7 5700X, Nvidia RTX 5060 8GB, 16GB RAM, a 1TB NVMe SSD, and a 650W 80+ PSU. However, I found the same setup for £200 less elsewhere. If I swap the Ryzen 7 for a Ryzen 5 8400F, is that a good move just to gain access to the AM5 platform? Interestingly, Amazon has the cheapest prices compared to AWD-it and Laptops Direct. Does that make sense? Should I just go for a prebuilt instead, and if so, which processor would be the best bang for my buck?
3 Answers
If the only difference is the CPU and the Ryzen 5 8400F is cheaper, I'd say go for that one. It's about 9% faster in single-threaded performance, which is great for gaming. Plus, DDR5 RAM prices are pretty crazy right now, so this option gives you more value without breaking the bank.
Considering you’re looking at AM5, keep in mind the RAM costs will be higher. The GTX 5060 isn't the best bang for your buck either. If you're on a tight budget, maybe look at the Arc B580 for a cheaper option. Otherwise, if you want a current-gen card, you might need to raise your budget a bit. Here’s what I would do:
- Stick with AM4 and go for the 5700X, but remember you'll need to switch everything out for AM5 down the line.
- Increase your budget slightly to grab the best AM4 CPU.
- Or, pick an AM5 but go for the cheapest CPU and plan to upgrade later. Check out AliExpress for good deals on CPUs, and wait a few months as DDR5 prices may drop soon. Just avoid the 5060 or 5060 Ti 8GB—they aren’t worth it right now.
Check out the latest prebuilt from Gorilla Gaming; it's a solid deal at £999. Just keep in mind that stock is limited, so if you're considering a prebuilt, act fast! Here’s a link: [Gorilla Gaming PC](https://gorillagaming.co.uk/products/gorilla-gaming-drop_02-gaming-pc).
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