I'm considering replacing my current HP Pavilion TG01 because its motherboard and power supply are proprietary, and the system cannot be upgraded with more RAM. Upgrading the existing machine would cost roughly 4,000–5,000 NOK ($400–$500), so I'm thinking about selling it to my brother for around that amount and putting the money toward a new build.
My current PC has an RTX 3060 Ti 8GB, Ryzen 5 5600G, 16GB DDR4-3200 memory, a 500GB NVMe SSD, and a 2TB SATA SSD. I originally bought it cheaply, but I didn't realize how limited its upgrade options would be.
The new system I'm considering costs about 14,299 NOK ($1,540), which is above my preferred 10,000–12,000 NOK budget, though my family may be able to help with another 2,000 NOK. The parts are an RX 9060 XT 16GB, Ryzen 5 9600X, 16GB DDR5-6000, an ASRock B650M Pro RS motherboard, a 750W power supply, a Montech mATX case, and possibly a used 1TB NVMe SSD.
I want the new PC to last roughly six to eight years. Should I stick with AM5, consider a cheaper AM4 or Intel build, or buy some used components instead? I'm also wondering whether it makes sense to buy the case and power supply now, or wait for better deals later in the year.
1 Answer
The AM5 direction makes sense if you really want a platform that can be upgraded over the next several years. However, your parts list needs a closer look before buying. A 16GB DDR5 kit is not ideal for a new gaming PC, especially if the listed 3,265 NOK price is accurate—it would be better to find a 32GB 2x16GB DDR5-6000 kit for less. Also make sure the power supply is a reputable model; very cheap units can be a poor place to save money. Buying used parts after selling your current PC could bring the total much closer to your budget. A used GPU may offer better value, but compare actual game performance and condition rather than focusing only on the VRAM amount.
I’m looking at used GPUs now and found some RTX 3070 Ti, RTX 3080, and RTX 4060 Ti cards for around 2,800–3,500 NOK. I’m unsure whether the VRAM difference makes them a bad choice. I also found a 32GB RAM kit for about 3,200 NOK, but I need to verify that the seller and parts are legitimate.